Terms of use
"ZEUS Electronic Voting" is an information system intended for the fair and unassailable conduct of confidential ballots in an entirely electronic manner, provided by a Greek State owned company under the corporate name "NATIONAL INFRASTUCTURES FOR RESEARCH AND TECNOLOGY S.A.» and the distinctive title “GRNET S.A.”, hereinafter "GRNET". The following Terms of Use are applicable by all "Users" of the "ZEUS Electronic Voting" service. Acceptance of the present Terms of Use, as they stand amended and in force from time to time, leads to the conclusion of a contract between the "Users" of the " ZEUS Electronic Voting" service and "GRNET” and constitutes a condition precedent to the due performance of the service within the scope thereof.
1. «User» categories - Rights of use
Conducting Authority - is the body that selects the "ZEUS Electronic Voting" service as a means for implementing an electronic voting. It is noted that the responsibility for selecting the service as well as the lawful implementation of the electronic voting lies solely and exclusively with such "Conducting Authority".
User is any person using the “ZEUS Electronic Voting" service. Within the scope of the service, four, distinct “User” categories are supported, subject to the user rights assigned to each category. First category is that of the “Administrator”, responsible, on the side of the “Conducting Authority” for carrying out the voting process. The second category is relevant to the «Election Committee» - the members of the «Election Committee» in the “ZEUS Electronic Voting" service, literally the key-keepers of the voting process who are authorized to decipher the ballots cast. The third category is that of the "Voter" - the online "User" of the «ZEUS Electronic Voting" service who, upon receiving an invitation, may use the service to cast a vote, whereas the fourth category is that of "Candidates" - the subjects who stand for election by the voters. Within the scope of the present Terms, the term "Users" shall mean all the above.
The "Administrator" is responsible for setting up the voting process, supervising the process, entering the members of the "Election Committee", the "Voters" as well as the "Candidates" and finally for announcing the results of the voting. The "Election Committee" creates the secret voting codes. These codes will be used by the system to encrypt ballots and at the end of the voting, they shall be required in order to decrypt the ballot box and tally the result. "Voters" are invited by the “Administrator” via email or sms to participate in the voting, by using a hyperlink forwarded to them. Through that hyperlink, they will be transferred to the voting page where they shall be able to check out information such as: start and end dates and hours, the members of the Election Committee, the Candidates, contact details for information/ support. Casting a vote will also be possible through that same page, but only during the time period set by the voting “Administrator”. The details of the "Candidates" are entered by the "Administrator" of the voting in order to be put to vote by the "Voters". “Candidates” may also be "Voters", and so can be members of the "Election Committee" and the "Administrator".
2. "User" Accounts
The "Administrator" is given access to the “ZEUS Electronic Voting" service upon an electronic request filed by the "Administrator" representing the "Conducting Authority" and addressed to the “ZEUS Electronic Voting" service Help Desk, at helpdesk@zeus.grnet.gr. Within a reasonable period of time, the Help Desk shall provide the “Administrator” with a username and a password enabling service log on. The members of the "Election Committee" may log in to the service via hyperlinks sent to them by email from the "ZEUS Electronic Voting" service as soon as the "Administrator" finalizes the voting process and sends out email invitations to the “Voters”. The “Administrator” as representative of the “Conducting Authority” is solely responsible for entering data of the “Voters” and the “Election Committee” members, into the service. Neither the “ZEUS Electronic Voting" service nor “GRNET” participate or bear any responsibility in the selection of the individuals appointed by the “Administrator” as members of the “Election Committee”. Moreover, they are in no position to control or verify the accuracy of the data entered by the “Administrator”.
3. Unauthorized use of the "ZEUS Electronic Voting” service
It is prohibited to post, send, transmit, disseminate, transfer, distribute or facilitate the dissemination, or to use any other method of transfer or distribution of secret voting keys. The "Administrator" must have collected lawfully the voters' data that are entered into the "ZEUS Electronic Voting" service. The use of the "ZEUS Electronic Voting service” for the promotion of any commercial purpose prohibited.
4. Termination or cancellation for every "User"
In case of any violation or breach of these Terms of Use, "GRNET” shall be entitled to review, re-assess and/or terminate the provision of services to the violating/breaching "User".
5. Rights and obligations by “User” category
The responsibility for the lawful use of the "ZEUS Electronic Voting” service as a means of creating, conducting, announcing, and managing a voting procedure, as well as the entry of the "Election Committee" members and the satisfaction of such members' requests, pertains exclusively to the "Conducting Authority". "GRNET” hall not be held responsible for the content and/or the data transmitted through the “ZEUS Electronic Voting” service. The "Conducting Authority" - as Controller - is solely responsible for the collection, processing and the legal basis of such processing, the purpose, the satisfaction of the data subjects’ rights including their right to be informed, for conducting a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA ). It is also solely accountable vis-a-vis the Data Protection Authority (DPA) and the data subjects, in accordance with applicable legislation on personal data protection.
6. Personal data
“ZEUS Electronic Voting” service records on behalf of the "Conducting Authority" any information necessary for the voting process, including ballots, dates, voters’names and contact details (e-mail, or mobile phone number, if provided), as well as the names and contact details of the members of the "Election Committee". Encrypted votes, final decrypted ballots cast and other cryptographic information provided by the personal computers of the Voters and the Administrators, are also recorded according to the application protocol. All the aforementioned personal data is processed, exclusively for the purpose of conducting the electronic voting, and any use thereof for any other purpose is prohibited in accordance with the instructions and orders of the "Conducting Authority". Any information stored after being encrypted - thus no longer constituting personal data – shall be maintained in accordance with the ZEUS Electronic Voting service retention policy, for the purpose of mathematically verifying the accuracy of the process in the future as well as in the event of an eventual filing of a legal recourse against the election results. “GRNET” – in its capacity as Processor – with regard to the processing of personal data in the context of providing the ZEUS Electronic Voting service, is bound by European Regulation 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR), as in force from time to time, and Law 4624/2019 (Government Gazette 137/Α/2019) on “Data Protection Authority implementation measures for EU Regulation 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and transposition into national law of EU Directive 2016/680 of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 27, 2016 and other provisions ", as in force from time to time. More detailed information regarding the processing of personal data as well as the policies and procedures applied by “GRNET” for the protection of the “ZEUS Electronic Voting” service users’ privacy, may be found in the Privacy Statement of the service. The "Conducting Authority" – in its capacity as Controller - with regard to the processing of personal data in the context of voting through ZEUS Electronic Voting service, shall be bound by European Regulation 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR), as in force from time to time, and Law 4624/2019 (Government Gazette 137 / A / 2019) on "Data Protection Authority, implementation measures for EU Regulation 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data and transposition into national law of EU Directive 2016/680 of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 27, 2016 and other provisions” as in force from time to time as well as the GÉANT Code of Conduct for Service Providers.
7. Disclaimer
“GRNET” shall use its best endeavours to ensure the uninterrupted, reliable and quality operation of the ZEUS Electronic Voting service. However, the quality and the provision of the service may vary or become affected by internal (number of active users, existing network equipment, etc) as well as by external factors (availability and network load etc.). “GRNET” disclaims any responsibility for the lawfulness of convening, conducting an electronic voting through the" ZEUS Electronic Voting” service, as well as of announcing such voting results, of entering data of the members of the electoral body and of the "Election Committee", including the lawfulness of the "Candidates" selection. The responsibility for the lawful use of the “ZEUS Electronic Voting” service as a means of creating, conducting, announcing, and managing a voting process, as well as the members admission and the satisfaction of the members' requests, lies exclusively with the "Conducting Authority".
8. Modification of the Terms of Use
"GRNET” expressly reserves the right to modify the present Terms of Use. "GRNET" also reserves the right to improve the “ZEUS Electronic Voting” service in line with current technological developments. In case of any such modification, the modified Terms of Use shall be posted on the service website at least 15 days prior to entering into force. In case of disagreement by any "User" on the new Terms of Use, the use of the service by such “User” shall be discontinued before the new Terms enter into force. Upon entering into force, the new Terms of Use, must become accepted by "Users" when logging in to the service.
9. Application of the terms
The present Terms of Use shall prevail and supersede any prior oral or written understanding or any other contract or agreement relevant to the "ZEUS Electronic Voting” service, comprising terms which are in conflict with the present. In the above, are not understood, nor included any contracts /agreements executed between GRNET and any bodies requesting to make use of the "ZEUS Electronic Voting” service. No "User" shall have the right to withdraw or challenge the acceptance of the Terms of Use once given by such “User”, as long as the latter makes use of the ZEUS Electronic Voting service.
The present Terms of Use are governed by Greek and EU law and any dispute arising therefrom shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Courts of Athens.