Privacy Policy
1. INTRODUCTION
Boston VA Research Institute, Inc. and its affiliates ("BVARI") want you to be familiar with how we collect, use and disclose information from and about you because we understand you are concerned about your privacy, and we want to maintain your trust.
This Privacy Policy applies to information we collect from all sources including in connection with services we provide through our websites, mobile sites, applications ("apps"), and electronic newsletters, as applicable (collectively the "BVARI Online Services" or “Services”) that link to this Privacy Policy. If there is a conflict between this Policy and a BVARI stand-alone BVARI service agreement, the BVARI stand-alone BVARI service agreement, or other separate terms of service will control.
This Policy describes BVARI's collection and use of users' Personal Information (as defined below). It also describes generally BVARI's practices for handling Other Information (e.g., interests, demographics and services usage) collected through our BVARI Online Services or from a third-party to the extent such information is associated with a particular device, user or user account. By using the BVARI Online Services or by providing Personal Information to us, you agree to the terms and conditions of this Privacy Policy.
You may choose not to submit requested information online, or may choose to restrict the use of cookies (see Other Information below for more information), but that may limit the Services BVARI is able to provide to you.
The BVARI Online Services are provided on a network of websites, and are not targeted to, and do not knowingly collect Personal Information from, minors under 18 years of age. We request that these individuals do not provide Personal Information through the BVARI Online Services.
2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT
BVARI and our service providers may collect the following information from and about you:
Personal Information
"Personal Information" for purposes of this Privacy Policy is the information that identifies you as an individual or relates to an identifiable person, such as name, postal address (including billing and shipping addresses), telephone number, or email address.
Personal Information From You
We collect Personal Information when, for example, you register for or subscribe to certain Services; visit our BVARI Online Services; or contact us via the BVARI Online Services.
Personal Information We Receive from Third-parties
We may receive Personal Information about you from third-parties, such as BVARI affiliates and business partners. The Personal Information we receive from third-parties may include, for example, your name, contact information, and information about any engagement with such affiliate or third-party.
Other Information
"Other Information" is any information that does not reveal your specific identity, such as browser information, app usage data, information collected through cookies and other technologies, demographic information, and aggregated information.
Other Information You Submit
We collect Other Information when you submit it to us. It may include your education, occupation, and information about your professional work.
Other Information We Receive from Third-parties
We may receive Other Information about you from third-parties, including, for example, education, occupation, and information about your professional work.
Other Information We Collect Automatically When You Are Online
When you access and interact with our BVARI Online Services, we and our service providers may automatically collect certain information about those visits. For example, in order to permit your connection to the BVARI Online Services, our servers receive and record information about your computer, device, and browser, potentially including your IP address, browser type, and other software or hardware information. If you access the BVARI Online Services from a mobile or other device, we may collect a unique device identifier assigned to that device ("UDID"), geolocation data, or other transactional information for that device.
BVARI and our service providers also may use cookies and other tracking technologies (such as browser cookies, pixels, beacons, and Adobe Flash technology including cookies) when you visit or use the BVARI Online Services.
Most browsers are initially set to accept cookies, but you can change your settings to notify you when a cookie is being set or updated, or to block cookies altogether. Please consult the "Help" section of your browser for more information. You can manage the use of Flash technologies with the Flash management tools available at Adobe's website, http://www.adobe.com/devnet/security.edu.html. Please note that by blocking any or all cookies you may not have access to certain features or personalization available through our BVARI Online Services.
3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION
We collect, use or otherwise process Personal Information as allowed under applicable law, including where based on one or more of the following:
· The consent you provide to us at the point of collection of your Personal Information;
· The performance of the contract we have with you;
· The compliance of a legal obligation to which we are subject; or
· The legitimate interests of BVARI, a third-party or yourself. "Legitimate interest" is a technical term under applicable regulations. It means that there are good reasons for the processing of your personal information and measures are taken to minimize the impact on your privacy rights and interests. "Legitimate interest" also references our use of your data in ways you would reasonably expect and that have a minimal privacy impact. We have a legitimate interest in collecting and processing personal information, for example: (1) to ensure that our networks and information are secure; (2) to administer and generally conduct business within BVARI; and (3) to prevent fraud.
We use the Personal Information we collect from and about you for the purposes set forth below. Please note that we may use and disclose Other Information for any purpose, except where we are required to do otherwise under applicable law. If we are required to treat Other Information as Personal Information under applicable law, then we may use and disclose it for all the purposes for which we use and disclose Personal Information. We may combine Other Information with your Personal Information, and when we do, we treat the combined information as Personal Information.
To improve the quality of our products and Services and to personalize your experience by presenting content, products and offers tailored to you, we may also combine the Personal and Other Information we collect with information relating to your use of other BVARI products, Services and websites. In addition, we may supplement the Personal and Other Information we collect with information from other sources, such as publicly available information and information from BVARI affiliates or business partners.
To provide and manage our Services. We use the information we collect from and about you to provide our products, Services and features to you, including: to send you information about your relationship or transactions with us, to measure and improve those Services and features, to provide you with customer support, and to respond to inquiries.
Analysis and Development of New Products and Services. We may perform statistical, demographic and marketing analyses of users of the Services, and their usage patterns, so we can analyze or predict our users’ preferences for services development purposes. We use this information for analytical purposes, including analysis to improve user relationships and to support strategic business decisions. We will engage in these activities to manage our contractual relationship with you, to comply with a legal obligation, or because we have a legitimate interest in doing so.
Aggregating and/or Anonymising Personal Information. We aggregate and/or anonymize personal information so that it will no longer be considered personally identifying. We do so to generate other data for our use, which we may use and disclose for any purpose.
To contact you. BVARI and BVARI affiliates may periodically send promotional materials, surveys, or notifications related to our products and Services, if you have affirmatively opted-in to receiving such communications. To help make these materials more relevant to you, we may use and combine any of the Personal and Other Information we collect to assist us in sending you these materials. We may also use your information to contact you, including to respond to your comments, inquiries or requests. If you want to stop receiving these materials from us, please follow the instructions in the Choices and Access section below.
To protect the rights of BVARI and others. BVARI may use your Personal Information as we believe to be necessary or appropriate in order to: (i) protect, enforce, or defend the legal rights, privacy, safety, or property of BVARI, our BVARI affiliates or their employees, agents and contractors (including enforcement of our agreements and our terms of use); (ii) protect the safety, privacy, and security of users of our products and Services or members of the public; (iii) protect against fraud or for risk management purposes; (iv) comply with the law or legal process, including laws outside your country of residence; or (v) to respond to requests from public and government authorities including public and government authorities outside your country of residence.
4. HOW WE SHARE YOUR INFORMATION
Information Made Public Through Use of Our Services and User Privacy Settings
Certain features on the BVARI Online Services may give you an opportunity to interact with us and others. These may include collaboration tools, forums, and chats. When you use these features, you should be aware that any information you submit, may be publicly available to anyone, including other users, search engines, advertisers, third-party application developers, and anyone else with access to the BVARI Online Services. We are not responsible for any information you choose to submit and make public through these interactive features.
Our Disclosure of Information
BVARI and its subsidiaries may share your Personal Information with one another, as well as with BVARI affiliates for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including for each company's marketing purposes.
In addition, we may share your Personal Information with non-affiliated third-parties when sharing is permitted by you or authorized by this Privacy Policy, including:
To allow third-party service providers to assist us in providing and managing our Services. We may make your Personal Information available to certain third-party service providers, such as contractors, agents or sponsors, who help us manage or provide our products and Services by, for example: developing or supporting products and features; sending email messages on our behalf; fulfilling orders; delivering subscriptions; auditing; and processing data or statistics. These outside service providers are required to protect Personal Information entrusted to them and not use it for any other purpose than the specific service they are providing to us.
To protect the rights of BVARI and others. There may be instances when BVARI may disclose your Personal Information, including situations where we have a good faith belief that such disclosure is necessary in order to: (i) protect, enforce, or defend the legal rights, privacy, safety, or property of BVARI, our BVARI affiliates or their employees, agents and contractors (including enforcement of our agreements and our terms of use); (ii) protect the safety, privacy, and security of users of our products and Services or members of the public; (iii) protect against fraud or for risk management purposes; (iv) comply with the law or legal process, including laws outside your country of residence; or (v) to respond to requests from public and government authorities including public and government authorities outside your country of residence.
To complete a merger, sale of assets, or bankruptcy. If BVARI sells all or part of its business or makes a sale or transfer of its assets or is otherwise involved in a merger, bankruptcy, or transfer of all or a material part of its business, BVARI may transfer your information to the party or parties involved in the transaction as part of that transaction.
5. SECURITY
BVARI uses a combination of administrative, technical, personnel and physical measures to safeguard Personal Information in its possession against loss, theft and unauthorized use, disclosure or modification. However, no one can guarantee the complete safety of your information. If you have reason to believe that your interaction with us is no longer secure (for example, if you feel that the security of any account you might have with us has been compromised), please immediately notify us of the problem by contacting Customer Service in accordance with the instructions below.
6. CHOICES AND ACCESS
Your Choices Regarding Our Use and Disclosure of Your Personal Information
We give you many choices regarding our use and disclosure of your Personal Information for marketing purposes.
You may opt-out from receiving electronic communications from us (including surveys or notifications), by following the unsubscribe instructions at the bottom of each email.
How To Access, Correct or Update Your Personal Information
If you would like to request to review, correct, restrict or delete personal information that you have previously provided to us, object to the processing of personal information, or if you would like to request to receive an electronic copy of your personal information for purposes of transmitting it to another company (to the extent this right to data portability is provided to you by applicable law), you may contact Customer Service, as indicated below.
You may also contact BVARI Customer Service at bvari@bvari.org.
For your protection, we may only implement requests with respect to the Personal Information associated with the particular email address that you use to send us your request, and we may need to verify your identity before implementing your request.
We will respond to your request consistent with applicable law.
Please note that we may need to retain certain information for recordkeeping purposes and/or to complete any transactions that you began prior to requesting such change or deletion (e.g., when you subscribe to a Service, you may not be able to change or delete the Personal Information provided until after the completion of such Service).
Your California Privacy Rights
California Law permits our customers who are California residents to request certain information regarding our disclosure of Personal Information to third-parties for their own direct marketing purposes. If you are a resident of California, under 18 and a registered user of the Services, you may ask us to remove content or information that you have posted to the Services. To make either request, please write to us at bvari@bvari.org and include your name and the address to which you would like us to respond.
7. Sensitive Personal Information
Unless specifically requested (for example, in connection with a particular survey), we ask that you not send us, and you not disclose, any sensitive personal information (e.g., social security numbers, information related to racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religion or other beliefs, health, biometrics or genetic characteristics, criminal background or trade union membership) on or through the Services or otherwise to us. Any requested information that includes sensitive information about health, political opinions, ethnicity, race, religion, sex life or sexual orientation can be left unanswered.
8. OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Do Not Track Disclosure. Some browsers or other tools include “Do Not Track” (DNT) features which, when turned on, send a signal to websites you visit indicating that you do not wish to be tracked across websites over time. The Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C) has been working with industry groups and regulators to develop a DNT browser technology standard to provide a common understanding as to how to interpret the DNT signals, but to date no standard has been adopted. Since there is no standard at this time, BVARI does not currently respond to DNT signals. BVARI will follow the progress of the W3C in developing the standard.
Data Retention. We retain personal information for as long as needed or permitted in light of the purpose(s) for which it was obtained and consistent with applicable law. The criteria used to determine our retention periods include:
· The length of time we have an ongoing relationship with you and provide the Services to you (for example, for as long as you have an account with us or continue to use the Services);
· Whether there is a legal obligation to which we are subject (for example, certain laws require us to keep records of your transactions for a certain period of time before we can delete them); or
· Whether retention is advisable in light of our legal position (for example, in light of applicable statutes of limitations, litigation or regulatory investigations).
Linked Services. The BVARI Online Services may also be linked to sites operated by third-parties.
BVARI is not responsible for the privacy practices of any such third-parties, and once you leave the BVARI Online Services , you should check the applicable privacy policy of the other service.
10. CONTACT US
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at bvari@bvari.org.
We ask that you not disclose any sensitive Personal Information (e.g., social security numbers, information related to racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religion or other beliefs, health, criminal background or trade union membership) when contacting us.
11. Updates to Privacy Policy
BVARI may modify this Privacy Policy. Please look at the Effective Date at the top of this Privacy Policy to see when this Privacy Policy was last revised. Any changes to this Privacy Policy will become effective when we post the revised Privacy Policy on the BVARI Online Services. Your use of the BVARI Online Services or your provision of personal information to us following these changes means that you accept the revised Privacy Policy.