Privacy Policy
This policy establishes how we collect information about the actions that you take on our Services, and how we use this information to provide the Services to you. You can access some of the Service features without creating an account or providing us with personal information. However, if you set up an account with us, you’ll need to provide us with contact information, such as your email, so that we can communicate with you and provide you with information about the Services. Additionally, we use Matomo, an open-source web analytics tool, to help us analyze data on website traffic and page views. We take steps to protect the personal information you provide us, such as by limiting access to the information to trained staff and designated volunteers, and only sharing your information as needed to provide the Services to you. We also provide you with certain choices regarding your personal information, and we aim to honor your preferences.
This Privacy Policy Contains the Following Sections:
- Information We Collect From You and How We Collect It
- Legal Bases for Collecting and Using Information
- How and When We Share Information
- Your Choices Regarding Your Personal Information
- Third-Party Websites and Services
- Children’s Privacy
- How to Contact Us
1. Information We Collect From You and How We Collect It
Depending on how you use the Services and its features, we or third parties working on our behalf may collect information about you (sometimes referred to as “personal information”). The type of personal information we collect from or about you may include: name, address, country, email address, gender, social media account information, OpenStreetMap (“OSM”) account information, and any other information you choose to provide to us. We may also collect information about the device you are using, such as the device’s IP address. We may also collect information about you from third parties. We treat any personal information we receive from these third parties consistent with this Privacy Policy.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
When you use the Services, we, or third parties operating on our behalf, use cookies and similar technologies to collect information about the features that you access and use, and about the browser and computer or device you use to access the Services. We use Matomo, an open-source website analytics tool, across the Services to help us collect the following information:
- Log Information: Information about visitors to the Services, including IP address, operating system, and browser ID.
- Usage Information: Information about how visitors interact with the Services, including information about what webpages on the Services were visited and for how long, the website the visitor navigated to the Services from, and the actions taken while using the Services.
How to Refuse the Use of Cookies
Most browsers include tools to help you manage cookies. Each browser is different, so please consult your browser’s “Help” menu to learn the correct way to modify how your browser handles cookies. Keep in mind that we need certain information in order for the Services to function properly. If you disable cookies, you may no longer be able to use or access some features of the Services.
2. Legal Bases for Collecting and Using Information
For those visitors whose personal information is subject to EU data protection laws, the legal bases for processing your information as set out in this Privacy Policy are as follows: (1) The processing is necessary in order to fulfill our contractual commitments to you; (2) The processing is necessary for us to comply with a legal obligation; (3) We have a legitimate interest in processing your information – for example, to provide and update our Services, to improve our Services so that we can offer you an even better user experience, to safeguard our Services, to communicate with you, to measure, gauge, and improve the effectiveness of our services, and better understand user retention and attrition, to monitor and prevent any problems with our Services, and to personalize your experience; or (4) You have given us your consent – for example before we place certain cookies on your device and access and analyze them later on.
3. How and When We Share Information
We may share information about you in limited circumstances for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy and with appropriate safeguards on your privacy and the security of your personal information. We use appropriate administrative, technical, and physical measures designed to prevent unauthorized access, improper use or disclosure, unauthorized modification or unlawful destruction or accidental loss of personal information.
Although we exercise reasonable care in providing secure transmission of information and storage of the information provide us through the Services, no method of transmission over the Internet, and no means of electronic or physical storage, is absolutely secure. Accordingly, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us.
4. Your Choices Regarding Your Personal Information
We provide you with several choices when it comes to information about you:
- Opt-Out of Electronic Communications: You may opt out of receiving messages from HOT depending on the Services used. Just follow the instructions in those messages. If you opt out of receiving marketing messages from us, we may still send you other non-commercial messages, like those about your account and legal notices.
- Do Not Track: HOT responds to “do not track” signals across all of our Services, so you may elect to use this signal in your browser settings.
- Set Your Browser to Reject Cookies: As mentioned above, you can usually choose to set your browser to remove or reject browser cookies before using HOT’s services, with the drawback that certain features may not function properly without the aid of cookies.
- Close Your Account: If you created a profile or account with us, you can contact us at info@hotosm.org to request that we close a specific HOT account and/or profile. Please keep in mind that we may continue to retain and use your information after you close your account as described in this Privacy Policy. For example, we may use your information if reasonably needed to comply with (or demonstrate our compliance with) legal obligations, or as reasonably needed for our legitimate business interests.
5. Third-Party Websites and Services
The Services may include links to third-party websites and services that are not owned or controlled by us, such as GitHub, Slack, Venmo, PayPal, or social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or services. If you choose to use any third-party websites or services, the collection, use, and disclosure of your information on those websites will be subject to the privacy policies of these websites and services.
6. Children’s Privacy
We encourage youth to volunteer with HOT under the supervision of their parent or guardian, and are committed to protecting the privacy of children who use our Services. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. However, depending on how you use the Services, we may collect and use information about your child that you provide to us. Before we collect any such information, we will seek your permission. If we become aware we are processing the data of a child under the age of 16 without parental consent, we will take reasonable steps to delete such information as required under applicable laws. If you believe we might have personal information from or about a child under 16, please contact us at info@hotosm.org.
7. How to Contact Us
If you have a question about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at info@hotosm.org.
