Privacy Policy - How We Protect Your Information (original) (raw)

Effective on March 30, 2016

Link Computer Corp. (“Muni-Link”) is the producer and owner of Muni-Link WebPresence and Muni-Link Billing (collectively referred to here as the/our “Solution” or the/our “Services”), which are collaborative web and mobile based applications that are developed specifically for a municipality, municipal authority, public water system, or utility company (hereafter referred to as the “Organization”). The term “you” refers to the user or viewer of the Solution.

Muni-Link is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy was developed to give you a full understanding of terms and conditions relating to the handling of certain personal information which may be collected by Muni-Link.

This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected on websites, applications or other web-based environments (including mobile applications) provided and hosted by Muni-Link for your Organization.

This Privacy Policy pertains only to the personal information that Muni-Link collects from you or that is provided to us by the Organization where we serve as the data processor on the Organization’s behalf. Personal information is information that identifies a particular individual, such as a person’s first and last name, postal address, e-mail address and phone number.

If you have questions or complaints regarding our privacy policy or practices, please contact us at PRIVACY@MUNI-LINK.COM. If you have an unresolved privacy or data use concern that we have not addressed satisfactorily, please contact us at 814-742-7700.

In connection with the Organization’s WebPresence website (“Solution”), this Privacy Policy applies only to the Muni-Link practices regarding personal information which is collected on the Solution that is processed and hosted by Muni-Link and NOT to other sites hosted by the Organization or another third-party. Muni-Link has been retained by the Organization to provide and host the Solution on which the Organization has added customized content. The Organization administers and oversees the Solution and, accordingly, has control over who can register for use of various features of the Solution and who can access the personal information posted or maintained on the Solution. The Organization can also add content and information directly onto the Solution. The Organization may have its own policies addressing collection, use and sharing of personal information. For information about whether this Privacy Policy applies to you and about the Organization’s own policy, please contact the Organization.

INFORMATION WE COLLECT WHEN HOSTING AN ORGANIZATION’S SOLUTION

You may visit certain Solutions as a guest without registering. Registration, however, will give you access to certain features as well as the ability to personalize certain features. An individual who seeks access to a Solution, or who seeks to correct, amend, or delete inaccurate data, should direct any query to the Organization. If the Organization requests Muni-Link to remove the data, we will respond to the request within 30 days.

Muni-Link collects and subsequently processes personal information in three ways:

Information collected for pre-registration may also be used to (1) provide Organization-related notifications and other information, (2) provide you with important information about the Solution, such as updates or notices, (3) improve our product and services, (4) improve customer service, (5) create a profile for you, and/or (6) in aggregate, guide our marketing efforts. No personal information will be shared with third parties except to the extent expressly described in this Privacy Policy and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WHICH YOU PROVIDE TO US ON BEHALF OF ORGANIZATIONS

Additional information may be provided to us in other situations, for example, in connection with a customer support request or a content submission request. The goal of collecting this additional information is to serve you more effectively and efficiently.

In addition, customers, members of the Organization, and other users of the Solution may choose to post, download or upload various pieces of content and/or information on or through the use of the Solution, and may use certain “social media”, collaboration, interaction and other capabilities of the Solution to exchange various categories of data, materials and information. While we cannot know in advance all types of such information, one example is that administrators may post announcements and other information and content directly onto the Solution. Another example is that community members may chat with each other, or send e-mail, via technology which may now or in the future be made available over the Solution and may share information, photographs, images or recordings with each other or with the community. Information such as an individual’s name and e-mail address can also be exchanged or made available in messages, chats and other social media and collaborative communications facilitated over the Solution. Muni-Link has no practical ability to restrict the information, conduct, communications, or content which might be posted on or exchanged through the use of its technology, nor can Muni-Link ensure prompt removal of any such communications, information or content after transmission or posting. If you provide personal information when using any social interaction, collaboration or messaging capabilities or features of the Solution that personal information may be copied, publicly posted and otherwise disclosed without limitation as to its use by third parties. There may be monitoring or filtering tools utilized by the Solution which track or log content or information downloaded or posted to the Solution. If you are concerned about any information or content that may be posted, transmitted or accessed on the Solution, please contact the Organization.

On behalf of the Organization, we may also (now or in the future) maintain and/or present geographic and other similar information via technology or software provided by Muni-Link or by third parties who have authorized Muni-Link to distribute and/or present this information. We do not at any time collect any personal information through these technologies or software.

As noted below, we may also ask you to provide us with voluntary survey information to help us improve our products and services.

INFORMATION FROM THE ORGANIZATION

The Organization administers and oversees the Solution which presents and archives information supplied by content contributors designated by the Organization. Muni-Link does not supply the Organization-specific content appearing on the Solution. Muni-Link may assist with posting content that has been supplied by the Organization, however, is not responsible for that content. Once content is posted to the Solution by content contributors at the Organization (or provided to Muni-Link support for posting), it is public information available on the Internet. If content is posted by content contributors to groups or pages with restricted viewing permissions, that content is only displayed to users authorized to see that content.

In addition to supplying the content for its Solution, the Organization can control which individuals can be registered to use certain Solution features and which individuals or groups are granted privileges to access, view or use personal information collected, exchanged or maintained on the Solution. The Site Administrator can also access information you submitted, and grant rights of access to others, as it deems appropriate. The Organization may also provide Muni-Link with the registration information and login credentials described above, as well as with other information about you which it deems appropriate. Please contact the Organization regarding its policies and/or practices in this regard.

INFORMATION COLLECTED THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

As noted below, we may also collect cookies, device information and web beacons in the course of your use of our technology.

PRIVACY OF CHILDREN; PRIVACY OF STUDENTS

Muni-Link is dedicated to the privacy of children under 13 years of age. We do not market to, process, collect, or entice (by use of contests, games, prizes, or other enticements) from children under 13 years of age. Muni-Link may provide educational materials that can be published by the Organization on their website.

HOW WE USE INFORMATION COLLECTED WHEN HOSTING THE ORGANIZATION’S SOLUTION

We may use the information we collect from you when you register, respond to a survey or marketing communication, surf the website, or use certain other site features in the following ways:

User account

Muni-Link does not associate information that we collect through log files or third parties with your user account. The information is provided voluntarily by you or the Organization during registration. A user account is stored information that gives you access to certain features as well as the ability to personalize certain features. Your user account can only be accessed and used by you, the Site Administrator and restricted personnel of Muni-Link and its contractors.

COOKIES AND WEB BEACONS; “DO NOT TRACK” SIGNALS

A cookie is a piece of data stored on your computer tied to information about you. The only personal information a cookie can contain is information you supply. Muni-Link uses cookies to let us know when a user is signed in.

When you are signed in and depending on your assigned role(s), additional services become available through our menu system. Again, depending on your assigned role(s), cookies may offer the following benefits after Sign-In:

You can disable cookies in your browser’s preferences. If you disable cookies in your browser, you may still use the Solution but certain services and/or features may not function properly. For example, services that require Sign-In will not work if cookies are disabled.

If you enable or send a “do not track” signal or similar mechanism relating to the tracking of browsing activities, we do not have practices or protocols to honor or respond to such request. However, we only collect the types of information otherwise described in the Privacy Policy.

Note that Muni-Link and/or your Organization may engage with third parties to enable certain functionality or usage analytics, and such third-parties may use cookies, e-tags, beacons and scripts. For example, Google Analytics may be used to track visitor activity on the Solution. The use of third-party cookies is not covered by this Privacy Policy because Muni-Link does not have access to or control of these cookies.

As true of most Web sites, we gather certain information automatically and store it in log files. This information may include internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, operating system, date/time stamp, and/or clickstream data.

DEVICE INFORMATION

We may collect and store device-specific information (such as unique device identifiers) in order to facilitate the delivery of push notifications to mobile devices. In this regard, we may associate your device identifier with your Muni-Link account. This device information may also be collected and stored by certain of our trusted contractors or service providers, subject to the applicable terms of this Privacy Policy related to the sharing of information with such trusted third parties.

INTERACTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

Registered users may collaborate and communicate through interactive means facilitated on the Solution. If you post content to the Solution, we may maintain such content and publish your screen name and other similar information provided to us by you or your Organization in order to facilitate the intended operation and interaction of the digital and social media features.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE SITE

SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

From time to time, it may be necessary for Muni-Link to send out a service-related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance, we might send you a notification email. Users cannot opt-out of these communications though they can delete their account. These communications are not promotional in nature.

DATA RETENTION

When you or the Site Administrator deletes your account, the information contained in your user account is no longer available except to the extent it is backed-up as described below. We do not retain your data on behalf the Organization except as necessary to provide the service requested, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes and enforce our agreements, all in compliance with applicable laws. We also back-up information in accordance with industry standard practices.

CONTENT UPDATE ALERTS

An Organization’s customer(s) (“Users”) can opt to “receive updates” when information on the website is changed. Content update alerts are messages to users when certain changes are made to Pages to which they subscribe. This is done by completing an online form. Only an email address is required in completing this form. Organizations also have the ability to allow “content update alerts” via Text (optional). After form completion, the user can unsubscribe to stop receiving updates through a link sent over email.

The user can also subscribe to get updates on specific projects. The User can opt out of projects at a later time, but still receive updates for news and announcements if they prefer. If a User unsubscribes via the unsubscribe link, they will no longer receive updates.

Customer service

As necessary, Muni-Link may communicate with you through email, phone or online to provide requested services and in regards to account-related issues on behalf of the Organization.

SHARING OF INFORMATION COLLECTED WHEN HOSTING AN ORGANIZATION’S SOLUTION

WHEN REQUIRED BY LAW

Though we make every effort to preserve your privacy, we may need to disclose personal information when required by law wherein we have a good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a current judicial proceeding, a court order or legal process served on the Solution.

ADMINISTRATIVE PRIVILEGES

Users who have been assigned administrative privileges by the Organization have access to all registered user information strictly and solely on their Solution. Contact the Organization for more information regarding who has been assigned these privileges and how this assigning process works.

SERVICE PROVIDERS

From time to time, Muni-Link may retain trusted businesses and contractors to provide certain services, which support our provision and hosting of the Solution or otherwise support the operation of the associated online services. We may also contract with trusted third parties to provide complimentary products or services which may be integrated with, linked to (either via a website link or otherwise) or accessible from (such as through single sign on functionality), the Solution.

Businesses and contractors who have access to personal information are required to protect this information in a manner that is consistent with this Privacy Policy, for example, by not using the information for any purpose other than to carry out the services they are performing for us or to facilitate access to an integrated service offering. We will not disclose your personal information to any third party to the extent prohibited by law.

MODIFICATIONS TO PERSONAL INFORMATION

There are three ways personal information can be modified:

  1. If your personal information changes, or if you no longer want a user account on the Solution, you or (depending on the platform you are using) your Site Administrator may update or delete your personal information in your account.
  2. Site Administrators can modify personal information. These Administrators only have access to their Solution’s user information.
  3. If you have any other requests related to the modifications or deletion of your personal information, please contact the Site Administrator or Muni-Link. If the request is made to Muni-Link, we will look to the Organization to validate the request and respond accordingly.

The Solution may contain links to other sites. Muni-Link is not responsible for the privacy practices of other such sites. This Privacy Policy applies solely to information that we collect.

SURVEYS AND FEEDBACK FORMS

From time to time, Muni-Link may request information from you through surveys or feedback forms. Participation is voluntary. Information collected is used for the purposes of improving our product and services and understanding our audience. No personal information collected in this manner will be used or disclosed except in compliance with this Privacy Policy.

SECURITY

Muni-Link takes security seriously and employs reasonable security measures and procedures designed to protect your information from unauthorized access and improper use. Only employees, trusted contractors supporting the operation of the Solution, and other third party partners and contractors as generally described in this Privacy Policy have access to personal information. These individuals and entities shall be bound to protect the information appropriately.

Muni-Link servers that store personal information are maintained in a physical environment that utilizes industry-standard security measures. Personal information is stored in password-controlled servers with limited access. When you enter any information, we encrypt the transmission of that information using Transport Layer Security (TLS).

All credit card transactions are processed through a gateway provider and are not stored or processed on our servers.

Be aware though that, despite our diligent efforts and implementation of reasonable security measures, no security measures are perfect or impenetrable and no data transmissions over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. If you have any questions about the security of the Solution, please email us at PRIVACY@MUNI-LINK.COM

If we change this Privacy Policy, we will post the revised Privacy Policy, with an updated effective date, to the Solution by way of a link to WWW.MUNI-LINK.COM/PRIVACY. In addition, we will notify the Organization so that supplemental notice can be provided by the Organization to Solution visitors. When we believe material changes affecting users are made to this Privacy Policy, Muni-Link will notify your Organization and we will also post notice where required (muni-link.com/privacy) so that you are aware of the changes to our Privacy Policy. We encourage you to periodically review this Privacy Policy by visiting the Organization’s Solution and clicking on the Privacy Policy link in the footer of the webpage to stay informed about how we are collecting, using and sharing personal information. This version of the policy is effective as of the latest date indicated in the Change Log, below. Except as otherwise required by law, all changes to this Privacy Policy will be effective when the updated Privacy Policy is posted to the WWW.MUNI-LINK.COM/PRIVACY page and each user is bound by such changes when he or she uses the Solution after such changes have been posted.

By using the Solution, you consent to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to this Privacy Policy, please do not use Muni-Link services. Similarly, with respect to personal information which you provide voluntarily and we collect on behalf of the Organization, please do not submit such information if you do not want Muni-Link to collect and maintain it as provided for herein.

NON-PERSONAL INFORMATION

In the event that any information Muni-Link collects is, or later becomes, public information that is not required at the time to be maintained as confidential under applicable laws, or to the extent that any information we collect is neither personal in nature nor otherwise required to be maintained as confidential under applicable laws, then Muni-Link shall have no responsibility hereunder in connection therewith. As an example, Muni-Link may aggregate certain information we maintain with information about other individuals in a manner that does not disclose personal information specific to any individual. As an additional example, Muni-Link may remove characteristics that make the individual personally identifiable, thereby de-personalizing the information. In either of these examples, Muni-Link shall be free to utilize the information in any way and, unless otherwise required by law, shall not be bound by the terms of this Privacy Policy. As always, Muni-Link will comply with all applicable laws and governing regulations in the collection, use and disclosure of information.

ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS

Despite our best efforts, no security measures are perfect or impenetrable. In this regard, we are not responsible for events or conditions beyond our reasonable control to the extent that they relate to or impact the obligations assumed, or commitments made, hereunder. However, in the event of any data breach or other violation of this Privacy Policy caused by factors outside of our reasonable control, we will comply with all applicable laws in this regard, including those requiring notification in the event of certain defined data breaches.

INTERNATIONAL USERS

As Link Computer Corp. is a U.S.-based company, your personal information will likely be collected and maintained in the United States. If you are visiting from the European Union or other regions with laws governing data collection and use that may be different from U.S. law, then by using this Solution, you consent to your personal information being collected, used and transferred as set forth in this Privacy Policy.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION, INCLUDING JURISDICTION, VENUE AND CHOICE OF LAW

By using this Solution, you irrevocably agree that jurisdiction and venue with respect to any action arising from your use of this Solution, including but not limited to claims arising under this Privacy Policy, shall be solely in the Court of Common Pleas of Blair County, Pennsylvania, and you specifically and expressly waive all objections to personal jurisdiction and venue; you also agree that the provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania without regard to its choice of law provisions.

CHANGE LOG

CONTACT INFORMATION

Muni-Link takes privacy issues very seriously. If you have any questions, suggestions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us at PRIVACY@MUNI-LINK.COM

Muni-Link
ATTN: Privacy Officer
140 Stadium Drive
Bellwood, PA 16617
Phone: (888) 755-7559
Email: PRIVACY@MUNI-LINK.COM
URL: WWW.MUNI-LINK.COM/PRIVACY