COUNTERPOINT privacy policy

The https://counterpointapp.org/ (the “Site”) is operated by Green Action Centre (“GAC”). We respect your right to control your personal information. Whether you are tracking traffic or sharing content, we want to make sure that the personal information that you disclose to us remains secure. That is why we have developed this CounterPoint Privacy Policy, which governs how we collect, use and disclose your personal information (the “Privacy Policy”).

This page contains the Privacy Policy for the Site, as well as for any other websites or microsites operated by GAC in connection with the CounterPoint Application, including any tools, forums, event registration pages, social media pages, contest entries, blogs, and/or online donations or grants (collectively, the “Sites”), and for the CounterPoint web application offered by GAC (together with the Sites, the “Service”).

Maintaining the privacy of minors is critical to GAC. For persons under the age of 18, we require parental or guardian consent prior to opening an account, and we reserve the right to verify the existence of that consent.

By accessing or using the Service, you consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information by GAC in accordance with this Privacy Policy. You may choose not to provide us with your personal information. However, if you make this choice we may not be able to provide you with the application, service, or information that you requested.

1. Definitions.

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, the following words have the following meanings:

“collection” means the act of gathering, acquiring, recording, or obtaining personal information from any source, including third parties, by any means.

“consent” means voluntary agreement with the collection, use and disclosure of personal information for defined purposes. Consent can be either express or implied and can be provided directly by the user or by an authorized representative. Express consent can be given orally, electronically or in writing. Implied consent is consent that can reasonably be inferred from an user’s action or inaction.

“user” means an individual who uses the Service provided by GAC, including anyone who accesses or visits the Sites.

“disclosure” means making personal information available to a third party.

“employee” means an employee of GAC, and for the purpose of this Privacy Policy only, includes volunteers, and independent and other contractors performing services for GAC.

“personal information” means information about an identifiable individual, but not aggregated information that cannot be associated with a specific individual. For a registered user, such information may include (but is not limited to) account information and any recorded complaints.

“registered user” means an individual who has created and registered an account with GAC.

“third party” means an individual other than the user, or the user’s agent, or an organization outside GAC.

“use” means the treatment, handling, and management of personal information by and within GAC.

2. Collection

GAC may collect any or all of the following personal information if the information is reasonably required to provide the services accessed or requested by you:

(a) information that you provide when you become a registered user or otherwise complete forms on the Service, such as your name, email and postal address, age, and country of residence;

(b) your log-in and password details in connection with your GAC account, including your username;

(c) information that you provide to GAC in order to give donations, including credit card information;

(d) your correspondence with GAC employees, including any questions, concerns or comments you may have about the Service or problems that you report;

(e) comments, photographs and other content that you may post to the Service; and

(f) details of your requests made through the Service.

3. Purpose of Collection and Use of Personal Information

GAC collects your personal information and will use your personal information as is reasonably required for the following purposes:

(a) if you are a registered user, to establish and maintain your CounterPoint account;

(b) to provide the CounterPoint web application, or the other services or information that you request;

(c) to verify that you are old enough to give your consent to the terms and conditions of the End User Licence Agreement and this Privacy Policy;

(d) if you are under 18 years of age, to confirm that your parent or legal guardian has provided his or her consent to the terms and conditions of the End User Licence Agreement and this Privacy Policy on your behalf;

(e) to verify your identity if you submit comments, photographs or other content to the Service;

(f) to allow you access to submit comments, photographs or other content to the Service;

(g) to respond to questions, comments, requests or complaints that you submit to GAC;

(h) to process your donations;

(i) to provide income tax receipts, where applicable;

(j) to process your registration for certain events or contests;

(k) if you are a member of a CounterPoint team, to allow you to send messages to and receive messages from your team mates and to otherwise participate in team activities;

(l) to edit and moderate comments and content posted to Service and to otherwise administer the interactive features of the Service;

(m) to track GAC’s communications with you;

(n) to analyze use of the Service and to improve the Service;

(o) to send emails, newsletters, regular mail or other communications you have consented to receive from GAC;

(p) to send prizes and/or gifts that you have qualified to receive;

(q) to provide Service-related announcements or notifications to you;

(r) to fulfill a purpose that we disclose to you when we request your personal information;

(s) to meet legal and regulatory requirements.

Personal information gathered by GAC is kept in confidence. GAC staff are authorized to access personal information based only on their need to deal with the information for the reason(s) for which it was obtained. Personal information will only be collected and used by authorized staff in a manner consistent with the activities of GAC.

4. Disclosure

GAC may disclose your personal information to:

(a) its employees, agents, partners, volunteers, and service providers as is reasonably necessary to enable these parties to perform a business, professional, charitable or technical support function for GAC;

(b) a person who, in the reasonable judgment of GAC, is seeking the information as your agent; and

(c) a third party or parties, where you consent to such disclosure or the disclosure is required by law.

If you voluntarily submit or post any information, photographs or other content (“User Content”) to any GAC blog or forum, Twitter pages, Facebook pages or other social networking pages/sites, certain of your personal information may be automatically included in the posting, including without limitation, your user name and email address, and this information may be collected and used by others. GAC has no control over and is not liable for the collection, use or disclosure of any posted User Content or your included personal information by users of the Service, including any blog, forums, Twitter pages, Facebook pages or other social networking pages/sites. You are responsible for ensuring the protection of any of your personal information that you post to any GAC blog, forum, Twitter Page, Facebook Page or other social networking page or site. We recommend that you do not include your home address, job title, telephone number or other more sensitive personal information in any User Content, unless you are entirely satisfied that such information should be made public.

5. Safeguarding Your Personal Information

GAC is committed to safeguarding your personal information. GAC uses appropriate security measures to protect personal information against risks such as loss or theft, unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use, modification or destruction regardless of the format in which it is held. The methods of protection and safeguards used by GAC include, but are not limited to, locked filing cabinets, need-to-know access and technological measures including the use of passwords, encryption and firewalls. While GAC cannot guarantee that risks such as loss, theft, unauthorized access or disclosure of personal information will not occur, GAC will make every effort to prevent such unfortunate occurrences.

GAC takes care in disposing of or destroying personal information to prevent unauthorized parties from gaining access to the information. GAC also ensures that its employees with access to personal information are made aware of the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of personal information. Finally, GAC protects personal information disclosed to third parties by contractual agreements stipulating the confidentiality of the information and the purposes for which it is to be used.

6. Accuracy

GAC is committed to keeping your personal information as complete, up-to-date, and accurate as is necessary for the purposes for which it is to be used. GAC will promptly correct or complete any personal information found to be inaccurate or incomplete. Where appropriate, GAC will transmit amended information to third parties having access to the personal information in question. Upon request, GAC will provide you with a reasonable opportunity to review the personal information in your file to review its accuracy. Such personal information will be provided within a reasonable time of the request and at a minimal or no cost to you.

Also upon request, GAC will provide an account of the use and disclosure of your personal information and, where reasonably possible, will state the source of the information. In providing an account of disclosure, GAC will provide a list of organizations to which it may have disclosed personal information about you when it is not possible to provide an actual list.

7. Complaints

GAC will promptly investigate all complaints concerning our compliance with the Privacy Policy and our dealings with your personal information. If a complaint is found to be justified, GAC will take appropriate measures to resolve the complaint including, if necessary, amending GAC’s policies and procedures. You will be informed of the outcome of the investigation regarding your complaint.

8. Withdrawing Consent

You may withdraw your consent to the collection, use or disclosure of your personal information by GAC at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice. In certain circumstances, your withdrawal of consent will result in the inability of GAC to continue providing aspects of the Service to you. Please contact GAC for more information regarding the implications of withdrawing consent.

9. Non-Personal Information

Non-personal information is information that does not identify you and which we are unable to connect to other information in order to identify you. GAC may collect any or all of the following non-personal information:

(a) Data that you submit to the Service regarding traffic counts;

(b) Aggregate data regarding traffic and traffic patterns in your neighbourhood or community;

(c) The Sites use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”). Google Analytics uses “cookies” which are text files placed on your computer to help the Sites analyze how users use the Sites. Cookies enhance the convenience and use of a website. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the Sites (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the Sites, compiling reports on website activity for the Sites’ operators and providing other services relating to website activity and Internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however, please note that doing so may affect your use of the Sites and your ability to access certain features of the Sites. By using the Sites, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above. Google currently offers a free Google Analytics opt-out tool for Internet Explorer 7-10, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari and Opera, which is available at http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

(d) We may also use additional analytics programs from time to time to process non-personal information about you.

We make no attempt to link this non-identifying information with the identity of individuals using the Service. Your non-identifying information may be permanently archived for future use.

10. Inquiries

To submit an inquiry, complaint, request a review of your personal information, correct or update your personal information, withdraw your consent or request more information or additional copies of the Privacy Policy contact:

Green Action Centre Privacy Officer

Mailing Address: 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2B4

Telephone No.: 1-204-925-3777 or 1-866-394-8880 (toll free number)

E-mail: info at greenactioncentre.ca

11. Unsubscribe

If you no longer wish to receive electronic communications from GAC regarding contests, project updates or other CounterPoint information, please unsubscribe here.

12. Privacy Policy Changes

To accommodate changes in our services, changes in technology, and legal developments, this Privacy Policy may change over time without notice to you. We may add, change, or remove portions of the Privacy Policy when we feel it is appropriate to do so. We encourage you to review our Privacy Policy periodically. Each time you submit personal information or use the Service you agree to be bound by terms of the Privacy Policy which is then current. Whenever we update the Privacy Policy, we will change the date below to indicate when the changes were made.

Date: April 1, 2014

©Green Action Centre, 2014, Winnipeg.