Your privacy on the Internet is important to us. As part of the operation and customization feature of The Pacific Research Institute’s website (“pacificresearch.org”), we gather certain types of information from users, and we would like to explain the types of information we gather, what we do with them, and how to correct or change the information.
Information Collected By Pacific Research Institute
Pacific Research Institute collects two types of information from users: personal data such as zip code, email address and demographic information that are collected for email subscriptions or Pacific Research Institute events; and aggregated data such as information about traffic patterns on pacificresearch.org (for example, how many users log on to pacificresearch.org on a daily basis). For certain services, such as book sales or donations, we also request credit card or other payment account information. PRI will collect information on this website only to the degree necessary to provide features and services, to complete online transactions, or to maintain the security of our network and maintain services as detailed below.
Aggregated Information
Aggregated information, such as which pages users visit, is collected through various means. One of these ways is through an IP address, a number that is automatically assigned to your computer whenever you are surfing the Web. Web servers, the computers that “serve up” Web pages, automatically identify your computer by its IP address. When you request a page from pacificresearch.org, our servers log your IP address. pacificresearch.org collects IP addresses for the purposes of system administration only.
Use of Cookies
pacificresearch.org uses cookies to automate the process of logging on to certain areas of the site. The pacificresearch.org cookie is a small data file stored on your computer that contains a single, randomly assigned user ID number. By recognizing this ID number, pacificresearch.org can automatically provide you with the personalized content for which you requested. Cookies can neither read any other files on your computer, nor damage your computer. Most browsers are initially set to accept cookies. If you’d prefer, you can set your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent.
Use of Information Collected by Pacific Research Institute
pacificresearch.org uses both the personal and aggregated information we collect for multiple purposes. The information is used to improve the content of the site, to customize the content and/or layout of the site for each individual user, and if requested, to provide information services by email to the user. After registration, users will receive a single email message confirming registration.
Third Party Sharing
Pacific Research Institute may share voluntarily submitted data with third-party service providers for providing information services by email to the user. These service providers may store database lists containing email addresses and other demographic information. Service providers can track whether the email recipient supports HTML email in their email client, as well as whether an HTML email message has been opened or previewed. These service providers have access to your voluntarily submitted data solely for the purpose of providing these services to us on our behalf, and they are contractually prohibited from sharing your voluntarily submitted data with any third parties.
Information Security at Pacific Research Institute
Pacific Research Institute employees understand the need for user privacy and pacificresearch.org has appointed a privacy policy administrator to monitor privacy practices. Access to user data is strictly limited and can only be accessed by specific individuals who have the necessary username and password combination. A log is maintained to record who has accessed the data. This log is checked at least weekly for possible security breaches.
Children and Privacy
The Pacific Research Institute encourages parents and guardians to spend time with their children online and to be fully familiar with the sites visited by their children. In general, pacificresearch.org will not contain content that is reasonably considered unsuitable for children.
Links to Other Sites
It is important to note that pacificresearch.org contains links to sites other than pacificresearch.org, and that those sites may not follow the same privacy policies as pacificresearch.org. For instance, a link in the “Partners” section of pacificresearch.org will take you away from pacificresearch.org to an entirely different site.
Changes to the Privacy Policy
The Pacific Research Institute reserves the right to change the policy on use of information collected. Any changes in policy will be noted in a revised privacy policy statement and will be posted at least 30 days prior to implementation. You may direct any privacy policy questions to Rowena Itchon.
