Overview
PeopleNet
Corporation. ("PeopleNet"),
the owner of the www.chesshub.com
and www.PeopleNet.com web sites, is
committed to protecting the privacy of anyone, particularly children, who
use PeopleNet’s products and services and the Internet. PeopleNet is
committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all members and
consumers, and PeopleNet strives to ensure that children's information is
protected. One way that PeopleNet attempts to protect children's privacy
is to request that they involve their parents or guardians in the
registration process and in the processes of applying for a free personal
home page, for email services, and other services provided on the Internet
by PeopleNet. We also ask that children be especially cautious when
participating in chat rooms not give out any personal information at any
time. This PeopleNet privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”) applies to the
entire www.chesshub.com and www.PeopleNet.com Internet web sites, as
well as all other Internet-accessible services provided under the PeopleNet
and ChessHub names and marks (collectively referred to for
the remainder of this Privacy Policy as “PeopleNet Services”). The
Privacy Policy is designed to inform you of information PeopleNet would
like to gather about you when you visit PeopleNet Services, how PeopleNet may use that information, how and when it is disclosed to others, how you
can control the use of the information, how you can correct the
information, and how you can safeguard disclosure of your personal
information on the Internet. In short, PeopleNet is devoted to privacy of
its members and all consumers. To this end, PeopleNet has implemented
registration practices and this Privacy Policy concerning the privacy of
information provided to PeopleNet by members and visitors to PeopleNet’s
web sites. Note, however, that this Privacy Policy applies only to the PeopleNet
Services; it does NOT apply to the web sites of any person or
entity other than PeopleNet.
How and When
PeopleNet Compiles and Uses Information about Members
PeopleNet
gathers certain information
automatically from members and visitors to the www.chesshub.com
and www.PeopleNet.com web sites. For example, PeopleNet automatically
determines the number and frequency of visitors to the web sites of PeopleNet
Services and may log IP addresses and the type of operating
system and browser software being used by the visitor’s computer. The IP
address allows PeopleNet to determine the visitor’s ISP and the
geographic location of the visitor’s connectivity point. Also, PeopleNet
collects information on the number of times visitors have "clicked" on
an advertiser’s advertisement running on PeopleNet Services, as well as
the overall demographics available on the visitors who have viewed and
“clicked” on their advertisements. PeopleNet provides this aggregate
information to advertisers, but will not disclose personal information to
them. This allows an advertiser to determine the effectiveness of its
advertisements, as well as the type of consumer who is interested in the
advertiser’s product or service. PeopleNet uses this automatically
collected information only in the aggregate to perform statistical
analyses of the collective characteristics and behavior of members and
visitors, to measure overall demographics and interests of members and
visitors, and to determine how best to devote PeopleNet’s services and
resources. This collective data also helps PeopleNet determine how much
members use certain portions of PeopleNet’s web site, so that PeopleNet can improve the web site.
PeopleNet uses a technology called “cookies”
for aggregate data collection. A cookie is a file transferred from a web
site to the hard drive of your computer to allow the web site to track the
your activities while on the web site. Cookies do not, however, allow the
web site to learn any personally identifying information about you,
including your real name, physical address, age, telephone number, etc.,
unless you set the preferences in your browser to provide that
information. The only other way that such personal information can be
learned by the web site is if you previously provided it at the web site. PeopleNet
does not collect personal information about any one individual
using cookies. Rather, PeopleNet cookies allow PeopleNet to determine that
you are a particular user, that you have visited PeopleNet’s sites and
when, which pages and advertisements on PeopleNet’s sites have been
viewed and how often, and the most popular areas of PeopleNet’s sites.
In this way, PeopleNet can modify and improve its web sites to provide
better, more user-friendly services and presentations for you. PeopleNet does not combine information collected through cookies with other personal
information to tell PeopleNet who you are or even what your screen name or
e-mail address is. PeopleNet also may provide statistical “ratings”
information—though never information about you personally—to PeopleNet
partners about how PeopleNet members, collectively, use the PeopleNet Services. This allows
PeopleNet partners to understand how PeopleNet members and visitors use their areas of the
PeopleNet web site and to
allow them to provide you with a better experience on the Internet. You
should note, however, that PeopleNet does NOT share any of your personal
information with third parties for commercial purposes, unless you are
informed of that at the time of collecting the information and thereby
consent to having such information disclosed to third parties. If PeopleNet
asks for such consent, it will be done so boldly, clearly, and
conspicuously, so that you will know when PeopleNet is seeking such
consent, and you can withhold your consent for any reason and not agree to
provide the personal information. PeopleNet does reserve the right,
however, to release any member’s personal information if the member
participates in or conducts an illegal activity, or if a member is in
violation of PeopleNet’s content guidelines or member agreement (which
can be viewed at www.chesshub.com or at
www.PeopleNet.com), even without
a subpoena, warrant, or other court order. Also, PeopleNet does not assume
any responsibility or liability for the acts of third parties concerning
the privacy of PeopleNet members, though PeopleNet does take steps to
prevent disclosure of a member’s personal information. PeopleNet does
not monitor use of members’ email accounts, unless requested to do so by
a legal authority or when the member’s activities are interfering with
operation of the PeopleNet Services. Also, PeopleNet does not collect or
analyze the email addresses of persons or entities that communicate with PeopleNet
or its members by email, though PeopleNet does use information
provided by such email to allow PeopleNet to respond to such email, when PeopleNet
deems a response necessary. Concerning chat rooms, PeopleNet collects all login information and dialogue and keeps this information for
a period of time determined in PeopleNet’s discretion. PeopleNet does
not, however, analyze this information. In special circumstances, such as
promotions or give-aways, PeopleNet may request personal information in
order to award prizes, etc. In such cases, however, PeopleNet will post
privacy information in the rules governing the promotion or give-away. If
such privacy information conflicts with this Privacy Policy, the privacy
information takes precedent over this Privacy Policy and will govern the
particular promotion or give-away to which the privacy information
pertains. PeopleNet requests that its members not use PeopleNet.com
Services to gather personal information about others for commercial or
illegal purposes. Nevertheless, you should understand that PeopleNet cannot control the acts of members or visitors. You should thus be fully
aware that disclosing your personal information on your own personal PeopleNet
web site, in email, in a chat room, or otherwise, may lead to
use by others of your personal information for commercial or illegal
purposes and may result in others sending you unsolicited email from
outside PeopleNet.
How
PeopleNet May Use Your Personal Information
When you initially register for
PeopleNet Services via www.chesshub.com or
www.PeopleNet.com, the registration
form will request certain, limited personal information about you. Please
note that PeopleNet does not request extensive personal information,
unlike many other companies providing service like PeopleNet. Also, when
you register, you may elect whether to allow PeopleNet to disclose this
limited personal information to third parties who may want to provide
promotional materials to you. If you elect to allow your personal
information to be disclosed to such third parties, PeopleNet will release
that personal information to such third parties, including your real name,
email address, age, and other information you have provided in the PeopleNet
registration profile. You may at any time change your
designation concerning receipt of promotional materials by changing your
personal profile to indicate your new choice. For members under 13,
however, PeopleNet will not release any personal information, even if the
under-13 member requests promotional information from third parties in the
registration form. This is a PeopleNet policy designed to protect the
identities of under-13 members. For PeopleNet members who elect not to
allow their personal information to be disclosed to third parties (as well
as all under-13 members), PeopleNet will not sell, lease, or convey such
members’ personal information to third parties. In this way, such
members will not receive promotional materials from third parties through
their PeopleNet membership. After initial registration, PeopleNet may
occasionally ask for information about you when you sign up to use a
service, or when you order a product. For example, PeopleNet may need your
name, Internet address or screen name, billing address, type of computer,
and/or credit card number in order to process a product order or to
provide a you with a requested service. PeopleNet may also use that
information to let you know of additional products and services about
which you might be interested. You can choose not to receive such
information to by informing PeopleNet on the registration screen when you
enroll for or purchase the product or service. PeopleNet may ask you for
information about your interests, so that both you and PeopleNet can take
advantage of the interactivity of the Internet. It is your option,
however, whether to respond to such PeopleNet inquiries. PeopleNet may
also provide you with an opportunity to be listed in a directory on one of
the PeopleNet.com Services. Again, it is your option whether to
participate in such listings, and you can make changes to or eliminate
this information as desired.
Changing and Removing Personal Information
As noted above, you can change your
personal information provided on the initial profile registration form.
This can be done at any time, at your option. When you terminate your PeopleNet
membership, or if PeopleNet terminates your membership for
violation of its policies or for any other reason set forth in PeopleNet’s guidelines and membership agreement (which can be viewed at www.chesshub.com
or
at www.PeopleNet.com), all your personal information will be removed from PeopleNet’s active database.
PeopleNet may, however, retain some
residual information about you within its records. This residual
information will not be used by PeopleNet for commercial purposes, though PeopleNet
reserves the right to contact former members from time to time.
Special
Protection for Children
PeopleNet
takes special care to protect the
safety and privacy of children who use PeopleNet Services. (PeopleNet
defines "children" as people under the age of 18 years.) As noted
above, PeopleNet does not specifically collect information about children
and believes that children should get their parents’ or guardians’
consent before giving out any personal information, either in email, chat
rooms, web pages, or otherwise. PeopleNet believes that parents and
guardians should participate in their children’s Internet experience. PeopleNet
also recommends that parents or guardians use available
filtering technology to supervise their childrens’ access to the
Internet. In line with its policies concerning the protection of children,
PeopleNet does not disclose information collected from children to any
third party for promotional purposes, regardless of whether the child
chooses to allow such disclosure in his or her PeopleNet personal profile
registration form. This restriction on disclosure also extends to any
information provided by children to PeopleNet in connection with any
special promotion or give-away. Also, PeopleNet encourages children to
include their parents or guardians in the registration process and for
parents and guardians to read this Privacy Policy before their children
register with PeopleNet. All information collected by PeopleNet from
children is used only for statistical analysis, feedback, and for any
reason described in the PeopleNet registration process.
How to Protect Your Privacy on the Internet and within PeopleNet
Beware that, when communicating with others
via the Internet, disclosing personal information runs the risk of
unsolicited email from other parties outside PeopleNet. This email may be
bothersome, take significant time to download, and consume significant
space on your hard drive. You may also find information about Internet
privacy on the world wide web. Many web sites post privacy statements and
policies, such as the Privacy Policy you are reading now. If a site does
not have a privacy statement or policy posted, you may assume that the
site owner can use your personal information for commercial purposes
without limitation. Therefore, be careful to locate and read the privacy
statement on any web site where you are requested or elect to provide
information about yourself. Inform your children that they should not give
personal information to strangers on the Internet. In addition, children
should be told not to fill out Internet forms or register at any domain
without their parents’ or guardians’ prior knowledge and consent.
Today, encryption programs are available to maintain the secrecy of your
Internet transmissions. One such encryption program is known as "PGP",
which stands for "Pretty Good Privacy". It is available at www.pgp.com.
Other encryption programs can also be found on the web. Beware, however,
that even encrypted data can be cracked by computer hackers. You should
never give your PeopleNet passwords to anyone who should not have access
to your account, and you should also recognize that passwords are nowhere
close to foolproof. Computer hackers have the ability to determine
passwords in weeks, or even days. This means that password protected
information may not remain protected, if even a unskilled hacker wants the
information. One way to combat easy password hacking is to use not just
lower-case letters in your passwords, but also upper case-letters,
numbers, and other characters, such as "%" or "$" or "#".
Making your passwords complex makes it much more difficult for hackers to
crack your password, because it means they must try many more combinations
of letters, numbers, and symbols in order to finally arrive at your
password. With complex passwords, hacking programs can take many years to
determine the password, making hacking difficult and economically
nonsensical.
Privacy Policy Changes
PeopleNet
will post any changes to this
Privacy Policy on this page or on the www.PeopleNet.com web site.
Accordingly, you can always come to this page or that site to learn the
information PeopleNet gathers, how PeopleNet may use that information, and
whether PeopleNet will disclose it to anyone.
|