Privacy Policy
BROWSER DATA
We collect and store information from web browsers or mobile devices that access our site. This data is used to address and help diagnose problems with our server and to administer our site, and may include the following:
1. IP Address
2. Browser type
3. Internet service provider (ISP)
4. Operating system type and version
5. A date/time stamp
6. Estimated geographic location
7. Other information associated with the interaction of your browser and our website.
The information we collect from your web browser is stored in temporary log files that reside on our web servers.
When you use the Chat Box, we may also collect technical information from your browser or device (such as IP address, browser type, operating system, and approximate location) in the same manner described above to operate, secure, and troubleshoot the chat function.
COOKIES
Our site may use cookies to keep track of your personal-profile preferences and to ensure you don't see the same information repeatedly. We use cookies for website and browser security purposes. We use cookies to estimate our audience size. Your browser is given a unique cookie that helps us determine whether yours is a repeat visit or a first visit. We use cookies to determine the browser the visitor uses so the site can be designed
to work properly with the most common versions of different browsers.
The Chat Box may also use session cookies or similar technologies during a chat session to enable real-time communication, remember preferences during the session, and maintain connection security. No cookies are used by the Chat Box for marketing, third-party advertising, or cross-site tracking.
REGISTRATION FORMS AND ONLINE SURVEYS
Our site's registration forms or online surveys may require users to give us contact information (such
as their name and e-mail address). We may use contact information from the registration forms or online surveys to periodically send the user information about SIGIS sponsored events or activities. The contact information may also be used to contact
the visitor when necessary. We will not disclose your contact information to any person or company outside of SIGIS without your prior affirmative permission except as provided below. Users may unsubscribe from (opt-out of) future mailings and emails, which include information on unsubscribing from communications.
If you provide contact information (such as your name, work email, or company name) in connection with the Chat Box, we may use that information for the same purposes described above, including to respond to your inquiries and to send you information about SIGIS-sponsored events or activities, subject to your ability to opt out of such communications.
CHAT CONTENT
When you use the Chat Box, we retain the full text of chats and any files you choose to upload. Chat transcripts may be used for internal training, quality assurance, service analytics, and the development of Q&As and similar support materials. Anonymized chats (with identifiers removed) may also be used to train future AI and for other research and service improvement purposes related to SIGIS’s programs and activities.
NO PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI)
Do not submit any protected health information (“PHI”) through the Chat Box. The Chat Box is not designed or intended to collect PHI or other highly sensitive personal data (for example, patient names, account numbers, dates of birth, diagnoses, or treatment details). SIGIS is not acting as a HIPAA Covered Entity or Business Associate with respect to chat submissions. The Chat Box is not a HIPAA-compliant channel, and SIGIS has no obligation to identify, flag, or treat any submitted information as PHI. All chat data is subject to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
CHAT RETENTION AND DELETION
Chats are generally kept for up to fifteen (15) months for support, analytics, and safety purposes. After that, they are automatically deleted when feasible unless they must be retained longer for legal, regulatory, or security reasons (for example, in connection with an investigation, dispute, or system-security review).
It is not feasible for SIGIS to delete historical encrypted backups of chats. However, anonymized chat data (with identifiers removed) may be retained indefinitely for research, statistical analysis, service improvement, or to train AI.
You may request deletion of specific chat transcripts at any time by emailing help@sig-is.org. SIGIS will review and respond to such requests and will honor deletion requests as feasible, consistent with legal, regulatory, and security obligations.
NO SALE OF PERSONAL DATA
SIGIS does not sell your personal data or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising. Information collected through the Chat Box and other parts of the site is used only for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy and as otherwise permitted or required by law.
CREDIT/DEBIT CARD INFORMATION
We use Authorize.net to accept credit cards safely and securely for our clients. Authorize.net collects and manages card and payment information through the electronic credit card processing networks, and adheres to strict industry standards for payment processing. For additional information regarding the privacy of your sensitive cardholder data, please read the Authorize.net Privacy Policy.
The Chat Box is currently made available without charge, and credit/debit card information is not collected in connection with Chat Box use. Do not provide sensitive payment information (such as card number, expiration date, PIN, or CVV) in the Chat Box.
COMPLIANCE WITH LAW
We may disclose your information when necessary to comply with laws, a court order or a subpoena. We may also disclose your information to prevent or investigate a possible crime, such as fraud or identity theft; to protect the security of this site; to enforce or apply other agreements; or to protect our own rights or property or the rights, property or safety of our users or others.
This applies to information collected through both the member portions of the site and the Chat Box.
THIRD-PARTY VENDORS
We may share information with third-party vendors who act for us or on our behalf. For example, we may use third-party vendors to modify our site and assist with information management systems. These third-party vendors may need information collected by the site to perform their functions, but they are contractually obligated to use your information only to perform contracted-for services.
For the Chat Box, we may use hosting providers, chat platform vendors, or analytics tools under confidentiality and data-processing agreements. These vendors may process limited user data on behalf of SIGIS solely to operate, secure, and improve the Chat Box and related services, and are required to maintain the confidentiality of that data consistent with this Privacy Policy.
SECURITY
This site has reasonable security measures in place to protect against the loss of exchanged data, its misuse or interception by third parties. SIGIS assumes no
liability for interception, alteration or misuse of information transmitted over the Internet.
We take reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect information transmitted via the Chat Box as well. However, the Chat Box is not encrypted end-to-end, and users acknowledge that no online platform can guarantee absolute confidentiality or security.
JURISDICTION AND LAW
These Terms of Use shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to conflict of laws principles. You agree that any action or proceeding arising out of these Terms of Use shall be brought in a federal or state court of competent jurisdiction in Delaware and in no other jurisdiction.
This Privacy Policy shall be interpreted consistently with the Terms of Use.
DATA LOCATION
SIGIS is a United States not-for-profit organization organized in the United States. The servers that support our site are located in the United States. While it is in our possession, your information will be stored in SIGIS databases or databases maintained by our third-party service providers on servers and data storage devices located in the United States. U.S. data protection laws may not provide as much protection as the data protection laws in force in some other countries. If you are located in a country outside the United States, by using this site you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States.
This applies to information collected through both the member portions of the site and the Chat Box.
HOW TO CHANGE MODIFY YOUR SIGIS PROFILE
Users may update their email subscription by logging into the SIGIS Members area updating the Subscriptions section of the My Account Dashboard page. User may update their contact information by update the Contact section of the My Account Dashboard page. Additionally, users may change/modify information previously provided to SIGIS by sending an e-mail to help@sig-is.org.
Requests to modify information collected through the Chat Box (including correction or deletion of chat transcripts, where feasible) may be submitted to help@sig-is.org as described above under “Chat Retention and Deletion.”
LINKS TO EXTERNAL WEBSITES
The SIGIS site contains links to other sites. SIGIS is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content
of such sites.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions about our privacy policy or the practices of our website, please send an e-mail to help@sig-is.org.