Initiative for Energy Justice Privacy Policy

WELCOME

October 15, 2020: The Initiative for Energy Justice (“IEJ”, “we”, “us” or “our”) is a research and resource center housed at Northeastern University (“University” or “Northeastern”). IEJ provides law and policy resources to advocates and policymakers to advance local and state shifts to equitable clean energy through direct communications, our website staging.iej-dev-site.mysites.io (the “Site”), and other in-person or virtual events (collectively, the “Services”).

SCOPE

Personal Data. This Privacy Statement describes the type of personal data that we collect, how we use and share that data, and your choices concerning our data practices. Personal data (“Personal Data”) means any information about you from which you can be identified.

By providing us with your Personal Data or using our Services, you agree to the data protection practices described in this Privacy Statement. If you do not agree to this Privacy Policy, please do not access or use the Services.

For more information about this Privacy Statement, and your rights under applicable law, please contact us at hello@staging.iej-dev-site.mysites.io or contact Northeastern University at privacy@northeastern.edu.

University-based or Sponsored Research. Additional and/or different practices may apply to data collected from participants in university-based or sponsored research studies or surveys that may be governed by a protocol approved by the Institutional Review Board. When you participate in such research studies, you will be provided with an informed consent form that may describe the additional and/or different data practices and policies that will apply to the study and which may supersede the practices set out in this Privacy Statement.

WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?

Personal Data

We collect Personal Data that you voluntarily give us when you visit the Site, contact us through the Site, use our Services, or apply or are hired to work at IEJ. This data includes:

  • Name, title, age and date of birth
  • Social Security Number (SSN) as required by law for employees and for validation purposes
  • Contact information including address, city, state, postal code, country of residence, email address, home, cellular and other contact telephone number(s)
  • Emergency contact information (names, phone numbers and email addresses)
  • Academic credentials
  • Academic, leisure or other interests
  • Other information pertinent to your specific interests and activities with IEJ

We also collect information you choose to provide to us when you complete any “free text” boxes in our forms (for example, surveys or forums).

Additional Information

We may collect other information to assist us in maintaining or managing our systems, diagnosing problems, assisting you with a help request, or informing investigations.

Automatically Collected Data

When you use the Services the following information is created and automatically logged in our systems:

  • Log data: Information (“log data”) that your browser automatically sends whenever you visit the Site. Log data includes your Internet Protocol (“IP”) address (so we understand which country you are connecting from when you visit the Website), browser type and settings, the date and time of your request, and how you interacted with the Services. We may archive this information in anonymous form for historic records.
  • Cookies: Our Site uses cookies and other technologies to make it easier for you to use the Services during future visits, monitor traffic on our site and personalize informational, educational and other content. For more information please see the “Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies” section below for more about how we use cookies and similar technologies, and your choices with respect to them.
  • Device information: Includes type of device you are using, operating system, settings, unique device identifiers, network information and other device-specific information. Information collected may depend on the type of device you use and its settings.
  • Carrier-related information: Collection of carrier-related information including the name of your wireless carrier, and IDs related to the cell phone hardware in your phone as well as the network to which the device is connected.
  • Platform Specific identifiers: Such as Apple’s Identifier for Advertising and Identifier for Vendor, and Android ID or Android’s advertising identifier.
  • Geolocation information: Including precise location data.
  • Usage Information: Types of content that you view or engage with, the features you use, the actions you take, the other users you interact with and the time, frequency and duration of your activities.

Social Network or Third Party Plug-ins or Widgets

Our Services may include social network or third party plug-ins or widgets that may provide information to their social networks or third-parties about your interactions with our web pages, even if you do not click on or otherwise interact with the plug-in or widget. The information is transmitted from your browser and may include an identifier assigned by the social network or third party, information about your browser type, operating system, device type, IP address, and the URL of the web page where the widget appears. Please read the privacy policies of these sites before you visit them or use their tools to learn what information they collect, use, and share. We are not responsible for the privacy policies or data practices of social network or third party sites or their party plug-ins or widgets.

HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use your Personal Data for the purposes described below:

  • To respond to your inquiries via our contact form 
  • To process applications for employment, internships, or volunteer opportunities, as well as enrollment in programs or events
  • To administer and assess our programs, hiring and maintaining our employee workforce
  • To fulfill public safety obligations to our faculty, staff and students
  • To compile statistics and conduct research for internal and statutory reporting purposes
  • To fulfil and monitor our responsibilities under employment law, and immigration and public safety legislation
  • To administer HR-related processes, including those relating to payroll, benefits administration, performance/absence management, disciplinary issues and complaints/grievances
  • To notify your designated emergency contact(s) of an emergency or crisis that may affect you and/or others
  • To better understand how visitors interact with our Site (including through the use of cookies and similar technologies) and ensure that our Site is presented in the most effective manner for you
  • To send you updates and information about our new programs and services, upcoming events or other promotions or news. Where required by law, we will only send you marketing information if you consent to us doing so at the time you provide us with your Personal Data. You may opt out of receiving such communications by following the instructions contained in each promotional email we send you. In addition, if at any time you do not wish to receive future marketing communications, please contact us at hello@staging.iej-dev-site.mysites.io.
  • If you ask us to delete your data or to be removed from our marketing lists and we are required to fulfill your request, we will retain basic data to identify you and prevent further unwanted processing
  • To prevent fraud or criminal activity, misuses of our products or services, and ensure the security of our IT systems, architecture and networks
  • To (a) comply with legal obligations and legal process, (b) respond to requests from public and government authorities including public and government authorities outside your country of residence; (c) enforce our terms and conditions; (d) protect our operations; (e) protect our rights, privacy, safety or property, and/or that of you or others; and (f) allow us to pursue available remedies or limit the damages that we may sustain.

We use your information described above to fulfill contractual and legal obligations to contractors and employees; perform tasks we carry out in the public interest to promote research and education on energy justice, and inform prospective stakeholders of the opportunities available through IEJ.

We consider the processing of your Personal Data for these purposes to be either (i) necessary for the performance of our contractual obligations with you (e.g. to manage your experience and welfare while you are engaged with our programs or employed by us), or (ii) necessary for compliance with a legal obligation (e.g. equal opportunity and nondiscrimination monitoring), or (iii) necessary for the performance of tasks we carry out in the public interest (e.g. research and education), or (iv) necessary for the pursuit of the legitimate interests of IEJ or a third party (e.g. to enable your access to external services).

If we require your consent for any specific use of your Personal Data (such as for marketing activities, where required by the law), we will collect it at the appropriate time and you can withdraw this at any time. In the limited circumstances where we might use Personal Data to carry out wholly automated decision-making that affects you, we will inform you of the automated processing at the point where any such data is collected.

 

HOW WE SHARE AND DISCLOSE

Except as otherwise described in this Privacy Statement, we do not sell, rent, or share your Personal Data with third parties.

Sharing and Disclosure Outside Northeastern

We may share your Personal Data in the following circumstances:

  • Vendors and Service Providers: To assist us in meeting business operations needs and to perform certain services and functions your Personal Data may be shared with third-party providers of hosting, email communication and support services, analytics, marketing, advertising, employee background checks, administrative and technical services (including Amazon Web Services and Google in the United States, both certified to the Privacy Shield), providers of recruitment models, providers of degree verification services and electronic transcript for delivery. Following our instructions, these parties may access, process or store Personal Data in the course of performing their duties for us. They are contractually prohibited from using or sharing your Personal Data for any purpose other than providing their services to us.
  • Legal Requirements: If required to do so by law pursuant to valid legal process, applicable regulation or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to (i) comply with a legal obligation, (ii) protect and defend our rights or property, and/or those of you or others (iii) act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of you or others, or the public, or (iv) protect us against legal liability.

Sharing and Disclosure Within Northeastern

Your Personal Data may be shared with other departments and business units at the University for the purposes described in this Privacy Statement, notably for delivery, personalization, and improvement of services at Northeastern and other departments and business units. This may be necessary to satisfy local, state and federal laws and regulations or in furtherance of our and our departments’ and units’ legitimate interests in providing and improving educational services, further the advancement of knowledge through research and academic pursuits and providing employment opportunities in connection with operating a large University.

COOKIES AND OTHER TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES

We and our partners use certain technologies to collect information about your use of our Services, in order to operate the Services, conduct analytics, improve your user experience and for advertising purposes.

Cookies

Our Site uses ‘cookies’ which are text files placed on your device when you visit a site which help us understand how you use our Site. Some cookies remain on your computer after you leave the Site (these are called ‘persistent’ cookies). Others are deleted automatically when you close your browser and others simply expire (these are called ‘session’ cookies). For more details on cookies please visit All About Cookies.

By choosing to use the Site after having been notified of our use of cookies in the ways described in this Privacy Statement, and, in applicable jurisdictions, through notice and unambiguous acknowledgement of your consent, you agree to such use.

We use the following cookies:

  • Strictly Necessary Cookies/session – Used to operate the Site and provide users with the Services available through our Site, including log-in and access to secure areas. These cookies are essential for using and navigating the Site and without them basic functions of our Site would not work. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the Site and the Services, you cannot refuse them.
  • Analytics – Used to better understand the behavior of the users on our Services and improve our Services accordingly, for example by making sure users are finding what they need easily.
  • Google Analytics – A web analytics service provided by Google Inc. (“Google”). The information collected by Google (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States (Google is certified to the Privacy Shield for data transfers). How long a Google Analytics cookie remains on your computer or device depends on what it is and what it is used for. Some Google Analytics cookies expire at the end of your browser session, whilst others can remain for up to two years. You can prevent your data from being collected by Google Analytics on our Site by downloading and installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on for your current web browser. For more information on Google Analytics privacy practices, read here.
  • Functionality – Used to enhance the performance and functionality of the Site and our Services.

Advertising – We may use cookies from third parties that enable such parties to serve ads to you based on your visit to our Site. These “interest-based” advertisements are also known as “online behavioral advertising.” Online behavioral advertising is advertising that is directed to you based, at least in part, on your Internet browsing behavior across websites and over time. Although we do not share Personal Data with the third parties that conduct interest-based advertising operations on our behalf, these third parties and their affiliates do collect certain information as a result of their javascript “tags” and other technologies such as web beacons or pixels being used on our Site. The information that they collect includes the names of web pages you view (URL’s), unique identifiers, your IP address, timestamp, and certain types of technical information.

Local shared objects (“Flash” cookies) are associated with non-browser software like Flash Player. Local shared objects can be used like cookies to distinguish your device from others, but will not be deleted or blocked using browser cookie controls. Please visit adobe.com to learn how to delete and block Flash cookies.

HTML5 local storage enables browsers to distinguish your device from others and remember data that may be important for the functioning of the website. Typically HTML5 local storage is only deleted if all Internet history, cache, and cookies are deleted. Please check your browser software for how to delete HTML5 local storage.

E-tags are used to prevent duplicative downloading of content to your browser, which can enhance browser performance. E-tags use unique identifiers for content that can also be used to distinguish your browser in certain instances from others. Typically e-tags are only deleted if all Internet history, cache, and cookies are deleted. You should check your browser software for how to delete e-tags in your particular case.

Our mobile applications may use the following technologies for features, services, advertising, or analytics:

  • Collection of device identifiers, such as Android ID, MAC address, or UDID
  • Collection of geolocation, including precise geolocation

Sharing Cookies and Technical Information with Third Parties

We have relationships with authorized third-party providers whose services are accessed through the Site. We may automatically send one or more of your cookies to the third-party site or service to enable you to access third-party services without re-entering required information each time.

Your Privacy And Choices

On most web browsers, you will find a “help” section on the toolbar. Please refer to this section for information on how to receive a notification when you are receiving a new cookie and how to turn cookies off. 

If you reject, turn off or block cookies, some parts of our Site may not function correctly. Also, blocking cookies will not stop third-parties from collecting IP addresses, data stored in “Flash” cookies, and certain other types of technical information that may uniquely identify your browser.

You can make decisions about your privacy and the ads you receive. You can control whether companies serve you on-line behavioral advertising by visiting the Digital Advertising Alliance (“DAA”) website and using its opt-out: http://www.aboutads.info/choices/. The DAA opt-out requires that cookies not be blocked in your browser. If you are located in the European Union, visit the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance’s Your Online Choices opt-out tool.

As an alternative to the DAA opt–out, you can also elect to block browser cookies from first parties (such as those from our website) and browser cookies from third parties (such as advertisers) by using the cookie blocking options built into your browser software.

Digital Marketing and Ad Networks

Third Parties May Collect Personal Data from Other Sources. Some third parties involved in advertising operations may maintain their own proprietary consumer databases that allow them to personally identify or track website visitors. Other third parties have proprietary technologies to determine what additional devices you may use, on which it can display relevant advertisements.

SECURITY

We take reasonable administrative and technical steps to protect the Personal Data from loss, misuse and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction and, where feasible, systems that solicit or display personally-identifiable information are protected by authentication and authorization controls and Web-based experiences involving personal information are generally secured by SSL (Secure Sockets Layer protocol) with 128-bit encryption. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. Therefore, while we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

RETENTION

We will keep your Personal Data pursuant to our retention schedules which authorize retention for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Statement, while we have a legitimate business need to do so, or as required by law (e.g. for tax, legal, accounting or other purposes), whichever is the longer.

If you have elected to receive marketing communications from us, we retain information about your marketing preferences until you opt out of receiving these communications and in accordance with our policies.

To determine the appropriate retention period for your Personal Data, we will consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the Personal Data, the potential risk of harm from unauthorized use or disclosure of your Personal Data, the purposes for which we use your Personal Data and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means, and the applicable legal requirements. In some circumstances we may anonymize your Personal Data so that it can no longer be associated with you, in which case it is no longer Personal Data.

UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION

If you need to change or correct your Personal Data, or wish to have it deleted from our systems, you may contact us. We will address your request as required by applicable law.

EUROPEAN UNION (EU) INDIVIDUALS

Scope. This section applies to individuals in the EU (for these purposes, reference to the EU also includes the European Economic Area countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). Please read below for important information on your rights with respect to the Personal Data we hold about you.

Your Rights. Subject to EU law, you may have the following rights in relation to your Personal Data:

  • Right of access: If you ask us, we will confirm whether we are processing your Personal Data and, if so, provide you with a copy of that Personal Data along with certain other details. If you require additional copies, we may need to charge a reasonable fee.
  • Right to rectification: If your Personal Data is inaccurate or incomplete, you are entitled to ask that we correct or complete it. If we shared your Personal Data with others, and if you ask us, where possible and lawful to do so, we will also tell you with whom we shared your Personal Data so you can contact them directly.
  • Right to erasure: You may ask us to erase your Personal Data in some circumstances, such as where we no longer need it or you withdraw your consent (where applicable). If we shared your information with others, we will alert them to the need for erasure where possible. If you ask us, and where possible and lawful to do so, we will also tell you with whom we shared your Personal Data with so you can contact them directly.
  • Right to restrict processing: You may ask us to restrict or ‘block’ the processing of your Personal Data in certain circumstances, such as where you contest the accuracy of the data or object to us processing it (please read below for information on your right to object). We will tell you before we lift any restriction on processing. If we shared your Personal Data with others, we will tell them about the restriction where possible. If you ask us, and where possible and lawful to do so, we will also tell you with whom we shared your Personal Data so you can contact them directly.
  • Right to data portability: You have the right to obtain your Personal Data from us that you consented to give us or that was provided to us as necessary in connection with our contract with you. We will give you your Personal Data in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format. You may reuse it elsewhere.
  • Right to object: You may ask us at any time to stop processing your Personal Data, and we will do so:
    • If we are relying on a legitimate interest (described under the “How We Use Your Information” section above) to process your Personal Data — unless we demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing; or
    • If we are processing your Personal Data for direct marketing.
  • Rights in relation to automated decision-making: You have the right to be free from decisions based solely on automated processing of your Personal Data, unless this is necessary in relation to a contract between you and us or you provide your explicit consent to this use.
  • Right to withdraw consent: If we rely on your consent to process your Personal Data, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time, but this will not affect any processing of your data that has already taken place.
  • Right to lodge a complaint with the data protection authority: If you have a concern about our privacy practices, including the way we handled your Personal Data, you can report it to the data protection authority that is authorized to hear those concerns.

You may contact us to exercise your rights.

Legitimate Interest. “Legitimate interests” means our interests in conducting our business as a research and resource center housed at an institution of higher education, and managing and delivering the best Services to you. This Privacy Policy describes when we process your Personal Data for our legitimate interests, what these interests are and your rights. We will not use your Personal Data for activities where the impact on you overrides our interests, unless we have your consent or those activities are otherwise required or permitted by law.

Changes. We will notify you of material changes to the data processing activities described in the Privacy Policy by posting a prominent notice on the Site or otherwise as required by law.

PUBLICLY POSTED INFORMATION

This Privacy Policy does not apply to any information you elect to post to any public areas of the Site. This includes, but is not limited to, comments to Northeastern University blogs or forums. Comments posted to public areas may be viewed, accessed and used by third parties subject to those third parties’ privacy practices and policies.

LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES

The Site may contain links to other websites not operated or controlled by us (“Third Party Sites”), including social media websites and services. We are not responsible for the privacy policies or data practices of such sites. By providing these links we do not imply that we endorse or have reviewed these sites. Please read the privacy policies of these sites before you visit them to understand their privacy practices and policies.

DO NOT TRACK

Do-Not-Track is a public-private initiative that has developed a “flag” or signal that an Internet user may activate in the user’s browser software to notify websites that the user does not wish to be “tracked” by third-parties as defined by the initiative. The online community has not agreed on what actions, if any, should be taken by the websites that receive the “do not track” signal, and therefore Do-Not-Track is not yet standardized. Our website does not alter its behavior or change its services when it receives a “do-not-track” flag or signal from your browser.

HOW TO REQUEST ACCESS TO OR DELETION OF INFORMATION AND FILES PERTAINING TO YOU

You have the right to request access to and removal of information and records pertaining to you stored in IEJ and Northeastern University systems. You may exercise these rights by contacting the appropriate office. We require that such requests be made in writing and include the following information:

  • your name and affiliation;
  • contact information, including your email and postal addresses;
  • the item(s) of information you wish to access or want removed; and
  • the reason for requesting access to, or removal of, the information.

You may contact IEJ at hello@staging.iej-dev-site.mysites.io or Northeastern’s Office of Information Security at:

Northeastern University

216 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 302, Boston, MA 02115

privacy@northeastern.edu

Fax 617-373-6423

There are some instances where IEJ or the University may deny a request to remove information. For example, IEJ or the University may decline to remove the following types of information, including, but not limited to:

  • information required to be maintained as part of employment records, or pursuant to local, state or Federal law or regulation, or in performance of contractual obligations
  • information compiled in reasonable anticipation of, or for use in a civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding

We will generally respond to requests no later than sixty (60) days after receipt, unless a shorter time period is provided under applicable law. If a request is denied, we will send a written explanation explaining the reason for the denial and a notification of your right to file a written statement of disagreement. The University may also provide a right to have the denial reviewed. If the University is unable to act within sixty (60) days, or the time period under applicable law, we may extend that time by no more than an additional thirty (30) days. If we need to extend this time, we will notify you of the delay and the date by which we will complete action on your request.

CHILDREN

We do not knowingly solicit or collect Personal Data from users under the age of 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information about a child under 13 through this Site or the Services, please contact us at hello@staging.iej-dev-site.mysites.io or Northeastern at privacy@northeastern.edu and we will endeavor to delete the information.

CHANGES

The Privacy Statement is subject to change at any time, and the revision date will be noted here. We encourage users to regularly review the Privacy Statement for any changes. We will notify you if we make any material changes, pursuant to the applicable law. The most recent changes to the Privacy Statement occurred on October 15, 2020.