Privacy Policy for Ask.comLast updated: March 31, 2008 Privacy is an issue that IAC Search & Media Europe Ltd ("Ask", "we" or "us") takes very seriously. We provide this Privacy Policy so that you, our user, will know what information we collect about you and your activities on www.ask.com and any other UK web sites owned and operated by us (the "Ask Sites" or "Sites") and how we use that information. This Privacy Policy describes the privacy practices for the Sites together with the various services (collectively, "Services") and software products ("Software") we may provide on or through the Sites. By using any one or more of the Sites, Services or Software, you agree to the collection, retention and use of your personally identifiable and non-personal information in the manner described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not use the Sites. We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make any material changes in the way we collect, use, and/or share information, we will notify you by prominently posting notice of the changes on the Sites. We encourage you to periodically review our Privacy Policy to be sure you are familiar with the most current version. The Policy will state the date it was last amended at the top of the page. This Privacy Policy answers the following questions: What types of information do we collect? What types of information don't we collect? What non-personal information do we collect? How do we store the non-personal information we collect? How do we use the non-personal information we collect? What personally identifiable information do we collect? How do we use the personally identifiable information we collect? Can you review, change or delete any personally identifiable information we hold about you? How do we use cookies on the Sites? Do third parties use cookies on the Site? How can you block or remove cookies? Do we use your information to deliver targeted online ads to you? What information do we disclose to third parties? Do we transfer information to non-European jurisdictions? What happens if you click on the "Ask Worldwide" or "Ask US" links on the homepage of the Ask.com UK Site? What happens when you leave the Sites to go to other Internet sites? What security precautions do we take to protect your information? Do you have any other questions? What types of information do we collect?Information collected from the Sites can generally be categorized as either non-personal information or personally identifiable information. Non-personal information is information that cannot by itself be linked to a specific individual. For example, we know how many search queries we receive each day but, unless users have created MyStuff accounts and directed us to save their search histories in these accounts (see "What personally identifiable information do we collect?" below), we do not know the names or e-mail addresses of the users submitting the queries. In contrast, personally identifiable information can allow you or another individual to be identified. For example, your name, e-mail address, postcode, etc. can be personally identifiable information.Unless you have created a MyStuff account and have set your options to direct Ask to save your search history in your MyStuff account (see "What personally identifiable information do we collect?" below), we do not associate any non-personal information we collect from you with any personally identifiable information we may hold about you. For this reason, we do not consider your IP address or any information we collect through cookies (see "How do we use cookies on the Sites?" below) to be personally identifiable information, unless and until we are legally required to make such association (see "Law Enforcement/Legal Requirements" below). Back to Top What types of information don't we collect?Our Sites, Services and Software do not:- collect or report back to us any information about other sites you visit on the Internet, except the address of the last URL you visited prior to clicking through to any of the Sites (see "What non-personal information do we collect?" below); - collect or "screen-scrape" any search queries or information that you provide to any other web sites; or - collect or report back to us any data regarding your computer keystrokes (or other data) unrelated to the Sites, Services or Software. Back to Top What non-personal information do we collect?We collect certain non-personal information from or about you, meaning information that cannot allow you or another individual to be identified. For example, if you enter a search query through the Sites or Services, we will receive the query text.If you visit one of the Sites, we also collect the limited information that your browser makes available whenever you visit any website. This information includes: (a) your Internet Protocol (IP) address; (b) the address of the last URL you visited prior to clicking through to the Site; (c) your browser and platform type (e.g., a Netscape browser on a Macintosh platform); (d) your browser language; and (e) the data in any undeleted cookies that your browser previously accepted from the Sites (see "How do we use cookies on the Sites?" and "Do third parties use cookies on the Sites"? below). If you have installed our Software, such as a search toolbar, your use of such Software may send the following information to us: (a) your IP address; (b) your browser type; (c) your default language setting; (d) an identification of any button or menu item you selected or activated; and (e) the text of any web search query you enter into the toolbar. We may also receive any search term or misspelled URL that you enter into your browser's address bar. (This can equally occur if you have modified your browser settings so that address bar search queries and erroneous domain name system (DNS) requests are submitted to us.) In addition, we collect non-personal information relating to the activities of users generally on the Sites (e.g. where traffic comes from, how traffic flows within the Sites, whether users click on initial search results, where users go when they leave the Sites, etc.). Back to Top How do we store the non-personal information we collect?We do not associate any non-personal information we collect from you (including your query text) with any personally identifiable information we may hold about you, unless you have created a MyStuff account and have set your options to direct Ask to save your search history in your MyStuff account (see "What personally identifiable information do we collect?" below).We disassociate your query text data from your IP address after a period of 18 months, except that when AskEraser is enabled, all the non-personal information we collect about the AskEraser user is removed from our servers within several hours (except in the rare circumstances described in the Ask Eraser FAQs which you can read by clicking here). However, even if it is enabled, AskEraser will not apply to searches performed through an Ask.com search toolbar, an Ask.com search box on a third party website or any third party software you might have installed. You should also be aware that if you use our Sites or Services in violation of our Terms of Service, or if we are required to do so pursuant to due legal process by the police or other competent authorities (see "Law Enforcement/Legal Requirements" below), we may collect non-personal information about you even if AskEraser is enabled. (To learn more about AskEraser, click here.) Back to Top How do we use the non-personal information we collect?In general, we use the non-personal information we collect to (i) provide the Services, (ii) improve the quality of your experience on the Ask Sites, and (iii) facilitate product monitoring, product development, targeted advertising and monetisation of commercially oriented search keywords.This means, for example, that we process your search queries, together with the other non-personal information we collect (e.g., your IP address), in order to return a search results page to you. A search results page may include targeted advertisements based on keywords within your search query. We also aggregate query information for purposes of internal reporting including counting the number of queries made on the Sites. When AskEraser is enabled, the search queries you submit will count towards the total aggregate number of search queries on the Sites, but will not count towards aggregate numbers of queries involving particular search terms. In addition, except in relation to AskEraser users, we use non-personal information about our users' activities on the Sites to analyse general traffic flows on the Sites (e.g. where traffic comes from, how traffic flows within the Sites, whether users click on initial search results, where users go when the leave the Sites, etc.). Such information is generally used only on an aggregated basis (exceptions apply in the case of a customer service inquiry or legal process). Back to Top What personally identifiable information do we collect?As a general rule, the Sites, Services and Software do not collect any personally identifiable information about you (meaning any information that can allow you or another individual to be identified) or require you to provide any such information.However, you will need to provide some personally identifiable information if you wish to utilise certain Services. For example, Services such as "MyStuff" require you to register for an account, and you will need to give an email address and password for your account. Other personally identifiable information you might provide to us could include your contact information if you participate in a promotion or competition, or your email address if you submit a help request to us via email or contact us about employment opportunities posted on the Sites. The amount of personally identifiable information you choose to disclose in these circumstances is completely up to you, but access to or use of some Services may be affected if such information is not provided. AskEraser does not apply to any personally identifiable information you choose to submit to us, for example for the reasons described above. If you participate in a promotion or competition or contact us about employment opportunities, we will therefore retain any personally identifiable information you provide even if AskEraser is switched on. If you register for a "MyStuff" account and have previously turned on AskEraser, when you try to submit personally identifiable information to create your account you will be prompted with a pop-up and given the option to turn off AskEraser. Back to Top How do we use the personally identifiable information we collect?We use your personally identifiable information: (i) to provide you with certain Services, specifically the personalized service available to users who have registered for a "MyStuff" account; and (ii) to improve the Services offered to MyStuff users.We also may use your personally identifiable information to contact you, if necessary, in connection with your participation in a promotion or competition or in response to a request or inquiry (including in relation to an employment opportunity) from you. In addition, we may use your personally identifiable information, if necessary, in connection with any legal proceedings, violation or enforcement of our Terms of Service or request by you pursuant to this Privacy Policy (see "Can you review, change or delete any personally identifiable information we hold about you?" below). Your personally identifiable information is not associated in any way with your query text data, unless you have created a MyStuff account and have set your options to direct Ask to save your search history in your MyStuff account. Back to Top Can you review, change or delete any personally identifiable information we hold about you?If you would like to review, change or delete any personally identifiable information that we may hold about you in connection with your MyStuff account, please log into your profile, using the "MyProfile" link on the Site, and you can review such information and edit accordingly. If you delete any personally identifiable information using the "MyProfile" link, please note that residual information (which may or may not contain your personally identifiable information) may remain indefinitely within our backup and archival records, and that we might need to use such information if required to do so for legal reasons.If you would like to review any other personally identifiable information we may hold about you, you need to send us a written request, together with such information as we may reasonably require in order to satisfy ourselves as to the identity of the person making the request and to locate the data referred to in your request. Once you have provided such information, we will allow you to review the relevant personally identifiable information. Back to Top How do we use cookies on the Sites?Cookies are standard Internet technology that allows us to store login information on a user's system and retrieve information from that system.Our web server automatically asks the browser of each new Site user whether it will accept our cookie file. If the user's browser accepts our cookie, our web server will record the cookie's unique ID, and every time the user returns to the Site we will be able to read that cookie's ID number. In this way, cookies allow us to store information about your preferences, to recognise you when you return to the Sites and to determine whether you reached the Sites by means of an Ask.com advertisement on a third party site. This means we can customize and improve the Services we provide to you based on your past preferences and usage history, including whether you clicked on an Ask.com advertisement on a third party site. We also use cookies and other technologies such as pixel tags to track traffic flow and patterns of travel on and within the Sites, as well as for internal reporting. Certain features of the Site, such as MyStuff and AskEraser, depend on cookies. If you wish to use AskEraser, cookies must be enabled in your browser settings so that we can set one cookie to record that you are an AskEraser user. This cookie simply indicates that the AskEraser feature has been turned on, and does not store any personally identifiable information or any other non-personal information. (To learn more about the use of cookies when you enable the AskEraser feature of the Site, click here.) We will not associate any cookie ID with personally identifiable information unless you have created a MyStuff account and have set your options to direct Ask to save your search history in your MyStuff account (see "What personally identifiable information do we collect?" below). The lifetime of our cookies is two years, except for the AskEraser cookie which lasts for 30 years. After any of our cookies has expired, all information stored by that cookie is automatically deleted from our servers. We do not use cookies to track your use of the Internet in any other way or to store any personally identifiable information and, except as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy (see "What information do we disclose to third parties?" below), we do not disclose the cookie information we collect to third parties. Back to Top Do third parties use cookies on the Sites?Advertisements on the Sites, including the sponsored links that may appear on search results pages, are served by third parties. The companies that serve these advertisements may, in the course of doing so, place or recognise a unique cookie on your computer or use other technologies such as pixel tags. This cookie or other technology allows these companies to collect information about your use of the Sites and the Internet and to recognise you when you return to the Sites, so that customised advertisements can be displayed to you on the Sites as well as other websites based on your past preferences and usage history.We also allow third parties who survey consumer satisfaction with the Internet generally to place cookies and/or pixel tags on the Sites for research purposes. Our Privacy Policy does not cover any use of information that such third parties may collect from you. These third parties will have their own policies as to data collection, retention and usage, and we have no control over such policies. If AskEraser is enabled, the cookie we set to record that you are an AskEraser user (see "How do we use cookies on the Sites?" above) suppresses the ability of cookies set by third party ad serving companies to collect information about you. (To learn more about the use of cookies when you enable the AskEraser feature of the Site, click here.) Please note, however, that third parties may still receive your search query text, as described below (see "What information do we disclose to third parties?"). Back to Top How can you block or remove cookies?If you would like to block or remove cookies or pixel tags, you can do so using your browser. Please consult your browser's "help" menu for details, but please note that if you choose to block or remove cookies, you may not be able to use some of the features offered on the Sites, including MyStuff and AskEraser (see "How do we use cookies on the Sites?" above).Back to Top Do we use your information to deliver targeted online ads to you?A targeted online ad is one displayed to you based on the content of the web pages you have visited (i.e., your browsing activity generally), personally identifiable information you have provided or keywords you have used in search queries. As described above (see "How do we use the non-personal information we collect?"), we use your search queries and the keywords they contain, together with other non-personal information we collect (e.g., your IP address), to provide you with a search results page that may include targeted advertisements in the form of sponsored links. We do not otherwise use your information (whether non-personal or personally identifiable) to display targeted online advertising to you, and we do not provide any of your information to any advertiser whose advertisement you click on or view. However, you should be aware that any such advertiser (or any company serving such advertisements) might be able to deduce certain information about you based on the fact that you have viewed or clicked on their advertisement. We have no control over the data collection, retention or usage policies of third party advertisers or ad serving companies.Back to Top What information do we disclose to third parties?Third Party Service Providers.Some elements or parts of the Sites, such as news content, shopping services or the sponsored links on our search results pages, are supplied to us or hosted by third parties under contract. Other elements, for instance relating to a promotion or competition, may be administered by us with the assistance of a third party. In all such cases, the following information which we collect from or about you may be shared with the relevant third parties so that they can supply the relevant services: (a) your Internet Protocol (IP) address; (b) the address of the last URL you visited prior to clicking through to the Site; (c) your browser and platform type (e.g., a Netscape browser on a Macintosh platform); (d) your browser language; (e) the data in any undeleted cookies that your browser previously accepted from us; and (f) the search queries you submit. For example, when you submit a query we transmit it (and some of the related non-personal information described above) to our sponsored link provider so that relevant advertising can be displayed in response to your query. Even if AskEraser is enabled, your search queries will not automatically be deleted from the servers of these third parties. We may also merge information about you into group data, which may then be shared on an aggregated basis with our advertisers and other third parties who provide us with research and/or analysis services. If you provide us with answers to voluntary survey questions, for example, we may present this information to our advertisers and such other third parties in the form of grouped statistics compiled from users' answers to such questions. In addition, we may occasionally allow third party auditors and/or our professional advisors to access your personally identifiable and/or non-personal information. If you are an AskEraser user, only the limited information we retain about you (see "What non-personal information do we collect?" and "How do we store the non-personal information we collect?") will be made available to such parties. Appropriate confidentiality and security obligations are imposed on all third parties referred to above, including suppliers of services related to the Sites, providers of research and/or analysis services and auditors and/or professional advisors. Law Enforcement/Legal Requirements. Subject to applicable law, we reserve the right to release information concerning any user of a Site who violates our Terms of Service, or is involved in (or is reasonably suspected of being involved in) any illegal activity, and to release such information in response to court and government orders, civil subpoenas, discovery requests and as otherwise required by law. Subject to applicable law, we also reserve the right to release information about any user of a Site when we believe in good faith that such release is required to protect our rights, property, business, safety or security, other users or the public, or to respond to an emergency. In addition, we may retain non-personal information about an AskEraser user, without alerting him/her to this fact, if we are required to do so by the police or other competent authorities pursuant to due legal process. Corporate Restructuring. We may transfer to a third party any information we have collected about or received from you if we or any of our affiliates are involved in a corporate restructuring or a sale, merger or other transfer of assets. Back to Top Do we transfer information to non-European jurisdictions?We may transfer your non-personal and/or personally identifiable information to affiliated companies and third party service providers located in jurisdictions which do not necessarily have data protection laws providing the same level of protection as the laws applicable within the European Economic Area. For example, we may transfer both personally identifiable and non-personal information about users to our affiliated companies in the United States for use by them strictly as set out in this Privacy Policy.We impose appropriate confidentiality and security obligations on such companies and service providers, and by using the Sites you expressly consent to your information being transferred to such affiliated companies and third party service providers. Back to Top What happens if you click on the "Ask Worldwide" or "Ask US" links on the homepage of the Ask.com UK Site?If you click through to the Ask.com US site, or to any other Ask.com site corresponding to a non-European country (e.g., Japan), your use of the relevant site will no longer be covered by this Privacy Policy but will be subject instead to the Ask.com US Privacy Policy or the Privacy Policy of the other non-European Ask.com site, as the case may be. A link to such Privacy Policy will be available on the Ask.com US site or other non-European Ask.com site. You should be aware that these jurisdictions do not necessarily have data protection laws providing the same level of protection as the laws applicable within the European Economic Area.Back to Top What happens when you leave the Sites to go to other Internet sites?When you are on the Sites, you may be presented with links to websites owned or operated by third parties unrelated to Ask. If you click on any such link, for example by clicking on a sponsored link or other search result, you may be taken to a website owned or operated by a third party advertiser or another unrelated third party. Except to the limited extent described in this Privacy Policy (see "What information do we disclose to third parties?" and "Do we transfer information to non-European jurisdictions?"), we do not control the data collection, retention or usage policies of any unrelated third parties. Accordingly, you should be aware that when you are on an Internet domain other than one of the Sites or another Ask.com site, third parties may collect information from or about you and/or send cookies to you and/or use your information in any number of ways. We are not responsible for any collection, retention and/or use of any information collected from or about you (whether non-personal or personally identifiable and including any click-stream data) on any domains other than the Sites.Back to Top What security precautions do we take to protect your information?We have appropriate security measures in place to prevent unauthorised or unlawful access to or processing of your data and to prevent any accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, such data. These measures include limiting access to your personally identifiable information to employees who need access to that information in connection with the performance of their job duties and who are aware of the need to maintain the security and confidentiality of such information. However, no security system can be 100% effective, so please be aware that we cannot completely guarantee the security of any information you provide by using the Sites.Back to Top Do you have any other questions?Questions about this Privacy Policy should be directed here.Back to Top |
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