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MSN Statement of Privacy
MSN wants to help you maintain your privacy on the Internet The Internet is an amazing tool. It has the power to change the way we live, and we're starting to see that potential today. With only a few mouse-clicks, you can follow the news, look up facts, buy goods and services, and communicate with others from around the world--even people you might never have met. It's important to Microsoft to help its customers retain their privacy when they take advantage of all the Internet has to offer. Microsoft is a member of TRUSTe, an independent, non-profit initiative that exists to help people such as yourself feel confident about using the Internet for your communication, shopping, research, and living. TRUSTe aims to build this confidence by promoting the principles of disclosure and fair information practices among the Web sites that participate in the program. What this means to you is, we are committed to protecting your privacy and developing technology that gives you the most powerful, safe, online experience that you can get anywhere. 
Microsoft is a premier sponsor of TRUSTe and a member of the TRUSTe privacy program. TRUSTe is an independent, non-profit initiative whose mission is to build users' trust and confidence in the Internet by promoting TRUSTe's principles of fair information practices. Questions regarding this statement should be directed to mailto:msnprivacy@msn.com. If the Web site has not responded to your inquiry within seven days or your inquiry has not been satisfactorily addressed, contact TRUSTe. Privacy Principles Because your privacy is important to us, MSN sites displaying this privacy statement will operate by the following six principles. Users should additionally consult the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section accompanying this Privacy Statement for more information regarding these principles. Principle 1. Principle 2. Principle 3. Principle 4. Principle 5. Principle 6. MSN is committed to maintaining its position as a premier site on the Internet. As our site continues to develop, we may add new services and features to our website. In the event that these additions affect our Privacy Statement, this document will be updated appropriately. For more information about our Privacy Statement, see the following Frequently Asked Questions or the FAQs accompanying the MSN sites. Do all sites on MSN follow these privacy principles? How will users know which privacy statement applies to their personal information? Does Microsoft belong to any other privacy organizations? Do all sites on MSN need Personal Information? How do MSN sites collect the Personal Information? How do MSN sites use Personal Information? Does that mean MSN sites sell my Personal Information to other companies? What if I do not want my Personal Information shared with another company? What about companies that partner with MSN sites to provide the products or services on a site? What about the privacy of children? Do MSN sites collect other forms of information about its users? How do I correct or change Personal Information that I have given to an MSN site? Is my Personal Information secure from others using the MSN site? How else might someone learn of my Personal Information while visiting an MSN site?
Do all sites on MSN follow these privacy principles? MSN is made up of many sites, and new ones are added all the time. At this time, the MSN privacy statement applies to those sites which display this statement in conjunction with the privacy notice on the site's Web pages. While MSN encourages other site operators on MSN to comply with these principles, users should carefully examine the privacy statements of sites appearing on or linking to or from MSN which do not display this statement. Personal Information that you choose to provide to other sites will be subject to the privacy policies of that Web site. [Back]How will users know which privacy statement applies to their Personal Information? Pages throughout MSN display a "Privacy Statement" link which identifies the privacy statement applying to the site. Users may click on the link at any time to read the applicable privacy statement. MSN Websites can be identified by the MSN logo appearing in the top left-hand corner of the screen. [Back]TRUSTe is an independent organization whose mission is to build users' trust and confidence on the Internet. Businesses that display the TRUSTe logo have agreed to privacy principles developed by TRUSTe and to periodic reviews to make sure that the businesses' privacy practices are in keeping with the policies. In the event TRUSTe learns of serious violations of a businesses' privacy practices, TRUSTe takes steps to insure compliance. Microsoft strongly believes in the TRUSTe mission and is a premier sponsor of the organization. [Back]Does Microsoft belong to any other privacy organizations? Microsoft has taken a leadership position on privacy, working closely with both policy and technology organizations to create standards and best practices for putting people in control of their Personal Information online. Amongst others, Microsoft is a member of TrustE, the Online Privacy Alliance and the P3P Working Group at the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and international organizations working on these issues. [Back]Do all sites on MSN need Personal Information? No, for many MSN sites it is not necessary for you to provide any information in order for them to provide their services. In other instances, the MSN site may request minimal information, such as your ZIP code, in order to personalize the site. ZIP codes allow the site to provide targeted services, such as the local news or weather, but do not provide the site with any information regarding who you are or how to contact you. Other MSN sites need more information about you in order to operate their service. For example, CarPoint needs your name and other contact information in order to allow its service partners to respond to your request for more information about a particular vehicle. [Back]How do MSN sites collect Personal Information? Personal Information is collected by specifically requesting it from you. Generally this occurs when you register at a site, request a service, or enter an online contest or sweepstakes. [Back]"Cookies" are pieces of information that a Web site transfers to your computer's hard disk for record-keeping purposes. "Cookies" can make the Web more useful by storing information about your preferences on a particular site, such as your preferred chart settings for MSN Encarta. The use of "Cookies" is an industry standard, and many major Web sites use them to provide useful features for their customers. "Cookies" in and of themselves do not personally identify users, although they do identify a user's computer. Most browsers are initially set to accept "Cookies". If you'd prefer, you can set yours to refuse "Cookies". However, you may not be able to take full advantage of a Web site if you do so. For example, the subscription services of MSN Encarta may only be accessed if you accept "Cookies". [Back]How do MSN sites use Personal Information? Usually, MSN sites and their necessary service partners use your Personal Information to operate the site and to deliver their services. For example, if you are using MSN HomeAdvisor, a completed mortgage application may at your request be forwarded to potential lenders. MSN sites also use your Personal Information to inform you of other products or services available from Microsoft and its affiliates. Some MSN sites also use Personal Information to allow other companies to contact you regarding products and services that may be of interest to you (Secondary Uses). If an MSN site proposes to use Personal Information for Secondary Uses, you will be provided an opportunity to instruct the MSN site to not allow such contact. [Back]Does that mean MSN sites sell my Personal Information to other companies? No, MSN does not sell customer lists. However, individual MSN sites may partner with businesses to provide special services to our customers. This type of use of Personal Information is called a "Secondary Use" because it is not necessary to the operation of the business or site. For example, a site may offer discount coupons for services or related products. In many cases these discounts would be an added benefit to our customers. [Back]What if I do not want my Personal Information shared with another company? If an MSN site proposes to make a Secondary Use of your Personal Information you will be given an opportunity to instruct the MSN site not to allow such contact. A list of aliases that allow you to decline this service follows. You may contact these aliases at any time in order to receive directions to remove your information from future mailings. Secondary Use aliases or locations: MSN.COM: mailto:msnprivacy@msn.com MSN Shopping: mailto:msnprivacy@msn.com MSN Gaming Zone: mailto:zprivacy@msn.com MSN Encarta: EncartaPrivacy@css.one.microsoft.com MSN Sidewalk: contact@sidewalk.com MSN Expedia Maps: expmaps@microsoft.com MSNBC: webmaster@msnbc.com Slate: help@slate.com MSN HomeAdvisor: homeadv@microsoft.com MSN CarPoint: no permitted Secondary Uses MSN Computing Central: no permitted Secondary Uses MSN Money Central: no permitted Secondary Uses MSN Women: no permitted Secondary Uses Expedia: notice is given on the member registration page MSN Internet Access: notice is given on the member services page [Back]What about companies that partner with MSN sites to provide the site's products or services? An MSN site may have several necessary service partners who assist in providing the service or product associated with the site. As part of the operations of the site, these companies may have access to your Personal Information. These companies may provide routine services, such as credit card processing, or may provide essential elements of the site. For example, MSN CarPoint must provide contact information to automotive dealers in order to respond to specific requests made by customers. Without this relationship MSN CarPoint could not provide its service to you. These uses of Personal Information are primary to the operation of the site and are not considered Secondary Uses. [Back]What about the Privacy of children? Safeguarding the Personal Information of children is extremely important. For those MSN sites specifically directed at children, and where users have indicated they are younger than 18, MSN sites will collect the minimum amount of Personal Information necessary to the operation of the service. These MSN sites will also send follow up mail to the user's e-mail address instructing them to seek parental permission for their use of the site. A child's Personal Information will be used for the operation of the service but it will not be used for "Secondary Uses" without a parent's permission. There are a number of emerging standards in the area of children's privacy that will affect how we process a child's Personal Information in the future. Through its participation in the Online Privacy Alliance and TRUSTe, MSN is monitoring these changes and is redesigning its systems so as to comply with these new requirements. [Back]Do MSN sites collect other forms of information about its users? In addition to the use of Personal Information to operate MSN sites, an MSN site may also gather anonymous information, which may be used by Microsoft or shared with third parties. This is information which does not personally identify you, but which may be helpful for marketing purposes or for improving the services we offer. For example, MSN might tell its advertisers how many users visited a particular advertisement, and for how long, so they can measure whether the advertisement was effective. This information is also used to generate advertising rates. Generally this information is collected through "traffic data" and may entail the use of "Cookies," "IP addresses," or other numeric codes used to identify a computer. [Back]How do I correct or change Personal Information that I have given to an MSN site? Some MSN sites operate registration pages that allow you to review and update the Personal Information you have submitted. Elsewhere, you are simply given the option of unsubscribing to the service for which you signed up. In all other cases where you need to correct Personal Information you have submitted to an MSN site, please contact the service address published by the particular MSN site. [Back]Is my Personal Information secure from others using the MSN site? Personal Information collected by MSN sites is stored in secure operating environments that are not available to the public. In many instances, such as in the case of credit card numbers, the Personal Information is encrypted before you conduct your transaction. [Back]How else might someone learn of my Personal Information while visiting an MSN site? In addition to directly providing information to an MSN site, you might also provide Personal Information through chat sessions, e-mail exchanges or newsgroups made available to you on MSN. The Statement of Privacy does not cover this type of transfer of your Personal Information. You should always be careful when distributing your Personal Information in this manner. And remember that online chat sessions and newsgroup use is considered public and you are responsible for your actions in these areas. [Back] |