Privacy Policy
Last updated: January 30th, 2021
GeoRGB Community (GRC) is committed to protecting users privacy.
GRC uses the website https://giscourse.online (the GRC platform) as a learning and teaching platform, for the users (students and instructors). GRC offers all its services exclusively through the GRC platform as further described in Terms of Use.
This Privacy Policy describes how GeoRGB collects, stores, uses, and distributes information about the users through the GRC platform and the services associated with it.
By using the GRC platform and the services associated with it, the users consent and agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. The users should not use the GRC platform and the services associated with it, if the users do not agree with this Privacy Policy.
Except as set forth in this Privacy Policy, the users’ personal information will not be used for any other purpose without the consent of the users. The users may withdraw their consent to stop the use of their personal information at any time. However, withdrawing consent may result in their inability to continue using the GRC platform and the services associated with it.
GRC aims to collect, use and disclose only such information as is required to enable GRC to manage the users’ account, to provide services through the GRC platform, to maintain the GRC’s customer/visitor lists, to respond to the users’ inquiries or provide feedback, for identification and authentication purposes, and for service improvement.
GRC will maintain the confidentiality of any contact information that users provide to GRC on signing up for the use of the GRC platform or contacting GRC with questions or for further information and GRC will use it only for the purposes for which GRC has collected it (subject to the exclusions and disclosures GRC has listed below).
Two types of information may be collected through the GRC platform and the services associated with it: Personal information and non personal information. This Privacy Policy does not extend to the collection, use or disclosure of the following information, which is currently not limited by applicable privacy laws: (a) information that is publicly available, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers and electronic address when listed in a directory or made available through directory assistance; or (b) non-personal information (as defined further below).
Personal information is personally identifiable information, such as your name, e-mail address, etc. For security, GRC does not collect or store sensitive cardholder data, such as full credit card numbers or card authentication data. In addition, the instructors will provide other extra personal information, such as picture, profession, experience, education, etc. At the time of collection, GRC will clearly identify the information being collected and the purposes for which it will be used. It is always the users’ choice whether or not to provide personal information, but if the users choose not to provide certain requested personal information, in some instances the users may not be able to register to use the GRC platform and the services associated with it. In other instances, the users’ choice not to provide certain other personal information may mean that the users will not be able to use certain features of the GRC platform and the services associated with it. GRC may collect personal information with respect to the GRC platform registration processes, communications with the users, user support and potential surveys.
Non-personal information is information of an anonymous nature, such as an Internet Protocol Address (IP Address) that has been stripped of all personal information, the domain used to access the GRC platform, and the type and version of browser or operating system being used by visitors to the website. Aggregate information, such as demographic statistics of the users, number of visitors, what pages the users access or visit, and average time spent on the GRC platform is not considered personal information. Similarly, business contact information such as the name, title, business address, or telephone number of a business or professional person or an employee of an organization is not considered personal information.
Although the use of certain non-personal information collected, used or disclosed through the Internet as described herein is not restricted (and to the extent that such is the case, the obligations under this Privacy Policy do not apply to such information), GRC provides information in this Privacy Policy about the collection of such information for the sake of transparency with respect to the operation of the GRC platform. Such non- personal information is collected or derived by GRC in the course of operating the GRC platform. For example, the web servers may automatically collect non-personal information that is provided through the user’s browser or stored in a cookie when the user chooses to visit the GRC platform.
GRC collects information for the purposes shown below.
Registration: The users may be asked to register for an account to use the GRC platform and the services associated with it. If the users choose to register for an account the users must provide certain personal information to GRC such as their full name and email address. In general, none of the users’ account registration information will be shared with any other users of the GRC platform or GRC’s services.
Request Information: If the users request more information about a certain course listed on the GRC platform, the users may be required to input certain further personal information, such as name, contact information, and certain other information depending on the nature of the course the user is interested in. If the users submit an email requesting very specific information to GRC, GRC may send the information contained in the email to the applicable instructor of the course, and the users hereby consent to GRC sharing the users’ personal information with such instructor. Any personal information that GRC provides to the instructors will be treated in accordance with the Instructor Terms, which the users should read. GRC will not be responsible in any way for how any instructor treats the users’ personal information. Alternatively, the users can send the requested information email directly to the instructor’s corporate email, in this case, the users will share their personal information voluntarily.
Marketing Communications: GRC is compliant with the Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (“CASL”). If the users opt-in to receive marketing communications from GRC, GRC will keep the users up to date on our products and services. The users may withdraw their consent to receiving marketing communications from GRC at any time by following the opt-out instructions in each communication.
Statistics: GRC also collects statistics about use of the services purchased through the RGC platform. This information will be kept confidential, however, aggregate statistics that do not personally identify an individual will be kept by GRC and such aggregate statistics may be made available to other members or third parties.
System Logs & Cookies: Cookies are used by GRC to track content usage and traffic on the GRC platform. A cookie is a feature of the users’ web browser that consists of a text file that is placed on the users’ computer by a web server. The GRC platform uses cookies to help it compile aggregate statistics about usage of the GRC platform, such as how many users visit the GRC platform, how long users spend viewing the GRC platform, and what pages are viewed most often, and what pages users may visit directly after leaving the GRC platform. This information is used to improve the content of the GRC platform and to provide and improve the services provided on it. The users can set their browser to notify the users when the users are sent a cookie. This gives the users the chance to decide whether or not to accept it. If the users disable cookies, the users may not be able to take advantage of all the features of the GRC platform. GRC does not link any of the information GRC uses in cookies to any personally identifiable information submitted by the users when the users are on the website.
Internet Protocol (IP) address: The users’ IP address is reported by their web browser whenever the users visit a page on the GRC platform. This information is recorded together with the users’ registration information on GRC’s databases.
Advertisements: Advertisements appearing on the GRC platform may be delivered by GRC or one or more third-party web advertisers. These third-party web advertisers may set cookies. These cookies allow the advertisement server operated by that third party to recognize the users’ computer each time they send the users an online advertisement. Accordingly, advertisement servers may compile information about where or whether the users viewed their advertisements and which advertisements the users clicked on. This information allows web advertisers to deliver targeted advertisements that they believe will be of most interest to the users. The Privacy Policy applies to cookies placed on the users’ computer by GRC, but does not cover the uses of cookies by any third-party web advertisers. For the privacy practices of such third-party web advertisers, the users should consult the applicable privacy policy for the relevant third-party web advertiser(s).
If GRC plans to use the users’ personal information in the future for any other purposes not identified above, GRC will only do so after informing the users by updating this Privacy Policy. See further the section of this Privacy Policy entitled ‘Amendment of this Policy’.
GRC will not disclose or transfer the users’ personal information to third parties without the users’ permission, except as specified in this Privacy Policy (see further Important Exceptions below).
As at the date of this Privacy Policy, GRC shares personal information about the users in respect of the GRC platform and services associated with it, only with service providers as instructors.
GRC’s server is located in United States. By visiting or using the GRC platform and associated services with it, the users agree and consent to the transfer, storage, and processing of their data in the United States.
Occasionally, GRC may employ third parties to help GRC improve the GRC platform and associated services with it. These third parties may have limited access to databases of users information solely for the purpose of helping GRC to improve the GRC platform and associated services with it, and they will be subjected to contractual restrictions prohibiting them from using the information about GRC’s users for any other purpose.
Important Exceptions: GRC may disclose the users’ personal information to third parties without the users’ consent if GRC has reasons to believe that disclosing this information is necessary to identify, contact, or bring legal action against someone who may be causing injury to or interference with (either intentionally or unintentionally) the GRC’s rights or property, other members of the GRC platform, other users of the services, or anyone else (including the rights or property of anyone else) that could be harmed by such activities. GRC may disclose personal information when GRC believes in good faith that such disclosure is required by and in accordance with the law.
GRC may also disclose the users’ personal information in connection with a corporate re-organization, a merger, or amalgamation with another entity, a sale of all or a substantial portion of our assets or stock, including any due diligence exercise carried out in relation to the same, provided that the information disclosed continues to be used for the purposes permitted by this Privacy Policy by the entity acquiring the information.
Security: The security of the users’ personal information is important to GRC. GRC uses commercially reasonable efforts to store and maintain the users’ personal information in a secure environment. GRC takes technical, contractual, administrative, and physical security steps designed to protect personal information that the user provides to GRC. GRC has implemented procedures designed to limit the dissemination of the users’ personal information to only such designated staff as are reasonably necessary to carry out the stated purposes GRC has communicated to the users.
The users are also responsible for helping to protect the security of their personal information. For instance, the users have to protect their email account information or password for the GRC platform access.
Retention: GRC will keep the users’ personal information for as long as it remains necessary for the identified purpose or as required by law. GRC may retain certain data as necessary to prevent fraud or future abuse, or for legitimate business purposes, such as analysis of aggregated, non-personally-identifiable data, account recovery, or if required by law. All retained personal information will remain subject to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If the users request that their name be removed from GRC’s databases, it may not be possible to completely delete all their personal information due to technological and legal constraints.
Amendment of this Policy: GRC reserves the right to change this Privacy Policy at any time. If GRC decides to change this Privacy Policy in the future, GRC will post an appropriate notice on the home page at the GRC platform. Any non-material change (such as clarifications) to this Privacy Policy will become effective on the date the change is posted and any material changes will become effective 30 days from their posting on the GRC platform. Unless stated otherwise, the GRC’s current Privacy Policy applies to all personal information that GRC has about the users. The date on which the latest update was made is indicated at the top of this document. GRC recommends that the users print a copy of this Privacy Policy for their reference and revisit this policy from time to time to ensure the users are aware of any changes. The continued uses of the GRC platform means that the users agree with any changes in this Private Policy.
Access and Accuracy: The users have the right to access the personal information that GRC holds about them in order to verify the personal information GRC has collected in respect to them. Upon receipt of the users’ written request, GRC will provide the users with a copy of their personal information although in certain limited circumstances, GRC may not be able to make all relevant information available to the users such as where that information also pertains to another users. In such circumstances GRC will provide reasons for the denial to the users upon request. GRC will endeavor to deal with all requests for access and modifications in a timely manner.
GRC will make every reasonable effort to keep the users’ personal information accurate and up-to-date, and GRC will provide the users with mechanisms to update, correct, delete or add to their personal information as appropriate. As appropriate, this amended personal information will be transmitted to those parties to which GRC is permitted to disclose the users’ information. Having accurate personal information about the users enables GRC to give the users the best possible service.