PRIVACY POLICY
EFFECTIVE DATE AND LAST REVISION DATE
This Privacy Policy was put into place on
July 26th, 2010
Our Commitment to Privacy
At ripplUSA.com, we realize the importance of feeling safe online, and we are fully committed to ensuring that your privacy is respected and protected. Our Privacy Policy was developed as an extension of our commitment to combine the highest quality services with the highest level of integrity in dealing with our visitors, members, and partners. It is designed not only to assist you in understanding how we collect, use, and safeguard the personal information you provide to us, but also to help you in making informed decisions when using our website and our services.
Security and Confidentiality
ripplUSA.com has numerous security measures in place to help protect the confidentially of personal information submitted to us against unauthorized access or disclosure, as well as accidental loss, destruction, misuse and/or alteration, including, but not limited to, physical, electronic, technical, and administrative controls.
Since the internet is not a 100% secure environment, it is important to note that it is impossible for ripplUSA.com to guarantee that impenetrable security measures are in place against illegal and/or unforeseen activity (“hacking”) of other users which may allow them to get around the privacy or security settings on the ripplUSA.com website. Although ripplusa.net makes good faith efforts to maintain the security of such Personal Information, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us. Consequently, you acknowledge that there are circumstances in which your personal information may be compromised by unauthorized persons.
The security of your personal information depends in part on your protection of your account password. We highly recommend that you do not share your personal login information password with anyone.
ripplUSA.com limits access to your personal information only to employees that we authorize to access that information in order to do their jobs in connection with the ripplusa.net website.
Please note that emails, instant messaging, sharing of content, and similar means of communication with other Users on the ripplUSA.com website are not encrypted. We strongly advise you not to communicate any confidential information through these means. Also, it is important to note that we do not assume any liability to third parties for information you post or transmit in any Content on the ripplUSA.com network.
If you become aware of any breach of data security or have any other questions about the security of our website, please contact us via the CONTACT US page. If we become aware of a security breach, we may attempt to notify you electronically, post a notice on the home page, or elsewhere on the ripplUSA.com site so that you can take appropriate protective steps
Children
The safety and privacy of children are very important to us. Children under the age of 13 are not eligible to use the ripplUSA.com website, and must not attempt to register or submit any personal information whatsoever. The Children’s Online Privacy Act (“COPPA”) protects the online privacy of children under the age of 13. ripplUSA.com does not knowingly collect or maintain personal information of anyone under the age of 13. If it comes to our attention that personal data has been posted to our site of any child under the age of 13, we will delete this information immediately. If you have knowledge that this has occurred, please contact us via the CONTACT US page immediately so that we can take the proper steps in deleting such information.
Any person who provides Personal Information through the ripplusa.net website represents to us that he or she is 13 years of age or older.
Furthermore, children between the ages of 13 and 17 years of age are not eligible to use the ripplUSA.com website without first obtaining the explicit consent of their parents or legal guardians beforehand.
Members and Users Located Outiside the United
States of America
We control and operate ripplUSA.com from the United States of America. The ripplUSA.com network is not intended to subject us to the laws or jurisdiction of any state, country or territory other than that of the United States. It is important to note that we do not represent or warrant that the ripplUSA.com network is appropriate for use in any particular jurisdiction. Those who choose to access the ripplUSA.com network do so at their own initiative and are responsible for complying with all local laws, rules, and regulations, our Terms and Use Agreement, and our Privacy Policy.
Members and Users located outside of the United States of America should know that to the extent applicable, we attempt to comply with local data protection and consumer rights laws. If you are unsure whether this Terms of Use Agreement and our Privacy Policy are in conflict with the applicable local rules where you are located, you should not submit your personal information to the ripplUSA.com website.
Additionally, Members and Users of the ripplUSA.com website located in countries outside the United States of America who submit personal information do hereby consent to the general use of such information as provided in this Terms and Use Agreement and Privacy Policy and to the transfer of that information to and/or storage of the information in the United States of America.
Collection, Use and Sharing of Personal Information
Outlined below is some types of personal information we collect and receive from you while you are within the ripplUSA.com network, as well as ways in which we process, use and sometimes share your personal information. Also included is information that applies to your responsibilities and our liabilities when you share information with third parties and/or linked services. Your personal information is used to help us customize the content and layout of the ripplUSA.com website so that we may provide you with a smooth, fun, and efficient visit.
When you sign-up and become a “Member” on the ripplUSA.com website, you voluntarily provide us with Personal Identifiable Information which may include your name, email, gender, and birth date, and possibly other information that applies to your personal life. Examples include, but are not limited to the following:
Member Registration: Personal Identifiable Information will be required to register as a “Member” on the ripplUSA.com network. Once registered as a “Member”, you are able to create a unique profile with additional “personal information” about yourself if you so choose, including, but not limited to uploading pictures, information about your hometown, family, relationships, networks, activities, interests and places, which will allow you an easy way to connect with people you know. The interactive environment of the ripplUSA.com website provides easily accessible activities and/or tools for you to use such as video chat, photos, videos, audio, blogs, classified advertising, personal wall, message “chalk” board, social networking, and much, much more. **Please refer to the “NAVAGATION” files for detailed information outlining features for our “Members”, and how you can use them.
Surveys and Polls, Questionnaires: From time to time, polls and surveys and/or questionnaires may be conducted on the ripplUSA.com website that ask for opinions on various issues and/or other information. Occasionally, requested demographic information like zip code, age, or gender, as well as other unique identifying information may be required to answer the survey. Such surveys, polls, and questionnaires are completely voluntary.
ripplUSA.com will not disclose any “Personal Identifiable Information” to any third parties with regards to any surveys, polls, or questionnaires. Your consent to use any “Personal Identifiable Information” for the purpose set forth in any surveys, polls, or questionnaires will be explicitly requested by the party conducting it. It is at your sole decision if you so choose to participate.
To Help People Find You: ripplUSA.com allows other members and/or users to use contact information they have about you, such as your name and email address. You can set your personal privacy settings which will allow or prevent other users or members from finding you.
Sweepstakes and Contests, and Giveaways: Occasionally, ripplUSA.com may offer sweepstakes, contests, and giveaways. When we do, personal information may be requested, such as name or email address, and/or phone number, etc. Additional information may be required as part of the entry process, such as a prize collection choice, etc. Such information is completely voluntary on your part.
Third parties may offer incentives in sweepstakes, contests, and giveaways that you wish to take advantage of. If these incentives require “Personal Identifiable Information” to fulfill the incentive offer, it is up to you whether you provide this information, and whether you want to take advantage of the incentive offer. ripplUSA.com will not disclose any “Personal Identifiable Information” to any third parties with regards to any sweepstakes, contests, and giveaway offer. Your consent to use any “Personal Identifiable Information” for the purpose set forth in any sweepstakes, contests, and giveaway offer will be explicitly requested by the party conducting it. It is your sole decision if you so choose to participate. It is important to note, however, that any third party providers have their own Privacy Policies and Terms and Use Agreements for how they use the information you have chosen to give them. ripplUSA.com will not be responsible for the privacy practices or the content of any Third Party. It is highly recommended that provider’s policies are reviewed carefully, and that you are willing to accept their Privacy Policy terms.
Links to Other Websites: The ripplUSA.com network contains links to other websites. This includes links that are placed there by ripplUSA.com, as well as by other ripplUSA.com “Members”. Please be aware that ripplUSA.com is not responsible for the privacy practices of any other website. ripplUSA.com will not be responsible for the privacy practices or the content of any linked website that you visit. It is highly recommended that the Linked Website provider’s policies are reviewed carefully, and that you are willing to accept their Privacy Policy terms.
Blogs, Groups, Chat Rooms, Message Boards, and Other Social Networking Services : Throughout the ripplUSA.com network, various public social networking opportunities (i.e. blogs, groups, chat rooms, message boards, and other forms of public forums), will at times request “Personal Identifiable Information”. ANY information that you disclose in these public form areas can be read, collected, or used by other Users. This information can be accessed by the public, and can in turn be used by others to send you unsolicited communications. You should exercise appropriate caution when revealing your personal information in these areas.
Invite a Friend: The “Invite a Friend” feature is an easy way for ripplUSA.com Users to send an invitation to friends, family, and other people they know to connect with them or visit the site. The email address(es) that you supply will be stored and only used for the sole purpose of sending this one-time email and tracking the success of our referral program. Your friends, family and other people you know may submit a request that we remove this information from our database via the Contact Us link on our website. Request of this nature will be completed within 30 days.
Payments: Becoming a “Member” on the ripplUSA.com network is FREE. Some Third Parties will pay a fee for our service, such as sponsors, advertisers, customized social network clients, partners, and other related as such, that may offer products and/or services that you are interested in. When you enter into transactions with others or make payments through the ripplUSA.com website, we will share your transaction information with only those third parties necessary to complete the transaction.
Strategic Partners, Affiliated Businesses, Clients, Advertisers and Other Third Parties: At times, ripplUSA.com may enter into strategic marketing alliances with third parties, such as Strategic Partners, Affiliated Businesses, Clients, Advertisers, and other Third Parties who may be given access to personal information, including your name, address and email, for the purpose of providing you with information about products and/or services that may be of interest to you. You will have the option to enter into, at your sole discretion, any transactions with our marketing alliances. However, ripplUSA.com, will not, and do not make any representations about the practices and policies of these companies.
Risks in Sharing Information
ripplUSA.com allows you to set privacy options that limit access to your information. Please be aware, however that no security measures are perfect or impenetrable. We cannot control the actions of other users with whom you share your information with. We cannot guarantee that only authorized persons will view your information. We cannot ensure that information you share will not become publicly available. ripplUSA.com is not responsible for third party circumvention of any privacy settings or security measures. You can help reduce these risks by using common sense security practices such as choosing a strong password, using different passwords for different services, and using up-to-date antivirus software.
Passive Data Collection
Aggregate Information: Aggregate Information refers to information that your computer automatically provides to us and that cannot be tied back to you as a specific individual. Examples of aggregate information include, but is not limited to, how many people are in your network, but it will not list the people; referral data such as the websites you visited just before and just after our website; pages viewed; time spent on our website; browser and platform type (i.e., a Firefox browser on a Macintosh platform), and an IP (Internet Protocol) address. An IP address is a number that is assigned by your Internet Service Provider to your computer to identify its location. Your IP address creates aggregate reports on user demographics, traffic patterns for advertisers and partners and/or clients, and for the purposes of system administration. If a person is in violation of our Terms and Use Agreement and/or Privacy Policy, it is a way for ripplUSA.com to ban those “Members” from our website.
Cookies: Cookies are a common Internet technology. Many websites use cookies to provide useful features for their users to enhance their web viewing experience. The ripplUSA.com network can read the “cookies” whenever you visit the ripplUSA.com website. Some examples of how ripplUSA.com uses “cookies” include, but are not limited to, allowing us to determine which areas and features of our site are most popular by measuring user activity, allowing e-commerce, and Internet advertising to personalize features such as targeted news stories, remember user names and passwords for future visits, control ad frequency or the number of times a user sees a given ad, and deliver advertisements targeted to a user’s interest. “Cookies” are also used to confirm you are on the ripplUSA.com website, and it lets us know when you are interacting with ripplUSA.com network applications and websites, our widgets and share buttons, as well as our advertisements. These cookies allow us to use the information we collect to customize your experience on our site so that your visit to the ripplUSA.com website is as relevant and as valuable to you as possible. You may modify your browser preference to refuse cookies, although you may not be able to use some of ripplUSA.com services and take full advantage of the benefits.
Certain Advertisements may be served by third party advertising companies which deliver a “cookie” to you so the ads you see can be tracked, and to ensure that you are not seeing the same ad too many times. These ad networks use “cookies”, or similar technologies on your computer to measure the effectiveness of their advertisements, and to help determine or predict the characteristics and preferences of their audience. ripplUSA.com may share certain non-personally identifiable information about you (such as users age and zip code) with ad network providers to help them deliver more relevant advertisements. ripplUSA.com does not have access to, or control over, these “cookies” or other means of passive data collection. These advertisers’ uses of cookies and/or similar technologies are subject to their own privacy policies.
Cancellation of Membership
Members always have the option to cancel their membership at any time. When a membership is cancelled, your name and other personally identifiable information is removed from our publicly viewable database. However, copies of your personal information and/or profile information may remain viewable elsewhere to the extent it has been shared with others, or was otherwise distributed by your privacy settings, or other users. Third party applications or websites that you have shared your personal identifiable information with may retain your information to the extent permitted under their Terms of Service or Privacy Policies, but they will no longer be able to access the information through our website. Additionally, we may retain certain data contributed by you if ripplUSA.com believes it 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.
ripplUSA.com disclaims any liability in relation to the deletion or retention (subject to the terms herein) of information or any obligation not to delete the information.
Legal Requirements
ripplUSA.com may disclose Personal Information, profile information, and/or information about your activities on the ripplUSA.com website when required by a subpoena or other judicial or administrative order or other wise required by law. Additionally, we may disclose Personal Information where we, in good faith, deem it appropriate or necessary to prevent violation of the ripplUSA.com Terms and Use Agreement, or our other agreements, including, but not limited to taking precautions against liability; protect the rights, property, or safety of the ripplUSA.com network; any individual, or general public; maintain and protect the security and integrity of our services or infrastructure; protect ourselves and our services from fraudulent, abusive, or unlawful uses; investigate and defend ourselves against third-party claims or allegations, or assist the government enforcement agencies.
Mobile Services
ripplUSA.com may offer services through mobile applications created by it or third parties. If you use the services through a mobile device, you agree that information about your use of the services through your mobile device and carrier may be communicated to us, including, but not limited to your mobile carrier, your mobile device, or your physical location. In addition, use of the services through a mobile device may cause data to be displayed on and through your mobile device. By accessing the services using a mobile device, you represent that to the extent you import any of your ripplUSA.com data to your mobile device that you have authority to share the transferred data with your mobile carrier or other access provider. In the event that you change or deactivate your mobile account, you must promptly update your ripplUSA.com account information to ensure that your messages are not sent to the person that acquires your old number and failure to do so is your responsibility. You acknowledge that you are responsible for all charges and necessary permissions related to accessing ripplusa.net through your mobile access provider.
Change of Ownership
In the event of a change in ownership, or a merger with, acquisition by, or sale of assets to, another entity, we reserve the right to transfer all of your Personal Information, including email addresses and postal addresses to that entity. All registered Users will be notified of any changes in ownership, merger, acquisition or sale of assets by posting the information on our home page, or by email to a Users email address that is provided to us.
Testimonials
ripplUSA.com may post customer testimonials on the ripplUSA.com network which may contain Personally Identifiable Information such as your name. ripplUSA.com will obtain your prior consent to before posting your name with any testimonial.
Changes to Privacy Policy
ripplUSA.com reserves the right, at our sole discretion to change, modify, add, or delete portions of the Privacy Policy at any time without further notice. In the event there are significant changes in the way we treat your personally identifiable information, or in the Privacy Policy itself, ripplUSA.com reserves the right, at our sole discretion, to display a notice on the ripplUSA.com website or send you an email. All modifications shall be effective upon posting on the ripplUSA.com website in the Privacy Policy. Your continued use of the ripplUSA.com website following any such modifications constitutes your agreement to be bound by and your acceptance of the Privacy Policy as so modified. The “Effective Date” of this Privacy Policy are posted at the beginning of this Privacy Policy Agreement. IF ANY MODIFICATION IS UNACCEPTABLE TO YOU, YOU SHALL STOP USING THE ripplUSA.com WEBSITE. It is very important that you review this Privacy Policy regularly.
Supplying information to the ripplUSA.com network, including any information deemed “sensitive” by applicable law is entirely voluntary of your part. You have the right to withdraw your consent to ripplUSA.com collection and processing policies of your information at any time, in accordance with the terms of this Privacy Policy and Terms and Use Agreement by changing your Settings or by Closing Your Account. Please note that your withdrawl of consent will not be retroactive.
This Privacy Policy is incorporated into and is subject to the ripplUSA.com Terms and Use Agreement. By using the ripplUSA.com website, you expressly consent to the information and handling practices described in this Privacy Policy, and the Terms and Use Agreement.
I HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREE TO ALL OF THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED ABOVE.
You may contact ripplUSA.com with questions or concerns by accessing the
CONTACT US button on the Home Page.
