Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy (the “Privacy Policy”) describes how the Accountability Framework handles the information we collect and receive about our website users. The Privacy Policy applies to Accountability Framework services that link to or refer to the Privacy Policy. These services may include websites, mobile apps, other online services and anything else that links to or refers to the Privacy Policy (our “Services”). In addition, the Privacy Policy applies no matter what computer or device you use to access our Services.

Information We Collect and Receive

We collect and receive information about users in a few different ways:

Information you give us. You can give us information directly. For example:

• When you fill out a form, you may give us information such as your name, email address, physical address, and other demographic information; or
• When you otherwise contact us or provide us information directly.

Information we collect or receive when you use our Services. We also collect or receive information when you use our Services. We collect some of this information using cookies, web beacons, and other technologies. Depending on how you access and use our Services, we may receive:

• Log information. This is information that is automatically collected and stored when you use our Services. It may include, for example:
  • Information about your interactions with the websites, apps, and other services you use, the content you view, the search queries you submit, and information in cookies and similar technologies; and
  • Information about how you access those websites, apps, and other services, your browser or operating system, your Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, and the website you visited before visiting our Services.
• Device information. This is information we automatically collect and store about the device you use when you access our Services. Device information includes, for example, the type of device that you are using, and certain device identifiers which may be unique to your device.

Most web browsers accept cookies automatically, but can be configured not to do so or to notify the user when a cookie is sent. If you wish to disable cookies, please refer to your browser’s help section. Web beacons are 1×1 single-pixel graphics that may be embedded in web pages or emails. We may use web beacons on our websites to count and recognize users. Local Storage Objects (sometimes referred to as “Flash Cookies”) are similar to standard cookies except that they can be larger and are downloaded to a computer or mobile device by the Adobe Flash media player. Please note that you may need to take additional steps beyond changing your browser settings to refuse or disable Local Storage Objects and similar technologies. For example, Local Storage Objects can be controlled through the instructions on Adobe’s Setting Manager page.

Location information. This information can include, for example, information about your location derived from your IP address if you are on a computer, or your mobile device’s more precise geolocation information.

Other information. We may receive additional information about you that is publicly or commercially available and combine that with the information we have collected or received about you in other ways.

Google Analytics. We also collect information via Google Analytics. The analytics features we have implemented are Google Analytics Demographics and Interest Reporting, Remarketing, and Google Display Network Impression Reporting. Visitors can opt-out of Google Analytics using the Ads Settings and by using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

How We Use the Information We Collect and Receive

We use the information we collect and receive for the following general purposes:

• To provide our Services. We use the information we collect and receive to provide you with the Services you use or request.
• To provide additional information about the Accountability Framework’s work. This information includes updates on projects, new website features, and invitations to events.
• To personalize the content you receive from us or view on our website.
• To improve our Services. We also use the information we collect and receive to provide content that users are likely to find relevant and engaging. We also use the information to conduct surveys to measure your satisfaction with our Services, which we use to improve our Services.

How We Share the Information We Collect and Receive

We may share certain information we collect or receive with third parties to provide products and services you have requested, when we have your consent, or as described in this Privacy Policy.

The Accountability Framework is a project led by a steering group of non-governmental organizations and coordinated by a secretariat.  Rainforest Alliance currently acts as the Accountability Framework’s secretariat.

We may share information with:

• Accountability Framework steering group members and their respective organizations.
• Other parties in response to legal process or when necessary to protect our Services. We may disclose your information to other parties when we have a good faith belief that:
  • It is necessary to respond to lawful governmental requests or legal processes (for example, a court order, search warrant, or subpoena);
  • The information is relevant to a crime that has been or is being committed;
  • An emergency exists that poses a threat to your safety or the safety of another person; or
  • It is necessary to protect the rights or property of the Accountability Framework.

Organizations or Individuals that Provide Services to the Accountability Framework

Organizations or individuals that provide services to the Accountability Framework or act on our behalf may have access to information about you. These organizations or individuals are limited in their ability to use information they receive in the course of providing service to us for any purposes other than the services for which we have engaged them.

Third Parties that Provide Content, Advertising Services, or Functionality on Our Services

Some of the content and functionality on our Services may be provided by third parties that are not affiliated with us. Such third parties include:

• Audience-measurement companies, which help us measure the overall usage of our Services and compare that usage to other online services.

These and other third parties may collect or receive information about your use of our Services, including through the use of cookies, web beacons and other technologies, and this information may be collected over time and combined with information collected on different websites and online services.

Some of these companies may participate in industry-developed programs designed to provide consumers with choices about whether to receive targeted ads. To learn more, please visit the websites of the Network Advertising Initiative and the Digital Advertising Alliance.

“Do Not Track” Signals

Some web browsers may transmit “do not track” signals to the websites and other online services with which the browser communicates. The Accountability Framework currently does not take action in response to these signals.

Our Commitment to Security

Although no one can guarantee the security of the information collected and received, we do employ safeguards intended to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access or disclosure of this information.

Children’s Privacy

Our Services are intended for a general audience. We do not knowingly collect, use, or disclose personal information from children under the age of 13 without prior parental consent, except as permitted by the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. If you are a parent who consents to the collection of personal information from your child, you agree that your child may use all of our Services and that we may collect, use, and disclose your child’s personal information consistent with this Privacy Policy.

If you have questions concerning our information practices with respect to children, or if you would like to review, have deleted, or stop the further collection of your child’s personal information, you may contact us at contact@accountability-framework.org.

International Users

Regardless of where you use our Services or otherwise provide information to us, the information may be transferred to and maintained on servers located in the U.S. Please note that any information we obtain about you will be stored in accordance with U.S. privacy laws, regulations, and standards, which may not be equivalent to the laws in your country of residence. By using our Services or by providing us with your information, you consent to this collection, transfer, storage, and processing of information to and in the U.S.

How to Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or about the Accountability Framework’s privacy practices in general, please send us an email at contact@accountability-framework.org.

Changes to This Privacy Policy and Additional Information

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, and so you should review it periodically. If there are significant changes to the Accountability Framework’s information practices, you will be provided with appropriate online notice.