Privacy Policy
Last Updated February 2020
Thank you for your interest in the Cox First Media, a division of Cox Enterprises, Inc., along with our affiliates (collectively, “Cox First Media Network”). We respect your privacy when you use our websites, mobile and other online applications and products and services operated by Cox First Media Network (collectively, the “Cox First Media Network Sites”).
This Privacy Statement describes the types of personal information we collect, how we may use the information and with whom we may share it. In addition, it describes the measures we take to safeguard your personal information, how you can access or change the information we maintain about you, and how you may withdraw consent you previously provided to us or ask us to refrain from sending you certain communications.
By using Cox First Media Network Sites, you consent to the use of information about you in accordance with this Privacy Statement, including our communications using the email address provided by you through one or more of the Cox First Media Network Sites. This Privacy Statement applies to Cox First Media Network Sites and does not apply to any Cox First Media affiliate that maintains a separate privacy statement. Unless otherwise noted in communications you may receive from us, this Privacy Statement does not apply to information you may provide to us through offline methods, for example, at live event premises or via telephone.
Updates to This Privacy Statement
We may update this Privacy Statement to provide clarification or reflect changes to our practices without prior notice to you. If we make changes, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this Privacy Statement. You are responsible for periodically visiting the Cox First Media Network Sites and reviewing this Privacy Statement to check for any changes.
Children Under Thirteen
Cox First Media Network Sites are not intended for or directed to children under the age of 13. No one under the age of 13 may provide any information on any Cox First Media Network Site. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are under 13, do not provide any personal information to us.
This Privacy Statement contains:
1. Information We Collect About You and How We Collect It
2. How We May Use the Information We Collect
3. Information We Share
4. Your Choices About How We Use and Disclose Your Information
5. Access and Corrections
6. Links and Other Third Party Services
7. How We Protect Personal Information
8. Safeguarding Your Account
9. Your California Privacy Rights
10. How to Contact Us
1. Information We Collect About You and How We Collect It
The information we collect about you falls into one of three categories: (1) information you provide to us, (2) information collected automatically when you navigate through the Cox First Media Network Sites, and (3) information provided to us by third parties such as advertisers, sponsors and other business partners.
Information You Provide to Us
We may collect information that you choose to provide on the Cox First Media Network Sites in a variety of ways, such as when you:
You may also provide information to be published or displayed (hereinafter, “posted”) on designated areas of the Cox First Media Network Sites such as message boards, discussion or comment areas, or transmitted to other users of the Cox First Media Network Sites or third parties (collectively, “User Contributions”). Please be aware that we cannot control the actions of other users of the Cox First Media NetworkSites, and we cannot and do not guarantee that your User Contributions will not be viewed or exploited by unauthorized persons.
Information Automatically Collected
As you navigate through and interact with the Cox First Media Network Sites, we may use automatic data collection technologies to collect certain information such as information about your equipment, browsing actions, and usage patterns, including:
We use various technologies for automated collection of data such as cookies, local shared objects/flash cookies, and web beacons (generally referred to as “Data Technologies”). Data Technologies include all current and similar future technologies.
Cookies – A cookie is a small file placed on your device for the purposes of identifying your browser or storing information or settings in your browser. You may refuse to accept browser cookies by activating the appropriate setting on your browser. However, if you select this setting you may be unable to access certain features of the Cox First Media Network Sites. Unless you have adjusted your browser setting so that it will refuse cookies, our system will issue cookies when you direct your browser to access the Cox First Media Network Sites.
Local Shared Objects/Flash Cookies – Local shared objects, sometimes known as Flash cookies, may be used to store your preferences or display content based upon what you have viewed on various websites to personalize your visit. Flash cookies are not managed by the same browser settings as are used for browser cookies. For information about managing your privacy and security settings for Flash cookies, see Your Choices About How We Use and Disclose Your Information.
Web Beacons – A web beacon, also known as a single pixel GIF, pixel tag or clear GIF, links web pages to web servers and their cookies and allows us to obtain information on the number of users who visited those pages and other traffic related statistics.
Advertising Networks
We may partner with third-party service providers, such as ad networks, to serve advertising to you based on predictions generated over time from your visits across different websites, devices, and mobile applications (“online behavioral” or “interest-based” advertising).
Third-party service providers may utilize information collected through a variety of Data Technologies to provide customization, auditing, research and reporting for us, our affiliates and other advertisers. This data collection takes place both on the Cox First Media NetworkSites and on third-party websites and mobile applications.
We do not provide information directly associated with a specific person, such as name and address, to an advertising network when you interact with or view a customized advertisement. However, when you view or interact with an advertisement, the advertiser may make an assumption that you are interested in the subject matter of the advertisement.
Some companies disclose when they are using interest-based advertising programs on the Cox First Media Network Sites to deliver third-party ads or collecting information about your visit for these purposes and give you the ability to opt-out of this use of your information. For more information, see Your Choices About How We Use and Disclose Your Information.
Information Obtained Through Third Parties
Some content or applications, including advertisements, on the Cox First Media Network Sites are served by third parties, including advertisers, ad networks and servers, content providers, and other providers. We also use analytics tools to help analyze how users use the Cox First Media Network Sites.
These third parties may use their Data Technologies to collect information about you when you use the Cox First Media NetworkSites. The information they collect may be associated with your personal information, or they may collect information, including personal information, about your online activities over time and across different websites and other online services. They may use this information to provide you interest-based advertising or other targeted content. We do not control these third parties’ tracking technologies or how they may be used.
When you use the social networking features on the Cox First Media Network Sites, you may be asked to log in to a social network using your social network credentials such as your Facebook user ID. When you log in, we may collect information about you, including personal information, from that social network. In addition, when you use one of the social network sharing tools available on the Cox First Media Network Sites, the social network operating the tool may collect information about you based on such use.
2. How We May Use the Information We Collect
We may use information we collect, including personal information, for the following purposes:
We may combine information that you provide to us with information we receive from other sources, as well as with other information that is automatically collected.
Network Advertising
Network advertising allows the Cox First Media Network and third parties to deliver targeted advertising, enhance marketing programs and help track the effectiveness of such efforts. Our advertising networks also may use this information for determining or predicting the characteristics and preferences of their respective advertising audiences and measuring the effectiveness of their advertising in accordance with their privacy policies.
3. Information We Share
We may disclose aggregated information about our visitors and information provided that does not identify any individual. We may sell or otherwise share information about you that we collect or receive, for example, as described below:
We may also disclose your information:
4. Your Choices About How We Use and Disclose Your Information
We strive to provide you with choices about how we communicate with you. Mechanisms below will provide you with controls over your information.
Registration and SMS Alerts
You may choose not to provide personal information, even though that might impact your ability to register or receive a particular product or service. If you register with us, you also have the option of deleting all information except for your email address. If you would like to completely deactivate your account, please contact us at privacy@coxinc.com.
Please note, however, that if you deactivate your account, you will not receive any newsletters from us, and you will not be able to participate in any of our contests, sweepstakes, or other promotions. Also, even if you deactivate your account, you still need to go through a separate process to unsubscribe from SMS alerts you previously signed up to receive. You can unsubscribe from these alerts by using the “STOP” function within those messages. You agree that, subject to applicable law, we may use your information to contact you for customer service, to inform you of important changes to our products or services, and to send you administrative notices or any communications relevant to your use of the Cox First Media Network Sites, including communications in the event of a data security event.
Newsletters and Other Email Communications
If you decide to unsubscribe from our email newsletters to which you had previously subscribed, or if you do not want to receive marketing emails from us, you can follow the unsubscribe link provided in those emails.
Data Technologies
You have a number of choices regarding certain Data Technologies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser’s setting to refuse all or some browser cookies, or to alert you when cookies are being sent. You may also render some web beacons unusable by rejecting their associated cookies and disable or delete similar data used by browser add-ons by changing the add-ons’ settings or opting out at the website of the technology provider. For example, to manage your Flash cookie settings, you may visit the Flash player settings page on the Adobe website and follow their instructions.
If you disable certain Data Technologies or opt out from location services, however, certain features of the Cox First Media Network Sites may not function properly or at all as a result.
Third Party Communications
If you have submitted your information on a page provided in conjunction with one of our service providers, the information you submit may be jointly maintained by us and the service provider. If you decide to change your preference or opt out from communications, you may also need to contact the service provider separately to request your information be removed from its database. Please visit the applicable third party’s privacy policy for their data collection practices and choices they make available to you. The privacy policies of the third parties control the collection, use and disclosure of all personal information transmitted to them.
Internet-based Advertisements
We do not control third parties’ collection or use of your information to serve interest-based advertising. However, you can opt out of delivery of targeted advertising to you by multiple companies by visiting www.aboutads.info/choices, www.networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp and www.evidon.com. Please note that even if you opt out, you will continue to receive advertisements, but they will not be tailored to your specific interests. To learn more about your choices when it comes to the use of online behavioral advertising data by advertisers and ad servers across the Internet, visit aboutads.info.
5. Access and Corrections
Access to information that we collect and maintain about you may be available to you. For example, if you registered for a password-protected account within the Cox First Media Network Sites, you can access that account to update the information you previously provided.
If you delete your User Contributions from the Cox First Media Network Sites, copies of your User Contributions may remain viewable in cached and archived pages or might have been copied or stored by other users. Proper access and use of information provided on the Cox First Media Network Sites, including User Contributions, is governed by our Visitor Agreement.
6. Links and Other Third Party Services
The Cox First Media Network Sites may contain links to websites and other resources not operated by us. We are not responsible for the content or use of any websites or resources other than those on the Cox First Media Network Sites. Providers of these websites and other resources may have their own privacy policies or notices, which we strongly suggest you review.
We may include applications or widgets from social media providers that allow interaction or content sharing by their users. These widgets, such as a Facebook “Share” or “Like” button, are visible to you on the web page you visit. Integration between the Cox First Media Network Sites and social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter and others may allow social media networks in which you participate to collect information about you, even when you do not explicitly activate their application or widget. Please visit the applicable social media network’s privacy policy for their data collection practices and choices they make available to you. The privacy policies of the respective social media networks control the collection, use and disclosure of all personal information transmitted to them.
7. How We Protect Personal Information
We use commercially reasonable administrative, technical, personnel, and physical security measures designed to safeguard information about you in our possession against loss, theft and unauthorized use, disclosure or modification. For example, transmission of any payment transactions where you provide sensitive financial data such as credit card information will be encrypted. Of course, despite these measures, we cannot guarantee perfect security of networks, servers and databases we operate or that are operated on our behalf.
8. Safeguarding Your Account
The safety and security of your information also depends on you. Where we have given you, or where you have chosen, a password for access to certain parts of the Cox First Media Network Sites, you are responsible for keeping this password confidential. We ask you not to share your password with anyone. You are responsible for the use of your account.
9. Your California Privacy Rights
California Civil Code Section 1798.83 entitles California users to request information concerning whether a business has disclosed certain information about you to any third parties for the third parties' direct marketing purposes. California users who wish to request further information in compliance with this law or have questions or concerns about our privacy practices and policies may contact us as specified in the "How to Contact Us" section below.
Online Tracking Policy for California Residents: As of the effective date of this Privacy Statement, there is no commonly accepted response for Do Not Track signals initiated by browsers; therefore, we do not respond to them.
10. How to Contact Us
If you have any questions or comments about this Privacy Statement, or if you would like us to update information we have about you or your preferences, please contact us by email at privacy@coxinc.com.