Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy (the “Privacy Policy”) explains the information we collect from visitors to the Ploughshares web site (the “Site”) or the various social media sites or RSS feeds that offer our content (each a “Platform,” and collectively together with this Site, “the PS Platforms” ). By visiting this Site or accessing any of these Platforms you consent to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

This Privacy Policy describes, among other things, the types of information collected about you when you visit the PS Platforms, how your information may be used and when it may be disclosed, how you can control the use and disclosure of your information, and how your information is protected.

1. Scope of this Privacy Policy

Please note that this Privacy Policy applies exclusively to the PS Platforms. Ploughshares (“PS”) is owned and operated by Emerson College.

This Privacy Policy does not apply to any other websites operated or managed by Emerson College or to any other information collected by Emerson College in any manner.

We also recommend reviewing the Terms of Use governing your use of the PS Platforms.

2. Information Collected

A. Information you provide directly to PS.

You are not required to provide information about yourself when you visit the PS Platforms, however, we may ask for certain information when you access certain services. For instance, you can become a subscriber to Ploughshares on the Site or you can purchase access to more limited content. In either event, you will complete a form and we will have the information you provide such as your name, email, address, and other information. If you submit material for possible publication, we will have your contact information and whatever other information you may provide. If you sign up for emails on Facebook or anywhere else on the PS Platforms we will have that information. If you send us an e-mail we may collect your email address.

For users that register on our website (if any), we also store the personal information they provide in their user profile. All users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (except they cannot change their username). Website administrators can also see and edit that information.

If you buy any of the merchandise offered on the Site or make a donation to PS via the Site, your credit card information is processed via PayPal. You may view PayPal’s privacy policy here.

B. Information we collect automatically. 

In addition to the information you provide directly, PS may collect certain information automatically, regardless of whether you register or request any services, including the following:

  • Your browser type and operating system;
  • Your Internet Protocol (IP) address, which is the number automatically assigned to your computer or other device whenever you access the Internet and that can sometimes be used to derive your general geographic area;
  • Websites you visited before and after visiting the PS Platforms;
  • Web pages and advertisements you view and links you click on the PS Platforms;
  • Unique identifiers, including mobile device identification numbers, which can identify the physical location of such devices in accordance with applicable law;
  • Information collected through cookies, web beacons, and other similar technologies;
  • Interactions with audio and video content, such as the type of content listened to (and content viewed);
  • Information about your interactions with email messages, such as the links clicked and whether messages were opened or forwarded;
  • Upon request, your bandwidth speed and information about the software programs installed on your computer; and
  • Standard server log information.
 C. Information we obtain from other sources.

Where permitted by applicable law, we may collect information about you from other sources, including through interactive applications such asFacebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter. If you listen to the PS podcast we may obtain information about your listening habits from Soundcloud.com. We also may collect information about you from commercially available sources (such as data aggregators and public databases). In general, the information we collect from these sources is disclosed in their respective privacy statements. We urge you to review the terms of use and privacy policies of each of these sites.

The following are examples of the type of information we may collect from other sources:

  • Name, postal address, and telephone number;
  • Demographic data, such as age, gender, and income level;
  • If you access our content via one of the PS Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Soundcloud, or YouTube, your username and password for those services and other information available about you on those services such as your online purchasing behavior;
  • Publicly-observed data, such as activities on blogs, videos, and other online postings; and
  • Other navigation data, such as websites visited and advertisements viewed or clicked on.

This Privacy Policy does not cover the practices of third parties, including those that may disclose information to PS.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING OUR USE OF GOOGLE ANALYTICS

This Site uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”). Google Analytics uses “cookies,” which are text files placed on your computer to help Google (and us) analyze how visitors use the Site. (You can read more about cookies below). The information generated by the cookie about your use of the Site (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the Site, compiling reports on Site activity for us and those providing other services relating to activity on the Site and internet usage generally. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser; however, please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this Site. By using this Site, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above.

D. Combining Information

Please note that all of the information we collect about you may be combined. This allows us, among other things, to tailor our communications to you and to develop rich online content and services across the PS Platforms.

3. Use of Information

We only use payment and identity verification information, such as credit card numbers, driver’s license numbers, social security numbers, or comparable national identifiers, as necessary for completing a particular transaction or fulfilling a service (e.g., when you make a contribution or awarding prizes to contest winners) or as otherwise required by law.

Generally, we use other information collected about you to:

  • Fulfill your requests for products, services, and information, and to authorize a purchase, send you electronic newsletters, and complete a transaction that you have requested;
  • Provide you with special offers and promotional materials;
  • Analyze the use of the PS Platforms and information about visitors to the PS Platforms to understand and improve our offerings and, in accordance with our sharing policies discussed below, to produce anonymous or aggregated data and statistics that might help third parties develop their own products and service offerings;
  • Customize the content you see when you visit the PS Platforms;
  • Develop and provide advertising tailored to your interests;
  • Prevent potentially prohibited or illegal activities and otherwise in accordance with the PS Terms of Use; and
  • For any other purposes disclosed to you at the time we collect your information or pursuant to your consent.

For subscribers, we may share or sell your postal address with other publications or service providers that we believe offer services our readers will enjoy learning about. You may always opt out of having your postal address shared by writing to: WebMaster, Ploughshares, Emerson College, 120 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. Please allow for up to three weeks for this request to be processed. Please understand that if you opt out, this will not stop those companies who already have your information from continuing to use it and sharing it with other third parties. You will need to contact those third parties directly.

If you request a password reset, your IP address will be included in the reset email.

4. The Sharing of Information Collected

PS is committed to maintaining your trust and we want you to understand when and with whom we may share information collected about you via the PS Platforms.

A. Authorized Third-Party Service Providers

We share your contact information with third-party vendors who help us with specialized services, including customer support, payment processing, business analytics, marketing, suppression list management, and data processing. These third parties use your contact information to help us provide our services. You may view PayPal’s privacy policy here. Generally, they use your personally identifiable information only to fulfill your request and do not share it with third parties. Also, authorized third-party service providers may collect non-contact information about your use of our services with cookies, web beacons, and other similar technologies that may be used to deliver advertisements tailored to your interests. For more information, see the discussion below on cookies, web beacons, and other similar technologies, including Do Not Track).

B. Social Media Sites

If you access our content via Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media platform (collectively referred to as “Social Media Platforms”), you are also authorizing us to share and receive information about you with that platform. Each platform has its own privacy policy concerning what information they collect, how they use it, and with whom they will share it. Please review the relevant policies of these social media platforms carefully. You can find some of these privacy policies here:

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube

C. Business Transfers

We may share your information in connection with a substantial corporate transaction, such as the sale of the PS, a merger, consolidation, asset sale, or in the unlikely event of bankruptcy. Our third-party vendors such as Touchnet.com may also reserve rights to share your data under these same circumstances.

D. Legal Requirements

We and our third-party vendors may disclose information about our users, including contact information, to respond to subpoenas, court orders, legal process, and other law enforcement measures, and in order to comply with other legal obligations, such as FCC requirements.

E. Sharing Information To Protect PS, our Users, and Emerson College

We may disclose information to protect and defend the legal rights, interests, and safety of PS, our users, and Emerson College including employees, agents, and contractors (including enforcing our agreements); to protect the safety and security of users of the PS Platforms, Emerson College and its employees, agents, and contractors, and members of the public.

F. Sharing Information With Advertisers

When you use this Site or the PS Platforms you will find third-party advertisements. We share information with advertisers as explained in the in the privacy policies of our Social Media Platforms and as set out above with respect to Google Analytics.

In addition, information collected about your interactions with soundcloud.com may be shared with advertisers or other third parties who, in turn, who may sell this information to advertisers as they disclose in their respective privacy policies or in the section above concerning Google Analytics.

G. Payment Processing

PS uses the payment processing services of PayPal. You may view PayPal’s privacy policy here.

H. Aggregated Or Anonymized Data

Finally, we also may share aggregated or anonymized information with third parties to help us develop content and services we hope will interest you, or to help these third parties develop their own product and service offerings, including targeted marketing.

5. Your Choices

You can choose to enjoy content and features on the PS Platforms without providing us directly with any information about you; however, as described above, some information may be collected automatically or be requested so that you can take advantage of certain features and services offered on the PS Platforms.

You can opt out of receiving commercial email from us by following the instructions contained in any such message or by contacting us at pshares@pshares.org. Please note that even if you unsubscribe to commercial messages, we may still need to send you communications relating to your use of the PS Platforms, such as service announcements.

You have choices about whether cookies and other similar technologies are placed on your computer or mobile device. We describe these practices below in our overview of cookies, web beacons, and other similar technologies (including Do Not Track).

Finally, you may also have choices about the collection and use of your information by third parties or by Social Media Platforms, with respect to displaying relevant advertisements. You should review the privacy policies of these third parties and platforms.

6. Access

If you choose to share contact information with us, you may have the opportunity to update that information by contacting us at pshares@pshares.org. If you ask us to shut down your account or delete your information, we will disable your account within a reasonable period of time. Please note that we may need to retain some information about you in order to satisfy our legal and security obligations. For example, some of your information may remain in backup storage even if you ask us to delete it. In some cases, you may be entitled under local law to access or object to the processing of information that we hold, which specifically relates to you.

If you want to delete your information from the Social Media Platform or from the payment platform, you will need to contact those sites directly.

7. Protection of Information

We are committed to protecting your information. We have adopted commercially reasonable technical, administrative, and physical procedures to help protect your information from loss, misuse, unauthorized access and alteration. Please note that no data transmission or storage can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. We want you to feel confident using the PS Platforms, but we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us

8. The PS Platforms Are Governed By U.S. Law

PS is headquartered in the United States. If you access the PS Platform from outside the United States, the laws of the country from which you access our content may not be equivalent to the laws of the United States. You acknowledge that PS may not comply with the laws of every jurisdiction and expressly agree that the laws of any other jurisdiction do not apply to the PS Platforms. You expressly consent to the collection, transfer, storage, and processing of your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

9. California Visitors

For additional information for residents of the State of California, please see Section 19 below.

10. Privacy Protections for Children

As a not-for-profit college, Emerson College is not required to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Nevertheless, PS does not knowingly collect information over visitors under the age of 13. If you are aware of any user under the age of 13 from whom we have collected personal identifying information, please contact us (insert link) so that we may address this issue immediately.

11. User-Generated Content

The PS Platforms may enable users to submit their own content for use on, social media, blogs, podcasts, online audio and video streams, message boards, and other functions. Publication of user-generated content on the PS Platforms is subject to our Terms of Use. Please remember that any information you disclose becomes public information. Exercise caution when choosing to disclose your contact, financial, and other information in a submission. We cannot prevent such information from being used in a manner that may violate this Privacy Policy, the law, or your personal privacy and safety. You should also be aware that we may also engage a third party to provide some of the services associated with the blogs, message boards and similar functions. This third party will collect and host the information that you submit to the PS Platform, but will not use any of this information for purposes other than providing the service.

12. Third-Party Websites and Services

Please note that there may be links to other websites and services on the PS Platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites, and we recommend that you review the privacy policies of each website that you visit. When you select a link to a third-party website from the PS Platform (e.g., if you click on one of the advertising links on the Site), you will be leaving the PS Platform. Any information that you disclose on the third-party website will be governed by that website’s privacy policy.

13. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices and service offerings. If we modify our Privacy Policy, we will update the “Last Modified Date” and such changes will be effective upon posting. Your continued use of the PS Platforms constitutes your acceptance of the Privacy Policy in effect at the time you visit.

14. Questions

If you have questions regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us at pshares@pshares.org and we will endeavor to respond to your request within a reasonable period of time. You may also submit questions or comments using the postal address listed below:

PLOUGHSHARES
Attention: Webmaster
120 Boylston Street
Boston, Mass. 02116

We are committed to working with you to obtain a fair resolution to any privacy concern.

General Information Regarding Privacy

15. Cookies, Web Beacons and Other Similar Technologies

Cookies are small amounts of data that are stored in separate files within your computer’s Internet browser. Cookies are accessed and recorded by the websites you visit, and by the companies that show advertisements on these websites, so that they can recognize the same browser.

Web beacons (sometimes called transparent GIFs, clear GIFs, or web bugs) are small strings of code that provide a way for us to deliver a small graphic image (usually invisible) on a web page or in an email. Web beacons can recognize certain types of information on your computer such as cookies, the time and date a page is viewed, and a description of the page where the web beacon is placed.

A. How Cookies, Web Beacons and Other Similar Technologies Are Used On The PS Platforms 

The PS Platforms use cookies, web beacons and other similar technologies for the following general purposes:

  • To help us recognize your browser as a previous visitor and to save and remember any preferences that may have been set while your browser was visiting one of our services.
  • To help us customize the content and advertisements you are shown while visiting the PS Platforms.
  • To help measure and research the effectiveness of our online content, features, advertisements and other communications.
  • PS may also allow third parties to place their own cookies within your browser in order to serve you relevant advertising online, to help us measure traffic and effectiveness as described above, to provide you with access to social media networks, functionality and services, and to allow us to conduct surveys and research in which you agree to participate. (For instance, our Social Media Partners place their cookies on the PS Platforms to support social network integration and functionality and for use according to their respective privacy policies.).
  • To help us improve your experience on the PS Platform, including helping provide you with content customized to your interests. They also help us understand whether users read email messages and click on links contained in those messages so that we can deliver relevant content and offers. Our web beacons may collect some contact information (e.g., the email address associated with an email that contains a web beacon).
  • The PS Platform also may include third-party web beacons. These web beacons allow third-party service providers to collect certain information such as your IP address, your browser type, and the web page that you visited before arriving at and after leaving the PS Platforms. These service providers process the information they collect to audit, research, and report information about the PS Platforms and advertisements viewed on thereon.
  • Authorized third-party service providers may collect non-contact information about your visits to the PS Platforms with cookies, web beacons and other similar technologies that may be used to deliver advertisements or marketing tailored to your interests. These third parties may collect information about your online activities over time and across different websites. You should visit the privacy policies of our Social Media Platforms to learn how you may opt out of targeted advertisements on their sites.
  • If you visit our login page, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.
  • When you log in, we will also set up several cookies to save your login information and your screen display choices. Login cookies last for two days, and screen options cookies last for a year. If you select “Remember Me”, your login will persist for two weeks. If you log out of your account, the login cookies will be removed.

By continuing to use the PS Platforms, you consent to our use of cookies, web beacons and other similar technologies as described above.

B. How Third Parties Use Cookies and Other Similar Technologies

Some of the advertisements you see on the PS Platforms are delivered by third parties who also collect information through cookies, web beacons and other similar technologies about your online activities, either on the PS Platforms or across the Internet, so that they may understand your interests and deliver advertisements that are tailored to your interests. These third parties include advertisers, advertising agencies, and ad networks that may collect information when you view or interact with one of their advertisements.

Please note that PS does not have access to the information these third parties may collect about your interests in order to deliver relevant advertising. The information practices of these third parties are not covered by this Privacy Policy. Third parties that may serve, track and/or analyze advertisements on our services, and thereby may collect information about your online activities on such services include, but are not limited to our Social Media Platforms.

C. Do Not Track

Some Internet browsers include the ability to transmit “Do Not Track” signals. Since uniform standards for “Do Not Track” signals have not been adopted, the PS Platforms do not process or respond to “Do Not Track” signals.

D. Managing Cookies

Whether cookies are placed on your computer is something you can control. This section provides some information about how you can manage the cookies that are placed on your computer by PS or third parties.

E. Managing Third Parties’ Behaviorally Targeted Advertising Cookies on Your Computer

A number of companies that use cookies to collect information about your online activities by using web-based advertising are members of the Network Advertising Initiative (“NAI”). The NAI offers a single location to opt out of receiving tailored ads from member companies. To opt out of information collection by NAI member companies, or to obtain information about the technologies they use or their own privacy policies, please visit the NAI consumer opt-out page. Also, through the Digital Advertising Alliance (“DAA”), several media and marketing associations have developed an industry self-regulatory program to give consumers a better understanding of and greater control over ads that are customized based on their online behavior across different websites. To make choices about interest-based ads from participating third parties, please visit the DAA consumer opt-out page.

If you opt out of having your information used to deliver advertisements tailored to your interests, you will continue to see advertisements on the PS Platforms but these advertisements may not be as relevant to you.

F. Adjusting Your Browser Settings

You have the option to set your browser to accept all cookies, reject all cookies, notify you when a cookie is set, and delete cookies periodically (including third-party behaviorally-targeted advertising cookies). Each browser is different, so please refer to the guide below that describes how to set the cookie options on a number of different browser types. If your browser is not listed below, please visit All About Cookies, where you may find more information about your specific browser, or select the “Help” menu in your browser.

Web beacons are generally used in conjunction with cookies, so if your browser is set to reject cookies, or if you delete cookies, web beacons will not be able to track your activity as you navigate between websites.

It is up to you whether to allow us or third parties to send you cookies, but if you block cookies, you may not be able to view or access some, or all, the features on the PS Platforms.

Below you will find directions to help you disable cookies in some of the most popular desktop browsers and mobile browsers.

Mozilla Firefox version 3.5 or later

  • In the “Tools” menu, select “Options”
  • Under the “Firefox will:” dropdown, select “Use custom settings for history”
  • Uncheck the “Accept Cookies from Sites” box to block all cookies, or
  • Click the “Exceptions” button to enter specific websites that you wish to allow/disallow to set cookies

Internet Explorer version 6 or later

  • In the “Tools” menu, select “Internet Options”
  • Click the “Privacy” tab
  • Move the “Settings” slider up or down to adjust your cookie acceptance settings (moving the slider all the way to the top will block all cookies) or
  • Click the “Sites” button to enter specific websites that you wish to allow/disallow to set cookies

Google Chrome version 4 or later

  • Click the wrench icon in the top right of your browser window
  • Select “Options”
  • Click the “Under the Hood” tab
  • Click the “Content Settings” button
  • Click the option to “Block sites from setting any data” to block all cookies Or
  • Click the “Exceptions” button to enter specific websites that you wish to allow/disallow to set cookies

Safari version 4 or later

  • Click the geared wheel icon in the top right of your browser window
  • Select “Preferences”
  • Select the “Security” tab
  • Under “Accept Cookies:”, click the “Never” option to block all cookies
G. Managing Flash Cookies

Flash cookies, also called local shared objects (LSOs), function similarly to standard cookies except that they are often larger and are downloaded to a computer or mobile device by the Adobe Flash Player. In some cases, these Flash cookies can be managed through browser settings. Adobe also provides a means of controlling Flash cookies on its Flash Player: Setting Manager page.

16. Third-Party Online Advertising

The advertisements you see on the PS Platforms are delivered by third parties who also collect information through their own cookies, web beacons and other similar technologies about your online activities, either on our services or across the Internet, in an effort to understand your interests and deliver advertisements that are tailored to your interests. These third parties include advertisers, advertising agencies and ad networks that may collect information about you when you view or interact with one of their advertisements and may collect information about your online activities over time and across different websites.

Third parties that may serve, track and/or analyze ads on our services, and thereby may collect information on such services about your online activities for the purpose of delivering tailored ads to you include, but are not limited to, A9, Admob, Criteo , Google/DFP, Jivox , LiveRail, Mixpo, PointRoll, Sizmek, Yieldbot and YieldMo. PS does not have access to the information these third parties may collect about your interests, in order to deliver relevant advertising to you, and the information practices of these third parties are not covered by this Privacy Policy. These companies may offer a way for you to choose not to have your information used for advertising purposes. You can find more information by clicking on the company names above and following the links to each company’s website.

In addition, some of these companies are members of the Network Advertising Initiative (“NAI”), which offers a single location for consumers to opt out of receiving tailored advertisements from member companies. To learn more and opt out of information collection by NAI member companies, please visit the NAI Consumer Opt-Out page. Also, through the Digital Advertising Alliance (“DAA”), several media and marketing associations have developed an industry self-regulatory program to give consumers a better understanding of and greater control over advertisements that are delivered based on their online behavior across the PS Platforms. PS is committed to complying with the DAA’s Self-Regulatory Program for Online Behavioral Advertising. To learn more, and make choices about interest-based advertisements from participating third parties, please visit the DAA Consumer Opt-Out page.

In addition, PS works with third parties to help us track the advertisements that are delivered to you; in particular, to control the number of times you receive the same advertisement and to analyze the effectiveness of advertising on the PS Platforms. Third parties that use cookies, web beacons and other similar technologies to help us with traffic measurement, research and analytics include Google Analytics. We do not share your contact information with these third parties.

If you opt out of having your information used to deliver advertisements tailored to your interests, you will continue to see advertisements on our services, but these advertisements may not be as relevant to you.

17. California Visitors

Residents of the State of California may request a list of all third parties to which PS has disclosed certain information during the preceding year for the third parties’ direct marketing purposes. If you are a California resident and would like such a list, please contact us at (insert link). If you are a California resident under 18 years of age, and a registered user of any website where this policy is posted, you may request removal of content or information you have publicly posted. Please be aware that such a request does not ensure complete or comprehensive removal of the content or information you posted and there may be circumstances in which the law does not require or allow removal, even if requested.

For all requests, you must put the statement “Your California Privacy Rights” in the subject field of your request and indicate if the information was collected via the Site or the Social Media Platform. You must also include your full name, street address, city, state, and zip code. We will not accept requests via telephone, postal mail, or facsimile, and we are not responsible for notices that are not labeled or sent properly, or that do not have complete information.

18. Contact Us

If you need further assistance, please contact us at pshares@pshares.org If you would prefer to submit your questions or comments by postal mail please send a letter to the following address:

Ploughshares
Attention: Webmaster
120 Boylston Street
Boston, Mass. 02116

Last Updated: May 24, 2024