Privacy Policy

Middle East Matters respects and values the privacy of all visitors to our websites and those engaging with us through social media and our other Site. This privacy policy is to help you understand what information Middle East Matters collects, how Middle East Matters uses and shares that information, and what choices you have with respect to the foregoing. This privacy policy governs your interaction with us, including our website and social media. This privacy policy does not apply to the data collection and use practices of third parties that Middle East Matters does not employ, manage or control. When you use the Site, you consent to our collection, use and disclosure of information about you as described in this privacy policy. Additionally, our Terms of Use are incorporated by reference into this privacy policy. The terms “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to Middle East Matters Inc., a California incorporation headquartered at 4179 Nagle Ave, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423.

Collection and Use of Information

Middle East Matters collects information that you provide to us directly and information that is made available when you use our Site. We may use such collected information to, among other things: operate, maintain, enhance and provide the Site’s functionality; provide services and information to you; personalize your experience; monitor Site usage; provide user support; generate and review reports and data about Middle East Matters’s user base and service usage patterns; compile aggregate data; aggregate the information with data provided by third parties; resolve disputes and troubleshoot problems; prevent, detect and investigate potentially prohibited or illegal activities or a breach of the Terms of Use; and to comply with legal obligations.

Of further note about the information we collect:

1. Content Sharing: The information and material you share on the Site are intended for viewing by other Site users, including your photos, comments, geographic location, and personal information. By posting on the Site, you agree to permit us to disclose the information and material you post, including disclosure to other users or to the general public.
2. Communications: When you enter your email address on the Site you are opting in to receive communications from us or about Middle East Matters, including promotional, marketing, and advertising information and recommendations that Middle East Matters believes may be of interest to you. Consistent with applicable laws, including United States CAN-SPAM laws, you can opt out of certain email communications by clicking “unsubscribe” on those communications, but note that you cannot opt out of receiving certain administrative or legal notices from us.
3. Site Activity/Automatically Collected Information: We collect and may store information about your use of the Site, such as your search activity, the pages you view, and the date and time of your visit. We also collect and may store information that your computer or mobile device provides to us in connection with your use of the Site, such as your browser type and version, type of computer or mobile device, computer connection, browser language, IP address, ad data, mobile carrier, unique device identifier, Wi-Fi connection, geo-location, and requested and referring URLs.

Cookies And Other Tracking Technologies

We, and third parties we interact with, including our third-party advertisers and service providers, may use cookies, web beacons, local shared objects (sometimes called “flash cookies”), and similar technology in connection with your use of the Site and third-party websites (collectively referred to in this policy as “Cookies”). Cookies are small data files that may have unique identifiers, and reside, among other places, on your computer or mobile device, in emails we send to you, and on our Site.

We may use Cookies to collect information about you and your use of the Site, such as your browser type, search preferences, data relating to content that has been displayed to you or that you have clicked on, and the date and time of your use. When we use Cookies, we do so in order to further Site features and processes, store your preferences, facilitate relevant advertising, and help us learn more about how users engage with the Site. Our Cookies, known as first-party cookies, may be persistent or targeted around a user’s session.

Middle East Matters also uses third-party service providers to help us provide certain features, information and services or to integrate other features. These third-party service providers may collect information when you view or use them, including information about you and your device or browser. These third-party service providers also may use Cookies, known as third-party cookies, or similar technologies to help share information with us, like how you use their website or application. To learn more about the information they collect or receive, review their privacy policies.

It may be possible to disable Cookies through your device or browser settings. The method for disabling cookies may vary by device and browser, but can usually be found in preferences or security settings. Disabling cookies may, however, affect your ability to use the Site.

Sharing Your Information

We may share the information we collect about you with third parties in connection with your use of the Site. Our information-sharing with third parties falls into these categories and purposes:

1. Agents, Contractors, Business Partners and Service Providers: We may share your information with our agents, contractors, business partners or other service providers and third parties as needed to host, operate and carry out the performance and functionality of the Site, improve the Site, fulfill your requests, facilitate relevant marketing and sharing information about us and our activities to you, or provide customer support. We cannot control third parties’ use of your information. Generally, however, we limit the information provided to service providers to that which is reasonably necessary for them to perform their functions, and we require them to agree to maintain the confidentiality of such information.
2. Other Third Parties: We may share your information with certain third parties who may contact you regarding related education initiatives.
3. Affiliated Entities: We may share information from or about you with affiliates, joint ventures, or other companies under common control, in which case we will require them to honor this privacy policy.
4. Other Users/General Public: Information that you post on the Site (e.g., photos, comments, geographic location, your profile) may be made available to other users of the Site and the general public.
5. Aggregate Information: Middle East Matters may share information relating to visitors and users of the Site with affiliated or unaffiliated third parties on an aggregate basis. While this information will not identify you personally, in some instances these third parties may be able to combine this information with other data they have about you, or that they receive from third parties, in a manner that allows them to associate this aggregated data with your personal data.
6. Investigations: We may investigate and disclose information from or about you, as permitted by applicable law, if we have a good-faith belief that such investigation or disclosure is (a) reasonably necessary to comply with legal process and law enforcement instructions and orders, such as a search warrant, subpoena, statute, judicial proceeding or other legal process served on us; (b) helpful to prevent, investigate or identify possible wrongdoing in connection with the Site; or (c) helpful to protect our rights, reputation, property or that of our users, subsidiaries or the public.

Children’s Privacy

Protecting the privacy of young children is especially important. The Site is intended for general audiences and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are under 13 years of age, then you are not permitted to use the Site in any manner that reveals personally identifiable information about yourself (such as your name, email, address or location). If you are a parent or guardian and discover that your child under 13 years has obtained an account on the Site, then you may alert us at contact@middleeastmatters.org and request that we delete that child’s personally identifiable information from our systems.

We allow minors between ages 13 and 18 to use the Site and also permit such minor users control over removing any content or information they have posted to the Site. If you are a minor between ages 13 and 18 and would like content or information removed and are having difficulty removing the content or information on your own, please send your removal requests or removal-related questions to contact@middleeastmatters.org.

Data Security

We use certain physical, managerial, and technical safeguards that are designed to improve the integrity and security of your personally identifiable information. We cannot, however, ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us or store on the Site, and you do so at your own risk. We cannot guarantee that such information may not be accessed, disclosed, altered, or destroyed by breach of any of our physical, technical, or managerial safeguards.

If we learn of a security systems breach, then we may attempt to notify you electronically so that you can take appropriate protective steps. We may post a notice through the Site if a security breach occurs. Depending on where you live, you may have a legal right to receive notice of a security breach in writing. To receive a free written notice of a security breach you should notify us at contact@middleeastmatters.org.

Modifications And Updates To This Privacy Policy

We may revise this privacy policy from time to time. The most current version of the privacy policy will govern our use of information about you and will be located here. If we make material changes to this privacy policy, we may notify you by email or by posting a notice on the Site. By continuing to access or use the Site after those changes become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised privacy policy

Contact

If you have questions or comments about this privacy policy, please feel free to contact us at contact@middleeastmatters.org.