This cookie policy is effective June 15, 2022

Cookie Policy

This policy explains how cookies, mobile advertising identifiers, and similar technologies are used on our website and apps (together, “CivicBell” or our “Services”).

1. What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small file containing a unique identifier that is placed in the web browser of your computer or mobile device when you visit a site. Cookies and similar technologies (which include pixels, tags, web beacons, software development kits, and local browser storage technologies) (together “cookies”) enable operators of sites/apps to recognize your device and collect information from it when you interact with them. They use this information to understand how the site/app is being used, remember user preferences and improve users’ browsing experience. Cookies are also used to make the advertising you see online more relevant to your interests.

2. What is a mobile advertising identifier?

Most major phones and tablets include a mobile advertising identifier (e.g., an IDFA on iOS and an ADID on Android) that is a unique device identifier that enables third parties to connect you to your activities on that app to your activities on other unrelated apps and websites. This is generally used for personalizing advertising and measurement of advertising campaigns. Even without a mobile advertising identifier, you’d still see advertising but those ads may be less relevant to you.

3. Who places cookies on my device?

Cookies set by the site you visit are called “first party cookies” (i.e., cookies placed by CivicBell). Cookies set by other parties are called “third party cookies.” Third party cookies enable third party features or functionality within the site, such as site analytics, advertising and social media features. The parties that set these third party cookies can recognize your computer or device both when it visits the site/app in question and also when it visits certain other sites/apps. We do not control how these third parties use your information, which is subject to their own privacy policies. See the table below for details of the use of third party cookies and similar technologies on CivicBell.

4. What cookies does CivicBell use, and why?

Your takedown notice must include the following information in order for CivicBell to take action:

• Strictly necessary cookies are necessary for our Services to function. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of our Services will not work and we will not be able to guarantee how the security on our Services will perform during your visit.
• Functional cookies enable us to provide you with enhanced functionality and personalization. If you do not add these cookies then some of our Services may not function properly.
• Performance cookies collect information about how you use our Services (e.g., which pages you visit and if you experience any errors). These cookies are used to help us improve how our Service works, understand what interests our users and measure how effective our content is. If you do not allow these cookies, we will not know when you have visited our site.

CivicBell uses both session cookies and persistent cookies:

• We use session cookies to identify you during a particular visit to CivicBell. Session cookies expire after a short time, or when you close your web browser or app after using CivicBell.
• We use persistent cookies to identify you over a long period of time. (For example, if you asked us to keep you signed in, we would use a persistent cookie for that purpose.) Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period of time specified in the cookie.

We use both first and third party cookies to operate, understand and improve CivicBell, specifically:

• To authenticate you and secure our Services: We use cookies to monitor login, session and status data. This allows us to know, for example, whether you are logged in.
• To remember your settings and preferences: We use cookies to recognize your browser and remember your preferences. For example, we use cookies to remember your language preferences.
• To carry out analytics and research: We use cookies to understand your use of CivicBell and how we can improve our offerings. For example, we use cookies to track what pages you visit and whether you open emails we send you.
• To personalize your experience: We use cookies to personalize your use of CivicBell, including to serve you personalized advertising that may better suit your needs.
• For fraud, trust and safety, and investigations: We use cookies to keep the Services safe, including to detect and prevent fraud and conduct investigations.

5. What third-party cookies are used on CivicBell?

A number of third party cookies are set on CivicBell, some of which depend on how you use our Services. In general, the following types of third party cookies may be set when you use CivicBell:

• Social media login cookies: If you register or sign in using a social media login, they may set a cookie.
• Analytics cookies: We use analytics cookies to collect traffic data to help us analyze how Residents and Visitors access and use CivicBell, and for other analytics services relating to website activity and internet usage.
• Third-party cookies from content shared by Residents or Elected or Public Officials: Residents or Elected or Public Officials may share content on CivicBell that originates from a third-party website or service, and that third-party website or service may set its own cookies when you interact with that content. For example, if a Resident or Elected or Public Official posts a video from YouTube on CivicBell, YouTube may set a cookie when you click to watch the video.

6. Can I opt-out of use of my information for third party personalized advertising?

CivicBell is not currently using any personalized advertising. However, for your information, here is how to opt-out:

• Browsers. You may refuse or restrict the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings in your browser. However, limiting or refusing cookies may affect your ability to use CivicBell. For more information about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set on your computer or mobile device and how to manage and delete them, visit www.allaboutcookies.org. Some advertising networks offer you a way to opt-out of targeted advertising. For more information, please visit the Digital Advertising Alliance at https://www.aboutads.info/choices or the Network Advertising Initiative at https://optout.networkadvertising.org (for US Residents) or the European Digital Advertising Alliance at http://www.youronlinechoices.eu (for EU Residents).
• Mobile apps. Your mobile device may include a feature that allows you to opt-out of some types of personalized advertising using your mobile advertising identifier, such as the “limit ad tracking” option in your iOS or Android device’s privacy settings. Visit the Network Advertising Initiative’s mobile choices page for more information. The Digital Advertising Alliance also provides a mobile app called AppChoices that lets you opt-out of interest based advertising from participating advertisers.
• Third parties. Some of the third party advertising partners that we work with offer opt-out mechanisms, as listed in the table above. Since we do not control any of these opt-out links, we are not responsible for the availability or accuracy of these mechanisms.

Using these opt-out services will not prevent you from seeing all ads but may make the ads you do see less relevant to you. You will also need to set these opt-out preferences on each browser or device that you use.

8. Changes to this policy

Our business changes constantly and our cookie policy will also change, so please review it frequently. We will notify you of any changes by posting the updated policy on this page with its effective date. If the change is material, we will take reasonable steps to notify you in advance as required by applicable law.

9. Questions

For more information about how we collect, use and share your information, see our Privacy Policy. If you have any questions about our use of cookies, please email us at legal@civicbell.com. You can also reach us at the address listed in our Privacy Policy.