Policy Futures Network is a collaborative network (“PFN,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) of experts and practitioners who work together to analyze, discuss, and develop solutions relating to important United States policy topics. Among other things, PFN maintains a website located at policyfutures,net (“the Website”) which displays (and links to) summaries, articles, reports, discussions, research, analysis, and commentary by third parties, PFN, and PFN Participants, including certain content, comment areas, and discussion forums that are accessible only to certain groups of PFN Participants.
This Privacy Policy describes how PFN collects, uses, shares, and protects information about individuals who access or use the Website, including Public Users, PFN staff, and PFN Participants (both Members and Collaborators). Collectively referred to as “Users”.
This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party websites or services linked from the Website. Those third parties have their own privacy practices, which we encourage you to review separately.
The collaborative network and website of PFN are managed by the single-person, non-profit limited liability company recognized under Washington DC (Policy Futures Network LLC). Experts and practitioners who participate with PFN as users of the Website or as PFN Participants are not legal members of PFN LLC.
Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing or using the Website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.
This Policy is part of a family of documents relating to use of the Website, including its Terms of Use, AI Policy, and the PFN Participant Agreement. See the Related Content section below.
Information PFN Collects
Information You Provide. Account and Registration Information. When you apply to become and are approved to be a PFN Participant, PFN collects the following:
- Name
- Email address and phone number
- Password (stored in hashed, non-reversible form)
- Professional and organizational affiliations and activities
- Member biography and profile information
- Professional references
- Conflict of interest information
PFN does not presently apply subscriber- or member-type fees as a condition of PFN Participant status. If PFN does decide to do this in the future, the payment information for PFN Participants who are subject to the fees will be processed by our third-party payment processor. PFN will not not store your full payment card number, but PFN may retain limited billing information, such as the last four digits of your card, the card expiration date, and your billing address, to manage your subscription and process refunds.
Users may submit content to PFN for publication on the Website, such as articles, policy analyses, commentary, comments on other content, discussion forum posts, and replies. Users may also contribute content as an author, reviewer, or contributor to a PFN article, including a Solution Report.
Users may contact PFN by email, phone, or through the Website, and PFN may collect the content and metadata of that communication.
Information PFN Collects Automatically. When a User accesses the Website, PFN automatically collects certain technical and usage information:
- Log Data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URL, pages viewed, and timestamps.
- Device Information: Device type, operating system version, and screen resolution.
- Usage Data: Content you view, forums you access, and features you use.
- Cookies and Similar Technologies: See Section 7 for details.
- Analytics: PFN may use third-party analytics services (such as Google Analytics) that collects, analyzes, and reports aggregated data about how Users interact with the Website.
Information from Third Parties. PFN may receive information about you from:
- Payment processors (if fees are applied), to confirm or administer your participation
- Single sign-on providers (such as Google or LinkedIn or WordPress), if you choose to log in using a third-party account
- Publicly available sources, to verify professional credentials or affiliations for certain participation options
How PFN Uses Your Information
PFN uses the information it collects to:
- Create and manage Website accounts
- Process and manage PFN Participant relationship with PFN, including fees (if applicable)
- Manage access to content, comment areas, discussion forums, and other features on the Website
- Send transactional communications, including account confirmations, payment receipts, and notices of changes to these policies
- Communicate about PFN activities, publications, and events, subject to any communication preferences
- Respond to inquiries and support requests
- Enforce the Terms of Use, this Privacy Policy, Code of Conduct, PFN Participant Agreement, and other PFN policies
- Monitor and improve the Website’s functionality, performance, and security
- Analyze usage patterns and conduct research to improve PFN’s programs and offerings
- Comply with applicable legal obligations
- Detect, investigate, and prevent fraud and other unlawful activities
How PFN Shares Your Information
Service Providers. PFN shares information with third-party service providers that assist it in operating the Website and providing services, including hosting providers, payment processors, email service providers, and analytics providers. PFN contractually requires these providers to use your information only as directed by PFN and to implement appropriate data protection measures.
Public Content. Content that Users submit to publicly accessible areas of the Website, including comments, discussion posts, and any profile information you choose to make public, is visible to all Website visitors, including Public Users. Please consider carefully before posting personal information in public areas.
Restricted-Access Content. Content that Users submit in areas accessible only to one or more specified groups of PFN Participants will be visible only to others in the same group(s) with access rights to those areas. The display name, any profile information, any comments, and any discussion posts you submit will be accessible only to those groups of Participants who have access to the same areas to which you have submitted the content.
Legal Requirements. PFN may disclose your information if required by applicable law, regulation, or legal process (such as a subpoena, court order, or government request), or if PFN believes disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of PFN, Users, or the public.
Business Transfers. If PFN is involved in a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of all or a substantial portion of its assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you by email or by prominent notice on the Website before your information is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
With Your Consent. PFN may share your information with third parties when you have given it express consent to do so.
What PFN Does Not Do. PFN does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their independent marketing purposes.
Data Retention
PFN retains your personal information for as long as you are a PFN Participant and your Website account are active, or as necessary to provide services to you. PFN also retains information as needed to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce its agreements.
If your PFN Participant status and Website account are terminated or closed, PFN will generally delete or de-identify your personal information within 90 days, except that PFN may retain:
- Records needed to comply with applicable legal obligations
- Information needed to resolve pending disputes or enforce agreements
- Anonymized or aggregated data that cannot reasonably be used to identify you
Content that a User has submitted to public or restricted-access areas of the Website may remain visible after account closure. You may request removal of specific User Content by contacting PFN at policy.futures@policyfutures.net.
Security
PFN uses reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, loss, or alteration. These measures include encryption of data in transit (TLS/HTTPS), hashed password storage, and access controls limiting internal access to personal data.
PFN cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information. In the event of a data breach that may affect your rights or interests, we will notify you as required by applicable law.
If you believe your account has been compromised, contact PFN immediately at policy.futures@policyfutures.net.
Cookies and Similar Tracking Technologies
Cookies That PFN Uses.
- Essential Cookies: Required for the Website to function. These include session management, access management, and security cookies.
- Functional Cookies: Allow the Website to remember your preferences, such as your membership tier, display settings, and saved options.
- Analytics Cookies: Collect aggregated information about how users interact with the Website, which PFN uses to improve performance and content. Analytics data is generally not used to identify individual users.
The PFN Website does not support User in opting out of [essential] cookies while using the Website. [HARRY]
Users may be able to manage or delete cookies through their browser settings. Most browsers allow a User to block or delete cookies. Blocking essential cookies may impair the functionality of the Website, including restricting your access to areas of the Website that you should be able to access.
A User may opt out of Google Analytics data collection by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on, available at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
Some browsers transmit “Do Not Track” signals. At this time, PFN does not modify its data collection or use practices in response to Do Not Track signals. PFN will update this section if our practices change.
Third-Party Services
The Website may contain links to third-party websites and may embed content or tools from third-party services. PFN is not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties. PFN encourages you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site or service you access through the Website.
If you use a single sign-on provider (such as Google or LinkedIn or WordPress) to log in to the Website, that provider’s privacy policy also governs information shared during the login process.
Children’s Privacy
The Website is not directed to persons under the age of 18, and PFN does not knowingly collect personal information from children or other persons under 18. If PFN learns that it has collected personal information from a child or person under 18, it will delete that information promptly. If you believe that a child or person under 18 has provided information to PFN, contact PFN at policy.futures@policyfutures.net.
Persons between the ages of 13 and 17 may access the Website as Public Users but may not apply to be a PFN Participant or to maintain a Website account.
State Privacy Rights
California Residents. If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), provides you with the following rights:
- Right to Know: The right to know what categories of personal information PFN collects, uses, and discloses, and to obtain a copy of the specific personal information PFN holds about you.
- Right to Delete: The right to request deletion of personal information PFN has collected about you, subject to certain exceptions permitted by law.
- Right to Correct: The right to request correction of inaccurate personal information PFN holds about you.
- Right to Opt Out of Sale or Sharing: PFN does not sell your personal information or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising. No opt-out is currently required, but you may contact PFN to confirm.
- Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information: PFN does not use sensitive personal information beyond the purposes permitted by the CPRA without your consent.
- Right to Non-Discrimination: PFN will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your rights under the CCPA/CPRA.
To submit a CCPA/CPRA rights request, contact PFN us at policy.futures@policyfutures.net. PFN will respond within 45 days, with a possible 45-day extension if needed.
Residents of Other States. Residents of Virginia (VCDPA), Colorado (CPA), Connecticut (CTDPA), Texas (TDPSA), and other states that have enacted comprehensive consumer privacy laws may have rights similar to those described for California residents, including the right to access, correct, delete, and obtain a portable copy of personal information, and to opt out of certain processing activities.
To submit a privacy rights request under any of these or other applicable state laws, contact PFN at policy.futures@policyfutures.net. PFN will respond within the timeframe required by applicable law.
Appeals. If PFN declines to take action on your privacy rights request, you may appeal by contacting PFN at policy.futures@policyfutures.net within 30 days of receiving our response. PFN will respond to your appeal within 60 days.
Your Rights and Choices
Account Information. You may review and update your account information at any time by logging into your account settings.
Communications Preferences. You may opt out of non-transactional email communications from PFN by clicking “unsubscribe” in any marketing email or by adjusting your preferences in account settings. You may not opt out of transactional communications (such as payment receipts, security alerts, and policy update notices) while your Website account is active.
Account Deletion. You may close your account by contacting PFN at policy.futures@policyfutures.net. See above (Data Retention) for information about data retention after Website account closure.
Access and Portability. You may request a copy of the personal information PFN holds about you by contacting PFN at policy.futures@policyfutures.net. PFN will provide this information in a commonly used, machine-readable format where technically feasible.
Correction. If personal information PFN holds about you is inaccurate, you may request a correction by contacting PFNat policy.futures@policyfutures.net or by updating your Website account settings directly.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
PFN may update this Privacy Policy at any time. PFN will notify Users with Website accounts of material changes by email or notice on the Website before the effective date of the change. The date at the end of this Privacy Policy page reflects when the Privacy Policy was last updated. Your continued use of the Website after any updated Privacy Policy constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Us
Questions about this Privacy Policy, PFN’s data practices, or submission of a privacy rights request should be directed to:
Harry Conaway
Policy Futures Network
2021 L ST NW
Suite 101-274
Washington DC 20036
policy.futures@policyfutures.net
Related Content
- Terms of Use
- AI Policy
- Code of Conduct
- PFN Participant Agreement