Safeguarding your privacy is serious business. That's why PETA's policy is simple: Except as provided in this statement, PETA will not disclose, sell, or rent any personally identifiable information without proper consent. You, the PETA user, always have the final word on whether PETA knows who you are. It is your choice whether you wish to share personally identifiable information with PETA. Please use discretion when revealing personally identifiable information while using PETA tools, as it may be collected and used by unauthorized third parties. Such activities are beyond the control of PETA. In other words, if for some reason you post your home phone number on the PETA boards (which, by the way, you should NOT do), you're on your own.

Please take a minute to read our policy so that you understand your options and how PETA collects, processes, and shares information. If you have any questions about PETA's information practices, send an e-mail to the policy manager. PETA reserves the right to remove any material posted at any time.

PETA collects two kinds of information: anonymous and personally identifiable. Anonymous information is not associated with specific individuals. For instance, PETA may know how many people read this privacy policy today, but PETA doesn't necessarily know their names, addresses, or birthdays. Personally identifiable information reveals who you are and/or how you can be contacted. It includes your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address.

Below is a summary of the different ways PETA collects various kinds of information about members:

• Registration (mandatory to be a PETA member)

If you decide to join PETA's forum, registration is the only time that you will be required to submit information about yourself. To become a PETA forum member, you need to complete a form with your e-mail address, user name, and password.

PETA keeps this information in its database. If you decide that you no longer want PETA to have a certain piece of information about you, e-mail the policy manager.

• Your Profile (optional)

Some information from registration will automatically be placed in your member profile (although your e-mail address and password will remain private) if you select "No" when asked "Allow Forum Members to Send You E-Mail?". In addition, you can choose to tell everyone your hobbies, interests, likes, and dislikes. You can fill out as much or as little of your profile as you want. The more you fill out, the more likely it is that you'll be able to meet members based on things you have (or don't have!) in common.

• Public Forums (privacy warning)

PETA understands your decision to post in public areas as permission to contact you through your PETA account.

One more thing to keep in mind: Whenever you voluntarily disclose personal information on message boards, through e-mail, or in your public profile, it can be collected and used by anyone, including law enforcement agencies acting under subpoena power. If you post personal information in public places, others may send you unsolicited e-mail messages. Always be smart about the information you provide online.

What are cookies, and how does PETA use them?

Cookies must be turned on in your browser to participate as a user in these forums. Cookies are used here to hold your user name and password and viewing options, allowing you to log in.

Cookies are part of the technology implemented by your browser. Most browsers are initially set up to accept cookies. You can reset your browser either to notify you when you have received a cookie or to refuse them altogether. Cookies do not enable the PETA staff to access personally identifiable information that you haven't already provided.

How does PETA use member information?

Two things drive PETA's decisions regarding the use of information collected from PETA members: 1) improving user experience by offering personalized services and content and 2) market research.

PETA may analyze information provided directly by you or obtained through cookies or third parties to direct services and content based on your interests. This is done at the aggregate level (e.g., roughly half of PETA's members who visit the forums are female) and at the individual level (e.g., PETAUser1234 mostly visits the Sports section). Again, this helps PETA's staff produce and appropriately feature tools and content tailored to your interests.

Wherever you provide us with your contact details, we may share this information with PETA's international affiliates in order to keep you apprised of developments in your part of the world. If you don't want your information to be given to other organizations, please contact PETA's policy manager.

What is PETA's information retention policy?

When you submit information to PETA, we take that as a green light to store that information, unless otherwise specified. If required by law, we will nullify member information. We will also respond to written member requests to nullify account information. If you wish to make such a request, which requires that we verify your identity, contact PETA's policy manager.

How does PETA secure collected information?

Your PETA profile is password-protected so that only you and authorized PETA employees have access to your account information. In order to maintain this protection, do not give your password to anyone. Also, if you share a computer, you should sign out of your PETA account and close the browser window before someone else logs in.

PETA makes every effort to ensure that your information is secure in its system. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100 percent secure. As a result, PETA cannot guarantee the security of any information you transmit to us, and you do so at your own risk.

What is PETA's opt-in/out policy?

By registering on PETA's forums, you are agreeing to receive periodic e-mails from PETA. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the "Unsubscribe" link in any of PETA's e-mails, by going here, or by contacting PETA's policy manager.

How can PETA members edit their information?

It's simple: To update the personal information stored as part of PETA forums, please click here. Because PETA's forums are in BETA, they are not synched with our other databases. To edit information that isn't forum-related, click here.

What action has PETA taken to protect children's privacy?

PETA's forums are intended for people 13 or older. Our registration process is intentionally designed to identify children who are younger than 13 years of age. If it comes to our attention that a member has revealed on PETA's forums that he or she is under 13, a member of PETA's staff will immediately close that person's account.

Note to parents: If your child is under 13 and has become a PETA member using a false age, please notify the policy manager, who will immediately close the account and nullify all personally identifiable information collected from them. If your child is under the age of 18 and you would like to know more about our site, information practices, stored information on your child, or how to close your child's account, contact PETA's policy manager. In both instances, you will need to provide your full name, address, phone number, credit-card information, child's full name, and PETA member name so that your identity can be verified for the protection of the member's privacy.

Notification of Changes

PETA's security and privacy policy are periodically reviewed and enhanced as necessary. This policy might change as PETA updates and expands its services. PETA encourages you to check the privacy policy periodically.