Nielsen Web Analytics Privacy and Cookie Policy

Nielsen provides various products and services with a goal to understand and to help others understand how people are using their computers and the Internet in the United States and throughout the world. One way we do this is by gathering research data on the traffic and users on our clients' Web sites through our SiteCensus, Market Intelligence, VideoCensus, Video Analytics, Campaign Analysis, and Ad Intelligence services.

Collection and Use Information
Nielsen is able to gather this research data in different ways. We use cookies (both flash and non-flash) to gather statistical information which is designed to assist in understanding what users find interesting and useful on our clients' Web sites. A cookie is a small text file containing a random and unique identifier (e.g., #12489) that is sent to your browser from a Web server and then stored onto your computer's hard drive. Through modification of browser preferences, a user can elect to accept all cookies, receive notification when a cookie is set or decline all cookies (specific instructions are set forth below). Alterations to these settings may, however, affect the functionality of certain Web sites.

We may also embed a piece of code (sometimes referred to as "1x1 clear pixel," "Web beacon" or “clear GIF”) in the pages of certain client Web sites in order to gather additional statistical site usage information.

The types of statistical information we may gather on behalf of our clients include the number of visitors to their Web sites, which pages or portions of pages such as web videos, are visited, duration of page/video views, advertising click-through metrics, the location of visitors prior to accessing their Web site, and details on browsers (including Internet Protocol 'IP' addresses or browser configurations). We use this information to provide our clients with detailed reports and analyses of the traffic to their Web sites. All of this information is provided to clients on a completely anonymous basis.

We may also administer random "pop-up" surveys to some users of our clients' Web sites while they are visiting those Web sites. These surveys request additional demographic, non-personally identifiable information. Your participation in a survey is always voluntary, and you therefore have a choice as to whether or not to provide the requested survey information. We use the information collected in the survey, in conjunction with information gathered through our cookies and code, in order to provide our clients with an even more detailed understanding of their Internet audience.

Nielsen may also combine the information collected on our clients' Web sites with other data and research tools, including offline data sources which may include information on automobile sales, health care sales/services, etc. to perform additional research and analyses concerning Internet audience demographics, behavior and use.

The technology used by Nielsen is not intended to collect personally identifiable information. In some limited circumstances, however, some personally identifiable may be captured—when, for example, personal information such as an email address is incorporated into a URL string. Nielsen does NOT use personally identifiable information inadvertently captured in this manner, nor will we ever share any of this personally identifiable information with our clients. Your personally identifiable information will NEVER be used by Nielsen to advertise, promote or market third party goods or services to you.

Disclosure of Information
We employ or contract with other companies or individuals to perform certain functions on our behalf. Such companies or individuals may be provided with access to your information needed to perform their functions, but are prohibited from using such information for any other purpose. In addition, we may release information to third parties when disclosure is required by law or when necessary or desirable to exercise or preserve our legal rights, or to take action regarding potentially illegal activities. If all or part of our company is sold, merged or otherwise transferred to another entity, your information, whether personally identifiable or otherwise, may be transferred as part of that transaction.

Security and Confidentiality
Nielsen has implemented certain security measures to help protect the security and confidentiality of information while controlled by us, which may be held indefinitely. We limit access to your information to employees and agents who we believe reasonably need to come into contact with that information, all of whom are bound by this privacy policy. Access or use of information for any purpose other than those explained in this privacy policy will not be authorized.

Visitor Opt-Out
At Nielsen, we believe in giving you the freedom to choose. In line with this belief, we offer you the following options:

Anonymous User
Nielsen will continue to collect and use certain information about your behavior on a client Web site. However, the data collected will only ever be presented as part of a pool of general, ‘Anonymous Users’ and information such as the path you took within the site will not be collected and processed.

Click here if you wish to be an Anonymous User.

Total Opt-Out
Nielsen will not collect any data regarding your behavior on a client Web site. Nielsen will however record the fact that a ‘Total Opt-Out’ selection has been made, so that aggregated totals of ‘Total Opt-Out’ figures can be calculated and recorded.

Click here if you wish to be a Total Opt-Out User.

Pease note: If you regularly delete all of your cookies, you will need to opt-out each time your cookies are deleted.

Cancel Opt-Out
Click here if you wish to be issued with a new cookie to enable data collection.

Policy Changes
Nielsen reserves the right to update and make changes to this privacy notice. If we materially change our practices in handling personally identifiable information, as described in this notice, we will post the changes on our Web site at least 30 days prior to their implementation. We encourage you to review this privacy notice frequently to ensure that you stay apprised of any changes.

Contact Us
If you have any comments or questions about regarding this privacy policy, you may contact us webprivacy@nielsen.com.

For more information about how our clients use the information collected on their Web sites, please see their privacy policy. To learn more about how Nielsen is shaping the future of the Internet, please visit our Web site at www.nielsen.com.

This privacy and cookie policy was last updated on April 2010.

* For our New Zealand-based visitors, please click here for additional disclosures regarding how we collect, use and maintain information collected on the Web sites of our clients located in New Zealand.