GI and its subsidiaries respect your privacy and are committed to protecting it. GI provides this Privacy Statement to inform you of our Privacy Policy and practices and of the choices you can make about the way your information is collected online and how that information is used. We’ve structured our web-sites so that, in general, you can visit GI on the Web without identifying yourself or revealing any personal information. Of course when you desire to purchase items, we will need to obtain personal information to process your order.

1. Sites covered by this Privacy Statement

This Privacy Statement applies to all GI owned web-sites and domains, and our wholly owned subsidiaries (“GI web-sites.”)

Links to non-GI web-sites
The GI web-sites may provide links to third-party web-sites for your convenience and information. If you access those links, you will leave the GI web-site. GI does not control those sites or their privacy practices, which may differ from GI’s. We do not endorse or make any representations about third-party web-sites. The personal data you choose to give to unrelated third parties is not covered by the GI Privacy Statement. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any company before submitting your personal information. Some third-party companies may choose to share their personal data with GI; that sharing is governed by that third-party company’s privacy policy. 


2. Types of information we collect

This Privacy Statement covers personal information, non-personal data collection and aggregate reporting. 

• Personal information is information that is associated with your name or personal identity. GI uses personal information to understand better your needs and interests and to provide you with better service. Once you choose to provide us with personal information, you can be assured it will be used only to support your customer relationship with GI. We take seriously the trust you place in us. GI will not sell, rent or lease your personal information to others.
  
  On some GI web-sites, you can order products or services, or request information. The types of personal information you provide to us on these pages may include name, address, phone number, e-mail address, user IDs and passwords, billing and transaction information, credit card information, contact preferences, educational and employment background, and job interest data.
  
  
• Non-personal information is data about usage and service operation that is not associated with a specific personal identity. GI collects and analyzes non-personal information to evaluate how visitors use the GI web-sites. 
  
  Non-personal data we collect may include the pages visited on the GI web-sites, unique URLs¹ visited within GI, browser type and IP² address. Most non-personal data is collected via cookies or other analysis technologies. GI Web pages use cookies, Web beacons and other technologies for data analysis and personalizing services. GI also places ads on other web-sites that may use cookies.

3. Children’s privacy

GI is committed to protecting the privacy needs of children and we encourage parents and guardians to take an active role in their children’s online activities and interests. GI does not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 18, and GI does not target its web-sites to children under 18.


4. How we use your information

GI uses your personal information to provide you with services and to help us better understand your needs and interests. Specifically, we use your information to help you complete a transaction or order, to communicate with you, to provide service and support, to update you on services and benefits, to personalize promotional offers and to personalize some GI web-sites. Occasionally we may also use your information to contact you for market research regarding GI products or services. We will give you the opportunity to choose your privacy preferences regarding such communications (see section 7, “Your privacy preferences and opting out”). Credit card information is used only for payment processing and fraud prevention. Sensitive personal information is collected only to facilitate our financial service providers’ credit decisions and will be shared with them only with your permission. Credit card information and sensitive personal data are not used for any other purpose by our financial services providers or GI and will not be kept longer than necessary for providing the services, unless you ask us to retain your credit card information for future purchases.

Personal data collected online may also be combined with information you provide GI through other sources such as product registration, call centers or public events such as trade shows or seminars. 

Personal data given to GI may be transferred across state and country borders for the purposes of data consolidation, storage and simplified customer information management. 

Non-personal data is aggregated for reporting about GI web-site usability, performance and effectiveness. It is used to improve the customer experience, usability and site content.


5. Who we share your information with

GI will NOT sell, rent or lease your personal information to others. GI will not share your personal information with third parties except in responding to your requests for products or services. Your permission will be requested when you submit your information. GI shares customer information across GI-owned business entities and companies working on our behalf, but only as described above in “How we use your information.” 

GI contracts with third-party service providers and suppliers to deliver complete products, services and customer solutions described in “How we use your information.” Suppliers and service providers are required to keep confidential the information received on behalf of GI and may not use it for any purpose other than to carry out the services they are performing for GI. These service providers may change or we may contract with additional service providers to better accommodate our customers. GI will not share personal information with any other third parties without your permission, unless required by law enforcement action, subpoena, or local law. 

GI or its related entities could merge with or be acquired by another business entity or some or all of their respective assets could be acquired. If such a combination or acquisition occurs, GI will make every reasonable effort to notify you in the event we share with the merging or acquiring entity some or all of your personal information to continue serving you. 


6. Your choices

GI gives you the choice of receiving a variety of information that complements our products and services. You can subscribe to receive certain product- and service-specific information and GI-wide marketing communications. GI-wide communications may include new product information, special offers, or an invitation to participate in market research. We give you a choice regarding delivery of GI-wide communications by postal mail, e-mail and telephone. You can make or change your choices at the data collection point or through GI Passport (GI’s proprietary online customer registration tool, available only in the United States). Please refer to section 7 for further instructions. We will make every effort to honor your preferences. This option does not apply to communications for the purpose of administering order completion, contracts, support, product safety warnings or driver updates. 


7. Your privacy preferences and opting out

Non-subscription services
GI will not use your personal information for a different purpose than the one stated when you provided your data.

Subscription services 
To opt-out of receiving communications you have expressly requested (such as e-mail newsletters, software updates, etc.), use any of the following methods:

• Select the e-mail “opt-out” or “un-subscribe” link, or follow the opt-out instructions included in each subscription communication
• Return to the Web page(s) where you originally registered your preferences and follow the opt-out instructions 
• Write to the GI Customer Service Office and sure to provide your name, e-mail and postal address, and relevant information about your GI subscriptions and registrations

8. Your information and third-party companies

Certain GI services may be linked with those from unrelated third-party companies, some which offer you the option to share with both GI and the third party personal data you provide. Examples include the ability to register software products from multiple vendors from a single GI Web page, to request communications from GI marketing or solution partners, or to enable order completion through a re-seller. We will not share your personal information with those third-party companies unless you make that choice. 

9. Access to and accuracy of your information

GI strives to keep your personal information accurate. We have implemented technology, management processes and policies to maintain customer data accuracy. We will provide you with access to your information, including making reasonable effort to provide you with online access and the opportunity to change your information. To protect your privacy and security, we will also take reasonable steps to verify your identity, such as a password and user ID, before granting access to your data. Certain areas of GI’s web-sites may limit access to specific individuals through the use of passwords and other personal identifiers.

The most effective way to view and change your personal information is to return to the Web page where you originally submitted your data and follow the instructions on that Web page or use GI Passport. 

10. Keeping your information secure

GI is committed to protecting the information you provide us. To prevent unauthorized access or disclosure, to maintain data accuracy, and to ensure the appropriate use of the information, GI has in place appropriate physical and managerial procedures to safeguard the information we collect. 

We use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption when collecting or transferring sensitive data such as credit card information. SSL encryption is designed to make the information unreadable by anyone but us. This security measure is working when you see either the symbol of an unbroken key or closed lock (depending on your browser) on the bottom of your browser window.

Credit card numbers are used only for processing payment and are not used for other purposes. As part of real-time payment processing, GI subscribes to a fraud management service. This service gives you and GI an extra level of security to guard against credit card fraud to protect your financial data.

11. Changes to this Statement

If there are updates to the terms of GI’s Online Privacy Statement, we will post those changes and update the revision date in this document, so you will always know what information we collect online, how we use it, and what choices you have. For material changes to this Statement, GI will provide notification to affected customers. 

12. Contacting us

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