Mediating Minds

Privacy Policy

Introduction: Our Privacy Promise to You

At Mediating Minds, we prioritize your privacy above all else. As an established alternative dispute resolution (ADR) resource, we adhere to values such as confidentiality, integrity, and transparency-not only in the content we produce but also in how we process and utilize your personal data. Our Privacy Policy outlines how we manage and protect this information whenever you visit our website, subscribe to our newsletter, or access our resources. Whether you are a legal practitioner, student, or are otherwise dealing with personal or organizational conflict, in seeking a trusted ADR resource we assure you data protection compliance is our #1 priority.

About Us

Mediating Minds is an online resource providing information and generously curated content on mediation, arbitration, negotiation, and other ADR practices. Mediating Minds was created and is maintained by a group of legal professionals and dispute resolution specialists dedicated to making best practices in ADR accessible and useful to its users. We’re located at 1000 4th St SW Ste 37, Washington DC 20585, USA. Should you have any questions or comments regarding this policy or your data, please contact [email protected] or (771) 528-7396.

Our Privacy Policy Applicability

This Privacy Policy governs the information you provide to us or that we collect from you through the website at https://mediatingminds.com/ (the “Site”). This privacy statement applies to personal information we collect through all resources, articles, guides, newsletters, and interactive materials made available on this Site and that are directly produced by Mediating Minds. This policy does not govern the information collected through other sites or services that may be linked to or from our Site or through webpages and applications made available by third parties (“Third Party Services”). We encourage you to review the privacy policies of these Third Party Services.

What Information Do We Collect

We collect information to improve our services and experiences for all users. We collect the following data:

  • Personal Identifiable Information (PII):
    • Name
    • Email address
    • Country or region (if provided voluntarily)
    • Professional affiliation, area of focus (if provided voluntarily upon newsletter subscription)
  • Non-Personal Information:
    • Browser used and version of browser
    • Device type (e.g. desktop, mobile/tablet)
    • Operating system
    • Referring website URL
    • Pages on site viewed and amount of time spent on site
    • Interaction patterns (e.g., clicks, scrolls, actions)
  • Newsletter Subscription Data:
    • Email address
    • Areas of focus/concentration/personal preferences
  • Correspondence:
    • Records of communications with us (emails, feedback forms, inquiries, etc.)

We do not intentionally gather sensitive personal data such as Social Security Numbers (SSN), credit card information, or government issued IDs.

How We Collect Information

Mediating Minds collects data in a variety of ways:

  • Directly from you: When you sign up for our newsletter, reach out to us, or provide information voluntarily on one of the forms on our website.
  • Automatically: Through cookies, web beacons, analytic tools, and server logs, we automatically record certain non-personal information regarding your computer or device and your interaction with our site.
  • 3rd Party tools: We may engage other respected service providers to assist us in collecting and processing information. For industry-recognized analytics and email marketing services, we may partner with companies like Google Analytics and Mailchimp. Such Third Party Tools may collect information in accordance with their own privacy policies.

Use of Cookies, Web Beacons and Other Tracking Technologies

Cookies are little bits of text that are stored on your computer by your browser. Mediating Minds uses cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Remember your preferences (including language/region)
  • Analyze how users interact with our content
  • Measure the effectiveness of our newsletter and other outreach
  • Maintain security and integrity of the website

You can manage your cookie preferences through your individual web browser settings. If you disable cookies, certain site features or functionality may not work as intended. For more information, please review our Cookie Policy.

Use of Your Information

We may use the information we collect as follows:

  • To operate, maintain, and deliver the features and functionality of our site and resources
  • Personalize your experience by providing content and product recommendations
  • Communicate with you about your account and/or requests for information, including sending you service-related communications and newsletters
  • Track usage and analyze trends for our website and services
  • Monitor website performance and integrity to assist us with management of our website
  • Protect the security, integrity, and reliability of our sites and services
  • Investigate, prevent, or take action regarding activities that may be illegal, including enforcing compliance with our terms and conditions

We will not use your data for profiling and automated decision-making or any purposes other than those described above which are reasonably necessary in furtherance of the mission of Mediating Minds.

Newsletters

When you opt-in to the Mediating Minds newsletter, we collect your email address and, optionally, your name and any topics describing your interests and/or profession. We use this information in order to:

  • Send out regular updates, articles, or other information pertaining to your interest
  • Send administrative messages regarding your subscription
  • Customize content and recommendations

You may opt out of Mediating Minds’ weekly subscription at any time, via the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of each Mediating Minds newsletter email, or by contacting us at [email protected].

Sharing Your Information

Mediating Minds does not disclose, sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We do share information in these situations:

  • Service Providers: Our trusted suppliers help us with a number of activities, such as hosting this website, carrying out analyses, providing e-mail services, and managing IT. Suppliers to Mediating Minds Ltd are required by contract to keep information secure and confidential. They also must process any personal information we give them only according to the policy objectives set by Mediating Minds.
  • The Law: Mediating Minds Ltd must comply with requests for information from the government or under other legal rights. These may include court orders, regulatory action, and so on. Where the law grants a right to request information, this will be done to protect the rights, property, or safety of Mediating Minds’ employee(s) and user(s) of this website.
  • Business Transfers: If Mediating Minds goes through a business reorganisation (for example, if it sells or buys subsidiaries), its user information could be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you if your information is to be transferred in a way we had not anticipated and tell you what you can do if you do not wish your personal information to be transferred.

Retention of Your Data: How Long We Keep Your Data

We hold your personal data only as long as is necessary to provide the services described in this policy or as otherwise required by law. In particular:

  • We keep newsletter information until you remove/revoke signup or request deletion.
  • Communications (e.g. email, feedback) are held for up to 24 months for quality control / follow-up purposes.
  • Analytics and non-personal data may be held longer in aggregate, non-identifiable form for research and development, etc.

Data that is no longer required is securely deleted or anonymised.

How We Protect Your Data

We take your data security seriously. Mediating Minds utilizes technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to help ensure the confidentiality and integrity of your information. Our safeguards include:

  • Secure socket layer (SSL) encryption for browser-to-server and server-to-server communications
  • Regular security scans and software updates
  • Limited access to information by employees and vendors with functional need for said access
  • Storage on secure servers with regular backup

Notwithstanding our robust safeguards, no online portal can be 100% secure. We recommend that you exercise safe practices by utilizing strong passwords and being careful with your accounts and correspondence.

Your Rights and Choices

Depending on where you reside and the applicable law, you may have the following rights in respect to your personal information which we hold:

  • Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold on you
  • Right to Rectification: Request corrections to any inaccurate or incomplete personal information retained
  • Right to Erasure: Request that we delete records of your personal information
  • Right to Restrict Processing: Request that we restrict certain use of your personal information
  • Right to Object: Object to certain processing
  • Right to Data Portability: Request transfer to another party of your personal information retained
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent in respect of processing for which you previously provided consent, where applicable

To exercise these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. All requests will be examined promptly and within applicable laws.

For International Users and Transfers of Personal Data

Mediating Minds is based in the United States but supports a global audience. By using our website, you consent to the collection, processing, and transfer of your information to the United States and other jurisdictions, as may be necessary. We comply with international data protection laws and, when transferring data internationally, take appropriate commercial safeguards (e.g., contracts with service providers) to ensure that your information continues to be treated securely and in accordance with this policy.

Children’s Privacy

Our website and resources are not targeted to users under the age of 16. We do not knowingly or intentionally collect personally identifiable information from children under the age of 16. If you have reason to believe that a child has provided us with personally identifiable information, please write to us at [email protected] and we will delete such personally identifiable information from our database.

Links Indicating the Presence of Third Party Websites

Mediating Minds may contain links to third-party sites, resources, or services for your convenience and information. We are not responsible for and have no control over the privacy practices, content, or security of such third-party sites. We encourage you to check the privacy policies of any third-party sites you use before providing any information to them.

Changes to This Privacy Policy and Notifications

The Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. We will inform users of significant changes by posting a prominent notice on our website and updating the effective date at the beginning of the policy. Therefore, you may occasionally check this page to ensure that you are aware of how we protect your information.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, issues, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact Mediating Minds:

  • Mediating Minds
  • [email protected]
  • (771) 528-7396
  • 1000 4th St SW Ste 37, Washington DC 20585

We will work to respond to your inquiry within a reasonable time and to offer direct support if feasible. For more ways to reach us, please visit our Contact Us page.

CCPA Privacy Rights

You may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) as a California resident, such as:

  • Right to know: You have a right to know what personal information is being collected, used, shared, or sold.
  • Right to delete: You have the right to request deletion of your personal information.
  • Right to opt out: You have a right to opt-out of sale of your personal information. [Note: Mediating Minds has no sale of your data.]
  • Non-discrimination Right: You may exercise certain privacy rights without discrimination against you.

To exercise your rights please email [email protected] or call (771) 528-7396. We will verify your identity before we process your request.

European Union and United Kingdom Residents (GDPR Compliance)

If you are based in the European Economic Area (EEA) or United Kingdom (UK), then under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)/UK GDPR, you have rights to your data, including access rights and correction, deletion, limitation, objection, or portability of their processing, and the right to complain to your local regulator.

Mediating Minds’s legal basis for processing your data is your consent, our need to deliver the service, or legal necessity. If you have questions or wish to exercise any of these GDPR/UK GDPR related rights, contact [email protected].

Data Security Events or Breaches

Although we have a robust security and privacy program, in the event a breach causes the loss or misuse of your protected personal information, Mediating Minds will act quickly. We will comply with our obligations to report, and will provide you with clear guidance on what occurred, whether or not it impacted you, and actions we are taking that may mitigate or reduce the risk to concerned individuals. Any loss or misuse of your protected personal information will be contained and addressed immediately through our incident response plan.

Third Party Service Providers

To provide the best possible experience, we partner with trusted third-party service providers to help us with certain activities such as operating our website, delivering our email newsletter, serving advertisements, analyzing usage, and securing our website and services. We use contractual agreements to require that those third-party service providers have adequate privacy and security protections in place. All our third-party partners must use your information only for the purposes we identify and to protect it in accordance with the law.

User-Generated Content and Community Functionality

Occasionally, Mediating Minds may have features for online posts such as a comments section, a discussion forum, or an interactive Q&A. Please note that anything you choose to reveal, share, and/or post in a publicly-accessible place may be captured and/or viewed by other users and/or the public. We caution you against sharing any personal information, sensitive information, and/or data in a publicly accessible location on this Application. We reserve the right to edit, restrict, or remove any content that falls within those categories or that we feel may compromise user safety or violate other guidelines.

Anonymization, Aggregation and Pseudonymization

For research, analytics, and enhancement of services, Mediating Minds may aggregate and/or anonymize information so that it no longer identifies you as an individual. Such aggregate or anonymized data may be used to track usage patterns, resource popularity, or site performance, and may be published in publicly available reports or shared with partners. It will never be the case that aggregate or anonymized data is capable of identifying you personally.

Opt-Out and Web Preferences

You may opt in or out of any and all use of your information for communication and marketing purposes. You can unsubscribe to any newsletter at any time using the unsubscribe link at the bottom of each communication. You may also alter your subscription preferences (i.e., what topics of interest to you) by emailing us at [email protected]. You may also request that we delete your information from our databases and we will honor your wishes (within reasonable constraints of the technology). We respect your choices and will process all requests in a timely manner.

Use of Do Not Track Signals

Some web browsers can transmit a “Do Not Track” (DNT) signal with your browsing requests, which indicate your preference not to be tracked across the web. Currently, Mediating Minds does not respond to DNT requests because there is currently no industry standard for DNT signals. We do our best to honor your privacy, however, using the robust measures outlined in this policy, and will update these practices and policies if an industry-standard DNT mechanism is created in the future.

Sale or Merger

Business transfers. If Mediating Minds is acquired, merged, or sold, your personally identifiable information may be transferred as part of that business transaction. In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale, we will notify you on the Website and describe your options with regard to your personal data. Protection of your privacy will remain a priority even in the event of a business transition.

Choice of Law

This Privacy Policy and any disputes that arise out of or relate to your use of Mediating Minds are governed by the laws of the United States and of the District of Columbia, without regard to its conflict of law principles, and you consent to the jurisdiction and venue in those courts in all disputes arising out of or relating to this Privacy Policy.

Website Accessibility

Mediating Minds is dedicated to ensuring that our Privacy Policy, along with all content on this site, is accessible to all users and visitors. Should you encounter any difficulties in viewing the policy or require it in an alternative format, we encourage you to reach out to us at [email protected] or (771) 528-7396. We will make every effort to provide the necessary accommodations.

Responsibility for Your Data

While Mediating Minds takes measures to secure your personal information, security is a shared responsibility. We strongly encourage our customers to:

  • Choose strong, unique passwords for all of your accounts or subscriptions
  • Don’t send any sensitive or personal information through public forums
  • Beware of phishing attempts or emails that look like they’re from Mediating Minds
  • Notify us immediately if suspected unauthorized use of your information, compromise of your information, or any potential security threat

We know that together we can help create a safer and more secure online experience for all.

Summary of Understanding

In summary, Mediating Minds has standards for our business that include:

  • Using only the information we need in connection with our provision and enhancement of the ADR resources we provide
  • Using your information in a transparent manner and exclusively for the intended purposes identified in this policy
  • Never selling or trading your personal information
  • Protecting your information with appropriate safeguards
  • Respecting your right to access, rectify, or delete your information
  • Adhering to the full range of applicable privacy laws and regulations

Above all, we respect the trust you place in us. If you have questions or would like to know more, please ask at [email protected].

Keep Up to Date with Us: Subscribe and Stay Connected

Mediating Minds is your source for all things mediation and dispute resolution. We will keep you up to date on current trends, articles, and other useful information regarding mediation and dispute resolution. Subscribe today so that you don’t miss any updates! We can be reached via e-mail at [email protected], via telephone at (771) 528-7396, or via postal mail at 1000 4th St SW Ste 37, Washington DC 20585. We thank you for your trust and look forward to assisting you with amicable conflict resolution.