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Institute for Humane Studies Global Data Privacy and AI Systems Notice

Privacy Notice Scope

This Privacy Notice describes how we collect, use, share, and protect personal information, including our use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. It explains your rights regarding your personal data, including how you can access, update, or request deletion of your data. This policy applies to:

  • Our websites ([theihs.org, digitalcommunity@theihs.org, ihsintranet@theihs.org])
  • Mobile apps ([Salesforce, Zoom, Front, Box])
  • Other instances where you provide personally identifiable information (PII) to IHS

What This Privacy Notice Does Not Cover

If you share your information with third-party partners, their privacy policies will apply. Employees should refer to internal IT and HR policies for additional privacy-related provisions.

What Personal Information Do We Collect?

We collect personal information based on your interactions with IHS, participation in our programs, and engagement with our AI systems. Categories include:

  • Personal Identifiers: Name, contact details, government-issued IDs, signatures
  • Demographic Data: Age, gender, citizenship, employment details
  • Professional Information: Employment history, certifications, licenses
  • Sensory Data: Audio/video recordings, photographs
  • Device & Online Identifiers: IP addresses, cookies, geolocation, social media
  • Internet & Network Data: Browser/search history, website interactions
  • Communications Data: Emails, text messages, call logs
  • Financial Data: Payment details for transactions or reimbursements
  • AI-Specific Data: Interactions with AI, training data, AI-generated outputs, performance metrics

Note: We do not collect biometric data (e.g., facial recognition, voiceprints) without explicit consent.

How Do We Collect Personal Information?

We collect data through:

  • Direct interactions (website visits, event registrations, account creation)
  • Recruitment processes (job applications, hiring decisions)
  • Third-party sources (partners, vendors providing services on our behalf)
  • Automated collection (cookies, device identifiers, online tracking tools)
  • AI-powered analytics (personalized recommendations, automated monitoring)

How Do We Use Personal Information?

We use personal information for:

  • Account Services: Membership management, customer support, account verification
  • Marketing & Advertising: Targeted ads, promotional outreach
  • Compliance & Auditing: Fraud detection, security monitoring
  • Data Analytics & Research: Product development, service enhancements
  • Legal Obligations: Regulatory compliance, responding to legal requests
  • AI-Specific Uses:
    • AI-powered service recommendations
    • AI system training & performance improvements
    • AI bias detection & mitigation
    • Human oversight of AI-driven decisions
    • Compliance with AI regulations

Data Sharing and Third-Party Disclosures

We may share personal information with:

  • Marketing & Advertising Partners: Third-party publishers, social media platforms
  • Service Providers: Payment processors, IT support, cloud storage providers
  • Legal & Regulatory Authorities: Law enforcement, courts, regulatory bodies
  • AI Training & Oversight Entities: AI system auditors, bias monitoring organizations

We do not sell personal information.

AI Transparency and User Rights

You have the following rights regarding our AI systems:

  • Right to Know: Whether you are interacting with AI
  • Right to Opt Out: Automated decision-making processes
  • Right to Human Review: Appeal significant AI-driven decisions
  • Right to Contest: AI-generated outputs or decisions
  • Right to Explanation: AI decision-making logic
  • Right to Information: About the AI training data used

Legal & Compliance Safeguards

GDPR & CCPA Compliance

We comply with:

  • GDPR Article 22: User rights in AI-based automated decision-making
  • CCPA Opt-Out Provisions: “Do Not Sell My Info” compliance
  • EU AI Act: Risk assessments, bias monitoring, human oversight mechanisms

Cross-Border Data Transfers

For international data transfers, we rely on:

  • Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)
  • Adequacy decisions (for applicable regions)
  • Encryption & anonymization measures for sensitive data

AI Bias & Auditing Protections

We implement:

  • Regular AI bias detection & mitigation
  • Independent third-party audits of AI decision-making
  • Documentation of AI system capabilities & limitations

Opting In & Out – Setting Preferences

  • Opt-In: Users receive commercial, educational, and transactional messages by default, unless otherwise specified.
  • Opt-Out: Users may unsubscribe from marketing messages, but will continue receiving transactional notifications.
  • Targeted Advertising Controls: Users can opt out of interest-based ads via industry-standard tools or browser settings.

Accessing, Updating, and Deleting Personal Information

  • Update Information: Log in to your account or contact support.
  • Request Deletion: Contact [digitalcommunity@theihs.org] to remove data from IHS systems.
  • Data Retention: Personal data is retained for the duration required by our retention policies and regulatory obligations.

Security Measures

We employ:

  • Encryption & secure storage for sensitive data
  • Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for account access
  • Regular security audits to ensure compliance
  • User responsibility: Users should protect their login credentials and update passwords regularly.

Privacy of Children

IHS does not target or knowingly collect data from individuals under age 13. If you believe your child’s data has been collected, contact [privacy email].

Supplemental Notices

California Residents

  • Authorized agents may request data access, corrections, or deletions on behalf of California residents.
  • Identity verification is required before processing such requests.

UK & EEA Residents

  • Data processing occurs in [location] and adheres to GDPR & EU AI Act requirements.
  • We implement appropriate safeguards for international data transfers.

AI Act Compliance

  • Regular risk assessments & mitigation
  • Human oversight for high-risk AI applications
  • Transparent communication of AI system use

Policy Updates & Contact Information

This Privacy Notice may be updated periodically. The latest version will always be posted on our website.

For questions, contact:

  • Privacy inquiries: [ihsit@theihs.org]
  • Customer service: [digitalcommunity@theihs.org]
  • AI-specific concerns: [jronyak@ihs.gmu.edu]

Alternatively, you may write to us at: Institute for Humane Studies
3434 Washington Blvd, FL1, Arlington, VA 22201
[theihs.org]

 

Here is the timeline for our application process:

  1. Apply for a position 
  2. An HR team member will review your application submission  
  3. If selected for consideration, you will speak with a recruiter 
  4. If your experience and skills match the role, you will interview with the hiring manager
  5. If you are a potential fit for the position, you will interview with additional staff members
  6. If you are the candidate chosen, we will extend a job offer

 

All candidates will be notified regarding the status of their application within two to three weeks of submission. As new positions often become available, we encourage you to visit our site frequently for additional opportunities that align with your interests and skills.