Effective Date: September 1, 2019

Privacy Policy

We’ve updated our Privacy Policy effective 8/9/2023. Please carefully review it. By continuing to use our services, you acknowledge that the updated Privacy Policy applies to you.

Overview

The Stellar Development Foundation (“SDF,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) provides this Privacy Policy to explain how we collect, share, and use personal information about you and information arising from our interactions with you to support the operation, development, and growth of the content, functionality, applications, and services we offer, including, without limitation, our website https://www.stellar.org, all applications therein, and other websites or applications that we offer that link to this Privacy Policy (collectively, the “Services”).

This Privacy Policy does not apply to the open-source Stellar software or the Stellar Network, a distributed open-source global network accessed through the Stellar software. You should be aware that any information posted to the Stellar Network will be made permanently available to the public.

How we collect your information

We collect information you provide to us when you browse our Sites, create an online account, post messages to our forums, sign up for email alerts and newsletters, provide feedback through forms or surveys, participate in any interactive features, participate in events we offer or otherwise use our Services. The types of information we may collect include your name, username, email address, profile picture, password, or public key, and any other information you choose to provide. We also collect the information you submit through your communications with us such as if you provide information about your occupation when you sign up for newsletters we offer, communications to learn more about or contribute to our Services, report a security bug, receive lumens, or apply for a job with SDF.

We also collect technical information including, but not limited to, browser type, IP address, domain name, pages visited and other activities on the Services, device type, identifiers, and the time and date of your visits. We collect location information if permitted by your browser settings. We use tracking technologies such as cookies, pixels, web beacons, web server logs, and other similar technologies to collect such information about your interactions with our Services. These technologies help us(1) understand how you use and interact with our Services; (2) measure and improve the usability of our Services and the effectiveness of our communications; and (3) otherwise manage and enhance our Services and help ensure they are working properly.

We obtain information from other sources. For example, we may receive information from business intelligence partners that help us learn more about the careers and professional interests of those who engage with our Services.

We may also infer certain information about you based on other data we collect. For example, we may infer which city you live in based on your IP address.

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

  • To deliver the content of our Services, including, without limitation, to improve the content we offer, notify users about updates, and recognize visitors to our Services;
  • To respond to your comments, questions, and requests and to provide support services;
  • To operate SDF, including to perform research and analytics;
  • To protect the security and performance of our Services and interests, including our assets and systems;
  • To comply with applicable laws and regulations;
  • To monitor and analyze trends, usage, and activities in order to operate and improve our Services;
  • To communicate with you about products, services, and events offered by us or others and provide news and information we think may be of interest to you (you may opt out of these communications at any time);
  • To target advertisements to you on third-party platforms and websites;
  • To manage your online account(s) and send you technical notices, updates, security alerts, and support and administrative messages; and
  • As otherwise disclosed at the time personal information is collected.

How We Share Your Information

We may share your personal information in the following circumstances and as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy:

  • Vendors who process data on behalf of SDF, such as analytics providers who track and analyze the performance of our Services and related analytics;
  • As part of a corporate sale, merger, or acquisition, or other transfer of all or part of our assets including as part of a bankruptcy proceeding;
  • Pursuant to a subpoena, court order, governmental inquiry, law enforcement investigation, or other legal process or as otherwise required by law, or to protect our rights or the rights of third parties; or
  • With your consent or as otherwise disclosed at the time of data collection or sharing. The Services may also include, or provide access to, features and forums where you can post public comments and communicate with other users. We are not responsible for the other users’ use of available information, so you should carefully consider whether and what to post or how you identify yourself.

We may also share information that has been de-identified or aggregated without restriction.

Advertising and Data Analytics

We engage others to provide analytics and business intelligence services, serve advertisements, and perform related services across the web and in mobile applications. These entities may use cookies, web beacons, SDKs, device identifiers, and other technologies to collect information about your use of our Services and other websites and mobile apps, including your IP address, web browser and mobile network information, pages viewed, time spent on pages or in mobile apps, links clicked, and conversion information. This information is used to deliver advertising targeted to your interests on other companies’ sites or mobile apps, inform our outreach to you, to analyze and track data, determine the popularity of certain content, and better understand your activity.

In addition, we may share identifiers, like email addresses and phone numbers, with some of our advertising partners. These advertising partners translate that information into a unique identifier that can then be used to show ads that are more relevant to you across the web and in mobile apps. You can learn more about interest-based ads, or opt out of having your web browsing information used for behavioral advertising purposes by companies that participate in the Digital Advertising Alliance, by visiting www.aboutads.info/choices, or, if you reside in the European Union, by visiting www.youronlinechoices.eu. Your device may also include a feature that allows you to opt out of having certain information collected through mobile apps used for behavioral advertising purposes.

Third-Party Links and Tools

The Services may provide links to third-party websites or apps, including our social media pages. We do not control the privacy practices of those websites or apps, and they are not covered by this Privacy Policy. You should review the privacy policies of other websites or apps that you use to learn about their data practices.

International Visitors

This section applies to those that access our Services from outside of the United States. Please be aware that the personal information we collect may be transferred to and maintained on servers or databases located outside your state, province, country, or other jurisdiction, where the privacy laws may not be as protective as those in your location. If you are located outside of the United States, please be advised that we process and store personal information in the United States. Where required by law, we provide adequate protection for the transfer of personal data in accordance with applicable law, such as by obtaining your consent, relying on the European Commission’s adequacy decisions, or executing Standard Contractual Clauses. Where relevant, you may request a copy of these Standard Contractual Clauses by contacting us at [email protected].

When we process your personal data as described above, we do so in reliance on the following lawful bases:

To perform our responsibilities under our contract with you (e.g., providing the products and services you requested).

When we have a legitimate interest in processing your personal data to operate our Services or protect our interests (e.g., to provide, maintain, and improve our Services, conduct data analytics, and communicate with you).

To comply with our legal obligations (e.g., to maintain a record of your consents and track those who have opted out of marketing communications).

When we have your consent to do so (e.g., when you opt in to receive marketing communications from us or when you consent to the placement of non-essential cookies on your device). When consent is the legal basis for our processing your personal data, you may withdraw such consent at any time.

‍If you reside in the European Economic Area (“EEA”), the United Kingdom, or Switzerland you have a right:

  • To request access to the personal information we hold about you;
  • To request that we rectify or erase your personal information;
  • To request that we restrict or block the processing of your personal information;
  • Under certain circumstances, to receive personal information about you that we store and transmit to another without hindrance from us, including requesting that we provide your personal information directly to another (i.e., a right to data portability); and
  • Where we previously obtained your consent, to withdraw consent to processing your personal information. To exercise these rights, contact us using the “Contact Us” section below. Please be aware that SDF may be unable to afford these rights to you under certain circumstances, such as if we are legally prevented from doing so.

To exercise these rights, please contact us through the methods provided in the “Contact Us” section below.

Additionally, you have the right to lodge a complaint against us. To do so, contact the supervisory authority in your country of residence. Details can be found at the links below:

If you live in the EEA, the UK, or Switzerland, you may learn more about the cookies we use and exercise choices with respect to certain categories of cookies by clicking on the “Cookie Settings” link in the footer of our website.

Retention

We will retain your personal information on file for as long as necessary for our legitimate business purposes. After that, we take steps to destroy it unless we are required by law or regulation to keep it longer.

Your Choices

  • Communications Preferences: To update your contact information or change your communication preferences, please contact us through the methods provided in the “Contact Us” section below. In accordance with applicable laws, you may also unsubscribe from marketing email communications from us by using the unsubscribe link provided in the email.
  • Cookies and Similar Technologies: We and our partners use cookies and similar tracking technologies to analyze visits to and use of our Services and how users are interacting with our marketing communications. You can usually adjust your browser settings to remove or reject all or some browser cookies.

Changes to Our Privacy Policy

We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make changes, we will notify you by revising the Effective Date at the top of this policy, and in some cases, we may provide you with additional notice (such as adding a statement to the homepages of our Services or sending you an email notification). We encourage you to review the Privacy Policy regularly to stay informed about our information practices and the choices available to you.

Contact Us

If you have questions, comments, or concerns about this Privacy Policy, you may contact us:

By Mail:

Stellar Development Foundation, P.O. Box 77105, San Francisco, CA 94107, United States‍

By Email:

[email protected]