Cookie Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Security Notice | Accessibility Statement | NIST Privacy Impact AssessmentsCookie disclaimer: “Cookies” are small bits of text that are either used for the duration of a session (“session cookies”) or saved on a user’s hard drive in order to identify that user, or information about that user, the next time the user logs on the a Web site (“persistent cookies”). NIST does not use persistent cookies or any other persistent tracking technology. However, for some videos that are visible on www.nist.gov, a "persistent cookie" is set by third party providers when you click to play a video. These videos are identified with a link to a cookie disclaimer under the video and are used by the third party provider to collect statistics on the number of unique Web visitors viewing specific videos. A waiver has been issued by the White House Counsel's office to allow for the use of these types of persistent cookies by third parties on the White House Web site and NIST is following the White House example by providing an alternative method for viewing these videos. If you would like to view a video without the use of persistent cookies, click on the link that reads "download mp4." If you experience any difficulties, please contact us. Currently, we are using session cookies as part of a Web customer satisfaction survey we are conducting in collaboration with ForeSee Results. The sole purpose of the session cookies is to cause the survey to be displayed to a small percentage of our Web site visitors as they leave the NIST Web site. NIST does not retain any information collected by these session cookies. Session cookies are automatically deleted at the end of a session, that is, when you close your browser. Additional privacy information related to the survey is available from a link on the survey itself. Thank you for visiting the National Institute of Standards and Technology Web site. We are committed to the privacy of our visitors. We collect no personal information about you when you visit our Web site unless you choose to provide that information to us. Here is how we handle information about your visit to our Web site. Information collected and stored automatically: If you do nothing during your visit but browse through the Web site, read pages, or download information, we will gather and store certain information about your visit automatically. This information does not identify you personally. We automatically collect and store information like the following concerning your visit:
Information protection: For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, this Government computer system employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. If such monitoring reveals evidence of possible abuse or criminal activity, such evidence may be provided to appropriate law enforcement officials. Unauthorized attempts to upload or change information on this server are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act or other law. Information that you voluntarily provide: We do not collect personally identifiable information unless you choose to provide it to us. If you provide us with personally identifiable information, for example, by sending an e-mail or by filling out a form and submitting it through our Web site, we use that information to respond to your message and to help us provide you with the information and services that you request. All uses of that information are described on the Web page containing the form. Submitting voluntary information constitutes your consent to the use of the information for the stated purpose. When you click the “Submit” button on any of the Web forms found on our sites, you are indicating your voluntary consent to use of the information you submit for the purpose stated. How information is used: The information we collect is used for a variety of purposes (e.g., to register you for a conference, to respond to requests for information, and to fill orders). We make every effort to disclose clearly how information is used at the point where it is collected so you can determine whether you wish to provide the information. Retention of Information: We destroy the information we collect when the purpose for which it was provided has been fulfilled unless we are required to keep it longer by statute or official policy. Electronically submitted information is maintained and destroyed according to the principles of the Federal Records Act and the regulations and records schedules approved by the National Archives and Records Administration, and in some cases information submitted to us may become an agency record and therefore might be subject to a Freedom of Information Act request. Also, NIST is not responsible for the privacy practices employed by non-NIST sites that may link to the NIST web site or non-NIST sites hosted on NIST computers (e.g. web sites of professional organizations. Interaction with children: This Web site offers some educational content to children under 13. No personally identifiable information is collected from these visitors unless voluntarily submitted as a request for information or services. The information supplied is used to respond to the user’s inquiries or to provide services requested by the user. Links to other sites: Our Web site contains links to various other federal agencies and private organizations. Once you link to another site, you are then subject to the privacy policies of the new site. It is always a good idea to read the Privacy Policy of any site you visit. Your right under the Privacy Act: Information on the Privacy Act can be found on the following web site: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/fed_prog/foia/foia.htm#privacyact. Accessibility: The National Institute of Standards and Technology is committed to making its web sites accessible to all NIST customers and staff in accordance with provisions of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998. If you have difficulty obtaining information from any NIST Web site, please contact inquiries@nist.gov to get the material in another format. You should provide the URL of the Web site referencing that information. If you have any 508-related questions, comments, or suggestions for improvement, please contact the NIST Office of the Chief Information Officer by email at nistcio@nist.gov. See NIST disclaimer. |
