Privacy Policy for Human Drivers Advocacy Network

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Effective Date: July 4, 2025

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The Human Drivers Advocacy Network (HDAN) is committed to protecting personal information in compliance with applicable privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), other U.S. state privacy laws, and, where applicable, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This Privacy Policy governs the collection, use, storage, and disclosure of information obtained through our website, human-drivers-advocacy.org, or via email communications, including story submissions. By accessing our website or submitting information, you acknowledge and agree to the practices described herein.

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1. Information We Collect

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We collect only the information necessary to support HDAN’s advocacy for equitable transportation policies, particularly regarding insurance premiums and regulatory impacts in the autonomous vehicle (AV) era.

• Personal Information: When you contact us, subscribe to newsletters, or submit stories via email, we may collect:

  • Name and email address.

  • Any personal details voluntarily included in stories (e.g., driving experiences, insurance challenges, demographic information, or mobility needs).

• Non-Personal Information: We collect anonymized data, such as website usage metrics (e.g., page views, session duration) via analytics tools, to optimize site performance.

• Story Data: Stories submitted via email may contain personal or sensitive information, which we process solely for research, policy analysis, or advocacy purposes as specified below.​

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2. How We Collect Information​

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• Direct Submission: Information is collected when you email us, fill out website forms (if applicable), or subscribe to communications.

• Automated Collection: We use cookies and similar technologies for analytics, collecting non-identifiable data about website interactions. You may disable cookies via browser settings, though this may affect site functionality.

• Voluntary Story Submissions: Stories are collected only when you voluntarily email them to us, with clear instructions to specify consent preferences (see Section 4).

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3. How We Use Your Information

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HDAN processes personal information for specific, limited purposes to advance our advocacy mission, ensuring compliance with privacy laws:

• Research and Analysis: To analyze transportation challenges (e.g., rising insurance premiums) and develop policy recommendations, using anonymized or aggregated story data unless otherwise authorized.

• Policy Advocacy: To inform regulators, policymakers, or grant applications with anonymized insights or, with explicit consent, attributed stories.

• Communications: To respond to inquiries, acknowledge submissions, or send newsletters (only with opt-in consent).

• Website Optimization: To improve site functionality using anonymized analytics data.

• Legal Compliance: To meet regulatory or legal obligations, such as record-keeping for grant reporting.

We do not use your information for purposes beyond those listed without obtaining additional consent.

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4. Story Submission Consent and Use

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By submitting a story via email to HDAN, you acknowledge that it may contain personal information and agree to its use under the following conditions:

• Specific Purposes: Stories are used solely for:

  • Research to analyze transportation issues (e.g., insurance premium trends, regulatory impacts).

  • Developing anonymized policy briefs, reports, or grant applications.

  • Public advocacy (e.g., blogs, presentations), only with your explicit, written consent.

• Consent Options: You must specify one of the following preferences in your email submission:

  1. Internal Research Only: Story is anonymized and used solely for internal analysis.

  2. Anonymized Public Use: Anonymized story excerpts may be included in reports or advocacy materials.

  3. Public Use with Attribution: Story may be shared publicly with your name or other identifiers, only with your explicit permission.

• Default Handling: If no preference is specified, your story will be used only for internal, anonymized research to minimize privacy risks.

• Withdrawal of Consent: You may withdraw consent or request deletion of your story by emailing driversequity@gmail.com, subject to legal or archival obligations.

HDAN will not use stories for unspecified purposes or in ways that exceed your provided consent.

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5. How We Share Your Information

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HDAN shares information only as necessary and in compliance with applicable laws:

• Service Providers: We engage trusted third parties (e.g., email platforms, analytics providers) to process data on our behalf. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and comply with privacy laws.

• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law (e.g., court orders, subpoenas), taking steps to limit disclosure and protect your privacy.

• Aggregated/Anonymized Data: We may share anonymized insights (e.g., trends from story analyses) with policymakers, grantors, or partners to advance advocacy, ensuring no identifiable information is included.

• With Consent: Stories or personal details are shared publicly only with your explicit, written consent, as specified in your submission.

We do not sell, rent, or share personal information for commercial purposes.

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6. Data Security

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We implement industry-standard measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: Data transmissions (e.g., via website forms, email) use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption.

• Access Controls: Only authorized HDAN personnel access personal data, limited to what is necessary for advocacy or research.

• Anonymization: Story data is anonymized for analysis unless public sharing is explicitly authorized.

• Secure Storage: Data is stored on secure servers with restricted access and regular security audits.

Despite these measures, no system is completely secure. We will notify you promptly of any data breach as required by law.

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7. Your Rights

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Under applicable privacy laws, you may have the following rights, which HDAN will honor to the extent required:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal information.

• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate data.

• Deletion: Request deletion of your data, subject to legal obligations (e.g., record retention for grants).

• Opt-Out: Opt out of newsletters or communications by following unsubscribe instructions or contacting us.

• Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.

To exercise these rights, email contact@human-drivers-advocacy.org with your request. We will respond within the timeframes required by law (e.g., 45 days under CCPA).

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8. International Users

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If you are located outside the U.S. (e.g., in the EU), additional protections under GDPR may apply. We process data based on your explicit consent or legitimate interests (e.g., advocacy for public policy). You may request data portability or lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. Contact us for details.

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9. Children’s Privacy

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Our website and services are not directed to individuals under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we discover such data has been collected, we will delete it immediately.

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10. Third-Party Links

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Our website may link to external sites (e.g., research sources, partners). We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Review their policies before sharing information.

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11. Retention of Information

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We retain personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined (e.g., research, advocacy, legal compliance), typically no longer than 5 years after submission, unless required for grant reporting or legal obligations. Anonymized data may be retained indefinitely for statistical analysis.

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12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

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We may update this policy to reflect legal or operational changes. Significant updates will be posted on our website with a revised effective date. Continued use of our services after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

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13. Contact Us

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For questions, to exercise your rights, or to specify story use preferences, contact:

Human Drivers Advocacy Network LLC
Email: driversequity@gmail.com

HDAN is dedicated to compliance with privacy laws, ensuring your information is handled responsibly to support our advocacy for mobility equity.