Personal Information Protection Policy (Privacy Policy)

With regard to the management of personal information collected from users of the UW-TU: AOS website (hereinafter referred to as “this site”) in the course of their using this site, Tohoku University (hereinafter referred to as “the University”) will comply with the Act on the Protection of Personal Information Held by Incorporated Administrative Agencies, etc. (Act No. 59 of 2003), other laws and regulations, and the University’s Regulations on Protection of Personal Information, etc., and will handle such information with the utmost care.

Collection of Personal Information

This site collects the following information:

• This site will automatically collect information such as Internet domain names, IP addresses, and other information related to the browsing of the site. In addition, cookies are used to automatically collect information related to the browsing of the site. However, cookies are not used to collect any information that can identify individual users. In addition, users may disable cookies by changing the relevant settings on their browser.
• When using contact form of this site, users are asked to register their name, current affiliation, e-mail address.

Personal Information

Personal information refers to information registered by users who use the contact form of this site such as names, affiliations, e-mail addresses that can be used to identify a specific individual user (including information that can be cross-checked with other information to identify a specific individual).

Proper Management of Information

In operating this site, the University will establish a system to protect and manage personal information, and will comply with rules and regulations regarding the appropriate collection, use and provision of said information.

Purpose of Acquiring and Use of Personal Information

Aside from exceptional cases as stipulated by the law, the University will, after clearly indicating the purposes of using personal information and a contact number for enquiries, etc., acquire personal information only to the extent necessary to achieve said purposes, in accordance with users’ wishes. The personal information obtained will be used for the following purposes:

• To disseminate information from the University to users
• To provide this site’s services to users
• To help improve this site and develop new services
• To request the cooperation of users with various projects being carried out by the UW-TU: AOS that are considered to have the potential of contributing to the development of education and research activities of the UW-TU: AOS.
• For other activities related to the management and operation of the UW-TU: AOS jointly implemented by the University of Washington and Tohoku University

Provision of Information to Third Parties

The University will strive to properly manage personal information obtained from users and will not provide any such information to third parties without the consent of the user, except in the following cases:

• When there is a legal inquiry from a court, the police, a government agency, or an equivalent body
• When a user is deemed to have committed an offence, such as carrying out unauthorized access or making threats
• When collecting and analyzing personal information in such a way that individuals cannot be identified
• When the University determines that there exists a problem with respect to societal norms that violates either the law or this policy
• When the University determines that such actions are necessary to protect the rights or interests of the University, other users, or other third parties.
• When the disclosure or provision of such information is required based on other laws, etc.

Disclosure/Rectification/Deletion of Personal Information

If the University receives a request from a user to disclose, rectify, or delete their personal information which has been obtained and is being stored by the University, the University will respond within a reasonable period of time and to a reasonable extent, once the identity of the person making the request has been confirmed.

Security Measures in Respect of Personal Information

The University will take reasonable preventive and remedial measures against potential risks regarding the storage of personal information (including the unauthorized accessing, loss, destruction, falsification, and leaking of personal information) to ensure the safe-keeping and accuracy of personal information.

Continuous Improvements in the Protection of Personal Information

The University will thoroughly inform the staff involved in the operation of the site of the University’s Regulations on Protection of Personal Information, and will constantly strive to improve its efforts in regard to the Protection of Personal Information.

Compliance with Laws and Regulations Regarding Personal Information

The University will always keep up to date with laws and regulations regarding personal information and will fully comply with them.

About Revisions to the Personal Information Protection Policy

The University will revise the site’s Personal Information Protection Policy from time to time as necessary. Notifications regarding revisions to the content on this site will be posted thereon.