Privacy Policy Last Updated: Jan 9, 2020
Vianet Inc., referenced within this document simply as Vianet, provides a broad range of telecommunications services to customers, including internet access, television, and local and long-distance services in Canada.
Vianet is committed to maintaining the privacy, confidentiality, security and accuracy of customer and employee personal information.
In 1996, the Canadian Standards Association Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information, CAN/CSA-Q830-96 (the "CSA Code"), was published as a National Standard of Canada. Subsequently, the CSA Code was largely incorporated into the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, S.C. 2000, c.5, as amended ("PIPEDA").
The Vianet Privacy Policy ("Privacy Policy") is a formal statement of principles and guidelines concerning the minimum requirements for the protection of personal information provided by Vianet to their customers and employees. The objective of the Privacy Policy is responsible and transparent practices in the management of personal information, in accordance with the CSA Code and federal legislation.
Vianet will continue to review the Privacy Policy at least every five years to make sure it is relevant and remains current with changing technologies and laws and the evolving needs of Vianet, our customers and employees.
Vianet has designated a group of senior level staff to oversee compliance with the Privacy Policy. They can be reached by email, mail, or fax at:
Privacy Group c/o Vianet
128 Larch St., Suite 202
Sudbury, Ontario P3E 5J8
Fax:
(705) 222-2667
Email: privacy@vianet.ca
Although our Privacy Policy goes into extensive detail below, here we outline its principles in short, clear statements for your convenience. To read the principles in full, as well as to view our Privacy Policy Questions & Answers and Additional Information, please continue reading past this summary.
Vianet is responsible for personal information under their control and shall designate one or more persons who are accountable for compliance with the following principles.
Vianet will identify the purposes for which personal information is collected at or before the time the information is collected.
The knowledge and consent of a customer or employee is required for the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information, except where inappropriate.
Vianet will limit the collection of personal information to that which is necessary for the purposes identified. Vianet will collect personal information by fair and lawful means.
Vianet will not use or disclose personal information for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual or as required by law. Vianet shall retain personal information only as long as is necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes.
Personal information shall be as accurate, complete and up to date as is necessary for the purposes for which it is to be used.
Vianet will protect personal information by security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.
Vianet will make readily available to customers and its employees specific information about their policies and practices relating to the management of personal information.
Vianet will inform a customer or employee of the existence, use, and disclosure of his or her personal information upon request and will give the individual access to that information. A customer or employee shall be able to challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information and to have it amended as appropriate.
A customer or employee shall be able to address a challenge concerning compliance with the above principles to the designated group accountable for Vianet's compliance with the Privacy Policy.
The ten principles that form the basis of the Privacy Policy are interrelated and Vianet will adhere to the ten principles as a whole. Each principle must be read in conjunction with the accompanying commentary. As permitted by PIPEDA, the commentary in the Privacy Policy has been tailored to reflect personal information issues specific to Vianet.
The scope and application of the Privacy Policy are as follows:
The Privacy Policy applies to personal information about customers and employees of Vianet that is collected, used, or disclosed by Vianet.
The Privacy Policy applies to the management of personal information in any form, whether oral, electronic, or written.
The Privacy Policy does not impose any limits on the collection, use or disclosure of the following information by Vianet:
The application of the Privacy Policy is subject to the requirements or provisions of any applicable legislation, regulations, tariffs or agreements, or the order or determination of any court or other lawful authority, including any applicable regulations, orders or determinations of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
Vianet is responsible for personal information under their control and shall designate one or more persons who are accountable for compliance with the following principles.
1.1 Responsibility for ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Privacy Policy rests with the senior management of Vianet, which shall designate one or more persons to be accountable for compliance with the Privacy Policy. Other individuals within Vianet may be delegated to act on behalf of the designated person(s) or to take responsibility for the day-to-day collection and processing of personal information.
1.2 Vianet will make known, upon request, the titles of the group members designated to oversee Vianet' compliance with the Privacy Policy. Vianet has designated a Privacy Group to oversee compliance with the Privacy Policy.
1.3 Vianet is responsible for personal information in their possession or control, including information that has been transferred to a third party for processing. Vianet will use appropriate means to provide a comparable level of protection while information is being processed by a third party (see Principle 7).
1.4 Vianet has implemented policies and procedures to give effect to the Privacy Policy, including:
Vianet will identify the purposes for which personal information is collected at or before the time the information is collected.
2.1 Vianet collects personal information only for the following purposes:
Further references to "identified purposes" mean the purposes identified in this Principle 2.1.
2.2 Vianet will specify orally, electronically or in writing the identified purposes to the customer or employee at or before the time personal information is collected. Upon request, persons collecting personal information shall explain these identified purposes or refer the individual to a designated person within Vianet who will explain the purposes.
2.3 Unless required by law, Vianet will not use or disclose, for any new purpose, personal information that has been collected without first identifying and documenting the new purpose and obtaining the consent of the customer or employee.
2.4 Vianet uses Google Analytics on its websites for the purposes of analyzing how visitors use the site. The anonymous statistics gathered assist in website personalization and support tasks. Vianet websites include, but are not limited to, vianet.ca and will collectively be referred to as “Vianet Sites.”
As members of the public browse Vianet Sites, Google Analytics places “cookies” on a user’s computer, which are text files that contain anonymized log and visitor behavior information, and may in the future include limited demographic information such as age, gender, and interests.
This information will not be used to identify individual users, either by itself or in conjunction with other information. Using appropriate settings found in their internet browsers, or tools available through Google, users may opt out of receiving cookies while visiting Vianet Sites. In doing so, users acknowledge that this may limit the functionality of Vianet Sites.
Google Ad Settings: https://adssettings.google.com/
2.5 Vianet collects limited networking information for devices that Vianet manages for analytical and troubleshooting purposes. This allows us to determine in-home Wi-Fi signal strength, determine how other devices may be interfering with an in-home Wi-Fi signal, analyze performance and speed, as well as perform remote management in certain situations when required. Collected metadata and statistics do not expose any user traffic nor content.
The knowledge and consent of a customer or employee is required for the collection, use or disclosure of personal information, except where inappropriate.
3.1 In certain circumstances personal information can be collected, used or disclosed without the knowledge and consent of the individual. For example, Vianet may collect or use personal information without knowledge or consent if it is clearly in the interests of the individual and consent cannot be obtained in a timely way, such as when the individual is a minor, seriously ill or mentally incapacitated.
Vianet may also collect, use or disclose personal information without knowledge or consent if seeking the consent of the individual might defeat the purpose of collecting the information, such as in the investigation of a breach of an agreement or a contravention of a federal or provincial law.
Vianet may also use or disclose personal information without knowledge or consent in the case of an emergency where the life, health or security of an individual is threatened.
Vianet may disclose personal information without knowledge or consent to a lawyer representing Vianet, to collect a debt, to comply with a subpoena, warrant or other court order, or as may be otherwise required by law.
3.2 In obtaining consent, Vianet shall use reasonable efforts to ensure that a customer or employee is advised of the identified purposes for which personal information will be used or disclosed. Purposes shall be stated in a manner that can be reasonably understood by the customer or employee.
3.3 Generally, Vianet will seek consent to use and disclose personal information at the same time they collect the information. However, Vianet may seek consent to use and disclose personal information after it has been collected but before it is used or disclosed for a new purpose.
3.4 Vianet will require customers to consent to the collection, use or disclosure of personal information as a condition of the supply of a product or service only if such collection, use or disclosure is required to fulfill the identified purposes.
3.5 In determining the appropriate form of consent, Vianet shall take into account the sensitivity of the personal information and the reasonable expectations of their customers and employees.
3.6 In general, the use of products and services by a customer, or the acceptance of employment or benefits by an employee, constitutes implied consent for Vianet to collect, use and disclose personal information for all identified purposes.
3.7 A customer or employee may withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice. Customers and employees may contact Vianet for more information regarding the implications of withdrawing consent.
Some specific examples of how we use collected information:
Examples of how we may share information with third party partners include:
Examples of how we may disclose information to meet legal obligations include:
Vianet will limit the collection of personal information to that which is necessary for the purposes identified. Vianet will collect personal information by fair and lawful means.
4.1 Vianet collects personal information primarily from their customers or employees.
4.2 Vianet may also collect personal information from other sources including credit bureaus, employers or personal references, or other third parties that represent that they have the right to disclose the information.
Vianet will not use or disclose personal information for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual or as required by law. Vianet will retain personal information for only as long as is necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes.
5.1 In certain circumstances personal information can be collected, used or disclosed without the knowledge and consent of the individual. (See Principle 3.1)
5.2 In addition, Vianet may disclose a customer's personal information to:
5.3 Vianet may disclose personal information about their employees:
5.4 Only those employees of Vianet who require access for business reasons, or whose duties reasonably so require, are granted access to personal information about customers and employees.
5.5 Vianet will keep personal information only as long as it remains necessary or relevant for the identified purposes or as required by law. Depending on the circumstances, where personal information has been used to make a decision about a customer or employee, Vianet shall retain, for a period of time that is reasonably sufficient to allow for access by the customer or employee, either the actual information or the rationale for making the decision.
5.6 Vianet will maintain reasonable and systematic controls, schedules and practices for information and records retention and destruction which apply to personal information that is no longer necessary or relevant for the identified purposes or required by law to be retained. Such information shall be destroyed, erased or made anonymous.
Personal information shall be as accurate, complete and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which it is to be used.
6.1 Personal information used by Vianet will be sufficiently accurate, complete and up-to-date to minimize the possibility that inappropriate information may be used to make a decision about a customer or employee.
6.2 Vianet will update personal information about customers and employees as and when necessary to fulfill the identified purposes or upon notification by the individual.
Vianet will protect personal information by security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.
7.1 Vianet will protect personal information against such risks as loss or theft, unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use, modification or destruction, through appropriate security measures. Vianet shall protect the information regardless of the format in which it is held.
7.2 Vianet will protect personal information disclosed to third parties by contractual agreements stipulating the confidentiality of the information and the purposes for which it is to be used.
7.3 All employees of Vianet with access to personal information shall be required as a condition of employment to respect the confidentiality of personal information.
Vianet will make readily available to customers and employees specific information about their policies and practices relating to the management of personal information.
8.1 Vianet will make information about its policies and practices easy to understand, including:
8.2 Vianet will make available information to help customers and employees exercise choices regarding the use of their personal information and the privacy-enhancing services available from Vianet.
Vianet will inform a customer or employee of the existence, use and disclosure of his or her personal information upon request and shall give the individual access to that information. A customer or employee shall be able to challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information and to have it amended as appropriate.
9.1 Upon request, Vianet will afford to a customer or an employee a reasonable opportunity to review the personal information in the individual's file. Personal information shall be provided in understandable form within a reasonable time and at minimal or no cost to the individual.
9.2 In certain situations, Vianet may not be able to provide access to all the personal information that they hold about a customer or employee. For example, Vianet may not provide access to information if doing so would likely reveal personal information about a third party or could reasonably be expected to threaten the life or security of another individual. Also, Vianet may not provide access to information if disclosure would reveal confidential commercial information, if the information is protected by solicitor-client privilege, if the information was generated in the course of a formal dispute resolution process, or if the information was collected in relation to the investigation of a breach of an agreement or a contravention of a federal or provincial law. If access to personal information cannot be provided, Vianet shall provide the reasons for denying access upon request.
9.3 Upon request, Vianet will provide an account of the use and disclosure of personal information and, where reasonably possible, shall state the source of the information. In providing an account of disclosure, Vianet will provide a list of organizations to which it may have disclosed personal information about the individual when it is not possible to provide an actual list.
9.4 In order to safeguard personal information, a customer or employee may be required to provide sufficient identification information to permit Vianet to account for the existence, use and disclosure of personal information and to authorize access to the individual's file. Any such information shall be used only for this purpose.
9.5 Vianet will promptly correct or complete any personal information found to be inaccurate or incomplete. Any unresolved differences as to accuracy or completeness shall be noted in the individual's file. Where appropriate, Vianet will transmit to third parties having access to the personal information in question any amended information or the existence of any unresolved differences.
9.6 A customer can obtain information or seek access to his or her individual file by contacting a customer service representative at 1-800-788-0363.
9.7 An employee can obtain information or seek access to his or her individual file by contacting his or her immediate supervisor within Vianet.
A customer or employee shall be able to address a challenge concerning compliance with the above principles to the designated person or persons accountable for Vianet's compliance with the Privacy Policy.
10.1 Vianet will maintain procedures for addressing and responding to all inquiries or complaints from their customers and employees about Vianet's handling of personal information.
10.2 Vianet will inform their customers and employees about the existence of these procedures as well as the availability of complaint procedures.
10.3 The person or persons accountable for compliance with the Privacy Policy may seek external advice where appropriate before providing a final response to individual complaints.
10.4 Vianet will investigate all complaints concerning compliance with the Privacy Policy. If a complaint is found to be justified, Vianet will take appropriate measures to resolve the complaint including, if necessary, amending its policies and procedures. A customer or employee shall be informed of the outcome of the investigation regarding his or her complaint.
For inquiries, complaints or more information contact:
Privacy Group c/o Vianet
128 Larch St., Suite 202
Sudbury, Ontario P3E 5J8
Fax: (705)
222-2667
Email: privacy@vianet.ca
We may occasionally update our Privacy Policy to keep it up to date. Whenever we update the policy, we will provide notice on this website and may also notify you by email prior to the change taking effect. Site visitors and Vianet customers are encouraged to occasionally visit this page to review the most current copy of our Privacy Policy. By continuing visit our website or use our services following any changes, you agree to abide by the updated policy.
Q. Why does Vianet have a Privacy Policy?
Our Privacy Policy ensures that our commitment to your privacy is upheld. The Privacy Policy reflects our most recent policies setting out your rights and our obligations respecting the treatment of your personal information by Vianet. The Privacy Policy complies with the requirements of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act as well as the Canadian Standards Association Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information. (A summary of the principles underlying the Privacy Policy is included above.)
Q. How do Vianet ensure that their employees and agents adhere to the Privacy Policy when handling personal information?
Employees and agents acting on our behalf are required to adhere to the Privacy Policy. All our employees who have access to personal information are trained in the handling of such information, and new employees receive training on privacy as a fundamental part of their initial company training. All our employees must review and commit to the Privacy Policy annually.
Q. What is personal information?
Personal information is information about an identifiable individual. This includes information about your product and service subscriptions and usage.
Q. Why does Vianet collect information?
Collecting information helps us serve you better. Vianet collects personal information only for the following purposes:
Your personal information will not be used for any other purpose without your consent.
Q. Do you share personal information with any other parties, and if so, who?
Our general policy is not to provide personal information to any party outside of Vianet. However, there are certain limited circumstances, outlined below, in which it is necessary to do so. When we do provide personal information to third parties, we provide only that information that is required in the circumstances. Information provided to third parties is used only for the purpose stipulated and is subject to strict terms of confidentiality. Employees of the companies to whom we may provide information must adhere to our privacy standards.
Third parties to whom we may have to provide personal information include:
Q. How does Vianet safeguard personal information?
We take all the necessary precautions to ensure the safeguarding of your information, whether it is stored electronically or in paper format. In all cases, information is retained in secure facilities, protected from unauthorized access and kept only as long as is reasonably required. For example, our electronic files are backed up for redundancy, password protected and accessible only by authorized employees, on a need-to-know basis.
Q. What are "cookies" and does Vianet use them?
During user interaction with one of our internet sites, using Google Analytics we may use a browser feature called a "cookie" to collect information anonymously and track user patterns on our web sites. This will include limited demographic information such as age, gender, and interests.
A cookie is a small text file containing a unique identification number that identifies your browser - but not you - to our computer systems each time you visit one of our sites that uses cookies. Cookies tell us which pages of our sites are visited and by how many people. This helps us to enhance the on-line experience of visitors to our sites.
Unless you specifically advise us, we will not know who you are, even though we may assign the browser associated with your computer a cookie. We cannot use cookies, by themselves, to disclose the individual identity of any site user, and we do not combine information gathered by a cookie with personally identifiable information like your name, telephone number, or email address without your consent.
Most major web sites use cookies and most major browsers are set up to accept them. If you wish, you can set your browser either to notify you when you have received a cookie, or to refuse to accept cookies. You do not need cookies to visit any website operated by Vianet. However, if you refuse to accept cookies, you may not be able to use some of the features available on our sites, such as personalization features.
Q. What do I do if I have further questions or concerns?
If you have further questions or concerns about your privacy, you can contact us at 1-800-788-0363. Our customer service representatives will assist you in this regard
Q. Who is responsible for overall compliance with the Privacy Policy?
The Vianet Privacy Group has overall responsibility for Vianet's compliance with the Privacy Policy and applicable privacy restrictions. If you still have unresolved concerns with respect to the treatment of your personal information by an employee or representative of Vianet after contacting us at 1-800-788-0363, you may address these concerns, in writing, to the Privacy Group.
Please note that complaints to the Privacy Group must be in writing and may be delivered only by mail or fax.
Q. Is there a further complaint procedure?
If the Vianet Privacy Group does not resolve a privacy issue to your satisfaction, you may file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada by writing to:
Privacy Commissioner of Canada
112 Kent Street
Place de Ville
Tower B, 3rd
Floor
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1H3
For a copy of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, please see the Privacy Commissioner of Canada website at http://www.priv.gc.ca/.
For copies of the CSA Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information contact:
Canadian Standards Association
5060 Spectrum Way
Mississauga,
Ontario
L4W 5N6
For more information on the CSA Model Code, visit the CSA Web Site at: http://www.csagroup.org/ca/en/services/codes-and-standards.
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