Legal

I. Introduction

Your privacy on the Internet is of the utmost importance to us. Because we gather certain types of information about the users of the World Bank's sites and services, we want to ensure that you fully understand the terms and conditions surrounding the capture and use of that information. This privacy statement discloses what information we gather and how we use it. This privacy policy applies to all World Bank sites - that is all sites within the "worldbank.org" domain name.

II. What Information Does the World Bank Collect?

Personal information
If you register for an email newsletter, buy a book or join a discussion group, you will be asked for personal information, such as your name, email address, and organization. The information provided is used for technical and customer administration of the site only and isn't shared with third parties.

The Bank uses a contractual fulfillment vendor to process and ship orders, and a credit card processing service to bill users for goods they purchase. These companies do not retain, share, store or use personally identifiable information for any secondary purposes. These parties are not allowed to use personally identifiable information except for the purpose of providing these services.

Non-personally identifiable information
The World Bank has contracted with a third-party vendor to track and analyze non-personally identifiable information about the usage of World Bank sites. All data collected by the vendor, Omniture, is owned and used by the World Bank.

Information collected is non-personally identifiable, and only summaries of visitor's behavior is produced. Examples of this type of information include statistics on which pages are most popular and which are least popular. The information collected cannot be traced back to a particular individual.

The purpose of this data collection is so that the World Bank can better understand the preferences of its visitors and improve its site and services. This information collected is never connected with any personal information you supply to us if you register on our website.

Use of cookies
When you register for one of our services, the World Bank sets a cookie, a small bit of code stored on your computer's hard drive that enables you to manage your subscriptions and online profile. By setting this cookie, the World Bank will remember you the next time you visit and won't have to bother you by asking questions you have already answered (like address information). Additionally, Omniture, the vendor we use for the analysis of the non-personally identifiable usage, uses cookies to track behavior and sets cookies on behalf of the World Bank.

You are always free to decline our cookies if your browser permits, although in that case you may not be able to use certain features on the site and may be required to re-enter information more frequently to use certain services on the website.

IP Addresses
In addition, the World Bank also records your IP address, which is the Internet address of your computer, and information such as your browser type and operating system. This information helps us learn about the geographical distribution of our website visitors and the technology they use to access our site. This information is never connected with the personal information you supply to us if you register on our website.

Children's privacy
The World Bank operates Youthink!, a website that provides information on global issues that matter to today's youth. Although not primarily directed to children under 13 years old, it is possible that children under 13 years old use the site and its interactive features.

To participate to the discussion forums, users are required to disclose their name and email address. This information is not used for commercial purposes, is not shared with third parties and is only used for site administration.Note to parents: Parents have the right to have their child's information deleted from our systems upon written notification.

III. What If I Don't Want to Share My Information?

Registering on our site is optional. If you choose not to register or provide personal information, you can still use the World Bank's web site. However, you will not be able to purchase items or receive email newsletters. The Bank views the customer information that it collects as a trusted asset for which we take great care in not misusing.

If you register for a newsletter, forum, consultation, or conference the Bank will not share, sell, distribute or rent your information to anyone. If you enter into a transaction on our Publications web site, your information will not be shared unless you indicate that you would like to receive information from UN agencies, multilateral banks or international organizations with whom we occasionally share mailing address information. However, we will never share your e-mail address with these organizations.

IV. Security

The World Bank Group employs a range of technologies to protect the information maintained on our systems from loss, misuse, unauthorized access or disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

V. How to Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about the World Bank Privacy Policy, please contact us.

VI. Notification of Changes

If there are any changes to this privacy policy, we will post them on our home page at: www.worldbank.org and in our Publications check-out so that you are completely aware of how the changes will affect you.

Glossary

Cookie: A cookie is a small amount of data, which often includes an anonymous unique identifier, that is sent to your browser from a web site's computers and stored on your computer's hard drive. Each web site can send its own cookie to your browser if your browser's preferences allow it, but (to protect your privacy) your browser only permits a web site to access the cookies it has already sent to you, not the cookies sent to you by other sites. Once the user has closed the browser the cookie will no longer be accessed during that session.

IP Address: When your web browser or email application requests a web page or email from another computer on the Internet, it automatically gives that computer the address where it should send the information. This is called your computer's "IP address." (IP stands for "Internet protocol.") For many users accessing the Internet from a dial-up Internet service provider (ISP), the IP address will be different every time you log on. The World Bank does this to learn about the geographical make-up of its web site traffic.

Updated: September 2004

Terms And Conditions

Use of this Site constitutes agreement with the following terms and conditions

1. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (The World Bank) maintains this web site (the "Site") as a courtesy to those who may choose to access the Site ("Users") . The information presented herein is for informative purposes only. The World Bank is pleased to allow Users to visit the Site and download and copy the information, documents and materials (collectively, "Materials") from the Site for User's personal, non-commercial use, without any right to resell, redistribute or create derivative works therefrom, subject to the terms and conditions outlined below, and also subject to more specific restrictions that may apply to specific material within this Site.
2. The World Bank administers this Site. The World Bank is a member of the World Bank Group, which is comprised of IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development); IDA (International Development Association); IFC (International Finance Corporation); MIGA (Multilateral Guarantee Agency); and ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes). All Material on this Site from the various members of the World Bank Group, and other content providers, appears on this Site subject to these terms and conditions. In addition, the members of the World Bank Group and such content providers may have additional terms and conditions that govern the use of their material.
3. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings interpretations and conclusions expressed in the Materials in this Site are those of the various authors of the work and are not necessarily those of The World Bank Group's Boards of Executive Directors or the countries they represent.

Disclaimers

1. Materials provided on this site are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including without limitation warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. The World Bank specifically does not make any warranties or representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any such Materials. The World Bank periodically adds, changes, improves, or updates the Materials on this Site without notice. Under no circumstances shall The World Bank , any other member of the World Bank Group, or any other content provider, be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered which is claimed to resulted from use of this Site, including without limitation, any fault, error, omission, interruption or delay with respect thereto. Use of this Site is at User's sole risk. Under no circumstances, including, but not limited to, negligence, shall The World Bank or its affiliates, or any other content provider, be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages, even if The World Bank has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
2. User specifically acknowledges and agrees that The World Bank is not liable for any conduct of any User.
3. This site may contain advice, opinions, and statements of various content providers and content providers. The World Bank does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information provided by any information provider or content provider, or any user of this site or other person or entity. Reliance upon any such opinion, advice, statement, or other information shall also be at your own risk. Neither The World Bank nor its affiliates, nor any of their respective agents, employees, information providers or content providers shall be liable to any User or anyone else for any inaccuracy, error, omission, interruption, timeliness, completeness, deletion, defect, failure of performance, computer virus, communication line failure, alteration of, or use of any content herein, regardless of cause, for any damages resulting there from.
4. As a condition of use of this Site, User agrees to indemnify The World Bank, other members of the World Bank Group, its affiliates, and all content providers from and against any and all actions, claims, losses, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out User's use of this Site, including without limitation any claims alleging facts that if true would constitute a breach by User of these terms and conditions. If User is dissatisfied with any material on this Site or with any of terms and conditions of use of this Site, User's sole and exclusive remedy is to discontinue using this Site.
5. Nothing in this Site or any Materials shall be construed, implicitly or explicitly, as containing any investment recommendations. The World Bank is not registered under the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Accordingly, nothing in such Site, or in such Materials, constitutes an offer of or an invitation by or on behalf of The World Bank to purchase or sell any shares or securities nor should it be considered as investment advice.

Links to third-party web sites

1. This Site contains links to third-party web sites. The linked sites are not under the control of The World Bank and The World Bank is not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site. The World Bank provides these links only as a convenience, and the inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement of the linked site by The World Bank.
2. If this Site contains bulletin boards, chat rooms, access to mailing lists or other message or communication facilities (collectively, "Forums"), User agrees to use the Forums only to send and receive messages and material that are proper and related to the particular Forum. By way of example, and not as a limitation, User agrees that when using a Forum, User shall not do any of the following:
   • Defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten or otherwise violate the legal rights (such as rights of privacy and publicity) of others.
   • Publish, post, distribute or disseminate any defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent or unlawful material or information.
   • Upload or attach files that contain software or other material protected by intellectual property laws (or by rights of privacy of publicity) unless you own or control the rights thereto or have received all necessary consents.
   • Upload or attach files that contain viruses, corrupted files, or any other similar software or programs that may damage the operation of another's computer.
   • Delete any author attributions, legal notices or proprietary designations or labels in any file that is uploaded.
   • Falsify the origin or source of software or other material contained in a file that is uploaded.
   • Advertise or offer to sell any goods or services, or conduct or forward surveys, contests, or chain letters. Download any file posted by another user of a Forum that you know, or reasonably should know, cannot be legally distributed in such manner.
3. User acknowledges that all Forums or Discussion Groups are public and not private communications. Further, User acknowledges that chats, postings, conferences, e-mails and other communications by other users are not endorsed by The World Bank, and such communications shall not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by The World Bank. The World Bank reserves the right for any reason to remove without notice any contents of the Forums received from Users, including without limitation e-mail and bulletin board postings.

Applicable Law and Jurisdiction

1. This Agreement will be interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia, United States of America. Any action to enforce this agreement shall be brought in the federal courts located in Washington, D.C.

Preservation of Immunities

1. Nothing herein shall constitute or be considered to be a limitation upon or a waiver of the privileges and immunities of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which are specifically reserved.

General

1. The World Bank reserves its exclusive right in its sole discretion to alter, limit or discontinue the site or any Materials in any respect. The World Bank shall have no obligation to take the needs of any user into consideration in connection therewith.
2. The World Bank reserves the right to deny in its sole discretion any user access to this Site or any portion thereof without notice.
3. No waiver by The World Bank of any provision of this Agreement shall be binding except as set forth in a writing signed by its duly authorized representative.