Privacy Policy
A. MCSC rescu APP
When using the rescu app, users can subscribe to receive SMS notifications when a child is missing, and can leave tips if they have information about a missing child.
1. Subscribe to Receive SMS Notifications
Community volunteers have the option to register a 10-digit phone number and postal code or location and subscribe to be notified via SMS when a high-risk child is missing in their area. Registered phone numbers may also be used to send occasional messages with news or updates, or related to improving the effectiveness of the rescu app such as invitations to participate in surveys. No other information is collected or used for any reason.
To subscribe, open the MCSC rescu app, click on the Register to receive alerts link at the top of the screen, and provide your phone number, location, and consent. You will receive an SMS message with a code to confirm your subscription.
To complete your request, return to the MCSC rescu app and click on the Register to receive alerts link. Use the drop-down option to select ‘Enter your verification code’, and provide your registered phone number and the code.
Will my location be tracked in real-time? – No, MCSC rescu only requires you to enter a location once during the registration process if you choose to volunteer. When you travel to a different location, you will continue to receive SMS alerts for the location you provided during registration.
Can I change my registered location? – Yes, to change your registered location, open the MCSC rescu app and click on the Register to receive alerts link. Use the drop-down option to select ‘Change your location’, and provide your registered phone number. You will receive an SMS message with a code to confirm your request. Enter the code as described above to complete your change.
Can I unsubscribe? – Yes, to unsubscribe, open the MCSC rescu app and click on the Register to receive alerts link. Use the drop-down option to select ‘Unsubscribe’, and provide your registered phone number. You will receive an SMS message with a code to confirm your request. Enter the code as described above to complete your request. You will no longer receive notifications, and your phone number will be deleted from the MCSC database within 90 days.
2. Leave a Tip
Community volunteers can submit a tip if they have information related to a missing child. Tips include details and optional contact information (name, phone number, and email address).
All tip information is securely transmitted and shared only with the responsible police agency, unless otherwise required by court order.
If contact information is provided, the tipster may be contacted by MCSC and/or police regarding the tip. If no contact information is included, the tip remains anonymous.
MCSC retains tip and tipster contact information in secure storage for up to one year unless otherwise directed by police, after which it is permanently deleted.
B. MCSC WEBSITE
The primary purposes for collection of personal information via the mcsc.ca website are fundraising, statistics, and meeting legal and regulatory requirements. Specifically, this includes processing gifts, issuing receipts, mailing of newsletters, direct mail, telemarketing, sending invitations to events, informing donors about new products or services, and maintaining a list of supporters as required by the Canada Corporations Act.
Donations and purchases made through the MCSC website are processed by Canada Helps, a third-party payment processor. Canada Helps adheres to industry-standard security practices to protect donor information. For more information, see the Canada Helps Privacy Policy.
Canada Helps may share transaction details provided during the donation process with MCSC for record-keeping and future communications with MCSC supporters, consistent with the purposes outlined above. MCSC maintains a secure web interface at all points where personal information is collected. MCSC does not store or directly handle payment information.
MCSC does not collect or distribute the email addresses of visitors to our web page. MCSC does collect aggregate information on which pages visitor’s access or visit, and information volunteered by the visitor, such as survey information and/or site registrations. The information we collect is used to improve the content of our Web page and is not shared with other organizations.
With respect to security, MCSC always uses industry-standard or better encryption technologies when transferring and receiving consumer data exchanged with our site. We have appropriate security measures in place in our physical facilities to protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of information that we have collected from you at our site.
C. PIPEDA
The Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC) is committed to respecting the privacy of our supporters, their families, and our employees by adhering to the privacy principles set forth in the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). Those principles are:
1. Accountability
MCSC collects, uses, and discloses personal information in accordance with the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), which Alberta has deemed substantially similar to PIPEDA.
The MCSC Privacy Officer oversees our privacy program, ensures transparency, and can address any questions or complaints about our practices. The Privacy Officer can be reached at the address below.
2. Identifying purposes
At or before the time personal information is collected, MCSC will identify the purposes for which personal information is collected.
When personal information that has been collected is to be used for a purpose not previously identified, the new purpose will be identified prior to use. Unless the law requires the new purpose, the consent of the individual is obtained before information is used for that purpose.
3. Consent
All individuals who provide personal information to MCSC have the ability to consent to its use. MCSC makes a reasonable effort to ensure that individuals are advised of the purposes for which information will be used. MCSC will assume consent is granted unless a member indicates otherwise.
Individuals may withdraw consent at any time by contacting MCSC at the phone number or address below.
4. Limiting Collection
MCSC will limit its collection of personal information to the purposes outlined in Principle 2 above. If it is necessary to use the personal information collected for a purpose not identified when the information was collected, consent for the new use will be obtained from the individual.
5. Limiting Use, Disclosure, and Retention of Personal Information
Personal information will not be used or disclosed for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual, or as required by law.
Personal information will be retained by MCSC for whatever periods are required by legislation governing our operation and/or the information provided, after which time (unless consent is given to keep information for a longer period) the information will be anonymized or destroyed in a secure manner. Personal information regarding donors of planned gifts will be kept until the death of the donor, plus ten years.
6. Accuracy
Personal information will be as accurate, complete, and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which it is to be used.
7. Safeguards
MCSC has security safeguards in place that protect personal information against loss or theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use, or modification. MCSC will protect personal information regardless of the format in which it is held. Methods of protection include:
- Physical measures, for example, locked filing cabinets and restricted access to offices and donor-related materials;
- Organizational measures, for example, limiting access on a “need-to-know” basis, and
- Technological measures, for example, the use of passwords, multi-factor authentication, and secure managed online services;
- MCSC makes its employees aware of the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of personal information.
8. Openness
This statement and the processes and procedures for obtaining access to personal information will be available to any individual through our web site, and/or on request. If any individual has a question regarding personal information, it may be directed to the Privacy Officer.
9. Individual Access
On request, an individual will be informed of the existence, use and disclosure of their personal information, and will be given access to that information. An individual may challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information, and have it corrected or amended as appropriate.
An individual will be required to provide sufficient information to permit MCSC to provide an account of the existence, use, and disclosure of personal information.
MCSC will respond to an individual’s request within a reasonable time and at minimal or no cost to the individual.
10. Challenging Compliance
Individuals may challenge MCSC’s compliance with this statement by contacting the Privacy Officer.
D. CONTACTING MCSC
Missing Children Society of Canada
1270 73 Avenue SE
Calgary, Alberta T2H 2V5
Tel. (800) 661-6160
Fax. (403) 291-9728
General Email: info@mcsc.ca
Privacy Officer: privacy@mcsc.ca