Privacy policy

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Learn about Metro's privacy policy for its website, online store and email.

Public records and disclosure

In the State of Oregon, laws exist to ensure that government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by state and local government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public's right to access public records that serve various needs including the privacy of individuals. Both state and federal laws provide exceptions.

All information collected on this site becomes a public record that may be subject to inspection and copying by the public unless an exemption in law exists. ORS Chapter 192 contains the Oregon Public Records Law. Metro does not sell, rent or otherwise distribute visitors' information, including electronic mail addresses, to any outside company or organization, unless legally required to do so under Oregon Public Records Law.

Personal information and nondisclosure

You may choose whether to provide personal information online. Metro collects no personal information about you unless you voluntarily participate in an activity that asks for information (i.e. sending an email, participating in a survey, or accessing a service). "Personal information" is information about a natural person that is readily identifiable to that individual, such as an individual's name, address, email address, and telephone number. A domain name or Internet Protocol (IP) address is not considered personal information.

Most information collected is assumed to be open to the public unless specifically exempted in the Oregon Public Records Law. Under this law, you may request that public officials not disclose a public record that contains your home address and telephone number under certain circumstances – ORS 192.445 specifies how to request non-disclosure.

Disclosure regarding Google display advertising

Metro implements Google Analytics features that use display advertising information for Google Analytics demographics and interest reporting.

You can opt out of Google Analytics for display advertising and prevent your data from being used by Google Analytics by going to the Google ads opt-out page at https://www.google.com/settings/u/0/ads/. In addition, Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on allows you to prevent your data from being used by Google Analytics and can be installed directly in most browsers.

Metro, along with third-party vendors (including Google), uses first-party cookies (such as the Google Analytics cookies) and third-party cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) to report how your ad impressions, other uses of ad services, and interactions with these ad impressions and ad services are related to visits to the Metro website. Metro also uses this information to compile reports and improve our website. Metro does not collect personally identifiable information. You can read more about the cookies used by Google Analytics advertising features, by going to the Google Analytics privacy policy page at https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

Metro's online store

Metro is committed to the protection of your online privacy.

Your payment is processed using the U.S. Bank Merchant Services. Credit card number and expiration date are transmitted directly to U.S. Bank Merchant Services. Metro does not retain any credit card information.

Emails

If you send Metro an email or provide Metro with your email address, this information, including your email address, is subject to the Oregon Public Records Law and could be disclosed upon a public records request, unless a specific exemption applies.

Surveys

At times Metro engages third-party consultants to conduct panel and survey research, who report survey responses to Metro in an aggregate, anonymous format. If you choose to participate in such a survey, the information you provide will not be linked to any Personal Information or survey answers that personally identifies you to Metro. Instead, your answers are linked to an anonymous ID number, and your survey answers will only be available to Metro or in a public record in aggregate, non-personally identifiable form.