Thank you for visiting the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) website, which is designed to make it easier and more efficient for individuals and entities to interact with our Office.
Definitions
The New York Internet Security and Privacy Act includes certain definitions that are incorporated into this policy as set forth below.
“Collect” means to store information for purposes of later retrieval to initiate communications with or make determinations regarding the person who is the subject of such information.
“Disclose” means to reveal, release, transfer, disseminate or otherwise communicate information other than to the person who is the subject of the information.
“Personal information” means any information concerning a natural person, as opposed to a corporate entity, which, because of name, number, symbol, mark, or other identifier, can be used to identify that person.
“User” means any natural person who uses the Internet to access this website.
Information Collected When You Visit This Website
The OIG does not collect information through this website, personal or otherwise, for commercial purposes and we do not sell any information that we do collect, including e-mail addresses. Except as set forth below, the OIG only collects information about you through this website when you provide that information voluntarily by sending an e-mail to us or by initiating an on-line complaint through this website. Our website does not use “cookies” (text files stored by your web browser) to collect any information.
If you merely browse through our website -- reading, printing, or downloading information -- no personal information will be collected about you. During such a visit, however, the following limited “navigational information” may be collected and stored.
- The Internet Protocol (“IP”) address and name of the domain from which this website was accessed, but not the individual e-mail address (i.e., the portion of the e-mail address that precedes the domain name). The IP address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider (such as AOL), or directly to your computer if, for example, you are connecting using a cable modem or DSL.
- The type of browser and operating system used.
- The date and time this website was visited.
- The web pages or services accessed.
- The website visited prior to accessing this website.
- The website visited after this website, if applicable.
- Any form that was downloaded, if applicable.
- The above information is collected automatically to improve this website’s content, for statistical analysis and to assist the OIG in understanding how users interact with the website.
Information Collected When You E-mail This Website
During your visit to this website, you may use a link on one of the pages of this site to prepare and send an e-mail to this Office. This Internet Privacy Policy only covers e-mails sent in that manner, and does not cover e-mails sent to this Office independently of your visit to our website. When you e-mail using a link on this website, information about the computer used (and the contents of any message) will be collected. The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats included in or with the message. Your e-mail will also contain a “header” showing the e-mail address on the computer that the sender -- you -- along with information concerning entities that may have facilitated the transmission and reception of the message, the date and time the message was sent and forwarded to us, the types of e-mail programs used in that process, and other similar details. Your e-mail address and the information included in your message may be used for any lawful purpose, including addressing issues you identify, improving this website, responding to your message or forwarding your message to another State, federal or local agency or entity for appropriate action.
On-line Complaints
When you submit a complaint to the OIG using our website’s on-line complaint form, an internal e-mail message is generated and sent to our electronic mailbox. The e-mail message header will not reflect personal information about you or your computer. The only information revealed would be the data you voluntarily enter into the form.
Although the OIG accepts anonymous complaints, we encourage you to provide us with information about the nature of your complaint, including your contact information, in order to facilitate our ability to handle the matter. If you choose not to provide certain information, it may limit our ability to act upon your complaint.
Disclaimer Applicable to All Forms of E-mail
You should be aware that e-mail is generally not considered a secure means of communication, and, therefore, the OIG is not able to guarantee the privacy or confidentiality of your electronic message in transit, including e-mail sent as a result of your use of the on-line complaint form.
Information and Choice
If you choose not to use an e-mail link on this website, or choose not to send us an on-line complaint, please know that it will not have an impact on your ability to take advantage of other features of this website, including browsing or downloading and printing information.
Possible Disclosure of Information Collected Through This Website
The collection of information through this website and the disclosure of that information by the OIG are subject to the provisions of the Internet Security and Privacy Act, N.Y. State Technology Law § 201 et seq.; the Personal Privacy Protection Law, N.Y. Public Officers Law § 91 et seq.; the Code of Fair Procedure for Investigating Agencies, N.Y. Civil Rights Law § 73; the Freedom of Information Law, N.Y. Public Officers Law § 84 et seq.; and, N.Y. Executive Law Art. 4-A.
- If the user has consented to the disclosure of such information. Participation in an on-line complaint or other transaction resulting in the disclosure of personal information to this Office by the user, whether solicited or unsolicited, constitutes consent to the collection and disclosure of the information by this Office.
- When disclosure is permitted by law, rule or regulation.
- When disclosure is necessary to perform the duties of this Office, or to operate a program authorized by law, or state or federal regulation or executive order.
- When disclosure is made pursuant to subpoena or court order or other legal directive or process.
- If this Office must validate the identity of the user for information security purposes.
- When the information to be used solely for statistical purposes that is in a form that cannot be used to identify any particular person.
The OIG may disclose personal information to federal or state law enforcement authorities to enforce this Office’s rights against unauthorized access or attempted unauthorized access to this Office’s information technology assets or against other inappropriate use of this website.
Retention of Information Collected Through this Website
The information collected through this website is retained by the OIG in accordance with the records retention and disposition requirements of the New York State Arts & Cultural Affairs Law, § 57.05, and regulations and schedules promulgated there under. Information on the requirements of the Arts & Cultural Affairs Law may be found here. Thus, e-mails and on-line complaint information will be maintained in our files and retained and/or disposed of in accordance with the Arts & Cultural Affairs Law. Information concerning records retention and disposition schedules may be obtained through the Internet privacy policy contact listed in this policy.
Certain Internet “navigational information,” described in the sub-section Browsing, above, is retained for statistical purposes by the web-hosting entity used by this Office for a period of one year. The retained Internet information does not identify any personal information about visitors to this website.
User Access to Personal Information Collected Through This Website
The only method to obtain information you provided this Office through this website (such as navigational information collected automatically, or voluntarily provided complaint or e-mail information) is to make a request under the New York Freedom of Information Law (“FOIL”). This Office’s Records Access Officer to whom FOIL requests should be directed is:
Records Access Officer
Office of the Inspector General - MTA
Two Penn Plaza, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10121
Telephone: (212) 878-0001
Fax: (212) 878-0003
Confidentiality and Integrity of Personal Information Collected Through this Website
The OIG is committed to protecting personal information collected through this website against unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. This Office limits employee access to personal information collected through this website to those employees who need access to the information in the performance of their official duties. Employees who have access to this information are required to follow appropriate procedures in connection with any public or other disclosure of personal information.
In addition, the OIG has implemented procedures to safeguard the integrity of its information technology assets, including, but not limited to, authentication, monitoring, auditing and firewall usage. These security procedures have been integrated into the design, implementation, and day-to-day operations of this website as part of our continuing commitment to the security of electronic content.
For website security purposes and to maintain the availability of the website for all users, the OIG may employ software to monitor traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information or otherwise damage this website.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this privacy policy should not be construed as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting the security of information provided through this website. With respect to any information found on this website, neither the OIG nor any employee of the State of New York makes any warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. The filing of an on-line complaint does not guarantee that any investigation will be conducted or that this Office will act upon the information contained therein.
The OIG may, in its sole discretion, change, add, modify or delete portions of this policy without notice.
Links
In order to provide users with certain information, the OIG provides links to the websites of local, State, and federal government agencies, and to the websites of other organizations. A link does not constitute an endorsement of the content, viewpoint, accuracy, opinions, policies, products, services, or accessibility of that website. Once you link to another website from this website, including one maintained by the State, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that website, including, but not limited to, its Internet privacy policy. This privacy policy only applies to our website. You should examine the privacy policy of any website, including other New York State agency websites, that you access from this website. If you have a question or comment about any of these websites, contact them directly.
Contact Information
For questions regarding this Internet privacy policy, please contact:
Records Access Officer
Office of the Inspector General - MTA
Two Penn Plaza, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10121
Telephone: (212) 878-0001
Fax: (212) 878-0003
Email: foil@mtaig.org