Meto, Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. in the United States of America. It has been recognized by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code (EIN: 84-2456429). Hereafter, Meto Inc. will be referred to as “Meto”, “we”, “us” and/or “our.”

Meto has developed an online meeting place in order to help students more easily and frequently access higher education. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, transfer and disclose personal data relating to the visitors of this website (collectively, “you” and/or “user”). Meto is a controller of personal data collected or processed via this website.

Meto may revise this Privacy Policy from time to time. If Meto makes any material changes to this Privacy Policy, we will provide you with notice concerning the changes either on this page or through some other reasonable method of notification. Users are encouraged to take note of the date of the last update to the Privacy Policy below.

This Privacy Policy was last updated: 6 August 2025

 

Collection and Use of Personal Data

We process personal data (e.g., email addresses) from website visitors for the following purposes:

• to provide a service:
• to provide and administer this website, keep the website safe and secure, and ensure that content is presented in the most effective manner for you and your device;
• to provide requested services (e.g., follow-up materials after completion of a contact form) or requested updates on Meto’s work.
• to pursue our legitimate interests:
• to contact you in response to your query;
• to conduct research, investigations, campaigns and other public advocacy work (including communicating with stakeholders, collecting donations and organizing events) in connection with Meto’s mission;
• to analyze and improve our work, services, activities, offerings and information (including our website), or for our internal records;
• to process your application for a volunteer role with Meto;
• to administer your working relationship with Meto;
• to establish, exercise, or defend legal claims and/or to satisfy binding legal obligations (for example, in relation to regulatory, government and/or law enforcement bodies with whom we may work from time to time); and
• to improve the website and other services, such as identifying issues with the website and services and planning improvements.

In some circumstances, we may seek your consent for the collection and use of your personal data. This will be the case, for example, for the use of certain non-essential cookies (if we choose to use them), for the use of your e-mail address for advertising purposes, or when you subscribe to certain services (e.g., a regular newsletter). You will always have the opportunity to withdraw your consent at any time.

In addition, you may voluntarily provide personal data. To the extent you provide information about other individuals, you agree to provide such individuals with this Privacy Policy and to obtain their consent to provide the information.

If you are under 16, you shall not provide us with personal data without first obtaining a parent or guardian’s consent or authorization.

We will not use or share your personal data for purposes unrelated to those described in this Privacy Policy without first notifying you and, where required, offering you a choice as to whether or not we may use your personal data in this different manner.

We — as well as certain third parties that provide content, functionality, or services on our website — use a variety of technologies to provide our website and learn more about how people use our website. Some of these technologies such as cookies may be essential for you to browse our website and use its features. They may also be used to ensure the security of our website, and to investigate any unauthorized use of the website. Below is more information about some of those technologies and a list of the types of cookies we use.

Cookies & Similar Technologies

Cookies are small text files that websites and other online services use to store information about users on a user’s device (e.g., a computer). Cookies may be used to store a unique identification number tied to your computer so that a website can recognize you as the same user across different visits to the website.

We and the third parties that provide content, functionality, or business services on our website may use cookies to ensure the website functions properly, collect information about your browsing activities in order to provide you with more relevant content and promotional materials, on and off our website, and help us understand your interests and improve our website. You can configure your internet browser to warn you each time a cookie is sent, or accept or refuse cookies via the cookie banner on the website.

Strictly Necessary Cookies 

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in, or completing forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the website will then not work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.

Functional Cookies

These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our website pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then some website features may not function properly.

Targeting Cookies

These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you choose to disallow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Performance Cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our website. They help us know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the website. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous.

Web Beacons 

We, along with our third-party partners, also use technologies called web beacons that communicate information from your internet browser to a web server. Web beacons can be embedded in web pages, videos, or emails, and can allow a web server to read certain types of information from your browser, check whether you have viewed a particular web page or email message, and determine, among other things, the time and date on which you viewed the web beacon, the IP address of your computer, and the URL of the web page from which the web beacon was viewed. We and our partners use web beacons for a variety of purposes, including to analyze the use of the website and in conjunction with cookies to improve our website and to provide you with more relevant materials.

Analytics Cookies

These cookies are used for analytics, including helping us to collect data that allows us to understand how users interact with the website. These insights allow us both to improve content, and to build better features that improve your user experience.

How We Collect your Personal Data

We collect your personal data through your interactions with us online and offline. We may also obtain your personal data from third party sources, such as:

• our partners who work with us; and
• other publicly available sources.

Sharing Personal Data

We may share your personal data for the purposes mentioned above with:

• various third parties in connection with the operation of this website and our programs, including website hosting, the provision of technology related services, payment processing and authorization, and promotional material distribution;
• public authorities, government regulators or other law enforcement officials and the courts, as required or permitted by law or when compelled by a binding order; 
• banks, insurance companies, and other vendors and suppliers; and
• Meto’s staff, Board, volunteers, collaborators, funders and other organizations that help further Meto’s mission.

Data Security

We maintain appropriate technical, physical and organizational measures to protect personal data against accidental or unlawful destruction or accidental loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure or access. However, no information security system can be 100% secure. As a result, although we strive to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee the security of the personal data against unpredictable loss or unauthorized access.

Your Rights and Choices

Subject to restrictions under applicable law, you have the right to request from us access, rectification, erasure, restriction and discontinuance of processing, and portability of your personal data. You also have the right not to be subject to automated individual decision-making. If you originally gave us your consent, you can withdraw your consent at any time. Such requests can be addressed to the contact information below. You can also lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority regarding the processing of your personal data on this website.

International Transfers of Your Personal Data

You understand and agree that Meto may share your personal data with the above-mentioned recipients, which may be located in countries that do not have data protection laws equivalent to those in your jurisdiction.

 

Retention of Personal Data

We will only retain personal data for as long as we are required to do so by applicable law(s), or for as long as necessary for the purpose(s) for which it is processed. We will delete personal data when it is no longer needed and, in any case, upon expiration of the maximum storage term set forth in applicable law.

The period during which we retain your personal data takes into account the nature and sensitivity of that data, the potential risk of harm from unauthorized use or disclosure, the purposes for which we process it, and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means, and the applicable legal requirements.

For some of the purposes mentioned above or for purposes about which you may be informed separately, we may anonymize the personal data so that it can no longer be associated with you, in which case it is no longer considered personal data. For example, we may anonymize your personal data in order to create aggregate statistics that we share with the general public.

Links to Other Internet Websites

The privacy practices set forth in this Privacy Policy are for this website and other specified activities only. Other websites hosted by third parties may have different practices. If you link to or otherwise visit any other websites managed by third parties, please review the privacy policies posted at those websites. We have no control over those websites and are not responsible or liable for the policies and practices followed by third parties.

Contact

For any queries on any of the above, including data subject rights requests, please email us at [email protected].