How we collect information

Eaton may collect personal data from a variety of sources that generally fall into these categories:

• Direct interactions: From your use of and interaction with us through the Information Channels and other activities such as account creation, submission of registrations and forms, or sales enquiries and transactions. This would also include sales meetings and trade show or event attendance.
• Publicly available data / Data from third parties: Data from automated interactions on non-Eaton websites, or other data you may have made publicly available, such as social media posts, or data provided by third party sources, such as marketing opt-in lists or data aggregators.
• Automated interactions: From the use of technologies such as electronic communication protocols, cookies, embedded URLs or pixels, or widgets, buttons and tools. 
  

More detail about collection of personal data via automated interactions:

• Electronic communications protocols: Eaton may automatically receive information from you as part of the communication connection itself, which consists of network routing information (where you came from), equipment information (browser type or device type), your IP address (which may identify your general geographic location or company) and date and time.

Eaton may also automatically receive and record information about your interaction with the Information Channels, such as clickstream information (when each Eaton webpage was visited and how much time was spent on the page), how often you access the Information Channel, performance data, aggregate usage or general geo-location data.

• Cookies: Like many companies, Eaton uses “cookies” and similar tracking technology (collectively "Cookies"). . Eaton’s server will query your browser to see if there are Cookies previously set by our electronic Information Channels.

What are cookies? 

A cookie is a small text file which is placed on your device. Cookies help to analyse web traffic and allow web applications to respond to you as an individual. The web application can tailor its operations to your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering and remembering information about your preferences. Certain cookies may contain personal data – for example, if you click to “remember me” when logging in, a cookie may store your username. Cookies may collect information, including a unique identifier, user preferences, profile information, membership information and general usage and volume statistical information. Cookies may also be used to collect individualised website use data, provide electronic Information Channel personalisation or conduct and measure the effectiveness of advertising in accordance with this Notice.

Cookies set by the website owner (in this case, Eaton) are called "first-party cookies".  Cookies set by parties other than the website owner are called "third -party cookies."  Third party cookies enable third-party features or functionality to be provided on or through the website (e.g. advertising, interactive content and analytics).  The parties that set these third-party cookies can recognise your computer both when it visits the website in question and also when it visits certain other websites.

What do we use cookies for?

We use first-party and third-party cookies for several reasons. Some cookies are required for technical reasons in order for our Information Channels to operate, and we refer to these as "essential" or "strictly necessary" cookies. Other cookies also enable us to track and target the interests of our users to enhance the experience on our Information Channels.   Third parties serve cookies through our Information Channels for advertising, analytics and other purposes. 

We may place cookies or similar files on your device for security purposes, to tell us whether you have visited the Information Channels before, to remember your language preferences, to determine if you are new visitor or to otherwise facilitate site navigation, and to personalize your experience on our Information Channels. Cookies allow us to collect technical and navigational information, such as browser type, time spent on our Information Channels and pages visited. Cookies also allow us to select which of our advertisements or offers are most likely to appeal to you and display them to you. Cookies may enhance your online experience by saving your preferences while you are visiting a website.

The specific types of first- and third-party cookies served through our Information Channels and the purposes they perform are described in the table below (please note that the specific cookies served may vary depending on the specific Information Channel you visit):

What about other tracking technologies, like web beacons?

Cookies are not the only way to recognise or track visitors to a website.  We may use other similar technologies from time to time, like web beacons (sometimes called "tracking pixels" or "clear gifs").  These are tiny graphics files that contain a unique identifier that enable us to recognise when someone has visited our websites or opened an e-mail that we have sent them.  This allows us, for example, to monitor the traffic patterns of users from one page within our websites to another, to deliver or communicate with cookies, to understand whether you have come to our websites from an online advertisement displayed on a third-party website, to improve site performance, and to measure the success of e-mail marketing campaigns.  In many instances, these technologies are reliant on cookies to function properly, and so declining cookies will impair their function.

How can you manage your cookies?

You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. If you would prefer not to accept cookies, most browsers will allow you to: (i) change your browser settings to notify you when you receive a cookie, which lets you choose whether or not to accept it; (ii) to disable existing cookies; or (iii) to set your browser to automatically reject any cookies. However, please be aware that if you disable or reject cookies, some features and services may not work properly because we may not be able to recognise and associate you with your Eaton account(s). In addition, the offers we provide when you visit us may not be as relevant to you or tailored to your interests.

• HTTP headers are information that is transmitted whenever a webpage is viewed, and contain technical information required for communication between a browsing device and a website server. Other electronic communication protocols (such as those used for email) also use headers to transmit information. This may include information about the device browser, the requested webpage, server and other information about you, your computer or device (such as a carrier or device identifier).
• Embedded URLs: Eaton may use a tracking technique that employs embedded URLs to allow use of the electronic Information Channels without cookies. Embedded URLs allow limited information to follow you as you navigate the Information Channels, but are not associated with personal information and are not used beyond the session.
• Embedded pixels and similar technologies: On electronic Information Channels, Eaton and its service providers may use embedded pixel technologies for the purposes of identifying unique user visits (as opposed to aggregate hits) and for advertising purposes. In addition, embedded pixels or other technologies may be used in e-mails and our online display advertising to provide information on when the e-mail or ad was opened to track marketing campaign responsiveness; information collected using these technologies may be associated with the recipient’s e-mail address.
• Widgets, buttons and tools: Our electronic Information Channels may include widgets, which are interactive mini-programs that run on our site to provide specific services from another company (e.g., links to bookmarked sites or social media sites), along with buttons or other tools that link to other companies’ services (e.g., a "Like" button or third-party map). The widget, button or tool may collect and automatically send personal data, such as your e-mail address, or other information (such as your browser information or IP address), to a third party. Cookies may also be set or used by the widgets, buttons or tools to enable them to function properly or for other purposes, which may include advertising. Information collected or used by a widget, button or tool, including cookie settings and preferences, is governed by the privacy policy of the company that created it.
• Physical location: We may collect and share the physical location of your device for purposes consistent with this Notice, such as to provide you with personalised location-based services or content. In some instances, you may be permitted to allow or deny such use of your device’s location, but if you choose to deny such use, we may not be able to provide you with the applicable personalised services or content.

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