Privacy Statement

This privacy statement explains how Microsoft (referred to as "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and shares your personal information when you use the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) services and websites.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information:

Information you provide directly: This includes information you provide when you create an account, fill out forms, participate in forums, or contact us. This may include your name, email address, contact information, professional details, and any content you submit.
Usage data: We collect information about how you interact with our services, including the features you use, the content you view, and your activity on the site.
Device and browser information: We may collect information about the devices you use to access our services, such as hardware model, operating system, browser type, and IP address.
Cookies and similar technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and other similar technologies to collect information about your browsing activity, preferences, and to improve your experience.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

To provide, maintain, and improve our services.
To personalize your experience and deliver relevant content and advertisements.
To communicate with you, including responding to inquiries and providing support.
To understand how our services are used and to develop new features.
To ensure the security and integrity of our services.
To comply with legal obligations.

3. Sharing of Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

With your consent: We may share your information with third parties if you have given us consent to do so.
With service providers: We may share information with third-party vendors and partners who perform services on our behalf, such as hosting, data analysis, and customer support. These providers are obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes for which it was disclosed.
For legal reasons: We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, or legal process, or to protect our rights or the safety of others.
In connection with business transfers: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

4. Your Choices and Rights

You have certain choices regarding the information we collect and how we use it. You may be able to:

Access, correct, or delete your personal information.
Opt out of certain communications.
Manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.

For more details on managing your privacy settings, please refer to your account dashboard or our Data Management page.

5. Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

6. Changes to This Privacy Statement

We may update this privacy statement from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will post any changes on this page and update the "Last Updated" date below.

Last Updated: October 26, 2023