Last updated: October 25, 2026
The Digital Health Network (RSN) respects your privacy. This policy explains what personal information we collect on rsn.quebec and in the members directory, why we collect it, how we protect it and what your rights are.
1. Who we are
The RSN is a thematic network funded by the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ). Its activities are administered by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC).
Person in charge of the protection of personal information: the RSN scientific direction, rsnquebec@rimuhc.ca.
2. Information we collect
We collect only the information needed for the purposes described below.
- Newsletter: if you subscribe, we collect your email address. We also collect your first and last name if you provide them.
- Correspondence: if you write to us, we receive your name, your email address and the content of your message.
- Membership: if you apply to become a member, we collect the information described in section 3.
- Visit statistics: we collect browsing data through Google Analytics. This includes pages viewed, visit length, device and browser type, approximate region and the site you came from.
- Technical data: as with any website, our host records visitors’ IP addresses and browsers in server logs. These logs are used for security and to keep the site running.
The site has no user accounts and no public comments.
3. Membership and members directory
If you apply to become a member through the directory form, we collect:
- your name and email;
- your institution and its address;
- your status and research themes;
- your presentation and areas of interest;
- if you provide them, your photo, your website and your ORCID identifier.
The Steering Committee uses this information to review your application. With your consent, part of this information is displayed publicly in the directory. The form specifies which, and you can withdraw or change this consent at any time.
To suggest your research themes, the ORCID and OpenAlex services receive only your ORCID identifier or the name you type. Member information is kept for 3 years, then permanently deleted.
4. Why we use it
- To send you the newsletter and RSN news.
- To answer your questions.
- To review membership applications and keep the members directory up to date.
- To understand how the site is used, so we can improve it.
- To protect the site against attacks and abuse.
We do not sell or rent your information. We do not use it for advertising.
5. Cookies
- Necessary cookies: they remember your language and keep the site secure. They are essential and are not used to track you.
- Statistics cookies: Google Analytics sets cookies to measure site traffic. They are not used for advertising. You can refuse them by blocking them in your browser settings, or by installing the Google Analytics opt-out add-on.
- Embedded content: YouTube videos may set their own cookies when you play them.
You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings.
6. Third-party services
We use providers that process information on our behalf:
- Web Hosting Canada, for website hosting, on servers located in Montreal;
- Mailchimp (Intuit), for the newsletter;
- Google Analytics and YouTube (Google), for visit statistics and webinar videos;
- Notion and Vercel, for the members directory.
Mailchimp, Google, Notion and Vercel store data in the United States. Before entrusting them with any information, we assess whether the protection they offer is adequate, as the law requires.
The site also links to other services that have their own privacy policies. These include the Platform Map, Fourwaves for event registration, Microsoft Forms for surveys, and LinkedIn. Each RSN survey explains how its answers will be used.
7. Retention
- Newsletter: until you unsubscribe. Every newsletter includes an unsubscribe link.
- Correspondence: two years after the last exchange.
- Membership and directory: 3 years, then permanent deletion.
- Visit statistics and technical logs: as long as needed, according to our providers’ settings.
After that, the information is destroyed or anonymized.
8. Security
The site uses an encrypted connection (HTTPS) and a security firewall. Access to the administration of the site and the directory is limited to the people who need it. If a confidentiality incident presents a risk of serious harm, we notify the Commission d’accès à l’information and the people affected.
9. Your rights
At any time, you can:
- find out what information we hold about you and get a copy, including in a structured, commonly used technological format;
- have inaccurate or incomplete information corrected;
- withdraw your consent, for example to the newsletter or to your public directory profile, and refuse statistics cookies as explained in section 5;
- ask us to stop disseminating information about you.
To exercise these rights, write to rsnquebec@rimuhc.ca. We respond within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our answer, you can file a complaint with Quebec’s Commission d’accès à l’information.
10. Children
The site is intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect information about children under 14.
11. Changes
We may update this policy. The date of the last update appears at the top of the page.
Contact us
For any question about this policy or your personal information, write to rsnquebec@rimuhc.ca.