Illinois Tool Works Inc. (“ITW,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to following the data protection laws that apply to us. This Privacy Statement describes the information we collect, how we use and share it, and your rights with respect to it. This Privacy Statement applies to any information we collect or maintain about you, including (1) personal information that you provide to us on ITW.com (“Website”) and other websites, applications, communications, and online services that link to this Privacy Statement (collectively with the Website, the “Website and Online Services”), (2) information collected through your use of or interaction with the Website and Online Services, (3) information obtained from our approved partners and other reliable third-party sources, (4) information collected offline (e.g., if we collect you resume during a job fair), and (5) information collected through a call center. This Privacy Statement also explains the use of cookies and similar technologies on the Website and Online Services (see PASSIVE INFORMATION COLLECTION below).
This Privacy Statement applies only to the Website and Online Services that link to this Privacy Statement – not to any third-party sites that may be accessible from the Website and Online Services.
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS: Section 7 and the Supplemental Notice for California Residents, attached to and a part of this Privacy Statement, provide additional information about how we collect and share your personal information and your rights under California law with respect to your personal information.
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA RESIDENTS: If you are a visitor from the European Economic Area, the legal basis for collecting and using your personal information depends on the personal information concerned and the context in which we collect it. However, the applicable legal basis for our processing of your personal information normally includes one of the following:
Based on your consent. In some cases, at the point at which you provide personal information, we may ask you for your consent to collect and process such information. You may later withdraw your consent (or opt-out) by contacting us using the contact details provided under the How You Can Contact ITW section below. Please note that if you withdraw your consent it will not affect any processing of your personal information that has already occurred.
Performance of a contract. In certain circumstances, we may need to process your personal information to fulfill our obligations under a contract to which you are subject. In that case, you may not be able to object to such processing, or if you do choose to opt-out or object to such processing, it may impact our ability to perform a contractual obligation that you are owed.
Compliance with applicable laws. In some circumstances, we may need to process your personal information to comply with an applicable law. In that case, you will likely not be permitted to object to such processing, but you will usually have the right to access or review the relevant personal information unless it would impede our legal obligations.
ITW’s legitimate interests. We may process your personal information based on our legitimate interests (or those of any third party) to the extent such interests are not overridden by your data protection interests or fundamental rights and freedoms. In such cases, you have the right to object to the relevant processing of your personal information by contacting us as described under the How You Can Contact ITW section below.
If you have questions about or need further information concerning the legal basis on which we collect and use your personal information, please contact as described under the How you can contact ITW section below.
Your Consent
By using or interacting with our Website and Online Services, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Statement. If you do not agree, please do not use our Website or submit personal information, or contact us as described in Section 6 below.
Information that you provide voluntarily
Certain parts of our Website may ask you to provide personal information voluntarily, such as through completing a Web form:
We generally collect and use personal information provided to us on the Website and Online Services for the following purposes:
Information that we collect automatically
When you visit our Website, we may collect certain information automatically from your device. In some countries, including countries in the European Economic Area, this information may be considered personal information under applicable data protection laws.
Specifically, the information we collect automatically may include:
Collecting this information enables us to better understand the visitors who come to our Website, where they come from, and what content or products on our Website are of interest to them. We use this information for our internal analytics purposes and to improve the quality and relevance of our Website to our visitors.
Some of this information may be collected using cookies and similar tracking technologies, as explained further under the heading “Passive Information Collection”.
Information that we obtain from third party sources
From time to time, we may receive personal information about you from third party sources (including business partners, data analytics providers, advertising networks, social media platforms, and publicly available databases), but only where we have checked that these third parties either have your consent or are otherwise legally permitted or required to disclose your personal information to us.
The types of information we collect from third parties include contact details (such as your name and email address), demographic information (such as age, gender, and interests), browsing behavior, and engagement data (such as likes, shares, and other interactions on social media platforms).
We use the information we receive from these third parties to maintain and improve the accuracy of the records we hold about you, better understand your preferences and interests, personalize your experience on our Website, provide targeted advertising and marketing communications, and enhance the overall effectiveness of our services and outreach efforts.
Active Information Collection
Like many websites, we allow you to actively communicate with us through forms, subscriptions, or job applications. The personal information you provide may include your name, contact details, employment history, and other content relevant to the specific form.
We use this information for the purposes outlined above in the “Information That You Provide Voluntarily” section, unless otherwise specified at the time of collection or as permitted by law.
Passive Information Collection
Some of the information we collect depends on the settings on your web browser or mobile device. Please check your web browser or mobile device if you want to learn what information your browser or mobile device sends or how to change your settings. In addition to the information sent by your web browser or mobile device, as you navigate through a website or mobile app, certain information can be passively collected (that is, gathered without you actively providing the information) using various technologies and means, such as navigational data collection.
Like most website operators, we and our approved partners use cookies and similar technologies, local shared objects (or any other successor tracker technology), Software Development Kits, and pixel tags that automatically receive and track certain data about how you and other visitors interact with our Website and Online Services, preferences expressed, and settings chosen.
Where required by law, including in the European Economic Area, we will obtain your consent before using non-essential cookies.
For example, we may collect information about the technology you use (such as browser, type of computer, operating systems, mobile device and network used, and Internet service providers) and server log data (such as access dates and times, online features or pages viewed, system activity, and the third-party site or service you were using before interacting with our Website). These technologies are described in more detail below.
“Cookies” are small text files that are stored on your browser or device by websites, mobile apps, online media, and advertisements. There are different types of cookies. Cookies served by the entity that operates the website or app you are visiting or using are called “first party cookies” (so cookies served by us while you are using our Website are first party cookies). Cookies served by companies that are not operating the website or app you are visiting or using are called “third party cookies” (so, a website analytics provider may set a cookie on your computer via our Website while you visit our Website). Cookies may also endure for different periods of time. “Session Cookies” last only as long as your browser or app is open. These are deleted automatically once you close your browser or app. Other cookies are “persistent cookies” meaning that they survive after your browser or app is closed (for example, they may recognize your computer when you re-open our online services).
“Local shared objects” (also called Flash cookies or HTML5 cookies) and any other successor technology refers generally to the collection of cookie-like data stored on a browser or computer by web sites, ads, or third parties. “Pixel tags” (also called beacons or pixels) are small blocks of code installed on (or called by) a web page, app, or advertisement which can retrieve certain information about your device and browser, including device type, operating system, browser type and version, web site visited, time of visit, referring web site, IP address, and other similar information (including the small text file (the cookie) that uniquely identifies the device). Pixels provide the means by which third parties can set and read browser cookies from a domain that they do not themselves operate and collect information about visitors to that domain, typically with the permission of the domain owner. “Software Development Kits” (also called SDKs) function like pixels and cookies but operate in the mobile app context where pixels and cookies cannot always function. The primary app developer can install pieces of code (the SDK) from partners in the app, thereby allowing such partners to collect certain information about user interaction with the app, information about the user device, and network information.
In this Privacy Statement, these and similar technologies are collectively referred to as “cookies and technologies.” The following table sets out the different categories of cookies and technologies that our Website and Online Services may use and why we use them:
Cookie Types | Purpose |
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 filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information. |
Performance Cookies | These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. |
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 pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly. |
Targeting Cookies | These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. |
Social Media Cookies | These cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools. |
We may also receive information from other sources and combine it with information we collect through our Website and Online Services. For example, we may obtain information about you from commercially available sources such as data aggregators and public databases (for example, job applicant information received from LinkedIn in connection with our hiring decisions). This information may include your name, demographic information, interests, and public data (such as social media and shopping behavior).
Retention of personal information
We retain the personal information collected on the Website and Online Services as long as necessary to provide the services, products, and information you request or as permitted by applicable law.
Disclosure of personal information
We will not sell or otherwise disclose personal information collected from the Website and Online Services to any third person, except as permitted by this Privacy Statement, as permitted or provided by applicable law, or with your consent.
We may disclose personal information you provide to us via this Website and Online Services or that we collect through your use of the Website and Online Services as follows:
We are not liable for disclosure of information obtained due to errors in transmission or the unauthorized intervention of third parties.
We may provide aggregate statistics about our customers, sales, online traffic patterns, and related information to reputable third parties, but these statistics will not include any personally identifying information.
We may transfer the information described in this Privacy Statement to, and process and store it in, the United States and other countries, some of which may have less protective data protection laws than the region in which you reside. Where this is the case, we will take appropriate measures to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Statement. Nonetheless, your personal information may be subject to foreign laws and may be accessible by foreign government authorities, courts, law enforcement, and regulatory agencies.
We strive to provide you with as many choices and as much control as possible regarding the personal information we collect about you.
You may send us an e-mail message at privacy@itw.com to request access to, correct, or delete any personal information that you have provided to us. To protect your privacy, we will only respond to e-mail messages sent from the e-mail account you used to set up your account.
You have the right to opt-out of promotional communications we send you at any time. You can exercise this right by clicking on the ‘unsubscribe’ or ‘opt-out’ link in the promotional e-mails we send you.
If you do not wish for us to collect cookies, you may set your browser to refuse cookies, or to alert you when cookies are being sent. If you do so, please note that some parts of this Website may then be inaccessible or not function properly. Removing or rejecting browser cookies does not necessarily affect third-party Flash cookies (see “Local shared objects” above) which may be used by us or our partners in connection with our Website and Online Services. You may need to take additional steps to delete or disable Flash cookies.
You can also generally opt-out of receiving personalized ads from third party advertisers and ad networks that honor such requests by visiting: www.aboutads.info/choices (if you are in the United States), http://youradchoices.ca/choices/ (if you are in Canada), or http://youronlinechoices.eu/ (if you are in Europe).
DO NOT TRACK: Some browsers allow you to send ‘Do Not Track’ signals. Our Website currently does not respond to such signals, but we respect other applicable privacy preferences, such as cookie consent banners where required.
We work hard to protect your personal information. All information collected through the Website and Online Services is stored within a secured database that is not accessible to the outside world. Resumes are stored on file systems that are not publicly accessible. Our servers are protected behind both hardware and software firewalls. Low-level access to information is restricted to authorized support personnel only.
The safety and security of your information also depends on you. Never share passwords with anyone else and remember to log off this Website before you leave your computer.
Our Website and Online Services contain links to other websites operated by third parties that may be of interest to you. We cannot control these third-party sites, which may collect personal information from you. When you follow a link and leave this Website or Online Service, you do so at your own risk. We encourage you to read that third party’s privacy statement or contact them directly regarding their privacy practices.
What we do about children visiting this website
This Website is not intended for children under the age of 13. We will not knowingly collect information from Website and Online Services visitors in this age group. We encourage parents to talk to their children about their use of the Internet and the information they disclose online. If your child has submitted personal information and you would like to request that such information be deleted from our records, you may do so by writing us at the address in Section 6 below.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about this Privacy Statement, our information practices, our Website and Online Services, or our service providers, contractors, and business partners, please contact us at the information below and address your request to:
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
155 Harlem Avenue
Glenview, IL 60025
Toll-Free: 1-844-676-0349
privacy@itw.com
We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Statement, at any time and without prior notice, by posting the revised version of this Privacy Statement on this Website. If we modify this Privacy Statement, the modifications will only apply to personal information we collect after we have posted the revised Privacy Statement on this Website.
Privacy Statement Supplemental Notice for California Residents |
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Why | This Supplemental Notice for California Residents provides certain information required under the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA) and applies to both our online and offline activities involving personal information about California residents. This Supplemental Notice is incorporated into and is a part of our Privacy Statement. For more information about our collection, use, and disclosure of information, as well as your rights under the CCPA, please review our Privacy Statement. | ||||
What? | The personal information that we collect or disclose depends on your relationship and interaction with us. Please select the category that applies to your relationship or interaction with us: Applicants, Employees and Contractors, Website Visitors. If you interact with us in more than one way, please review each category that applies to you.
In addition to the information described below, we collect and disclose any and all personal information (regardless of your relationship or interaction with us) as necessary or appropriate to: comply with laws and regulations; Investigate and enforce compliance with and potential breaches of our policies and legal and regulatory requirements; comply with civil, criminal, judicial, or regulatory inquiries, investigations, subpoenas, or summons; and exercise or defend our legal rights and those of our employees, affiliates, customers, contractors, and agents. |
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Personal Information | In this Supplemental Notice, “personal information” (or “PI”) means any information that identifies, relates to, describes, or is capable of being associated with you or your household, whether directly or indirectly. Here are the definitions of some of the categories of personal information we collect, use, and share about California consumers that are not otherwise defined in the charts below:
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Applicants
Categories of PI Collected | Purposes for Collecting or Sharing PI |
Identifiers | § Evaluate a potential employment or contractor relationship.
§ Perform background checks and verify past employment, educational history, and qualifications. § Determine potential compensation and benefits. § Assess your fitness and physical capacity for work. § Communicate with you about your application. |
Medical Information, including medical history, mental or physical condition, or treatment. | § After an offer, to assess your fitness and physical capacity for work. |
Demographic Information protected under California or federal law, such as race, gender, disability, and religion. | § Filing of state or federal government-mandated reports.
§ Evaluating diversity and inclusion initiatives. |
Job history, professional skills, and educational background. | § Evaluate a potential employment or contractor relationship. |
Employees and Contractors
Categories of PI Collected | Purposes for Collecting or Sharing PI |
Identifiers
§ Compensation and benefits. § Management of your job performance. § Communication with you/your designated emergency contacts in the event of illness, absence, natural disaster, etc. § Authentication of your identity and access to Company systems, networks, databases, equipment, and facilities. § Workforce management, including personnel planning, productivity monitoring, and evaluation. § Tracking and administering training. § Monitoring and securing Company systems, networks, databases, confidential information, equipment, facilities. § Arranging work-related travel, events, and meetings. § Assessing your fitness for work, and other occupational medicine purposes (including work-related injury and illness). |
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Health insurance information, including claims history. | § Benefits planning and administration. |
Financial information, including bank account number. | § Compensation and benefits administration. |
Medical Information, including medical history, mental or physical condition, or treatment. | § Assessing your fitness for work, and other occupational medicine purposes (including work-related injury and illness). |
Demographic Information protected under California or federal law, such as race, gender, disability, and religion. | § Filing of state or federal government-mandated reports.
§ Evaluating diversity and inclusion initiatives. |
Job history, professional skills, and educational background. | § Management of your job performance. |
Internet activity on Company computers or Company phones, such as browsing history and search history. | § Monitoring and securing Company systems, networks, databases, confidential information, equipment, facilities.
§ Management of your job performance. |
Website Visitors
Categories of PI Collected | Sources of PI | Purposes for Collecting or Sharing PI | Third Parties to Whom We Disclose PI | Third Parties to Whom We Sell PI |
Identifiers | Website visitor | § For our everyday business purposes such as to process your requests, inquiries, or other communications.
§ Ad impressions and determining unique visitors to our website. § To help maintain the security of our website and business, and to detect security incidents and other fraudulent activity. § To monitor and improve our website functionality and personalize your website experience. § For marketing purposes, to deliver content and product and service offerings, including targeted ads. |
N/A | N/A |
Network Activity Data | Website visitor | § Ad impressions and determining unique visitors to our website.
§ To help maintain the security of our website and business, and to detect security incidents and other fraudulent activity. § To monitor and improve our website functionality and personalize your website experience. § For marketing purposes, to deliver content and product and service offerings, including targeted ads. |
The California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA) gives California residents rights about the personal information we collect, use, or disclose about you (subject to certain exceptions):
To exercise any of the rights described above, you can call us toll-free at 1-844-676-0349 or email us at privacy@itw.com. California residents who are unable to review or access this Privacy Statement, including the Supplemental Notice for California Residents, due to a disability may contact privacy@itw.com to access this Privacy Statement in an alternative format.
We value the security and confidentiality of your personal information. Therefore, if you exercise your right to notice, access, or deletion, we must verify your identity to protect your information. We may ask for a government-issued ID or other identifying details before processing your request.