Additionally, a significant theft, loss or misappropriation of, or unauthorized access to, our guests’ data or other proprietary data or other breach of our information technology systems could result in fines, legal claims or proceedings, regulatory investigations and actions, or liability for failure to comply with privacy and information security laws, which could disrupt our operations, damage our reputation and expose us to claims from guests and team members, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
System interruptions or a material failure of our systems could damage our business, reputation and brand and substantially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our omni-channel approach will in large part rely on our information technology systems to operate successfully, including the implementation of our delivery strategy. As we expand our delivery business channels, our exposure to such risks will increase.
Our systems, which in some cases rely on third-party providers, may experience service interruptions, degradation or other performance problems because of hardware and software defects or malfunctions, distributed denial-of-service and other cyberattacks, infrastructure changes, human error, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fires, natural disasters, power losses, disruptions in telecommunications services, fraud, military or political conflicts, terrorist attacks, computer viruses, ransomware, malware, or other events. Our systems also may be subject to break-ins, sabotage, theft, and intentional acts of vandalism as a result of criminal third parties (including state-sponsored organizations with significant financial and technological resources), third parties we do business with and team members. Our reliance on third parties increases our exposure to such risks as we exercise a lesser degree of control over such persons. Our cyber insurance and business interruption insurance may not be sufficient to cover all of our losses that may result from interruptions in our service as a result of systems failures and similar events. As a result, if we experience any outsized material impacts from a failure of our systems, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely effected.
While we endeavor to keep all systems current, there can be no guarantee that we can reliably update and maintain our systems. In instances where we are unable to do so, the mitigating controls we put in place to reduce the risk may fail. Any such failure could lead to website downtime, disruptions to our information technology systems and systems vulnerability exposure to cyber-criminals.
Failure to comply with federal and state laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection, advertising and consumer protection, or the expansion of current or the enactment of new laws or regulations relating to privacy, data protection, advertising and consumer protection, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We rely on a variety of marketing and advertising techniques, including email communications, affiliate partnerships, social media interactions, digital marketing, direct mailers, public relations initiatives and local community sponsorships, promotions and partnerships, and we are subject to various laws and regulations that govern such marketing and advertising practices. A variety of federal and state laws and regulations govern the collection, use, retention, sharing and security of consumer data, particularly in the context of digital marketing, which we rely upon to attract new customers.
Laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection, marketing and advertising, and consumer protection are evolving and subject to potentially differing interpretations. These requirements may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another or may conflict with other rules or our practices. As a result, our practices may not have complied or may not comply in the future with all such laws, regulations, requirements and obligations. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with our privacy policies, our contractual commitments or any federal or state privacy or consumer protection-related laws, regulations, industry self-regulatory principles, industry standards or codes of conduct, regulatory guidance, orders to which we may be subject or other legal obligations relating to privacy or consumer protection
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