| Privacy Policy Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the web, said
On my website, this privacy policy is linked at the bottom of (almost) every page. I created this privacy policy in order to demonstrate my firm commitment to privacy. This page discloses my information gathering and dissemination practices for my website: planetsoarer.com. As you can see, it was not written by lawyers! Scenic Overlook I don't really care who you are. I don't really care if you are married, or where you live, or how many goldfish you have. I do care about your privacy. I only collect personal information in two ways:
Privacy Principles The principles of web/internet personal privacy are based on:
History of the Privacy Principles In 1972, Elliot L. Richardson, as Secretary of HEW (the U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare), created an Advisory Committee on Automated Personal Data Systems. Their charter was to explore the impact of computerized record keeping on individuals. One year later (1973) the committee published its report. This report, Records, Computers, and the Rights of Citizens, proposed a Code of Fair Information Practice:
These principles began a basis for subsequent codes and laws related to information collection. The principles became part of the framework for the Privacy Act of 1974. They were elaborated on when the Privacy Protection Study Commission (PPSC) published its report Personal Privacy in an Information Age. In 1980, The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development further refined them in Guidelines on the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Flows of Personal Data. They also form a basis of the EU Privacy Directive. And, you can see them discussed in Part III of the 1998 Federal Trade Commission report: Privacy Online. They continue today to be advocated and incorporated into enforcement initiatives, laws and legislative proposals. Notice People are entitled to notice of the collection, use and disclosure of personal information. The notice should include:
The notice should also address the other principles of choice, access, security and enforcement. Choice People should have choices about how their information is used or disclosed to third parties. Choice may be "opt in" in which people affirmatively consent to the use or disclosure. Or the choice may be "opt out" in which the consent is presumed unless people object. "Opt in" provides strong privacy protection because it establishes a default rule against disclosure and use. It is generally agreed that the choice is about use and disclosure beyond the original purpose for which the information was provided. Use and disclosure to complete a purchase transaction is, of course, required. However, such use and disclosure should be the minimum required to complete the transaction. Access People should have access to information stored about them, together with the opportunity to correct the information or to have it deleted. Security Operators should protect the security of personal data and ensure its integrity and accuracy. Enforcement Of course, none of these make any difference if if the principles are not enforceable. How to enforce is at the heart of a gigantic debate including proposals for self-regulation and counter-proposals for additional federal legislation. Privacy Principles On This Site The five principles are important to this site. I take them seriously. Notice I provide complete disclosure on this page. Choice I give people choices. No one needs to disclose personal information if they don't want to. Except for the obvious (like not receiving an email from me if you don't give me your email address) there are no consequences of nondisclosure. You do not need to disclose information to surf my site. All disclosure is "opt in". Access I provide people access to information stored about them, together with the opportunity to correct the information or to have it deleted. Security I protect the security of personal data and ensure its integrity and accuracy. Enforcement I consider this agreement to be enforceable between us. I even provide alternative organizations to notify if you think I'm not holding up my end of the bargain. Who Operates This Site? I do, Peter Scott. Just me. No one else. Minimal Information For activities related to this site, I only use the absolute minimum information required. Also, if you write me, I'll use your email address to write you back. (duh!) As another example, when you click around my site, my server log files record how you clicked around. I only use that information to analyze traffic and don't keep it or use it beyond that. Sharing Information I don't share information. I keep any information you disclose absolutely private. Unsolicited Email Spammers are the scum of the earth. I will never give away, sell or disclose your email address. I never email you just because you visited my site because I won't have your email address. I only email you because you explicitly ask me to (e.g., to respond to a request or because you explicitly asked to join one of my email lists .) Taping Our Phone Conversations I am your friend. I am a real friend, not a Linda Tripp friend. I promise not to tape our phone conversations without telling you. Policy Changes I'm committed to privacy. I won't arbitrarily change these policies. I can't even envision changing these policies at all. But if I ever do change these policies, the changes won't be "retroactive". The changes will only apply to new information. Your info is safe. Period. End of story. Information Collected I collect information in four ways:
Information Collected By the Webserver If you visit this site, the webserver will automatically collect:
Information Collected Through Email to Me If you send me an email, I will have your email address as well as anything else you tell me. Cookies I don't use cookies. Period. Children's Data I don't knowingly collect data from children. I use simple tools to discourage disclosure by children. And, if I discover personal data from children, I delete it. Information Not Collected I don't collect anything else. I don't have any "real" registration forms for you to fill out. Use of Collected Information Use of Webserver Information When you click around my site, my server log files record how you clicked around. But the information doesn't tell me who you are, only that someone went from one page to another. And I only use that information to analyze traffic and don't keep it or use it beyond that. Also, you can block that information using a tool like AdSubtract. If you don't send that information, there are no consequences. I do not require disclosure of that information to browse my site. Use of Email List Information My email lists are is compiled through requests to me. I only use this information to email email lists . If you don't give me your email address, I won't be able to email you. But there are no other consequences. I do not require disclosure of that information to browse my site. Use of Email Information If you write me an email, I'll use the information in that email to write you back. Unless you ask me to, I won't put you on an email list. And I won't chare that information with other people. If you don't write me an email, nothing bad happens. There are no other consequences. I do not require disclosure of that information to browse my site. Other Links This site contains links to other sites. Unfortunately, I can't do much about the privacy practices of such websites. So you all be careful out there. When you link through my site to other sites (e.g., Amazon.com) your browser may tell the other site that you came from one of my pages. This is called referrer information. Now, I don't actually send that information; your browser does. But you should know that it is possible for you to block this information. To find out how, see my information on the tool AdSubtract. This site doesn't send any personal information to other sites partners. SecurityThis site has security measures in place to protect the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under our control. For example, my Internet Presence Provider provides userid and password access control to all web captured information (TCP/IP address information). Also, I am the only one with access to my email/ezine lists (e.g., Snippets and TestZine). Choice/Opt-OutOpt-Out of Email Lists You may opt out of my email lists by following the directions included in every mailing. You can also email me. Correct/UpdateCorrection of Snippets You correct your information for my email lists by following the directions included in every mailing. You can also email me. Contacting the WebsiteIf you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this website, you can email me. If You Think I Am Not Following My PolicyIf you feel that I am not following these stated information policies, you may contact
(thanks to James Huggins :http://www.jamesshuggins.com/h/bas1/privacy.htm it made the most sense to me!) |