WikiIndex:Privacy policy

WikiIndex: Privacy policy — this policy covers personally identifiable information collected or stored by WikiIndex on its servers in relation to the project and its community. WikiIndex.org and / or this WikiIndex wiki try to collect and retain the least amount of personally identifiable information needed to fulfil the WikiIndex projects' operational needs. We never sell your personal data. We will only release your personal data if so lawfully requested by any officially recognised relevant legal authority, court of law, or government agency.

The public and collaborative nature of WikiIndex

WikiIndex is collaboratively developed by its users on a wiki platform using the MediaWiki software. Anyone here on WikiIndex having been granted edit permissions may edit the editable pages of this WikiIndex site while logged in as a registered user, or as an anonymous IP editor. By doing this, editors create a published document, and a public record of every word added, subtracted, or changed. This is a public act, and WikiIndex editors are identified publicly as the author of such changes. All contributions made to this WikiIndex project, and all publicly available information about those contributions, are irrevocably licenced, and may be freely copied, quoted, reused, and adapted by third parties, with few restrictions.

Activities on WikiIndex

In general, this Policy only applies to private information stored or held by WikiIndex.org, which is not publicly available.

Interactions with WikiIndex.org not covered by this Policy include, but are not limited to, aspects of browsing and editing WikiIndex pages, use of the wiki 'email user' function. These interactions may reveal a WikiIndex contributor's IP address, and possibly other personal information, indiscriminately to the general public, or to specific groups of volunteers acting independently of WikiIndex.org.

WikiIndex users may also interact with one another outside of WikiIndex.org: via email, SMS, private messaging, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), telephone call, or other chat, or independent websites; and should assess the risks involved, and their personal need for privacy, before using these methods of communication.

User accounts and authorship

WikiIndex.org prefers WikiIndex editors to register with this wiki website. However, most WikiIndex pages can be edited without logging in with a WikiIndex username; in which case, they will be identified by the WikiIndex editor's network IP address. WikiIndex users who do register are identified by their chosen WikiIndex username. WikiIndex users select a password, which is confidential, and used to verify the integrity of their WikiIndex account. Except insofar as it may be required by law, no person should disclose, or knowingly expose, either WikiIndex user passwords and / or cookies generated to identify a user. Once created, user accounts will not be removed, unless there is obvious malicious intent, as is to be judged by WikiIndex staff. It is possible for a WikiIndex account username to be changed, though WikiIndex does not guarantee that a username will be changed on request.

Purpose of the collection of private information

WikiIndex.org limits the collection of personally identifiable user data to purposes which serve the well-being of this WikiIndex project, including, but not limited to the following:

• To enhance the public accountability of the project. WikiIndex recognises that any system which is open enough to allow the greatest possible participation of the general public, will also be vulnerable to certain kinds of abuse and counter productive behaviour. WikiIndex has established a number of mechanisms to prevent or remedy abusive activities. For example, when investigating abuse on the project, including the suspected use of malicious 'sockpuppets' (duplicate accounts), vandalism, harassment of other users, spamming, or disruptive behaviour; the IP addresses of users (derived either from those logs, or from records in the database) may be used to identify the source(s) of the abusive behaviour. This information may be shared by users with administrative authority who are charged with protecting the WikiIndex project.
• To provide site statistics. WikiIndex.org statistically samples raw log data from users' visits. These logs are used to produce site statistics pages; the raw log data is not made public.
• To solve technical problems. WikiIndex log data may be examined by developers in the course of solving technical problems, and in tracking down badly-behaved web spiders or other automated tools that may overwhelm the WikiIndex site.

WikiIndex.org may load resources like JavaScript from external servers, which might affect WikiIndex user privacy (for example Google Adwords). It is up to the individual WikiIndex user to mitigate exposing unwanted details because of loading resources from external servers.

Details of data retention

General expectations

IP address and other technical information

When a visitor requests or reads any page here on WikiIndex, no more information is collected than is typically collected by web sites. WikiIndex.org may keep raw logs of such transactions, but these will not be published.

When a WikiIndex page is edited by a logged-in editor, the server confidentially stores related IP address information for a limited period of time. This information is automatically deleted after a set period. For editors who do not log in, their IP address used is publicly, and permanently credited as the author of the edit. It may be possible for a third party to identify the author from this IP address in conjunction with other information available. Logging in with a registered username here on WikiIndex allows for better preservation of privacy.

Cookies

WikiIndex.org sets a temporary session cookie on a visitor's computer whenever a WikiIndex page is visited. Readers who do not intend to log in or edit may deny this cookie; it will be deleted at the end of the browser's session (when you close the entire browser, not just any 'tab' used to visit WikiIndex.org). More cookies may be set when a WikiIndex user logs in to maintain logged-in status. If one saves a WikiIndex username and / or password in one's browser, that information will be saved for up to thirty (30) days, and this information will be resent to the server on every visit to this WikiIndex project. Contributors using a public machine who do not wish to show their username to future users of the machine should clear these cookies after use.

Page history

Edits or other contributions to the WikiIndex.org project on WikiIndex wiki articles, user pages, talk pages, and other pages are generally retained forever. Removing text from the project does not permanently delete it from WikiIndex. Normally, anyone can look at a previous version of a WikiIndex page and see what was there. Even if a WikiIndex article is 'deleted', any user entrusted with higher level of access may still see what was removed from public view. Information can be permanently deleted by individuals with access to WikiIndex.org, but aside from the rare circumstance when WikiIndex.org is required to delete editing-history material in response to a court order or equivalent legal process, there is no guarantee any permanent deletion from WikiIndex will happen.

User contribution

User contributions to WikiIndex.org are also aggregated and publicly available on WikiIndex. User contributions are aggregated according to their registration and login status. Data on user contributions, such as the times at which users edited, and the number of edits they have made, are publicly available via user contributions lists, and in aggregated forms published by other WikiIndex users.

Reading projects

No more information on WikiIndex.org users and other visitors reading WikiIndex pages is collected than is typically collected in server logs by any other type of website. Aside from the above raw log data collected for general purposes, WikiIndex page visits do not expose a visitor's identity publicly. Sampled raw log data may include the IP address of any user, but it is not reproduced publicly.

Editing projects

Edits to WikiIndex.org wiki pages are identified with the WikiIndex username or network IP address of the editor, and editing history is aggregated by author in a contribution list. Such information will be available permanently.

Logged in registered users

Logged in WikiIndex users do not expose their IP address to the public except in cases of abuse, including vandalism of a WikiIndex wiki page by the user, or by another user with the same IP address. A user's IP address is stored on the WikiIndex.org servers for a period of time, and can be seen by server administrators, and by WikiIndex users who have been granted check user access.

IP address information, and its connection to any WikiIndex usernames that share it, may be released under certain circumstances (see below).

WikiIndex editors using a company mail server from home, or telecommuting over a DSL or cable internet connection, are likely to be easy to identify by their IP address; in which case it may be easy to cross-identify all contributions to this WikiIndex project made by that IP address. Using a username is a better way of preserving privacy in this situation.

Unlogged-in registered users and unregistered users

WikiIndex editors who have not logged in may be identified by network IP address. Depending on one's connection, this IP address may be traceable to a large internet service provider, or more specifically to a school, place of business, or home. It may be possible to use this information in combination with other information, including editing style and preferences, to identify a WikiIndex author completely.

Discussions

On wiki discussion pages

Any editable page on WikiIndex.org can theoretically be the location of a discussion. In general, discussions on this WikiIndex wiki occur on the talk page for a wiki article, user talk pages (associated with a particular user), on supported WikiIndex project talk pages (associated with particular pages within the WikiIndex namespace), or in talk pages within all other WikiIndex namespaces (such as File, Property, MediaWiki, etc). Privacy expectations apply to all WikiIndex discussion pages in the same way as they do elsewhere.

Via email

When WikiIndex was first created, and for a long period of its history, WikiIndex users were not required to provide an email address when registering. However, more recently, this was changed to make it compulsory for all new account registrations to supply a valid email address, and confirm said email. Irrespectively, all WikiIndex users who provide a valid email address can enable other WikiIndex logged-in users to send a private email message to them through the MediaWiki wiki software. When receiving an email from other WikiIndex users through the MediaWiki email system, one's own email address is not revealed to them. When choosing to send an email to other WikiIndex users, one's email is displayed as the sender.

The email address put into one's WikiIndex user preferences may be used by WikiIndex.org for communication. Existing WikiIndex users whose accounts do not have a valid email address (or who have not 'confirmed' their email address) will not be able to reset their WikiIndex user account password if it is lost. In such a situation, however, users may be able to contact one of the WikiIndex.org server administrators to enter a new email address. An existing WikiIndex user can remove the account's email address from their own preferences at any time to prevent it from being used. Private correspondence by email between WikiIndex users may be saved at those users' discretion, and is not subject to WikiIndex.org policy.

On Internet Relay Chat

Internet Relay Chat, or 'IRC' channels are not officially part of WikiIndex.org, and are not operated on WikiIndex.org controlled servers. The IP address of users who chat over such a service may be exposed to other participants. IRC users' privacy on each channel can only be protected according to the policies of the respective IRC service and channel. Different IRC channels have different policies on whether logs may be published.

Access to and release of personally identifiable information

Access

This WikiIndex.org wiki project is primarily run by WikiIndex users who are volunteer contributors. Some dedicated users are given privileged access. For example, WikiIndex user access levels to WikiIndex.org are determined by the WikiIndex user's presence in community engagement, edit history, length of service, and for a general willingness to upkeep and expand this WikiIndex wiki site. User group rights and group members are public.

Other WikiIndex users who may have access to private identifiable information include, but are not limited to, users who have access to the check user function, any WikiIndex.org staff, employees, appointees, contractors, and agents employed by WikiIndex.org operators, and developers and others with high levels of server access.

Sharing information with these other privileged users in a private manner is not considered 'distribution'.

Release: Policy on Release of Data

It is the policy of WikiIndex.org that personally identifiable data collected in the WikiIndex server logs, or through records in the WikiIndex database via the check user feature, or through other non-publicly-available methods, may be released on any WikiIndex user by WikiIndex.org volunteers or staff, in any of the following situations:

1. In response to a valid subpoena, summons, writ, or other official compulsory request from a court of law, government agency, and / or law enforcement organisation;
2. With specific permission from the affected WikiIndex user;
3. When necessary for investigation of abuse complaints;
4. Where the information pertains to WikiIndex page views generated by a spider or bot, and its dissemination is necessary to illustrate or resolve technical issues;
5. Where the WikiIndex user has been vandalising pages or persistently behaving in a disruptive way, data may be released on a WikiIndex user to a service provider, carrier, or other third-party entity, to assist in the targeting of IP blocks, or to assist in the formulation of a complaint to relevant Internet Service Providers;
6. Where it is reasonably necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of WikiIndex.org, its WikiIndex users, and / or the public.

Except as described above, WikiIndex.org policy does not permit distribution of personally identifiable information under any circumstances.

Third-party access, notifying registered users when receiving legal process

As a general principle, the access to, and retention of, personally identifiable data in all WikiIndex projects should be minimal, and should be used only internally by WikiIndex to serve the well-being of the WikiIndex project as a whole. Occasionally, however, WikiIndex.org may receive a subpoena, writ, summons, or other compulsory request from a law-enforcement agency, a court of law, or equivalent government body, that requests the disclosure of information about a WikiIndex registered user. If so, WikiIndex.org may be compelled by law to comply with said request. In the event of such a legally compulsory request, WikiIndex.org will first attempt to notify the affected WikiIndex user within three (3) business days after the arrival of such subpoena, by sending a notice by email to the email address (if any) that the affected WikiIndex user has listed in their WikiIndex user preferences.

WikiIndex.org can not give advice a WikiIndex user receiving such a notification regarding the law, or an appropriate response to a subpoena. WikiIndex.org does note, however, that such WikiIndex users may have the legal right to resist, or limit that information in court, by filing a legal motion to quash (or strike out) the subpoena. WikiIndex users who wish to oppose a subpoena or other compulsory request should seek professional legal advice from an appropriately qualified and registered law practitioner, concerning applicable rights and procedures that may be available.

If WikiIndex.org receives a court-filed motion to quash or otherwise limit the subpoena as a result of action by a WikiIndex user or their lawyer, WikiIndex.org will not disclose the requested information until WikiIndex.org receives an appropriately appealed order from the court of law to do so.

WikiIndex.org registered users were originally not required to provide an email address, though new WikiIndex registered accounts are now required to provide a valid and functioning email address. However, when an affected WikiIndex registered user does not provide an email address, or they have subsequently deleted their working email address, WikiIndex.org will not be able to notify the affected WikiIndex user in private email messages when it receives requests from law enforcement to disclose personally identifiable information about the WikiIndex user.

Disclaimer

WikiIndex.org believes that maintaining and preserving the privacy of WikiIndex user data is an important and critical value. This WikiIndex privacy policy, and actions by WikiIndex.org, represents a committed effort to safeguard the security of the limited WikiIndex user information that is collected and retained on our WikiIndex servers and / or databases. Nevertheless, WikiIndex.org cannot guarantee that WikiIndex user information will remain private. We acknowledge that, in spite of our committed effort to protect private WikiIndex user information, determined individuals may still develop data mining, hacking, scamming, phishing, and other unlawful methods to uncover such information and illegally disclose it. For this reason, WikiIndex.org can make no guarantee against unauthorised access to WikiIndex information provided in the course of participating in WikiIndex.org wiki site, or related communities.

Note

Note: this privacy policy page must NOT be translated. However, should any translated versions of this specific page appear, in any location, or in any medium, or in any form of distribution, then, in cases of conflicting information between a translated version of this page and this original version here in the English language, this specific English version will take precedence over ANY translated version.

See also

• WikiIndex: Terms of Service