Privacy on TheSite.org
TheSite.org and YouthNet UK (referred to here as "we") take your personal privacy seriously.
Under the Data Protection Act 1998, YouthNet UK is known as a "Data Controller". In simple terms, this means that we determine what personal information about you is collected and what it will be used for.
In a situation where information is collected, you will be told what is being collected and for what purpose we will use it. Our question and answer service, askTheSite, also deals with some unique issues around privacy and data collection, so for more specific details please read our askTheSite privacy guide and disclaimer
Generally, any information you provide us with is kept in confidence. We do not sell, rent, share, or otherwise disclose personally identifiable information with any other parties.
Confidentiality and TheSite.org
We believe that your right to confidentiality when using our services is very important. This means that only in very unusual circumstances would it be necessary for us to contact police or other agencies about any message we have received.
Legal Requirements
Under UK law, TheSite.org cannot legally provide confidentiality under the following circumstances:
- A message sent to or through TheSite.org (including askTheSite questions and discussion board posts) contains specific information about a terrorist suspect or terrorist activity that will take place or has taken place in the world. This information must immediately be disclosed to the police.
- YouthNet UK is forced through legal action to disclose specific confidential information; this can include legal action taken through the Data Protection Act and during criminal investigations.
Our choice to break confidentiality
Under the Data Protection Act we can choose to break confidentiality if we feel that doing so would be in the public interest or that not doing so would hinder a criminal investigation. Under very rare, extreme circumstances, we may choose to break confidentiality.
These are:
If we believe a user is in immediate and great danger. Or a user is about to place another person in immediate and great danger.
And
That a user has provided enough personal information for us to believe there is an opportunity to intervene.
We wouldn't even think of trying to intervene if the circumstances were not extreme.
Polls
Although we do not collect personal information as such, we do use "cookies" in connection with our site polls. These are small data files that we send to your Internet browser, which are stored on your computer's hard-drive and subsequently "read back" if you visit TheSite.org again. This enables us to recognise you when you return and to know if you have already voted. The only information stored is your IP address.
You can set your Internet browser to reject cookies. However, if you do some functions of the site may not work properly. In order to do this, please follow the instructions in askTheSite's Cover your tracks page.
Discussion boards
Registration to our discussion boards requires a user to provide certain basic information, including a valid email address. Whilst this information will not be passed on to any third parties, we may need it to enable use to administer the site and if necessary, contact a particular user.
Cookies are also used in connection with the discussion boards to provide users with a better experience by recognising the user and informing him or her of which postings are new since the previous visit. Cookies can be disabled by following the instructions in askTheSite's Cover your tracks page.
Mailing list (In the loop)
Users subscribe for the mailing list by providing a valid email address at the appropriate point. TheSite.org will only use email addresses to send information about new content and/or promotions. We will not pass it on to third parties unconnected with TheSite.org. Users may unsubscribe simply by requesting so by email.
Surveys
TheSite.org may run online surveys from time to time to find out how our users feel about various topics. User may be asked to provide some basic demographic information, as well as answers to a series of questions. Occasionally, we may incentivise surveys through the use of a promotion, such as a free prize draw, in which case we may ask for an email address so we can contact the winners.
Survey answers and responses are generally handled in anonymous or aggregate form. Individuals' specific answers are not disclosed to third parties, however aggregated data may sometimes be passed on in the form of a press release.
Competitions
TheSite.org may run competitions in which we ask users to supply us with postal address details in case they are chosen as a winner.
Nielsen//Netratings, Google Analytics and cookies
The Site.org uses both Nielsen//Netratings and Google Analytics to gather non-personal information on our visitors. This is done through cookies and code which is embedded on our websites. If you wish to reject the cookies on our website, you will need to turn off cookies in your browser. You can find instructions on how to reject cookies in different browsers here. Please note that, rejecting cookies may mean that some sites will not function correctly. It is also possible to completely opt out of the Nielsen//Netratings process through the link on their privacy page.
Nielsen//Netratings is an independent measurement and research company. The following is Neilsen//Netratings description of what they collect:
'The types of statistical information we may gather on behalf of our clients include the number of visitors to their Web sites, which pages are visited, duration of page views, advertising click-through metrics, the location of visitors prior to accessing their Web site, and details on browsers (including Internet Protocol 'IP' addresses or browser configurations). We use this information to provide our clients with detailed reports and analyses of the traffic to their Web sites. All of this information is provided to clients on a completely anonymous basis.'
Google Analytics, owned by Google, Inc. is another way for us to monitor how our visitors are using TheSite.org, so that we can improve their experience. The following is what Google has to say about their service:
'This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. ("Google"). Google Analytics uses "cookies", which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyze how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States . Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website. By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above.'
