Version 0.1.1, 2011-12-27
This is a minor update from Version 0.1 of the Privacy Policy, with a few language errors corrected. Nothing of substance has changed.
As you know, this blog is hosted on WordPress.com, so the Privacy Policy doesn’t depend on me alone. However, Automattic.com, the mother company of WordPress.com, has what I consider to be a good Privacy Policy for the services it offers – I wouldn’t have created the blog here otherwise. You can see Automattic.com’s Privacy Policy here.
As the blog is hosted at WordPress.com, and as Automattic has made their Privacy Policy available under the Creative Commons licence, I’ve used it as the basis for the Privacy Policy of this blog.
This Privacy Policy covers only the elements of the blog which I control, or which I can potentially control should I upgrade to a more advanced plan at WordPress.com. For elements controlled by WordPress.com and Auttomatic.com, such as advertising, please refer to Auttomatic.com’s Privacy Policy.
1 Introduction
1.1 Version Number
I’ve given the Privacy Policy a version number so that changes will be clearly reflected in the version number. Minor changes, like the correction of language errors, will be indicated like this: 0.1.1. Significant changes will be indicated like this: 0.2, etc. Should significant changes ever be necessary, they would be announced on the front page or side panel of the blog for at least a week.
1.2 Definitions
THE BLOG: The Internet blog site “CatsBell’s Views on the News” hosted at https://catsbell.wordpress.com.
I, me, the first person in this document: CatsBell, the creator and administrator of THE BLOG.
1.3 Summary
- I respect your privacy with regards to any information I may collect while operating THE BLOG.
- I won’t ask you for personal information unless I need it to administer the blog. I also won’t ask you for information that is not relevant to the running of the blog, such as your gender or income level.
- I don’t share your personal information with anyone except to comply with the law, develop the blog, or protect my rights.
- I don’t store personal information on the site unless required for the ongoing operation of the blog.
2 Policy
2.1 Website Visitors
Like most websites, THE BLOG collects non-personally identifying information of the kind that web browsers and servers typically make available, such as the browser type, language preference, referring site, and the date and time of each visitor request. The purpose of collecting non-personally identifying information is to better understand how THE BLOG’s visitors use the website. From time to time, I may release non-personally identifying information in the aggregate (by publishing, for example, a report on trends in the usage of THE BLOG) .
THE BLOG also collects potentially personally identifying information like the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of users leaving comments on THE BLOG. Commenter IP addresses are subject to the same privacy protection on THE BLOG as other personally identifying information (see Point 2.4 of this Privacy Policy).
2.2 Gathering of Personally Identifying Information
Certain visitors to THE BLOG choose to interact with THE BLOG in ways that require THE BLOG to gather personally identifying information, such as email addresses. THE BLOG collects such information only insofar as is necessary or appropriate to fulfil the purpose of the visitor’s interaction with THE BLOG. I don’t disclose personally identifying information other than as described below.
Visitors can also refuse to supply personally identifying information, with the caveat that it may prevent them from engaging in certain website-related activities.
2.3 Aggregated Statistics
THE BLOG may collect statistics about the behaviour of visitors to THE BLOG. For instance, THE BLOG may monitor the most popular posts and/or pages on the THE BLOG and may display this information publicly, or provide it to others. However, THE BLOG does not disclose personally identifying information other than as described below.
2.4 Protection of Certain Personally Identifying Information
I will not disclose potentially personally identifying and personally identifying information to third parties unless they:
- need to know that information to process it on my behalf, or to provide services available at THE BLOG, and
- have agreed not to disclose it to others.
Some of the third parties who may be required to provide services to THE BLOG, or process information on my behalf, may be located outside of your home country. By using THE BLOG, you consent to the transfer of such information to them.
I will not rent or sell potentially personally identifying and personally identifying information to anyone. Other than in the case of third party service providers as described above, I disclose personally identifying and potentially personally identifying information only in response to a subpoena or court order, or when I believe in good faith that disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect my property or rights, or those of third parties, or the public at large.
If you send me a request (via the Contact form on THE BLOG, for example), I reserve the right to publish it to help me clarify or respond to your request or to help me support other users.
I take all measures reasonably necessary to protect against the unauthorized access, use, alteration or destruction of potentially personally identifying and personally identifying information.
2.5 Cookies
A cookie is a string of information that a website stores on a visitor’s computer, and that the visitor’s browser provides to the website each time the visitor returns. THE BLOG uses cookies to help THE BLOG identify and track visitors, their usage of THE BLOG and their website access preferences. Visitors to the blog who do not wish to have cookies placed on their computers should set their browsers to refuse cookies before using THE BLOG, with the drawback that certain features of THE BLOG may not function properly without the aid of cookies.
2.6 Business Transfers
If THE BLOG, or substantially all of its assets were acquired, or in the very unlikely event that THE BLOG enters bankruptcy, user information would be one of the assets that is transferred or acquired by a third party. You acknowledge that such transfers may occur, and that any acquirer of THE BLOG may continue to use your personal information as set out in this policy.
2.7 Changes
Although most changes are likely to be minor, this Privacy Policy may be changed from time to time, and at my sole discretion. Please check the THE BLOG’s Privacy Policy from time to time for changes. Your continued use of this site after any change in this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of such change.
2.8 Deleting or correcting your personal data
If you have questions about deleting or correcting your personal data, please use the contact page to contact me.
CatsBell's Views on the News 