Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
BerkeleyRecords.org Privacy Policy
Overview
BerkeleyRecords.org is an informational website dedicated to helping individuals understand, access, and navigate public records. We are committed to protecting the privacy of our visitors while providing transparent, accurate, and useful information about public records resources. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect information when you visit and interact with our website.
By using BerkeleyRecords.org, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. We encourage you to read this document carefully to understand our approach to your personal information and your rights as a visitor to our site.
Who We Are
BerkeleyRecords.org is an independent informational resource focused on public records education and guidance. Our mission is to help residents, researchers, journalists, legal professionals, and members of the general public understand how public records work, where to find them, and how to request access to them through appropriate legal channels.
We are not a government agency, and we do not maintain, store, or distribute actual public records. We provide guidance, educational content, and directional resources to help users locate official public records through the proper governmental and institutional channels.
Information We Collect
Information You Provide Voluntarily
When you interact with BerkeleyRecords.org, you may choose to provide us with certain personal information. This may occur when you:
- Submit a question or inquiry through a contact form
- Subscribe to a newsletter or informational updates
- Participate in surveys or feedback forms
- Comment on articles or informational content
The information you provide in these instances may include your name, email address, and any details you choose to include in your message or submission. We only collect information that you voluntarily and knowingly provide to us.
Information Collected Automatically
Like most websites, BerkeleyRecords.org automatically collects certain technical information when you visit our site. This information is gathered through standard web technologies and may include:
- IP Address: Your internet protocol address, which may indicate your general geographic location
- Browser Type and Version: The web browser you are using to access our site
- Device Information: The type of device you are using, such as a desktop computer, tablet, or mobile phone
- Operating System: The operating system running on your device
- Referring URL: The website or link that directed you to BerkeleyRecords.org
- Pages Visited: The specific pages and content you view during your visit
- Time and Duration: The time of your visit and how long you spend on individual pages
- Search Queries: Search terms entered into our internal site search function
This automatically collected information is used primarily for analytical purposes to help us understand how visitors use our site and to improve the quality and relevance of our content.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
BerkeleyRecords.org uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience and gather analytical data about site usage.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit a website. They allow the website to recognize your device and remember certain information about your visit, such as your preferences or browsing behavior.
Types of Cookies We Use
Essential Cookies These cookies are necessary for the basic functioning of our website. They enable core features such as page navigation, security, and access to certain areas of the site. Without these cookies, the website cannot function properly.
Analytical and Performance Cookies We use analytical cookies to understand how visitors interact with our website. These cookies collect aggregated, anonymized data about which pages are visited most frequently, how long visitors stay on the site, and where visitors come from. This information helps us improve the structure, content, and usability of BerkeleyRecords.org.
Functional Cookies Functional cookies allow our website to remember choices you make, such as your preferred language or display settings, to provide a more personalized experience during your visit.
Third-Party Cookies We may use third-party services, such as Google Analytics, that place their own cookies on your device to help us analyze website traffic and usage patterns. These third-party services have their own privacy policies governing how they use the data they collect.
Managing Cookies
You have the right to control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Most web browsers allow you to:
- View the cookies stored on your device
- Delete existing cookies
- Block cookies from specific websites
- Block all cookies from being set
Please be aware that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of BerkeleyRecords.org and limit your ability to use some features of the site. Instructions for managing cookies can typically be found in your browser's help documentation.
How We Use the Information We Collect
BerkeleyRecords.org uses the information we collect for the following purposes:
To Operate and Maintain the Website We use technical and analytical data to ensure our website functions correctly, loads efficiently, and remains accessible to all visitors.
To Improve Our Content and Services Understanding how visitors use our site helps us identify which topics and resources are most valuable, where users may encounter difficulties, and how we can better organize and present information about public records.
To Respond to Inquiries When you contact us with a question or request, we use the information you provide to respond to your inquiry and provide the assistance you are seeking.
To Send Informational Updates If you have subscribed to receive updates from us, we may use your email address to send newsletters, announcements about new content, or other informational communications relevant to public records. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time.
To Ensure Website Security We use certain technical data to monitor for suspicious activity, protect against unauthorized access, and maintain the security and integrity of our website.
To Comply with Legal Obligations We may use or disclose information as required by applicable law, regulation, or legal process.
How We Share Information
BerkeleyRecords.org does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing or commercial purposes. We may share information in the following limited circumstances:
Service Providers We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website and delivering our services. These providers may include web hosting companies, analytics platforms, and email service providers. All service providers are required to handle your information in a manner consistent with this Privacy Policy and are prohibited from using your information for any purpose other than providing services to us.
Legal Requirements We may disclose information when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to comply with applicable law, respond to a valid legal process such as a subpoena or court order, protect the rights and safety of BerkeleyRecords.org, our users, or the public, or investigate potential violations of our terms of use.
Business Transfers In the event that BerkeleyRecords.org undergoes a merger, acquisition, or transfer of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will take reasonable steps to ensure that your privacy rights continue to be protected in such circumstances.
Aggregated and Anonymized Data We may share aggregated, anonymized statistical information about our website usage with partners, researchers, or the public. This information does not identify any individual visitor and cannot be used to contact or identify you personally.
Public Records and Third-Party Information
BerkeleyRecords.org provides information and guidance about public records, which by their nature are documents and data that are available to the general public through government agencies and other official sources. It is important to understand the following:
We Do Not Host Public Records BerkeleyRecords.org does not store, host, or distribute actual public records. We provide educational content and directional guidance to help users locate public records through official channels.
Third-Party Websites Our website may contain links to government agencies, official databases, and other third-party websites where public records can be accessed. When you click on these links and visit external websites, you leave BerkeleyRecords.org and are subject to the privacy policies and terms of use of those external sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites and encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.
Information You Submit to Third Parties When you submit public records requests to government agencies or other official bodies, you are interacting directly with those entities. Any personal information you provide in connection with such requests is governed by the privacy policies and legal obligations of those agencies, not by this Privacy Policy.
Data Security
We take the security of your information seriously and implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect the information we collect from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:
- Use of secure server infrastructure
- Encryption of data transmitted between your browser and our website using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology
- Regular review and updating of our security practices
- Limiting access to personal information to authorized personnel only
While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and we encourage you to take precautions when sharing personal information online.
Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, to provide our services, and to comply with applicable legal obligations. When personal information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to securely delete or anonymize it.
Automatically collected technical and analytical data may be retained in aggregated or anonymized form for longer periods to support ongoing analysis and improvement of our website.
Children's Privacy
BerkeleyRecords.org is intended for use by adults and is not directed toward children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take prompt steps to delete that information from our records.
If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided personal information to us, please reach out so that we can address the situation appropriately.
Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information. These rights may include:
Right to Access You may have the right to request information about the personal data we hold about you, including what data we have collected and how it is being used.
Right to Correction If you believe that any personal information we hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you may have the right to request that we correct or update it.
Right to Deletion In certain circumstances, you may have the right to request that we delete personal information we hold about you. Please note that we may be required to retain certain information to comply with legal obligations or for legitimate operational purposes.
Right to Opt Out of Communications If you have subscribed to receive communications from us, you have the right to opt out at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions included in our communications.
Right to Restrict Processing In certain circumstances, you may have the right to request that we limit the way we use your personal information.
Right to Data Portability Where applicable, you may have the right to receive a copy of your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us through the appropriate channels available on our website. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable law and within a reasonable timeframe.
California Privacy Rights
If you are a resident of California, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and other applicable California privacy laws. These rights include the right to know what personal information is collected about you, the right to know whether your personal information is sold or disclosed and to whom, the right to opt out of the sale of your personal information, and the right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights.
BerkeleyRecords.org does not sell personal information. California residents who wish to exercise their rights under California law may submit a request through our website.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, the updated Privacy Policy will be posted on this page. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.
Your continued use of BerkeleyRecords.org following the posting of any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of those changes.
Governing Law
This Privacy Policy is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States and the State of California, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising under this Privacy Policy shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in California.
A Note on Our Mission
At BerkeleyRecords.org, we believe that access to public records is a fundamental component of transparency, accountability, and an informed citizenry. Our commitment to your privacy reflects our broader values: that individuals deserve both access to information and protection of their personal data. We work to uphold both of these principles in everything we do.
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, we welcome you to reach out to us through the contact options available on our website.
BerkeleyRecords.org — Empowering the Public Through Information