Spectrology.org:Privacy policy

From Spectrology.org
Revision as of 20:43, 18 October 2025 by DrWedge (talk | contribs) (Started Privacy Page)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Privacy Policy

Effective date: October 2025

This Privacy Policy explains how Spectrology.org (“we”, “our”, or “the Project”) collects, uses, and protects personal information when you visit or contribute to this website. Spectrology.org is operated as an independent, non-profit cultural-heritage archive based in the United Kingdom.

1. Overview

Spectrology.org collects and processes only the minimum information required to operate a functional wiki, protect the site from abuse, and maintain academic and historical integrity. We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information, and we do not display advertising or use third-party marketing trackers.

2. Information We Collect

Spectrology.org may collect the following categories of data:

  • **Account Information:** When you create an account, we store your chosen username, encrypted password, and contact email.
  • **Public Contributions:** Any text, images, or files you upload become part of the public record of the wiki. Your username is attached to each edit and is visible in page histories.
  • **Technical Data:** We automatically log IP addresses and browser information for security and anti-spam purposes.
  • **Cookies:** Standard MediaWiki cookies are used for login sessions, language preferences, and analytics. These cookies do not contain personal information.
  • **Email Communication:** If you contact us by email, your message and address are retained only as long as required to respond or maintain correspondence.

Spectrology.org processes personal data under the following lawful bases (Article 6 of the UK GDPR):

  • **Legitimate Interest:** To maintain a secure, functional wiki and prevent abuse.
  • **Consent:** When users voluntarily provide information (e.g., email contact, account creation).
  • **Public Interest / Archival Purpose:** To preserve cultural and historical records contributed by users.

4. How Information Is Used

We use information only for the following purposes:

  • Operating and maintaining the wiki and its contributor community.
  • Attributing authorship and edit history within the public archive.
  • Monitoring for vandalism, spam, or security threats.
  • Responding to user enquiries and collaboration requests.
  • Generating anonymous, aggregate statistics to improve performance and layout.

We do not perform behavioural profiling or targeted advertising.

5. Data Retention

  • Public contributions (pages, files, edits) are preserved indefinitely as part of the historical record of the wiki.
  • Account and log data are stored only as long as necessary for operational or legal purposes.
  • Users may request account closure at any time; however, public contributions will normally remain to preserve the integrity of the historical archive.

6. Data Sharing

We do not share personal data with third parties except:

  • When required by UK law or lawful court order.
  • When necessary for site maintenance by trusted technical service providers (e.g., hosting, backup, or security services) who are bound by confidentiality agreements.
  • When contributors explicitly license their work under Creative Commons terms allowing reuse.

7. International Transfers

Spectrology.org is hosted in the United Kingdom.

8. Your Rights

Under the UK GDPR you have the right to:

  • Access the personal data we hold about you.
  • Request correction of inaccurate or outdated data.
  • Request deletion of your account or contact information.
  • Object to or restrict certain processing activities.
  • Lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Requests can be sent to privacy@spectrology.org.

9. Cookies

Spectrology.org uses only essential cookies required for login and basic analytics. You may disable cookies in your browser, but some features (such as account login) may not function properly. We do not use third-party advertising or social-media tracking cookies.

10. Children’s Privacy

Spectrology.org is intended for users aged 16 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If a contribution is found to have been made by someone under 16 without consent, it will be removed upon request.

11. Security

We employ appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect data, including:

  • Encrypted (HTTPS) connections for all traffic.
  • Regular software updates and access-control reviews.
  • Limited administrator access to user data.
  • Secure encrypted password storage.

However, no online service can guarantee absolute security. Users participate at their own risk and are advised not to post private information.

Spectrology.org contains links to external websites. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of those sites.

13. Changes to This Policy

This policy may be updated periodically. The revision date will be shown at the top of the page. Significant changes will be announced on the wiki’s recent-changes feed.

14. Contact

Questions, data-access requests, or privacy concerns can be directed to: Email: privacy@spectrology.org Postal correspondence (on request): Spectrology.org Privacy Officer, United Kingdom.

Spectrology.org is an independent, non-profit cultural-heritage archive documenting the ghosts of architecture, memory, and culture. It operates transparently and in accordance with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.

Retrieved from "https://spectrology.org/index.php?title=Spectrology.org:Privacy_policy&oldid=9"