Madison County
Internet Privacy Policy Statement
(last updated on October 27, 2009)
The following information explains the Internet Privacy Policy that the County of Madison utilizes for its Web site. This document is intended to explain our approach to Internet privacy practices, but shall not be construed as any type of contractual promise. We reserve the right to amend our Internet Privacy Policy Statement at any time without notice.
State and Federal law
We protect our records in accordance with our obligations as defined by applicable Virginia statutes, including, but not limited to, the "Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act," the "Virginia Freedom of Information Act," and by any applicable U.S. federal laws.
Links to other Web sites
Our Web site may contain links to other public or private entities' Web sites, whose privacy practices we do not control and for which we are not responsible.
Information we collect
Electronic routing information: When you access our Web site, the routing or client information, and the essential and nonessential technical information listed below, is automatically collected.
- Routing, or client, information: the Internet domain and Internet address of the computer you are using.
- Essential technical information: identification of the page or service you are requesting, type of browser and operating system you are using; and the date and time of access.
- Nonessential technical information: the Internet address of the Web site from which you linked directly to our Web site, and the "cookie information" described below.
Optional information: when you send us an e-mail, your name, e-mail address, and the content of your e-mail is submitted by you voluntarily. Once received by us, this information becomes a public record subject to coverage by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. See our FOIA notice provided at the end of this policy.
How the collected information is used
Routing information is used to route the requested Web page to your computer for viewing. We send the requested Web page and the routing information to our Internet service provider or other entities involved in transmitting the requested page to you. We do not control the privacy practices of other entities. Essential and nonessential technical information helps us respond to your request in a personalized manner and helps us plan Web site improvements.
Optional information enables us to provide services or information tailored more specifically to your needs or to forward your message or inquiry to another entity that is better able to do so, and also allows us to plan Web site improvements.
We may keep your information indefinitely, but we do not try to obtain any information to link it to the individuals who browse our Web site. However, on rare occasions when a "hacker" attempts to breach computer security, logs of routing information may be retained to permit a security investigation and in such cases may be forwarded together with any other relevant information in our possession to staff, consultants or law enforcement officials, as may be appropriate in a given situation.
Optional information will be managed in accordance with applicable records retention schedules of the Library of Virginia.
Choice to provide information
There is no legal requirement for you to provide any information at our Web site. However, our Web site will not work without routing information and the essential technical information. Failure of your browser to provide nonessential technical information will not prevent your use of our Web site, but may prevent certain features from working. Failure to provide optional information will mean that the particular feature or service associated with that part of the Web page will not be available to you.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Notice
Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) any records in our possession at the time of a FOIA request may be subject to being inspected by, or disclosed to, members of the public. To the extent that FOIA allows us to protect routing or other personal identifying information in the context of a particular request, we will do so.
Virginia Code 2.2-3705.1(10) provides an exemption from public inspection and disclosure for electronic mail addresses furnished to a public body for the purpose of receiving electronic mail from the public body, provided that the electronic mail recipient has requested that the public body not disclose such information.
Our Privacy Policy
