Privacy
Privacy
Last modified on: November 1st, 2004
Our web sites are designed to make it easier and more efficient for Pennsylvania
citizens and businesses to interact with their State Government. But as with all
online resources, we appreciate that many visitors to our sites will be concerned
about their privacy. The Commonwealth is committed to preserving your privacy when
you visit our sites.
This policy addresses the collection, security and access to information that may
be obtained through the use of the sites maintained by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
This policy covers the following topics:
- Information We Collect
- Public Disclosure
- Access
- Choice
- Cookies
- Security
- Linking
- Information Disclaimer
Information Collected
If you visit a web site maintained by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to read or
download information, we collect the following information:
- The name of domain; for example, "xcompany.com" if you use a private internet access
account, or "yourschool.edu", if you are connecting from a university domain;
- An IP address; a number automatically assigned to your computer when you are using
the internet;
- The type of browser and operating system used to access our site;
- The Internet address of the website from which you linked directly to our site;
- The pages you visit within the Commonwealth's site; and
- The links made to other web sites through this site.
This information is collected for statistical analysis using standard third-party
software programs to create summary statistics. The statistics are used for the
purpose of determining what information is of most and least interest to all visitors
and identifying system performance or problem areas. This information is not collected
for commercial marketing purposes and the Commonwealth does not sell information
collected online for commercial marketing purposes.
If, during your visit to the Commonwealth's web sites, you voluntarily provide personally
identifiable information, we will collect such information. Examples of personally
identifiable information may include:
- An e-mail address if you are communicating to us through e-mail;
- Information you voluntarily submit to the Commonwealth for the purposes of completing
or submitting an application or form online; and
- Other information volunteered, such as survey information or content of e-mail.
In general, please note the information collected,whether or not personally identifiable,
is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video and other graphic
formats you send us. Information is retained in accordance with existing laws and
other Commonwealth policies.
Public Disclosure
As a general rule, the Commonwealth does not disclose any personally identifiable
information collected online except where you have given us permission, or where
the information is public information under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Act 65
P.S. 66.1 et seq., or other applicable laws. Visitors should be aware that information
collected by the Commonwealth on its websites may be subject to examination and
inspection, if such information is a public record and not otherwise protected from
disclosure.
Access
Any personally identifiable information you enter in a user profile will be open
and accessible to you for review and modification. If you have any questions or
comments about the information presented in this Privacy Policy, you can contact
the Commonwealth Office of Administration/Office for Information Technology as follows:
- By Fax: 717-787-4523
- By Mail: 209 Finance Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120
- By E-mail: ra-technology@state.pa.us
Choice
You may decline participation in any activity that asks for information (i.e., surveys
or e-mails). Your choice to not participate will have no effect on your ability
to access information on the Commonwealth's web sites.
Cookies
To better serve you, we occasionally use "cookies" to customize your browsing experience.
Cookies are simple text files stored by your web browser and they provide a method
of distinguishing among visitors to the web sites. Cookies created on your computer
by using our web sites do not contain personally identifiable information and do
not compromise your privacy or security. We use the cookie feature to store a randomly
generated identifying tag on your computer. If you have further questions about
cookies, the Computer Incident Advisory Capacity Unit that monitors computer problems
for the U.S. Department of Energy issued a study on March 12, 1998, of the risks
to users of cookies, titled "Information Bulletin 1-034: Internet Cookies". You
can refuse the cookie or delete the cookie file from your computer at any time by
using any one of a number of widely available methods.
Security
The Commonwealth has taken steps to safeguard the submission of information by implementing
detailed technology and security policies, which can be viewed at the Office of
Administration, Office for Information Technology website. Security measures have
been integrated into the design, implementation and day-to-day operations of the
entire operating environment as part of our continuing commitment to the security
of electronic content as well as the electronic transmission of information.
In certain instances, you will have the opportunity to receive or create a password
to access or submit personal information. You should not divulge your password to
anyone and the Commonwealth will never ask you for your password in an unsolicited
phone call or e-mail. When you are finished with those applications that are password
protected, you should exit the page.
Link Disclaimer
The Commonwealth provides links to other governmental agencies in the Commonwealth
and the federal government. We also provide links to web sites of other organizations
in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute
an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web
site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by the Commonwealth, you
are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited
to its privacy policy.
Information Disclaimer
Information provided on the Commonwealth's web sites is intended to allow the public
immediate access to public information. While all attempts are made to provide accurate,
current and reliable information we recognize the possibility of human and/or mechanical
error. Therefore, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, its employees, officers and
agencies expressly deny any warranty of the accuracy, reliability or timeliness
of any information published by this system and shall not be held liable for any
losses caused by reliance upon the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information.
Any person who relies upon such information obtained from this system does so at
his or her own risk.
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