Privacy Policy
OpenData.org respects the privacy rights of our users and is strongly committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy applies to this website, as well as the services we provide via this website, our API or any of our OpenData.org applications provided for our users for access via mobile devices or elsewhere (which we collectively call the “Site” or the “Services”) as well as any information collected and provided to OpenData.org via the site.
When you use the Site and/or the Services, OpenData.org or a designated service provider may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide via the Site and/or the Services, on third-party websites and applications, or offline in connection with OpenData.org services.
The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to give you clear and concise information about the information we may collect, how we may use it, how we will not use it, and how to learn more about information about you that we may have collected, including how to opt-out of our collection of that information.
Scope
This Privacy Policy applies to personal information we process when you visit or use the Services, create or maintain an account, access an API, upload or contribute datasets or other content, communicate with us, or otherwise interact with OpenData.org.
It does not govern the privacy practices of third parties whose websites, services, or datasets may be linked to or available through OpenData.org. Third-party datasets may also be governed by separate notices, licenses, or legal requirements.
Personal Information We Collect
We may collect the following categories of personal information, depending on how you interact with the Services:
- Account and contact information, such as name, username, email address, organization, job title, account identifiers, and other information you provide when creating or maintaining an account.
- Authentication and security information, such as encrypted or hashed credentials, API keys or tokens, authentication events, and information used to secure accounts and the Services.
- User Content and contribution information, including datasets, files, metadata, descriptions, comments, posts, documentation, source information, license information, and other materials you upload, submit, publish, or contribute.
- Usage, device, and technical information, such as IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, referring URLs, pages or features viewed, access times, API requests, logs, diagnostic data, and interactions with the Services.
- Communications, including messages, support requests, feedback, notices, and other correspondence you send to us.
- Cookie and similar-technology information, to the extent OpenData.org uses cookies, local storage, pixels, or similar technologies as described below.
- Information from third parties, such as identity or authentication providers, service providers, publicly available sources, data contributors, or other users, where permitted by law.
Information Contained in Datasets and User Contributions
OpenData.org is a platform for browsing, downloading, uploading, contributing, and accessing datasets. Some datasets or User Content submitted by users or third parties may contain information relating to identifiable individuals.
OpenData.Org does not represent that every dataset has been independently reviewed for privacy, confidentiality, licensing, or other legal restrictions. Contributors are responsible for ensuring they have a lawful basis and all necessary rights, notices, permissions, and authority to upload, publish, license, or otherwise make contributed information available through OpenData.org.
If you believe personal information concerning you has been improperly included in a dataset or other User Content, contact us.
How We Use Personal Information
We may use personal information to:
- provide, operate, maintain, administer, and improve the Services;
- create and manage accounts, authenticate users, and provide API access;
- host, process, index, display, distribute, and make available datasets and User Content as directed or authorized by contributors and applicable licenses;
- respond to inquiries, support requests, complaints, rights requests, and other communications;
- monitor usage, troubleshoot problems, analyze performance, and develop features;
- protect the security, integrity, availability, and lawful use of the Services, including detecting fraud, abuse, security incidents, and violations of our Terms;
- comply with applicable law, legal process, governmental requests, and enforce our agreements and policies;
- establish, exercise, or defend legal claims and protect the rights, safety, and property of OpenData.Org, our users, and others; and
- for other purposes disclosed to you at the time of collection or with your consent.
Cookies, Analytics, and Similar Technologies
OpenData.org may use cookies and similar technologies that are necessary to operate and secure the Services and, if implemented, to remember preferences, understand usage, measure performance, or support analytics.
How We Disclose Personal Information
We may disclose personal information in the following circumstances:
- Service providers. We may disclose information to vendors and contractors that provide hosting, infrastructure, authentication, security, analytics, communications, customer support, professional, or other services on our behalf, subject to appropriate contractual obligations.
- Public contributions. Information you intentionally publish or include in public datasets, profiles, posts, comments, metadata, or other public areas of OpenData.org may be available to anyone and may be copied, downloaded, indexed, redistributed, or used by third parties subject to applicable licenses and law.
- Legal and safety purposes. We may disclose information where we reasonably believe disclosure is required by law or legal process, or is appropriate to protect rights, safety, security, property, or the integrity of the Services.
- Corporate transactions. We may disclose or transfer information in connection with an actual or proposed merger, financing, acquisition, reorganization, bankruptcy, sale of assets, or similar corporate transaction.
- With your direction or consent. We may disclose information when you direct us to do so, request an integration, or otherwise consent.
Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including to provide the Services, maintain business and legal records, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and protect the Services.
Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information, the nature of our relationship with you, legal or contractual requirements, security needs, and whether information is contained in backups, logs, public contributions, or datasets released under an applicable open-data license.
Deletion of an OpenData.org account may not remove copies of datasets or content that were lawfully downloaded, redistributed, archived, or otherwise obtained by third parties before deletion, particularly where the material was released under an irrevocable open-data license.
Data Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, destruction, loss, alteration, or disclosure. However, no security measure, transmission method, or storage system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
You are responsible for protecting your account credentials, API keys, access tokens, and other authentication information and for promptly notifying us of suspected unauthorized access.
Your Privacy Rights and Choices
Depending on where you live and subject to applicable law, you may have rights concerning your personal information, which may include rights to request access to or correction of personal information; request deletion; obtain a portable copy; opt out of certain sales, sharing, targeted advertising, or profiling; limit certain uses of sensitive personal information; withdraw consent where processing is based on consent; and appeal a decision concerning a privacy request.
These rights are not absolute and may be subject to exceptions. We may need to verify your identity before processing a request. Authorized agents may submit requests where permitted by law and subject to appropriate verification.
To exercise a privacy right, contact us or use any privacy-request mechanism made available through OpenData.org.
We will not unlawfully discriminate against you for exercising applicable privacy rights.
Children’s Privacy
The Services are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 through account registration or ordinary use of the Services. If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information directly to us, please contact us so we can evaluate and address the matter as required by law.
Users must not upload datasets or User Content containing children’s personal information.
International Users and Data Transfers
OpenData.Org is based in the United States. If you access the Services from outside the United States, personal information may be processed in the United States and other countries where OpenData.Org or its service providers operate.
Where required by applicable law, we will use appropriate safeguards for cross-border transfers of personal information.
Third-Party Links, Services, and Datasets
The Services may contain links to, integrations with, or data from third-party websites, services, and sources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties. Review the applicable third party’s privacy notices and terms before providing information or using its services.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we may provide notice through the Services, by email, by updating the “Last Updated” date above, or by another reasonable method. Your continued use of the Services is subject to the then-current policy, but we will obtain consent where required by applicable law.