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GovFacts.org Privacy Policy

Last Updated: August 9, 2025

1. Introduction
Welcome to GovFacts.org (“we”, “our”, “us”). We are committed to protecting the privacy of our users. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use and share it, and the choices you have about your information.

By using our Website and services, you are agreeing to the terms of this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Please read them carefully.

2. Information We Collect
We collect information to provide and improve our services. The types of information we collect are:

  • Information You Provide Directly:
    • Communications: When you contact us at [email protected], sign up for newsletters, or respond to surveys, we collect the information you provide, such as your name and email address.
    • Forum and User Content: When you register for our bbPress forum, we collect your registration details (e.g., username, email address). All information you voluntarily post on the forum, including your username, posts, and comments, is publicly visible.
  • Information Collected Automatically:
    • Log Information: When you use our services, our servers automatically record information, including your IP address, browser type, pages visited, and the date and time of your request.
    • Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies (small text files sent to your device) to store user preferences, track trends, and improve the quality of our service. You can reset your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent.

3. Third-Party Services and Data Use
We use third-party services to operate and improve our Website. These services may collect information about you using their own cookies and tracking technologies.

  • Analytics (Google Analytics): We use Google Analytics to analyze website traffic. This service collects data such as your IP address, browser information, and how you interact with our site. This helps us understand user behavior and improve our services. For more information, see Google’s Privacy & Terms. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
  • Analytics and Session Replay (Microsoft Clarity): We use Microsoft Clarity to capture how you use and interact with our website through behavioral metrics, heatmaps, and session replay. This helps us improve our website’s usability. This data includes mouse movements, clicks, and scrolling activity. For more information, see the Microsoft Privacy Statement.
  • Advertising (Google AdSense): We use Google AdSense to display ads. Google and its partners use cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) to serve ads based on your prior visits to our website and other websites on the Internet. You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google’s Ad Settings. You can also opt out of many third-party vendors’ use of cookies by visiting www.aboutads.info/choices.

4. How We Use Information
We use the information we collect to:

  • Provide, maintain, and improve our services.
  • Develop new services and features.
  • Communicate with you and respond to your inquiries.
  • Monitor and analyze trends, usage, and activities.
  • Protect GovFacts.org and our users from fraud or security threats.

5. How We Share Information
We do not share your personal information with companies, organizations, or individuals outside of GovFacts.org except in the following cases:

  • With Your Consent: We will share personal information when we have your explicit consent to do so.
  • For Public Display: Any information you post in our public forums becomes public information.
  • With Service Providers: We may share information with third-party vendors and service providers (like those listed above) who need access to such information to carry out work on our behalf.
  • For Legal Reasons: We will share personal information if we have a good-faith belief that it is reasonably necessary to:
    • Meet any applicable law, regulation, legal process, or enforceable governmental request.
    • Enforce our Terms of Use, including investigation of potential violations.
    • Detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security, or technical issues.

6. Data Protection and Retention
We work hard to protect your information from unauthorized access, alteration, or destruction. We use encryption to keep your data private while in transit and review our security practices regularly.

We retain personal data for as long as we have an ongoing legitimate business need to do so. The specific retention periods vary depending on the type of information:

  • Forum and User Content: Information you post on our forum, including your username and posts, is retained indefinitely to maintain the integrity of community discussions, unless you request its deletion.
  • Analytics Data: Data collected by Google Analytics is retained for a period of up to 26 months before being automatically deleted.
  • User Communications: If you contact us, we may keep a record of your communication to help solve any issues you might be facing.
  • Account Information: We retain your account information for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we will take steps to delete this information within a reasonable period.

7. Your Data Rights and Choices
You have certain rights regarding the personal information we hold about you, which may vary depending on your location. We provide you with the ability to exercise these rights by contacting us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request after verifying your identity.

8. International Data Transfers
Our Website is hosted and operated in the United States. If you are accessing the Website from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where our servers are located and our central database is operated. The data protection and other laws of the United States might not be as comprehensive as those in your country. By using our services, you consent to your information being transferred to our facilities and to the facilities of those third parties with whom we share it as described in this Privacy Policy.

9. Response to “Do Not Track” Signals
Some web browsers may transmit “Do Not Track” (DNT) signals to the websites with which the user communicates. Because of differences in how web browsers incorporate and activate this feature, it is not always clear whether users intend for these signals to be transmitted, or whether they even are aware of them. We currently do not take action in response to DNT signals.

10. Children’s Privacy
Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will take steps to delete such information.

11. Changes to This Policy
Our Privacy Policy may change from time to time. We will post any changes on this page. If the changes are significant, we will provide a more prominent notice (such as an email notification).

12. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].