Privacy Policy

Our approach

Watch the Watchers News is built to examine government surveillance without creating an unnecessary surveillance system of its own. The site does not currently sell personal information, run advertising, use marketing trackers, accept user accounts directly, or operate a newsletter, public comment system, or donation system.

Document submissions

The contact form stores the topic, message, any document link, optional reply email and submission time in an inbox restricted to the site owner. Submissions are reviewed as source leads and are not automatically published. The application does not store the sender’s IP address or browser details with a submission. Messages expire after 90 days and are removed when the inbox or submission service is next used. Hosting services may process technical logs as described below.

Aggregate visit count

The site keeps one aggregate number showing total page views. Each page load adds one to that total. The counter does not store a visitor’s name, email address, internet protocol address, location, device information, browser information, or individual visit history. Because the counter does not identify or recognize visitors, it cannot determine the number of unique people and does not claim to do so.

Track Your Government tool

The city, county, or state entered into the Track Your Government tool remains in temporary browser memory while the page is open. Watch the Watchers News does not save those entries or send them to its own database. When a visitor chooses to open a generated search, the place name and search terms are sent to Google. Google controls that service, and Google’s privacy policy applies.

Information processed to operate the site

The hosting, security, domain, and access control services that deliver this site may automatically process ordinary technical information. That may include an internet protocol address, browser and device information, requested pages, access times, referring pages, security events, and authentication information when sign in is required.

This information may be used to deliver the site, prevent abuse, investigate security problems, maintain access controls, and diagnose technical failures. Watch the Watchers News does not use this information to build advertising profiles.

Cookies and similar technology

The site does not currently place advertising or marketing cookies. Essential cookies or comparable storage may be used by the hosting and access control services for sign in, security, fraud prevention, session management, and basic operation. A separate marketing cookie banner is not used because the site does not currently deploy optional marketing or advertising trackers.

External links

The tracker links to courts, legislatures, government agencies, news organizations, legal institutes, advocacy groups, vendors, and other third parties. When you follow an external link, that organization controls its own website and information practices. Its privacy policy applies, not this one.

Public records and published information

The site summarizes public records, court filings, government materials, and published reporting. It does not invite visitors to submit license plate numbers, precise travel histories, private addresses, or other sensitive personal information. Sensitive details should not be submitted unless a secure and clearly identified method is provided for that purpose.

Children

The site is intended for a general audience interested in public policy and is not directed to children under 13. It does not knowingly collect personal information directly from children.

Retention and security

Technical records may be retained by service providers for operational, security, legal, and abuse prevention purposes. Reasonable steps are taken to limit collection and protect access, but no internet service can promise absolute security.

Future features

If analytics, subscriptions, forms, donations, advertising, embedded media, or other features that materially change data collection are added, this policy should be updated before or when those features become active.

Questions

For a privacy question or a request concerning a submitted message, use the newsroom contact form.