Privacy Policy
This privacy policy explains how the IPC collects, uses and discloses your information when you use our website.
I. Privacy Policy Commitments
The IPC commits to protecting your privacy in the following ways:
- The only personal information that we collect from your visit is what you voluntarily provide to us for specific purposes.
- Our website analytics only use non-identifiable data.
- We do not share data about your visit with third parties except to report malicious attacks or as required by law.
- We do not allow third parties to track you, with two exceptions – embedded YouTube videos and Google Maps.
II. Using this Website
Data Collection
The IPC uses Matomo Analytics, a third-party service to analyze non-identifiable web traffic data, to effectively manage content based on visitor preferences. More information can be found on Matomo Analytics’ privacy settings page.
The data is stored on a secure web server hosted by a third-party web service provider located in Canada. The collected data will not be shared with any other party for any other purpose, unless required by law.
The IPC’s web analytics will also respect any “DoNotTrack” settings on web browsers.
The IPC may collect the following information to assist in improving the website:
- Your Internet Protocol (IP) address. For analytics purposes, we retain only the first two octets of your IP address to prevent the possibility of re-identification (e.g., 127.0.1.1 is stored as 127.0.*.*).
- Your screen resolution and device information (type, brand, and model if applicable).
- The referring website, if any, through which you arrived at our website.
- Your operating system.
- Your browser type, plugins, and version.
- Pages you viewed on our website and time spent on each page.
- URL of the page that directed you to our website, and in some instances, the search term(s) you used to find us.
- Language of your browser.
- Country and/or city/general area (determined by IP ).
How We Use Your Data
Our website analytics only use non-identifiable data. The IPC uses server log data to:
- Fix errors on our website.
- Defend against malicious attacks.
- Generate website usage statistics.
- Improve service delivery in general.
Cookies
A cookie is a small text file that a website creates and accesses through your browser when you visit the website.
Cookies used by the IPC do not contain personally identifying information and do not give us access to anything on your device.
When opting-in, the IPC website uses session cookies that are stored in temporary memory and are not retained after you close the browser session. Our session cookie contains a randomized number intended to help your browser interact better with dynamic content on our website and is not for tracking purposes. Should you not opt-in to our web analytics, a cookie will be set for one year that will recognize your preference. If you do choose to opt-in, this cookie will also be set for a one-year period.
Data generated from the IPC cookies are not used to identify visitors and are never shared with third parties.
Third-Party Cookies
When visiting our website, your browser may receive longer-term “permanent” cookies from Google, a third party. This may happen because some of the IPC web pages host video content stored on YouTube. Our contact page also features an embedded Google Map. Consequently, Google may track your online activities across other websites.
You do not have to accept any cookies to access the IPC website. However, there may be minimal loss of functionality if you have disabled or deleted all cookies. Please consult your browser settings (and browser plugins) which allow you to configure whether and how you receive cookies. For additional information and guidance, the following consumer website explains how to delete and control the cookies that are stored on your computer.
Third Parties
The IPC collects and analyzes website usage data strictly for internal purposes. We do not sell, rent, exchange, or otherwise disclose any information that we collect about our website visitors to third parties, except in the case of a malicious attack or as required by law.
We have limited the amount of information that third-party tools can collect about you on our website. However, we may collect data from you when you visit pages that contain embedded YouTube videos or Google Maps on our website.
Accuracy
Although the IPC makes every effort to ensure that all information posted on the website is accurate and complete, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. If there is any discrepancy between the information posted on the website and original paper versions, the original paper document is authoritative.
External Links
This website contains links to other sites. The IPC is not responsible for the content and privacy policies of other websites and encourages you to examine each website’s privacy policy and disclaimers and make your own decisions regarding the accuracy, reliability, and correctness of material and information found there.
III. Social Media
Twitter is a public, third-party social media provider. Personal information that you might provide to Twitter is not hosted on our server. We recommend that our Twitter followers familiarize themselves with the social media provider’s terms of service and privacy policy.
The IPC currently uses Twitter to reach online audiences and engage citizens, public bodies and private organizations in a conversation about access and privacy issues.
Our Twitter content includes:
- links to News releases, Reports, blogs and other publications issued by our office;
- links to information and articles about access and privacy issues in Saskatchewan and other jurisdictions;
- information about upcoming events.
When we provide links to external sites, they are provided solely for the convenience and interest of the user. The IPC is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained on these sites, nor do we endorse the sites or their content.
We retweet news, links and content we think are relevant to our work and of interest to our followers. Retweets do not imply endorsement by the IPC.
We follow Twitter accounts that are relevant to our work and our mandate. This could include the Twitter accounts of individuals as well as organizations, public and private, who comment on access and privacy issues. Our decision to follow a particular Twitter user does not imply an endorsement of any kind and does not mean that the IPC supports that user, or their views.
IV. Communicating With Us
Email Communication
We do not automatically collect personal information such as your name, street address, email address, or phone number. However, if you send us a question or inquiry, if you ask us to put you on a distribution list, or if you submit a complaint, we will keep the contact information you send us so we can respond to you.
Any personal information that you provide us will only be used to respond to your message and/or provide you with the requested service. If you do not wish to receive email communications from the IPC regarding new resources and the work the Office is undertaking, you may unsubscribe at any point or e-mail us at webmaster@oipc.sk.ca.
Twitter Communication
Those who choose to engage in a conversation with the IPC via Twitter should be aware that they do so within the public domain. To protect your privacy and that of others, the IPC recommends that you do not include personal information in your posts.
The IPC encourages the use of Twitter to discuss matters related to access and privacy. However, in the event the IPC receives offensive, disrespectful or abusive comments, the IPC may block that particular Twitter user.
The IPC will not accept request for reviews or privacy of breach complaints through Twitter. In addition, the IPC will not discuss contents of active or closed files on Twitter with the exception of posting links to reports by the Commissioner.
Storage, Use, and Disclosure of Information Provided
Information provided to the IPC is stored electronically in the cloud using Microsoft data centers located in Canada.
Information provided will be used by the IPC through Microsoft Systems Cloud Services to aid IPC staff in corresponding, providing summary advice, reviewing access to information issues and investigating privacy concerns.
Personal information in the custody of Microsoft may be accessed by law enforcement or national security authorities, including foreign authorities, without notice to you or the IPC.
V. More Information
For more information on the privacy policy or our website, please contact the office.