The following statement explains the
Internet Privacy Policy adopted by the City of Norfolk for its
Web site (web pages at addresses beginning with http://www.city.norfolk.va.us,
http://www.norfolk.gov, and http://www.norfolkgov.com).
The following is intended to explain our current Internet privacy
protection practices. The
information presented here is not meant to be a contract of any
type, either express or implied, and should not be treated as
such by site visitors. We reserve the right to amend our Internet
Privacy Policy and Internet Privacy Policy Statement at any time,
without prior notice to any visitor.
Governing
Law
Virginia statutes, including, but not
limited to, the Virginia Privacy Protection Act of 1976 and the
Virginia Freedom of Information Act, govern our maintenance of public
records and access to personally identifiable information in public
records. Other sections
of the Virginia Code, as well as certain federal statutes address
confidentiality issues.
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Collection
of Information
When a visitor accesses our Web site,
the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the visitor’s computer is
collected. This computer address does not contain any personally
identifiable information about the visitor.
Moreover, no personally identifiable information is collected
about visitors who simply browse this site or who download information
from it. No other information is collected through our
website unless the visitor deliberately chooses to provide it.
For example, if a visitor participates in a survey or clicks
on a link to send an email,
the visitor’s e-mail address,
the contents of the e-mail and information volunteered in
response to the survey will be collected.
A visitor might choose to supply additional information,
including his / her name or any data necessary to complete and submit
an online form or request for services.
Visitors who request services available through this site
may be asked to furnish additional information which may be required
by law or which is necessary to provide the service requested.
The additional information collected will be no more specific
than if the visitor were requesting the service by any other means,
including by telephone or an in-person visit to a City facility.
In all cases, the City strives to collect the minimum information
necessary to comply with applicable law and/or provide the service
requested.
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Use
of "Cookies"
A “cookie” is a small piece of data
stored on the visitor's hard drive containing information about
the visitor and/or the session.
The City’s Web site does not place any "cookies"
on a visitor’s computer.
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Use
of Collected Information
The Internet Protocol (IP) address
of a visitor’s computer is used to route the requested web page
to his / her computer for viewing.
The requested web page and the routing information is sent
to our Internet Service Provider (ISP) or other entities involved
in transmitting the requested page to the visitor.
The routing information may be retained indefinitely. Ordinarily,
however, the routing information is deleted periodically from the
City’s computer after the web page is transmitted to the visitor.
The City does not try to obtain any information to link it
to the visitors who browse our Web site.
Routing information is used primarily in a statistical summary
type format to assess site content and server performance.
However, logs of routing information are also retained to
permit a security investigation on rare occasions when a "hacker"
attempts to breach computer security.
In such cases, the logs of routing information may be forwarded
together with any other relevant information in our possession to
the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Optional information provided by visitors
enables the City to: (1)
provide services or information tailored more specifically
to visitor needs; (2)
forward visitor messages or inquiries to another entity to
provide the service or information;
or (3) plan Web site improvements.
Optional information is retained in accordance with the records
retention schedules established under the Virginia Public Records
Act.
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Protection
of Information
The
City of Norfolk does not sell, rent or otherwise distribute visitor
information, including e-mail addresses, to any outside company
or organization. We do not reveal specific information about subscribers
or other personally identifiable data to unaffiliated third parties
for their independent use, except if required to do so by the Virginia
Freedom of Information Act or other law. This policy applies to
information that may be collected on the City's Web site and on
that of any third party with whom the City contracts to provide
Internet related-services. The
City of Norfolk maintains security standards and procedures regarding
unauthorized access to customer information to prevent unauthorized
removal or alteration of data.
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Choice
to Provide Information
A visitor is not required legally to
provide any information at the City’s Web site. However, the City’s
Web site will not work without the Internet Protocol (IP) address
of the visitor’s computer. Failure of the visitor’s browser to provide
nonessential technical information will not prevent his / her use
of the City’s Web site, but may prevent certain features from working.
The visitor’s failure to provide optional information may mean that
the particular feature or service associated with that part of the
web page will not be available for his / her use.
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Minor's
Privacy Policy
The general privacy policy of the City
of Norfolk will apply to the collection of any information obtained
children age 13 and under. Additionally, the following
guidelines will be followed with respect to any information collected
from children under the age of 13.
The information that City may seek from children includes, but is not necessarily limited to: name, home address,
telephone number, e-mail address, school, hobbies and any question or comment
submitted.
Parental consent must be obtained before collecting, using or disclosing personal
information about a child.
New parental consent must be obtained if the City makes a material change in how it
collects, uses or discloses any information from children.
A parent may review the personal information collected from his / her child after the City has verified the identity of the requesting
parent. A parent may revoke his/her consent and may request that
deletion of information collected from his / her child. When parental
consent is revoked, the City Web site will stop collecting, using
or disclosing information from that child. Revocation of parental
consent may terminate a child's participation in an activity where
the collected information was required to participate in the Web
site activity.
For additional information go to FTC's
Consumer Response Center and the Kidz
Privacy Web sites.
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Visitor
Comments or Review of Personal Information
Visitors who have questions about this Internet Privacy Policy Statement
or would like to review or correct any of their personal information,
may contact the Norfolk Office of Communications at 757-664-4266
or via e-mail at webmaster@norfolk.gov.
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