Welcome

The Exploremedia movement is based on a simple but powerful principle: we can accomplish more together than any of us can individually. We can't work together without collecting, sharing, and analyzing information on our users as we look for new methods to make the Exploremedia Sites more usable, safer, and beneficial.

We think that information collection and use should be accompanied with transparency. This Privacy Policy describes how the Exploremedia Foundation, the non-profit organization that hosts the Exploremedia Sites, such as Explorepedia, collects, uses, and shares information obtained from you through your use of the Exploremedia Sites.It is critical to realize that by using any of the Exploremedia Sites, you agree to the collection, transport, processing, storage, disclosure, and use of your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. That means that you should carefully read this Policy.

We believe that to participate in the free knowledge movement, you should not be required to submit nonpublic personal information. You are not required to submit your true name, address, or date of birth when creating a standard account or contributing content to the Exploremedia Sites.

We do not sell or rent your personal information, nor do we share it with anyone in order to sell you anything. We use it to determine how to make the Exploremedia Sites more engaging and accessible, to test which ideas are effective, and to make learning and contributing more enjoyable. Simply put, we utilize this information to improve your experience on the Exploremedia Sites

After all, it is people like you, defenders of free knowledge, who enable the Exploremedia Sites to exist, grow, and prosper.

What This Privacy Policy Does and Does Not Cover :

Except as described below, this Privacy Policy governs our collection and use of information about you obtained as a consequence of your use of any of the Exploremedia Sites. This Policy also applies to the information we obtain from our partners and other third parties. Please check below for additional information on what is covered by this Privacy Policy.

Examples of What This Privacy Policy Covers:

This Privacy Policy, however, does not apply in all scenarios in which we may collect or process information. For example, some usage may be subject to separate privacy policies (such as those of the Exploremedia Shop) or third-party sites or services. For further information on what this Privacy Policy does not cover, please see below.

More about what the Exploremedia Foundation Privacy Policy does not cover.

Where community regulations control information, such as the CheckUser policy, the appropriate community may amend the rules and obligations outlined in this Policy. However, they are not entitled to make additional exclusions or otherwise weaken the protections provided by this Policy.

Types of information we receive from you and how we obtain it.

Your Public Contributions.

Everything you upload on Exploremedia Sites can be seen and used by anyone.When you contribute to a Exploremedia Site, including user or discussion pages, you create a permanent, public record of all content you add, remove, or change. The page history will display when your contribution or deletion occurred, as well as your username (if you are signed in) or IP address (if you are not signed in). We may use your public contributions, either aggregated with others' public contributions or individually, to create new features or data-related products for you or to learn more about how the Exploremedia Sites are used, as detailed below in the "How We Use Information We Receive From You" section of this Privacy Policy.

Publicly available information

Account Information and Registration

Want to open an account? Great! Do not wish to establish an account? Not a problem!

To view or contribute to a Exploremedia Site, you do not need to register an account, except in unusual cases. If you contribute without logging in, your contribution will be publicly linked to the IP address associated with your device.

To create a regular account, we usually only need a username and a password. However, if you do not provide an email address, we will be unable to help you restore your password.

More on usernames.

We may ask you for additional demographic information, such as your gender or age, in order to better understand our users' demographics, localize our services, and learn how we can enhance our services. We will advise you whether such information is intended to be public or private, allowing you to make an educated decision about whether to give us with it. Providing this information is always entirely optional. If you don't want to, you don't have to—it's that simple.

Location Information

GPS and Other Location Technologies

If you agree, we can use GPS (and other location-based technologies) to display you more relevant information. Except as otherwise stated in this Policy, we maintain information received through these technologies secret. You can learn more by reviewing our FAQ, which includes a number of examples of how we use these technologies.

Metadata

We occasionally receive location data from your device without your intervention. For example, if you upload a photo to the Exploremedia Commons mobile app, we may automatically get metadata from your device, such as the location and time of capture. Please keep in mind that, unlike the location information obtained using GPS signals detailed above, your mobile device's default configuration usually includes metadata in your photo or video upload to the Exploremedia Sites. If you do not want your metadata shared to us and made public during the upload process, please alter your device's settings.

IP addresses

Finally, whenever you visit a Exploremedia Site, we automatically obtain the IP address of the device (or proxy server) you are using to access the Internet, which could be used to determine your geographical location.

Information about your use of the Exploremedia sites

We aim to improve the Exploremedia Sites for you by knowing more about how you use them. Examples of this could be how frequently you visit the Exploremedia Sites, what you like, what you find useful, how you got to the Exploremedia Sites, and whether you would utilize a beneficial feature more if we presented it better. We also want this Policy and our actions to be reflective of our community's beliefs. For this reason, we keep information about your use of the Exploremedia Sites private, except as stated in this Policy.

Data That We Automatically Get

We get some information automatically when you visit the Exploremedia Sites because of the way browsers operate. This includes using a third-party website's online tool that loads data from the Exploremedia Sites. This data includes your device type (perhaps including unique device identification numbers for some beta versions of our mobile apps), browser type and version, language preference, device operating system type and version, sometimes the name of your ISP or mobile carrier, the website that directed you to the Exploremedia Sites, the pages you request and view, and the time and date of each request you make to the Exploremedia

In short, we utilize this data to improve your Exploremedia Sites experience. We utilize this data, for instance, to manage the sites, increase security, and combat vandalism; optimize mobile applications, personalize content and language settings, test features to see what works, and enhance performance; learn about user behavior on the Exploremedia Sites, monitor and analyze feature usage, learn about the demographics of the various Exploremedia Sites, and identify trends.

Data We Gather

We actively gather some kinds of data using a range of widely used methods. These typically consist of JavaScript, tracking pixels, and various "locally stored data" technologies like local storage and cookies. Online tools on a third-party website that loads content from the Exploremedia Sites may also make use of these kinds of technology. We are aware that some of these technologies can be utilized for less-than-respectable reasons and do not have the finest reputation in town. Therefore, we aim to be as transparent as possible about the reasons for our use of these techniques and the kinds of data we gather using them.

Text, Personal Information (such as your IP address), and information about how you use the Exploremedia Sites (such as your username or the time of your visit) are examples of locally saved data, depending on the technology we use. For further details, see below.

We use this data to better understand user preferences and how they interact with the Exploremedia Sites, to make your experience safer and better, and to enhance our services in general. Third-party cookies will never be used by us without your consent. In the event that you come across a third-party data gathering tool that you have not approved (for example, one that was inadvertently installed by another administrator or user)

More about Data Stored Locally

Although we think this data gathering enhances your user experience, depending on your browser, you may disable or delete some or all locally stored data through your browser's options. Our FAQ contains further information about some of your possibilities. Some functions won't work properly if you disable locally saved data, even if it might not be required to access our sites.

Please be aware that some information about the actions taken by your username is made publicly available through public logs alongside actions taken by other users, even though the examples above regarding information about you that was gathered through the use of data collection tools are kept confidential in accordance with this Policy. The date you created your account on a Exploremedia site, for instance, might be included in a public record together with the dates of the creation of other accounts on the same site.

How We Utilize the Data We Get From You in General

In order to legitimately pursue our charity objective, we and our service partners utilize your information for the following purposes:

managing our services, distributing your contributions, and running the Exploremedia Sites.

To assist you in adding new features to our services and sharing your knowledge with the world.

to set up account access and offer you relevant services.

to notify you of administrative updates, including modifications to our policies.

to provide you the option to message someone else if you so desire. Unless otherwise specified in this Policy, we maintain the confidentiality of direct user communications (such as messages sent using the "Email this user" function), to the extent that they are nonpublic and held in or in transit through Exploremedia Foundation servers. 

Offering specialized services.

To improve your experience using the Exploremedia Sites and to give you personalized content, notifications, and settings.

In certain cases, we will modify the Services with your permission or in accordance with our legitimate interests.

Sending you emails with news and information on things we think you might find interesting.

To inform you about developments pertaining to the Exploremedia movement, the Exploremedia Foundation, or the Exploremedia Sites.

in order to notify you when an article you have chosen to follow changes.

Unless otherwise allowed by applicable legislation, we will only send you these kinds of emails with your permission. Your email address is never sold, rented, or used to promote goods or services from third parties. By visiting your Notifications Preferences and User profile, you may control the types of notifications you receive and how frequently you receive them.

Soliciting input and sending optional questionnaires.

We will always let you know how we intend to use your responses and any personal information you submit when we give you a chance to voice your opinions.

It is always voluntary for you to answer our questionnaires and provide feedback. Unless otherwise allowed by applicable law, we will only send you these kinds of requests by email with your permission. By visiting your Notifications Preferences and User profile, you may control the types of notifications you receive and how frequently you receive them.

Enhancing the Exploremedia sites and creating a better, safer user experience.
 

To learn more about the use of the Exploremedia Sites or to develop new features or data-related products for you based on your public contributions, either individually or combined with the public contributions of others.

To combat viruses, spam, identity theft, and other forms of misuse.

to enhance other applications, including mobile ones.

Analyze trends, track and investigate feature usage, learn about the demographics of the many Exploremedia Sites, test features to evaluate what works, and comprehend how people interact with the sites.

We take part in these activities to fulfill our legal duties and/or to serve our legitimate interests.

OTHER

Location details

GPS and Other Technologies for Location

As previously said, we can display more pertinent content to you by utilizing widely recognized location technology. For instance, our mobile applications are able to recognize articles about nearby locations of interest from Exploremedia sites. Remember that you can always agree to or refuse our access to these location technologies, for instance, using your mobile device's built-in OS features, and still use the Exploremedia Sites.

Metadata

As previously mentioned, your device may automatically provide us location data. For instance, if you use the Exploremedia Commons mobile app to upload a photo, please note that the metadata for your photo will usually be included in the upload by default on your mobile device. As a reminder, please adjust your device's settings if you do not want metadata to be shared to us and made public at the time of your upload.

IP addresses

When you visit any Exploremedia Site, we automatically obtain the IP address of the device (or proxy server) you use to access the Internet, which can be used to determine your geographical location. We keep IP addresses private, except as stated in this Policy. If you access Exploremedia Sites on your mobile device, we may use your IP address to provide service providers with anonymized or aggregated data about the level of traffic in specific areas.

We use this location data to make your experience with the Exploremedia Sites safer and more enjoyable, to better understand user preferences and interactions with the Exploremedia Sites, and to generally improve our services. For example, we utilize this information to improve security, enhance mobile applications, and understand how to grow and sustain Exploremedia communities. We also use Personal Information in the ways mentioned in this Policy's sections titled "For Legal Reasons" and "To Protect You, Ourselves & Others."

When May We Share Your Information?

For legal reasons.

We shall access, use, store, and/or disclose your Personal Information if we reasonably believe it is required to comply with a legitimate and legally enforceable warrant, subpoena, court order, legislation or regulation, or other judicial or administrative order. However, if we feel that a specific request for disclosure of a user's information is legally unlawful or an abuse of the legal system, and the affected user does not plan to contest the disclosure, we will do our best to fight it. We are dedicated to notifying you by email at least ten (10) calendar days before disclosing your Personal Information in response to a legal demand. However, we can only give notice if you have given us your email address, there is no legitimate risk to life or limb that would be exacerbated by revealing the request, and we are not legally prohibited from contacting you.

Nothing in this privacy statement is meant to restrict your legal defenses or objections to a third party's request (civil, criminal, or governmental) to provide your personal information. If someone makes such a request concerning you, we advise getting legal assistance right away.

In the unlikely event that the organization is transferred!

Unless otherwise specified in this Policy, we will continue to keep your Personal Information private. In the extremely unlikely event that ownership of all or nearly all of the Foundation changes, or we undergo a reorganization (such as a merger, consolidation, or acquisition), in line with our legitimate interest, we will notify you via the Exploremedia Sites and a notification on ExploremediaAnnounce-L or a similar mailing list at least thirty (30) calendar days before any Personal Information is transferred or comes under a new privacy policy.

To keep us, you, and others safe

In order to enforce or look into possible violations of our Terms of Use, this Privacy Policy, or any Exploremedia Foundation or user community-based policies, we, or specific users with specific administrative rights as outlined below, may need to use and share your Personal Information. In order to look into and protect ourselves from legal threats or acts, we might also need to access and disclose personal information.

The majority of the policies on Exploremedia sites are created collaboratively by users, who also choose who has specific administrative rights. Access to certain amounts of normally private data regarding recent contributions and user behavior may be one of these rights. They use this access to combat user harassment, prevent vandalism and abuse, and generally work to reduce disruptive conduct on the Exploremedia Sites. Although each of these different user-selected administrative groups has its own privacy and confidentiality policies, they are all expected to abide by our policy regarding access to nonpublic personal data. Through checks and balances, these user-selected administrative groups are answerable to other users. Users are chosen through a community-driven process, and their peers monitor them based on a history of their actions. The Exploremedia Foundation does not, however, know these users' legal names.

Although we hope this never happens, we may divulge your personal information if we think it is reasonably required to safeguard our company, workers, contractors, users, or the general public, or to stop someone from suffering imminent and serious physical harm or death. If we deem it reasonably necessary to identify, stop, or otherwise evaluate and handle possible spam, malware, fraud, abuse, illegal behavior, security, or technical issues, we may also divulge your personal information.

To Our Service Suppliers

To assist manage or enhance the Exploremedia Sites for you and other users, we work with outside contractors or service providers. When necessary, we grant these contractors or providers access to your personal information so they can use their products and services or complete their work for us. To assist guarantee that these service providers handle your personal information in a manner that is consistent with and no less protective of your privacy than the tenets of this policy, we have placed procedures in place, such as confidentiality agreements. Please refer to our FAQ for more details.

We utilize your IP address when you access Exploremedia Sites on a mobile device in order to give service providers anonymised or aggregated data about the amount of traffic in particular regions.

To comprehend and try

Volunteer software developers contribute their time by building and testing code to assist the open-source software that runs the Exploremedia Sites get better and adapt to the needs of our users. We grant certain developers restricted access to systems that hold your personal information in order to make their work easier, but only when it is absolutely required for them to create and update the Exploremedia Sites.

In a same vein, we provide researchers, scholars, academicians, and other interested third parties who want to study the Exploremedia Sites with non-personal information or aggregated information. They can better comprehend usage, viewership, and demographic statistics and trends by sharing this personal information. To help us all better understand and enhance the Exploremedia Sites, they can then share their findings with us and our users.

We impose conditions, such as appropriate technical and contractual safeguards, on third-party developers and researchers when we grant them access to your personal information to help guarantee that they handle it in a way that aligns with the guidelines of this policy and our directives. We request that these researchers or developers refrain from disclosing your personal information if they go on to publish their work. Please be aware that, even with the responsibilities we place on developers and researchers, we cannot ensure that they will follow our terms or that we will routinely review or audit their work.

Since you made it public

On the Exploremedia Sites, anything you publish for public consumption is simply that—public. Your mailing address, for instance, is public information and is not expressly covered by this policy if you post it on your chat page. Additionally, your IP address will be visible to the public if you make changes without first registering or authenticating into your account. Before disclosing personal information on your user page or anywhere else, please consider your preferred level of privacy.

How Do We Safeguard Your Private Data?

We work hard to prevent unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of your personal information. To safeguard our systems and your personal information, we employ a range of technical and physical protections, policies, and procedures (including network firewalls, access control protocols, and physical security). Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that our security will not be compromised (either by technological means or by violations of our policies and procedures). This is because there is no such thing as perfectly secure data transmission or storage.

We will never email you to ask for your password, though if you have asked for a password reset, we might send you a temporary one.

How much time do we retain your data?

After we obtain your personal information, we retain it for as little time as is necessary to fulfill our legal requirements and to maintain, comprehend, and enhance the Exploremedia Sites. After 90 days, personal information is typically removed, combined, or de-identified. If necessary, non-personal information may be kept on file forever. (See our FAQ for a list of examples.)

Please keep in mind that when you contribute to any Exploremedia site, the page history will display the date and time of your contribution, your IP address (if you edit without logging in), or your username (if you are logged in). For the initiatives to be effective, the contribution and revision histories must be transparent.

Your rights

See our FAQ for details on how to request that your personal information be deleted or about other rights you may have regarding your personal information. You can contact us to seek a copy of your personal information so you can send it to another organization, or to request access, correct, restrict, or object to the processing of your personal information. In accordance with the relevant legislation, we shall reply to your request.

Additionally, keep in mind that you might be able to exercise some of these rights without our help. For instance, if you are a registered user, you can download your user account data and view and edit certain personal information in your preferences. 

If you disagree with this Privacy Policy, you are not permitted to use the Exploremedia Sites for the sake of the Exploremedia Foundation and other users.

Our Reaction to Signals That Don't Track (DNT)

We have a great commitment to safeguarding the personal information of users. You can read more about the specific circumstances in which we may share your information under this policy in the "When May We Share Your Information" section. Specifically, we don't use your personal information for advertising.

We do not alter our actions in response to a web browser's "do not track" signal since we protect all users in compliance with this Privacy Policy. Please see our FAQ to learn more about Do Not Track signals and how we respond to them.

Many thanks!

We appreciate your interest in our privacy statement. We sincerely hope you enjoy visiting the Exploremedia Sites and thank you for your contributions to the development, upkeep, and ongoing enhancement of the world's biggest free knowledge base.

Please be aware that the original English version of this Privacy Policy takes precedence over any translations in the event that they differ in meaning or interpretation.