Saintapedia

Saintapedia:Privacy policy

Last Updated: September 27, 2025

Saintapedia.org ("we," "us," or "our") operates an online wiki dedicated to providing information about Catholic saints, parishes, countries, and dioceses using Semantic MediaWiki and the Cargo extension. We are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website (https://saintapedia.org/), contribute content, or interact with our services. Please read this policy carefully. If you do not agree with its terms, please do not use our website.

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

  • Personal Information:
    • If you register as a limited editor to contribute content, we collect your email address and preferred username. Registration is required for editing.
    • If you contact us directly, we may collect your name, email address, or other provided details.
  • User-Generated Content: Contributions you make, such as wiki edits to pages about saints, parishes, or dioceses, are publicly visible and associated with your username.
  • Automatically Collected Information:
    • We collect non-personal information such as IP addresses, browser type, device information, operating system, and browsing behavior (e.g., pages visited, time spent on the site).
    • For non-JavaScript users, we use IP-based time zone detection to display timestamps accurately.
  • Cookies and Google Analytics:
    • We use cookies to improve site functionality, manage user sessions via the Cargo extension, and analyze usage.
    • We use Google Analytics to collect aggregated data about site usage, such as page views, visitor demographics, and navigation patterns. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to track your interactions with the site. For more information, see Google’s Privacy Policy.
  • Structured Data Interactions: When you use features like Cargo’s drilldown tool to filter or search data (e.g., saints by country or parishes by region), we may log your interactions to improve functionality.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to:

  • Operate and maintain the Saintapedia.org website, including its Semantic MediaWiki and Cargo features.
  • Facilitate contributions from limited editors and manage user accounts.
  • Display accurate timestamps for non-JavaScript users via IP-based time zone detection.
  • Analyze site usage through Google Analytics to enhance functionality, content, and user experience.
  • Respond to inquiries or support requests.
  • Ensure the accuracy and integrity of user-contributed content.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information in the following cases:

  • Service Providers:
    • We share data with third-party providers that support site operations, such as DigitalOcean (our hosting provider) and Google Analytics. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and only use it for specified purposes.
    • Google Analytics may process data on servers located outside the United States, subject to Google’s data protection practices.
  • Publicly Visible Content: User-generated content, such as wiki edits, is publicly visible and associated with your username. This content may be accessed or reproduced by others in accordance with our site’s open-editing model.
  • Legal Obligations: We may disclose information if required by law, such as in response to a court order, or to protect our rights, safety, or property.
  • Aggregated Data: We may share anonymized, aggregated data (e.g., Google Analytics statistics) with third parties for research or reporting purposes.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Enhance your browsing experience (e.g., managing user sessions via Cargo).
  • Analyze site performance via Google Analytics.
  • Support IP-based time zone detection for non-JavaScript users.

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings, but this may affect site functionality. To opt out of Google Analytics tracking, use the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On or block third-party cookies in your browser.

5. Data Storage and Security

  • Storage: User data is stored on secure servers managed by DigitalOcean in the United States. User-generated content is stored as part of the wiki’s public database.
  • Security: We implement SSL encryption to protect data in transit, limit administrative access to authorized personnel, and rely on DigitalOcean’s security measures to protect stored data. No system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
  • Retention: Email addresses and usernames are retained indefinitely for active accounts. IP logs are retained for [insert retention period, e.g., "30 days for security purposes" – please confirm]. User-generated content may remain on the site indefinitely unless removed by an editor or administrator.

6. Your Rights and Choices

As a US-based site, we comply with applicable privacy laws, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for California residents. You may have the right to:

  • Access, correct, or delete your personal information (e.g., account details).
  • Opt out of cookies or Google Analytics tracking (see Section 4).
  • Request information about how your data is used or shared.

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@saintapedia.org. Note that user-generated content (e.g., wiki edits) may remain publicly visible even after account deletion, as it becomes part of the wiki’s public record.

7. International Users

Saintapedia.org is operated and hosted in the United States. If you access the site from another region, your data may be transferred to and processed in the United States, subject to US laws. Google Analytics may transfer data to servers in the United States or other countries, as described in Google’s Privacy Policy.

8. Children’s Privacy

Saintapedia.org is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn such data has been collected, we will delete it promptly.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party sites (e.g., external references for saints or parishes). We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review their policies before sharing information.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the updated policy on our website with a revised "Last Updated" date.

11. Contact Us

For questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at privacy@saintapedia.org.

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