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{{TnT|PrivacyPolicy-Invitation}}<br/>
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{{process header
| title = Privacy policy
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| previous = {{pa|prev}}{{ll|Meta:Policies and guidelines|Policies and guidelines}}
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| notes = ''The [[Special:PermaLink/1387602|last version]] of the [[wmf:Privacy policy|Privacy policy]] was approved in October 2008 by the [[Board of Trustees]]. Discussion and proposed changes are welcome on the [[talk:Privacy policy|talk page]].''
 
<div style="min-width:750px;">
:''It is requested that this notice be translated and linked from the footer of every page (MediaWiki:Privacy as name and MediaWiki:Privacypage as link).''
<span id="top"></span>
<center>{{TnT|Privacy_policy-translations}}</center>
<languages /> <br />
{{TnT|Privacy_policy-summary}}
<div style="text-align:center; margin:1em auto 3em;">
 
 
{{LCA/Navigation
| image1 = File:WMF open door.png
| text1 = <translate><!--T:22-->
Introduction</translate>
| wikilink1 = #introduction
| image2 = File:WMF chart.png
| text2 = <translate><!--T:23-->
Use of Info</translate>
| wikilink2 = #use
| image3 = File:WMF share.png
| text3 = <translate><!--T:24-->
Sharing</translate>
| wikilink3 = #sharing
| image4 = File:WMF safe.png
| text4 = <translate><!--T:25-->
Protection</translate>
| wikilink4 = #protection
| image5 = File:WMF sign.png
| text5 = <translate><!--T:26-->
Important info</translate>
| wikilink5 = #important
}}
{{translation/Privacy policy}}
 
{{TOC hidden}}
==General scope==
</div>
This policy covers personally identifiable information collected or stored by the Wikimedia Foundation (henceforth the "Foundation") on its servers in relation to the Wikimedia projects (henceforth "Projects") and their communities. Consistent with its Data Retention Policy, the Foundation collects and retains the least amount of personally identifiable information needed to fulfill the Projects' operational needs.
{{clear}}
<span id="introduction"></span>
==[[File:WMF open door.png|60px]] <translate><!--T:87-->
Introduction</translate>==
{{LCA/Left
| content =
======<translate><!--T:27-->
Rory</translate>======
 
[[File:Rory sketch - waving.jpg|200px|center]]
==The public and collaborative nature of the projects==
All Projects of the Wikimedia Foundation are collaboratively developed by its users using the MediaWiki software. Anyone with Internet access (and not otherwise restricted from doing so) may edit the publicly editable pages of these sites with or without logging in as a registered user. By doing this, editors create a published document, and a public record of every word added, subtracted, or changed. This is a public act, and editors are identified publicly as the author of such changes. All contributions made to a Project, and all publicly available information about those contributions, are irrevocably licensed and may be freely copied, quoted, reused and adapted by third parties with few restrictions.
 
<center><translate><!--T:28-->
==Activities on Foundation projects==
Hi, I'm [[<tvar|roryuserpagelink>foundation:Rory</>|Rory]]! I'm here to help explain this privacy policy. Welcome!</translate></center>
In general, this Policy only applies to private information stored or held by the Foundation which is not publicly available.
}}
{{LCA/Right
| content =
===<translate><!--T:29-->
Welcome!</translate>===
{{anchor|Welcome!}}
<translate><!--T:30-->
The Wikimedia movement is founded on a simple, but powerful principle: we can do more together than any of us can do alone. Gathering, sharing, and understanding information is what built the Wikimedia Sites. Continuing to do so in novel ways helps us learn how to make them better.</translate>
 
<translate><!--T:31-->
Interactions with the Projects not covered by this Policy include, but are not limited to, aspects of browsing and editing pages, use of the wiki "email user" function, subscribing and posting to Foundation hosted email lists, and corresponding with volunteers via the Foundation's ticketing system ("OTRS"). These interactions may reveal a contributor's IP address, and possibly other personal information, indiscriminately to the general public, or to specific groups of volunteers acting independently of the Foundation.
We believe that information-gathering and use go hand-in-hand with transparency. This Privacy Policy explains how the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organization that hosts the Wikimedia Sites, like Wikipedia, collects, uses, and shares information we receive from you through your use of Wikimedia Sites. It is essential to understand that, by using any of the Wikimedia Sites, you consent to the collection, transfer, processing, storage, disclosure, and use of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. That means that reading this Policy carefully is important. As important as eating your greens.</translate>
<translate><!--T:32-->
We believe that you shouldn’t have to provide personal information to participate in the free knowledge movement. You do not have to provide things like your real name, address, or date of birth to sign up for a standard account or contribute content to the Wikimedia Sites.</translate>
 
{{anchor|donotsell}}<translate><!--T:33-->
Users may also interact with one another outside of Foundation sites, via email, IRC or other chat, or independent websites, and should assess the risks involved, and their personal need for privacy, before using these methods of communication.
We do not sell or rent your information, nor do we use it to sell you anything. We use it to figure out how to make the Wikimedia Sites more engaging and accessible, to see which ideas work, and to make learning and contributing more fun. Put simply: we use this information to make the Wikimedia Sites better for you.</translate>
<translate><!--T:34-->
After all, it’s people like you, the champions of free knowledge, who make it possible for the Wikimedia Sites to not only exist, but grow and thrive.</translate>
 
====<translate><!--T:35-->
==User accounts and authorship==
A Little Background</translate>====
{{anchor|A Little Background}}
<translate><!--T:36-->
Because everyone (not just lawyers) should be able to easily understand how and why their information is collected and used, we use common language instead of more formal terms. Here is a table of translations:</translate>
 
{{TnT|Privacy_policy-Definitions}}
The Foundation does not require editors to register with a project. Anyone can edit without logging in with a username, in which case they will be identified by network IP address. Users that do register are identified by their chosen username. Users select a password, which is confidential and used to verify the integrity of their account.
Except insofar as it may be required by law, no person should disclose, or knowingly expose, either user passwords and/or cookies generated to identify a user. Once created, user accounts will not be removed. It may be possible for a username to be changed, depending on the policies of individual projects. The Foundation does not guarantee that a username will be changed on request.
 
<translate><!--T:57-->
==Purpose of the collection of private information==
We also recognize that some of you know the ins and outs of tracking pixels while others associate the term “cookie” exclusively with the chocolate variety. Whether you are brand new to privacy terminology or you are an expert who just wants a refresher, you might find our [[<tvar|glossaryLink>Privacy policy-Glossary of key terms</>|Glossary of Key Terms]] helpful.</translate>
 
The Foundation limits the collection of personally identifiable user data to purposes which serve the well-being of its projects, including but not limited to the following:
 
====<translate><!--T:58-->
:To enhance the public accountability of the projects. The Foundation recognizes that any system that is open enough to allow the greatest possible participation of the general public will also be vulnerable to certain kinds of abuse and counterproductive behavior. The Foundation and the project communities have established a number of mechanisms to prevent or remedy abusive activities. For example, when investigating abuse on a project, including the suspected use of malicious “sockpuppets” (duplicate accounts), vandalism, harassment of other users, or disruptive behavior, the IP addresses of users (derived either from those logs or from records in the database) may be used to identify the source(s) of the abusive behavior. This information may be shared by users with administrative authority who are charged by their communities with protecting the projects.
What This Privacy Policy Does & Doesn’t Cover</translate>====
:To provide site statistics. The Foundation statistically samples raw log data from users' visits. These logs are used to produce the site statistics pages; the raw log data is not made public.
{{anchor|What This Privacy Policy Does & Doesn’t Cover}}
:To solve technical problems. Log data may be examined by developers in the course of solving technical problems and in tracking down badly-behaved web spiders that overwhelm the site.
<translate><!--T:59-->
This Privacy Policy applies to our collection and handling of information about you that we receive as a result of your use of any of the Wikimedia Sites. This Policy also applies to any information that we receive from our partners or other third parties. Find examples of what this Privacy Policy covers.</translate>
 
{{Hidden
==Details of data retention==
|header= <translate><!--T:60-->
===General expectations===
Examples of What This Privacy Policy Covers</translate>
====IP and other technical information====
|content=
:When a visitor requests or reads a page, or sends email to a Wikimedia server, no more information is collected than is typically collected by web sites. The Wikimedia Foundation may keep raw logs of such transactions, but these will not be published or used to track legitimate users.
<translate><!--T:61-->
For the sake of clarity, this Privacy Policy covers, regardless of language:</translate>
* <translate> <!--T:62-->
All of our major sites (found at [[<tvar|majorprojects>m:Projects</>|list of major projects]]), such as Wikipedia, including user profile pages, discussion pages, and noticeboards. </translate>
* <translate> <!--T:63-->
Our blogs and APIs (unless we have provided a separate policy for those services). </translate>
* <translate> <!--T:64-->
Our mobile sites and applications, which can be found on our official list. </translate>
* <translate> <!--T:65-->
Emails, SMS, and notifications from us or sent to us from you. </translate>
}}
 
<translate><!--T:66-->
:When a page is edited by a logged-in editor, the server confidentially stores related IP information for a limited period of time. This information is automatically deleted after a set period. For editors who do not log in, the IP address used is publicly and permanently credited as the author of the edit. It may be possible for a third party to identify the author from this IP address in conjunction with other information available. Logging in with a registered username allows for better preservation of privacy.
This Privacy Policy does not cover some situations where we may gather or process information. Some may be covered by separate privacy policies (like the [<tvar|shopurl>//shop.wikimedia.org</> Wikimedia Shop]) or sites or services run by third parties (like third-party developer projects on [<tvar|labsurl>//labs.wikimedia.org</> Wikimedia Labs]). Learn more about other situations that are not covered by this Privacy Policy.</translate>
{{anchor|More_On_What_This_Privacy_Policy_Doesn.E2.80.99t_Cover}}
{{TnT|Privacy_policy/what_policy_doesn't_cover}}
 
| arrow text = <translate><!--T:88-->
====Cookies====
Back to top</translate>
:The sites set a temporary session cookie on a visitor's computer whenever a Project page is visited. Readers who do not intend to log in or edit may deny this cookie; it will be deleted at the end of the browser's session. More cookies may be set when one logs in to maintain logged-in status. If one saves a user name or password in one's browser, that information will be saved for up to 30 days, and this information will be resent to the server on every visit to the same Project. Contributors using a public machine who do not wish to show their username to future users of the machine should clear these cookies after use.
}}
<span id="use"></span>
 
==[[File:WMF chart.png|60px]] <translate><!--T:89-->
====Page history====
Use of info</translate>==
:Edits or other contributions to a Project on its articles, user pages and talk pages are generally retained forever. Removing text from a project does not permanently delete it. Normally, in projects, anyone can look at a previous version of an article and see what was there. Even if an article is "deleted", a user entrusted with higher level of access may still see what was removed from public view. Information can be permanently deleted by individuals with access to Wikimedia servers, but aside from the rare circumstance when the Foundation is required to delete editing-history material in response to a court order or equivalent legal process, there is no guarantee any permanent deletion will happen.
{{LCA/Left
| content =
[[File:Rory sketch - using data.jpg|200px|center]]
}}
{{LCA/Right
| content =
===<translate><!--T:90-->
Types of Information We Receive From You, How We Get It, and How We Use It</translate>===
{{anchor|Types of Information We Receive From You, How We Get It, and How We Use It}}
 
====<translate><!--T:91-->
====User contributions====
Your Public Contributions</translate>====
:User contributions are also aggregated and publicly available. User contributions are aggregated according to their registration and login status. Data on user contributions, such as the times at which users edited and the number of edits they have made, are publicly available via user contributions lists, and in aggregated forms published by other users.
{{anchor|Your Public Contributions}}
<translate><!--T:92-->
The Wikimedia Sites were primarily created to help you share your knowledge with the world, and we share your contributions because you have asked us to do so. </translate>
<translate><!--T:93-->
When you make a contribution to any Wikimedia Site, including on user or discussion pages, you are creating a permanent, public record of every piece of content added, removed, or altered by you. Your contribution (even if you just removed something) will show when it was made and your username (if you are signed in) or your [[<tvar|GlossaryIP>Privacy policy-Glossary of key terms#Internet_Protocol_Address</>|IP address]] (if you are not signed in). We may use your public contributions, either aggregated with the public contributions of others or individually, to create new features or data-related products for you or to learn more about how the Wikimedia Sites are used.</translate>
<translate><!--T:94-->
Unless this Policy says otherwise, you should assume that information that you actively contribute on the Wikimedia Sites, including personal information, is publicly visible and can be found by search engines. Like most things on the Internet, anything you share may be copied and redistributed throughout the Internet by other people. Please do not contribute any information that you are uncomfortable making permanently public, like the picture of you in that terrible outfit your mom forced you to wear when you were eight.</translate>
 
====<translate><!--T:95-->
=====Reading projects=====
Account Information & Registration</translate>====
::No more information on users and other visitors reading pages is collected than is typically collected in server logs by web sites. Aside from the above raw log data collected for general purposes, page visits do not expose a visitor's identity publicly. Sampled raw log data may include the IP address of any user, but it is not reproduced publicly.
{{anchor|Account Information & Registration}}
<translate><!--T:96-->
Want to create an account? Great! Don’t want to create an account? No problem!</translate>
{{anchor|notrequired}}
<translate><!--T:97-->
You are not required to create an account to read or contribute to a Wikimedia Site. However, if you contribute without signing in, your contribution will be publicly attributed to the [[<tvar|GlossaryIP>Privacy policy-Glossary of key terms#Internet_Protocol_Address</>|IP address]] associated with your device.</translate>
{{anchor|noaccount}}
<translate><!--T:98-->
If you want to create a [[<tvar|standardaccount>Privacy policy FAQ#standardaccount</>|standard account]], we do not require you to submit any personal information to do so. Really. No name, no email address, no date of birth, no credit card information, nothing. Just a username that you make up and a password. Your username will be publicly visible, so please think carefully before you use your real name as your username. Your password is only used to verify that the account is yours.</translate>
 
<translate><!--T:99-->
=====Editing projects=====
Once created, user accounts cannot be removed entirely (although you may delete the information in your user profile). This is because your public contributions must be associated with their author (you!). So make sure you don’t pick a name that will haunt you for years to come. We’re looking at you, [[<tvar|jokebadusername>w:en:User:Ericsgrl4evah</>|ericsgrl4evah]].</translate>
::Edits to Project pages are identified with the username or network IP address of the editor, and editing history is aggregated by author in a contribution list. Such information will be available permanently on the projects.
::;Logged in registered users:
<translate><!--T:100-->
:::Logged in users do not expose their IP address to the public except in cases of abuse, including vandalism of a wiki page by the user or by another user with the same IP address. A user's IP address is stored on the wiki servers for a period of time, during which it can be seen by server administrators and by users who have been granted CheckUser access.
To gain a better understanding of the demographics of our users, localization purposes, and how we can improve our services, we may ask you for more demographic information about yourself, such as gender or age. We will tell you if such information is intended to be public or private, so that you can make an informed decision about whether you want to provide us with that information. Providing such information is always completely optional. If you don't want to, you don't have to - as simple as that.</translate>
:::IP address information, and its connection to any usernames that share it, may be released under certain circumstances (see below).
:::Editors using a company mail server from home or telecommuting over a DSL or cable Internet connection, are likely to be easy to identify by their IP address; in which case it may be easy to cross-identify all contributions to various Projects made by that IP. Using a username is a better way of preserving privacy in this situation.
::;Unlogged-in registered users and unregistered users:
:::Editors who have not logged in may be identified by network IP address. Depending on one's connection, this IP address may be traceable to a large Internet service provider or more specifically to a school, place of business or home. It may be possible to use this information in combination with other information, including editing style and preferences, to identify an author completely.
 
====<translate><!--T:101-->
=====Discussions=====
Information Related to Your Use of the Wikimedia Sites</translate>====
::;On wiki discussion pages:
{{anchor|Information Related to Your Use of the Wikimedia Sites}}
:::Any editable page can theoretically be the location of a discussion. In general, discussions on Foundation projects occur on user talk pages (associated with particular users), on article talk pages (associated with particular articles) or in pages specially designated to function as forums (e.g., the Village Pump). Privacy expectations apply to discussion pages in the same way as they do elsewhere.
<translate><!--T:102-->
::;Via email:
We want to make the Wikimedia Sites better for you by learning more about how you use them. Examples of this might include how often you visit the Wikimedia Sites, what you like, what you find helpful, how you get to the Wikimedia Sites, and whether you would use a helpful feature more if we explained it differently. We also want this Policy and our practices to reflect our community’s values. We keep information related to your use of the Wikimedia Sites confidential, except as provided in this Policy.</translate>
:::Users are not required to list an email address when registering. Users who provide a valid email address can enable other logged-in users to send email to them through the wiki. When receiving an email from other users through this system, one's email address is not revealed to them. When choosing to send an email to other users, one's email is displayed as the sender.
:::The email address put into one's user preferences may be used by the Foundation for communication. Users whose accounts do not have a valid email address will not be able to reset their password if it is lost. In such a situation, however, users may be able to contact one of the Wikimedia server administrators to enter a new e-mail address. A user can remove the account's email address from his preferences at any time to prevent it from being used. Private correspondence between users may be saved at those users' discretion and is not subject to Wikimedia Foundation policy.
::;On mailing lists:
:::The email addresses used to subscribe and post to Project mailing lists are exposed to other subscribers. The list archives of most such mailing lists are public, and searches of public archives may be performed on the Web. Subscribers' addresses may also be quoted in other users' messages. These email addresses and any messages sent to a mailing list may be archived and may remain available to the public permanently.
::;Via OTRS:
:::Some e-mail addresses (such as info-en at wikimedia dot org) forward mail to a team of volunteers trusted by the Foundation to use a ticket system, such as OTRS, to respond. Mail sent to this system is not publicly visible, but volunteers selected by the Foundation will have access to it. The ticket system team may discuss the contents of received mail with other contributors in order to respond effectively. Mail to private addresses of members of Board of Trustees and to staff of the Foundation may also be forwarded to the OTRS team. These messages and e-mail addresses may be saved by members of the OTRS team and any email service they use, and may remain available to them.
::;On IRC:
:::IRC channels are not officially part of the Wikimedia Foundation and are not operated on Wikimedia controlled servers. The IP address of users who chat over such a service may be exposed to other participants. IRC users' privacy on each channel can only be protected according to the policies of the respective service and channel. Different channels have different policies on whether logs may be published.
 
=====<translate><!--T:103-->
==Access to and release of personally identifiable information==
Information We Receive Automatically</translate>=====
;Access:
<translate><!--T:104-->
:Projects are primarily run by volunteer contributors. Some dedicated users are chosen by the community to be given privileged access. For example, for an English Wikipedia user, user access levels to Wikipedia are determined by the user's presence in various 'user groups'. User group rights and group members are reachable in every project from the Special:ListGroupRights page.
Because of how browsers work and similar to other major websites, we receive some information automatically when you visit the Wikimedia Sites. This information includes the type of device you are using (possibly including unique device identification numbers), the type and version of your [[<tvar|GlossaryBrowser>Privacy policy-Glossary of key terms#Browsers</>|browser]], your browser’s language preference, the type and version of your device’s [[<tvar|GlossaryOS>Privacy policy-Glossary of key terms#Operating System</>|operating system]], in some cases the name of your internet service provider or mobile carrier, the website that referred you to the Wikimedia Sites and the website you exited the Wikimedia Sites from, which pages you request and visit, and the date and time of each request you make to the Wikimedia Sites.</translate>
:Other users who may have access to private identifiable information include, but are not limited to, users who have access to OTRS, or to the CheckUser and Oversight functions, users elected by project communities to serve as stewards or Arbitrators, Wikimedia Foundation employees, trustees, appointees, and contractors and agents employed by the Foundation, and developers and others with high levels of server access.
:Access to and publication of this information is governed by the [[:wmf:Access_to_nonpublic_data_policy|Access to nonpublic data policy]], as well as specific policies covering some of the functions in question. Sharing information with other privileged users is not considered "distribution."
<translate><!--T:105-->
Put simply, we use this information to enhance your experience with Wikimedia Sites. For example, we use this information to administer the sites, provide greater security, and fight vandalism; optimize mobile applications, customize content and set language preferences, test features to see what works, and improve performance; understand how users interact with the Wikimedia Sites, track and study use of various features, gain understanding about the demographics of the different Wikimedia Sites, and analyze trends. </translate>
=====<translate><!--T:106-->
Information We Collect</translate>=====
<translate><!--T:107-->
We actively collect some types of information with a variety of commonly-used technologies. These may include [[<tvar|GlossaryTP>Privacy policy-Glossary of key terms#Tracking Pixel</>|tracking pixels]], [[<tvar|GlossaryJS>Privacy policy-Glossary of key terms#Javascript</>|Javascript]], and a variety of “locally stored data” technologies, such as [[<tvar|GlossaryCO>Privacy policy-Glossary of key terms#Cookies</>|cookies]] and [[<tvar|GlossaryLS>Privacy policy-Glossary of key terms#Local_Storage</>|local storage]]. We realize that a couple of these terms do not have the best reputation in town and can be used for less-than-noble purposes. So we want to be as clear as we can about why we use these methods and the type of information we use them to collect.</translate>
<translate><!--T:108-->
Depending on which technology we use, locally stored data can be anything from text, pictures, and whole articles (as we explain further below) to personal information (like your [[<tvar|GlossaryIP>Privacy policy-Glossary of key terms#Internet_Protocol_Address</>|IP address]] ) and information about your use of the Wikimedia Sites (like your username or the time of your visit). Similarly, tracking pixels and Javascript can be used to help us understand whether a page has been visited, and may be associated with personal information like your IP address.</translate>
<translate><!--T:109-->
We use this information to make your experience with the Wikimedia Sites safer and better, to gain a greater understanding of user preferences and how users interact with the Wikimedia Sites, and to generally improve our services. We will never use third-party cookies, unless we get your permission to do so. If you ever come across a third-party data collection tool that has not been authorized by you (such as one that may have been mistakenly placed by another user or administrator), please report it to us at privacy[at]wikimedia.org. </translate>
 
<translate><!--T:110-->
;Release — Policy on Release of Data
Locally stored data, javascript, and tracking pixels help us do things like:</translate>
:It is the policy of Wikimedia that personally identifiable data collected in the server logs, or through records in the database via the CheckUser feature, or through other non-publicly-available methods, may be released by Wikimedia volunteers or staff, in any of the following situations:
:# In response to a valid subpoena or other compulsory request from law enforcement,
* <translate><!--T:111-->
:# With permission of the affected user,
Provide you with a personalized experience, such as using cookies to know your language preference, to remember the user preferences you set so we can provide you with the customized look and feel that you want, and to tell you about interesting Wikimedia issues and events in your area.</translate>
:# When necessary for investigation of abuse complaints,
* <translate><!--T:112-->
:# Where the information pertains to page views generated by a spider or bot and its dissemination is necessary to illustrate or resolve technical issues,
Deliver more relevant content to you faster. For example, by using local storage to store your most recently read articles directly on your device so it can be retrieved quickly; and by using cookies, we can learn about the topics searched so that we can optimize the search results we deliver to you.</translate>
:# Where the user has been vandalizing articles or persistently behaving in a disruptive way, data may be released to a service provider, carrier, or other third-party entity to assist in the targeting of IP blocks, or to assist in the formulation of a complaint to relevant Internet Service Providers,
* <translate><!--T:113-->
:# Where it is reasonably necessary to protect the rights, property or safety of the Wikimedia Foundation, its users or the public.
Understand how you use the Wikimedia Sites, so that we know what works and what is useful. For example, we might use tracking pixels in our notifications to make sure that you don’t miss important information from us just because our notification accidentally end up in your spam folder; or we might use cookies to learn about the list of articles you are following on your watchlist so that we can recommend similar articles that you may be interested in. </translate>
:Except as described above, Wikimedia policy does not permit distribution of personally identifiable information under any circumstances.
* <translate><!--T:114-->
Understand how you use the Wikimedia Sites across different devices, so that we can make our varied Wikimedia Sites more efficient and effective for you.</translate>
* <translate><!--T:115-->
Make the Wikimedia Sites more convenient to use, such as by using cookies to maintain your session when you log in or remembering your username in the login field.</translate>
{{anchor|KnowMoreCookiesReturn}}
<translate><!--T:116-->
Want to know even more? You can read more about some of the specific cookies we use, when they expire, and what we use them for in our [[<tvar|cookieFAQ>Privacy policy FAQ#cookieFAQ</>|FAQ]].</translate>
{{anchor|LimitStorageReturn}}
<translate><!--T:117-->
We believe this data collection helps improve your user experience, but you may remove or disable some or all locally stored data through your browser settings, depending on your browser. Learn more about some [[<tvar|limitstorageFAQ>Privacy policy FAQ#limitstorageFAQ</>|options]] you have. While removing or disabling our locally stored data does not cause lasers to shoot out of your device, some features may not function properly if you do. </translate>
=====<translate><!--T:118-->
Emails</translate>=====
{{anchor|Emails}}
<translate><!--T:119-->
You have the option of providing an email address when you register. If you do so, your email address is kept confidential, except as provided in this Policy. We do not sell, rent, or use it to advertise to you. </translate>
<translate><!--T:120-->
We use your email address to let you know about things that are happening with the Foundation, the Wikimedia Sites, or the Wikimedia movement, such as telling you important information about your account, letting you know if something is changing about the Wikimedia Sites or policies, and alerting you when there has been a change to an article that you have decided to follow. Please note that if you email us, we may keep your message, email address, and any other information you provide us, so that we can process and respond to your request.</translate>
 
<translate><!--T:121-->
;Third-party access and notifying registered users when receiving legal process:
You can choose to limit some of these kinds of notifications, like those alerting you if an article changes. Others, such as those containing critical information that all users need to know to participate successfully in the Wikimedia Sites, you may not be able to opt out of. You can manage what kinds of notifications you receive and how often you receive them by going to your Notifications Preferences. [[<tvar|emailsfaq>Privacy policy FAQ#emailsFAQ</>|Learn more]] about email and notifications and how to change your preferences.</translate>
{{anchor|neveraskforpassword}}
<translate><!--T:122-->
We will never ask for your password by email (but may send you a temporary password via email if you have requested a password reset). If you ever receive such an email, please let us know by sending it to privacy[at]wikimedia.org, so we can pursue the evil wizard who is impersonating us.</translate>
=====<translate><!--T:123-->
Surveys and Feedback</translate>=====
{{anchor|Surveys}}
<translate><!--T:124-->
If you choose to help us make the Wikimedia Sites better by participating in an optional survey or providing feedback, we think you are awesome. Because every survey and request for feedback may be used for various purposes, we will tell you, at the time we give you the survey or request for feedback, how we plan on using your answers and any personal information you provide. If you don’t feel comfortable with how we plan on using the survey or feedback results, don’t take the survey or give feedback. You’re still awesome.</translate>
=====<translate><!--T:125-->
Location Information</translate>=====
{{anchor|locationinfo}}
======<translate><!--T:126-->
GPS & Other Location Technologies</translate>======
<translate><!--T:127-->
Some features we offer are way cooler to use if we know what area you are in. But it’s completely up to you whether or not you want us to use geolocation tools to make some features available to you. If you consent, we can use [[<tvar|GlossaryGPS>Privacy policy-Glossary of key terms#GPS</>|GPS]] (and other technologies commonly used to determine location) to show you more relevant content. We keep information obtained by these technologies confidential, except as provided in this Policy. You can learn more by checking out our list of [[<tvar|gpsexamplesFAQ>Privacy policy FAQ#gpsexamplesFAQ</>|examples]] of how we use these technologies .</translate>
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Metadata</translate>======
{{anchor|metadata}}
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Sometimes, we may automatically receive location data from your device. For example, if you want to upload a photo on the Wikimedia Commons mobile app, we may receive [[<tvar|GlossaryMD>Privacy policy-Glossary of key terms#Metadata</>|metadata]], such as the place and time you took the photo, automatically from your device. Please be aware that, unlike location information collected using GPS signals described above, the default setting on your mobile device typically includes the metadata in your photo or video upload to the Wikimedia Sites. If you do not want metadata sent to us and made public at the time of your upload, please change your settings on your device.</translate>
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IP Addresses</translate>======
{{anchor|ipinfouse}}
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Finally, when you visit any of Wikimedia Sites, we automatically receive the [[<tvar|GlossaryIP>Privacy policy-Glossary of key terms#Internet_Protocol_Address</>|IP address]] of your device (or your [[<tvar|GlossaryProxy>Privacy policy-Glossary of key terms#Proxy Servers</>|proxy server]]) you are using to access the Internet, which could be used to [[<tvar|inferlocationFAQ>Privacy policy FAQ#inferlocationFAQ</>|infer your geographical location]]. We keep IP addresses confidential, except as provided in this policy. For example, if you make a contribution without signing into your account, your IP address will be publicly and permanently recorded. If you are visiting Wikimedia Sites with your mobile device, we may use your IP address to provide anonymized or aggregated information to service providers regarding the volume of usage in certain areas. We use IP addresses for research and analytics; to better personalize content, notices, and settings for you; to fight spam, identity theft, malware, and other kinds of abuse; and to provide better mobile and other applications.</translate>
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:As a general principle, the access to, and retention of, personally identifiable data in all projects should be minimal and should be used only internally to serve the well-being of the projects. Occasionally, however, the Foundation may receive a subpoena or other compulsory request from a law-enforcement agency or a court or equivalent government body that requests the disclosure of information about a registered user, and may be compelled by law to comply with the request. In the event of such a legally compulsory request, the Foundation will attempt to notify the affected user within three business days after the arrival of such subpoena by sending a notice by email to the email address (if any) that the affected user has listed in his or her user preferences.
:The Foundation cannot advise a user receiving such a notification regarding the law or an appropriate response to a subpoena. The Foundation does note, however, that such users may have the legal right to resist or limit that information in court by filing a motion to quash the subpoena. Users who wish to oppose a subpoena or other compulsory request should seek legal advice concerning applicable rights and procedures that may be available.
:If the Foundation receives a court-filed motion to quash or otherwise limit the subpoena as a result of action by a user or their lawyer, the Foundation will not disclose the requested information until Wikimedia receives an order from the court to do so.
:Registered users are not required to provide an email address. However, when an affected registered user does not provide an email address, the Foundation will not be able to notify the affected user in private email messages when it receives requests from law enforcement to disclose personally identifiable information about the user.
 
==[[File:WMF share.png|60px]] <translate><!--T:133-->
==Disclaimer==
Sharing</translate>==
The Wikimedia Foundation believes that maintaining and preserving the privacy of user data is an important value. This Privacy Policy, together with other policies, resolutions, and actions by the Foundation, represents a committed effort to safeguard the security of the limited user information that is collected and retained on our servers. Nevertheless, the Foundation cannot guarantee that user information will remain private. We acknowledge that, in spite of our committed effort to protect private user information, determined individuals may still develop data-mining and other methods to uncover such information and disclose it. For this reason, the Foundation can make no guarantee against unauthorized access to information provided in the course of participating in Foundation Projects or related communities.
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When May We Share Your Information?</translate>===
{{anchor|When May We Share Your Information?}}
 
====<translate><!--T:135-->
[[Category:Global policies{{Langcat|Privacy policy}}]]
With Your Permission</translate>====
[[Category:Collaboration]]
{{anchor|sharewithpermission}}
[[Category:Open requests for translation]]
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[[Category:Privacy{{Langcat|Privacy policy}}]]
We may share you information for a particular purpose, if you agree. You can find more information in our list of [[<tvar|permissionexamplesFAQ>Privacy policy FAQ#permissionexamplesFAQ</>|examples]].</translate>
[[Category:Privacy policy| ]]
 
====<translate><!--T:137-->
For Legal Reasons</translate>====
{{anchor|sharelegalreasons}}
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We may access, preserve, or disclose your personal information if we reasonably believe it necessary to satisfy a valid and legally enforceable warrant, subpoena, court order, law or regulation, or other judicial or administrative order. However, if we believe that a particular request for disclosure of your information is legally invalid or an abuse of the legal system and the affected user does not intend on opposing the disclosure themselves, we will try our best to fight it. We are committed to notifying you via email within five (5) business days, when possible, if we receive a legal request for disclosure of your information, assuming that we are not legally restrained from contacting you, there is no credible threat to life or limb that is created or increased by disclosing the request, and you have provided us with an email address.</translate>
<translate><!--T:139-->
Nothing in this Privacy Policy is intended to limit any legal objections or defenses you may have to a third party’s request (whether it be civil, criminal, or governmental) to disclose your information. We recommend seeking the advice of legal counsel immediately if such a request is made involving you. </translate>
 
<translate><!--T:140-->
Find more information, see our [[<tvar|subpoenapage>Subpoena_FAQ</>|subpoena response page]].</translate>
 
====<translate><!--T:141-->
If the Organization is Transferred (Really Unlikely!)</translate>====
{{anchor|orgtransfer}}
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In the extremely unlikely event that ownership of all or substantially all of the Foundation changes, or we go through a reorganization (such a merger, consolidation, or acquisition), we will continue to keep your personal information confidential, except as provided in this Policy, and provide notice to you via the Wikimedia Sites and a notification on [<tvar|wikimediaannounce>//lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaannounce-l</> WikimediaAnnounce-L] or similar mailing list before any personal information is transferred or becomes subject to a different privacy policy.</translate>
====<translate><!--T:143-->
To Protect You, Ourselves, and Others</translate>====
{{anchor|To Protect You, Ourselves, and Others}}
<translate><!--T:144-->
We may need to share your personal information if we reasonably believe it is necessary to enforce or investigate potential violations of our [[<tvar|ToUlink>wmf:Terms_of_Use</>|Terms of Use]], this Privacy Policy, or any Foundation or user community-based policies. We may also need to access and share information to investigate and defend ourselves against legal threats or actions. </translate>
 
<translate><!--T:145-->
Wikimedia Sites are collaborative, with users writing most of the policies and selecting from amongst themselves people to hold certain administrative rights. These rights may include access to limited amounts of otherwise nonpublic information about recent contributions and activity by other users. They use this access to help protect against vandalism and abuse, fight harassment of other users, and generally try to minimize disruptive behavior on the Wikimedia Sites. These various user-selected administrative groups that have their own privacy and confidentiality guidelines, but all such groups are supposed to agree to follow our [[<tvar|Nonpublicpolicylink>wmf:Access_to_nonpublic_data_policy</>|Access to Nonpublic Information Policy]]. These user-selected administrative groups are accountable to other users through checks and balances: users are selected through a community-driven process and overseen by their peers through a logged history of their actions.</translate>
 
<translate><!--T:146-->
We hope that this never comes up, but we may disclose your personal information if we believe that it’s reasonably necessary to prevent imminent and serious bodily harm or death to a person, or to protect our organization, employees, contractors, users, or the public. We may also disclose your personal information if we reasonably believe it necessary to detect, prevent, or otherwise assess and address potential spam, malware, fraud, abuse, unlawful activity, and security or technical concerns. (Check out our list of [[<tvar|investigateuseFAQ>Privacy policy FAQ#investigateuseFAQ</>|examples]] for more information.) </translate>
====<translate><!--T:147-->
To Our Service Providers</translate>====
{{anchor|To Our Service Providers}}
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As hard as we may try, we can’t do it all. So sometimes we use third-party service providers or contractors who help run or improve the Wikimedia Sites for you and other users. We may give access to your personal information to these providers or contractors as needed to perform their services for us or to use their tools and services. We seek to put requirements, such as confidentiality agreements, in place to help ensure that these service providers treat your information consistent with, and no less protective of your privacy than, the principles of this Policy. (Check out our list of [[<tvar|thirdpartyshareexamplesFAQ>Privacy policy FAQ#thirdpartyshareexamplesFAQ</>|examples]].)</translate>
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To Understand and Experiment</translate>====
{{anchor|To Understand and Experiment}}
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The open source software that powers the Wikimedia Sites depends on the contributions of volunteer software developers, who spend time writing and testing code to help improve and evolve with our users’ needs. To facilitate their work, we may give some developers limited access to systems that contain your personal information but only as reasonably necessary for them to develop and contribute to the Wikimedia Sites. </translate>
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Similarly, we may share non-personal or aggregated information with researchers, scholars, academics, and other interested third parties who wish to study the Wikimedia Sites. Sharing this information helps them understand usage, viewing, and demographics statistics and patterns. They then can share their findings with us and our users so that we can all better understand and improve the Wikimedia Sites.</translate>
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When we give access to personal information to third party developers or researchers, we seek to put requirements, such as reasonable technical and contractual protections, in place to help ensure that these service providers treat your information consistently with the principles of this Policy and in accordance with our instructions. If these developers or researchers later publish their work or findings, we ask that they not disclose your personal information. Please note that, despite the obligations we impose on developers and researchers, we cannot guarantee that they will abide by our agreement, nor do we guarantee that we will regularly screen or audit their projects. ([[<tvar|reidentifiationFAQ>Privacy policy FAQ#reidentifiationFAQ</>|Learn more]] about re-identification.)</translate>
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Because You Made It Public</translate>====
{{anchor|Because You Made It Public}}
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Any information you post publicly on the Wikimedia Sites is just that – public. Please think carefully about your desired level of anonymity before you disclose personal information on your user page or elsewhere.</translate>
 
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<span id="protection"></span>
 
 
==[[File:WMF safe.png|60px]] <translate><!--T:156-->
Protection</translate>==
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{{anchor|How Do We Protect Your Data?}}
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How Do We Protect Your Data?</translate>===
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We strive to protect your information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. We use a variety of physical and technical measures, policies, and procedures (such as access control procedures, network firewalls, and physical security) designed to protect our systems and your personal information. Unfortunately, there's no such thing as completely secure data transmission or storage, so we can't guarantee that our security will not be breached (by technical measures or violation of our policies and procedures).</translate>
 
{{anchor|How Long Do We Keep Your Data?}}
===<translate><!--T:159-->
How Long Do We Keep Your Data?</translate>===
<translate><!--T:160-->
Once we receive personal information from you, we keep it for the shortest possible time that is consistent with maintenance, understanding, and improvement of the Wikimedia Sites, and our obligations under applicable U.S. law. Non-personal information may be retained indefinitely. (Check out our list of [[<tvar|datatimeexamplesFAQ>Privacy policy FAQ#datatimeexamplesFAQ</>|examples]].)</translate>
{{anchor|rememberIPindef}}
<translate><!--T:161-->
Please remember that certain information is retained and displayed indefinitely, such as your [[<tvar|GlossaryIP>Privacy policy-Glossary of key terms#Internet_Protocol_Address</>|IP address]] if you edit while not logged in and any public contributions to the Wikimedia Sites.</translate>
 
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<span id="important"></span>
 
 
==[[File:WMF sign.png|60px]] <translate><!--T:163-->
Important info</translate>==
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{{anchor|Where is the Foundation and What Does that Mean for Me?}}
===<translate><!--T:164-->
Where is the Foundation and What Does that Mean for Me?</translate>===
<translate><!--T:165-->
The Wikimedia Foundation is a non-profit organization based in San Francisco, California, with servers and data centers located in the U.S. If you decide to use Wikimedia Sites, whether from inside or outside of the U.S., you consent to the collection, transfer, storage, processing, disclosure, and other uses of your information in the U.S. and as described in this Privacy Policy. You also consent to the transfer of your information by us from the U.S. to other countries, which may have different or less stringent data protection laws than your country, in connection with providing services to you. </translate>
'''<translate><!--T:166-->
For the protection of the Wikimedia Foundation and other users, if you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, you may not use the Wikimedia Sites.</translate>'''
{{anchor|Changes to This Privacy Policy}}
===<translate><!--T:167-->
Changes to This Privacy Policy</translate>===
<translate><!--T:168-->
Because things naturally change over time and we want to ensure our Privacy Policy accurately reflects our practices and the law, it may be necessary to modify this Privacy Policy from time to time. We reserve the right to do so in the following manner:</translate>
* <translate><!--T:169-->
In the event of substantial changes, we will provide the proposed changes to our users in at least three (3) languages (selected at our discretion) for open comment period lasting at least thirty (30) calendar days. Prior to the start of any comment period, we will provide notice of such changes and the opportunity to comment via the Wikimedia Sites, and via a notification on WikimediaAnnounce-L or a similar mailing list.</translate>
 
* <translate><!--T:170-->
For minor changes, such as grammatical fixes, administrative or legal changes, or corrections of inaccurate statements, we will post the changes and, when possible, provide at least three (3) calendar days’ prior notice via WikimediaAnnounce-L or similar mailing list.</translate>
<translate><!--T:171-->
We ask that you please review the most up-to-date version of our [[<tvar|OfficialPrivacyPolicyurl>wmf:Privacy_policy</>|Privacy Policy]]. Your continued use of the Wikimedia Sites after this Privacy Policy becomes effective constitutes acceptance of this Privacy Policy on your part. Your continued use of the Wikimedia Sites after any subsequent version of this Privacy Policy becomes effective, following notice as outlined above, constitutes acceptance of that version of the Privacy Policy on your part.</translate>
{{anchor|Contact Us}}
===<translate><!--T:172-->
Contact Us</translate>===
<translate><!--T:173-->
If you have questions or suggestions about this Privacy Policy, or the information collected under this Privacy Policy, please e-mail us at privacy[at]wikimedia.org or [[<tvar|wmfcontacturl>wmf:Contact_us</>|contact us]] directly.</translate>
 
===<translate><!--T:174-->
Thank you!</translate>===
<translate><!--T:175-->
Thank you for reading our Privacy Policy. We hope you enjoy using the Wikimedia Sites and appreciate your participation in creating, maintaining, and constantly working to improve the largest repository of free knowledge in the world.</translate>
 
'''<translate><!--T:176-->
Please note that in the event of any differences in meaning or interpretation between the original English version of this Privacy Policy and a translation, the original English version takes precedence.'''</translate>
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Retrieved from "https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Privacy_policy"