Privacy Policy
Effective date: August 29, 2025
Overview
Baldwinal.org (the “Site”) is a user-friendly portal that aggregates official tools, services, resources, websites, and department contact information for Baldwin County, Alabama. Our goal is to help you find public information faster. We do not require user registration, and we do not ask you to submit personal details such as your name, phone number, email, or mailing address to use the Site. This Privacy Policy explains what information may be collected automatically when you browse the Site, how that information is used, what choices you have, and how we safeguard it.
By using the Site, you agree to the practices described in this Policy.
What We Collect (and What We Don’t)
No account or form submissions. We do not offer user accounts or profile pages and we do not solicit personal information through sign-up forms.
Information you may voluntarily provide elsewhere. If you follow links from the Site to third-party government portals, agencies, or services, any information you provide on those external sites is governed by their policies. We do not control, receive, or store information you submit on external websites.
Automatically collected information. When you visit or interact with the Site, certain data may be collected automatically by our analytics and advertising partners or by standard web server logs, such as:
Device and browser information (e.g., browser type and version, operating system, screen resolution, language preferences).
Usage information (e.g., pages viewed, clicks, referring/exit pages, time on page, search terms used within the Site).
Approximate location derived from IP address or similar signals (at a generalized level).
Cookie identifiers and similar tracking technologies that help recognize your browser or device.
We do not attempt to identify you personally, and we do not combine this data with information like your name or email.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
The Site uses cookies and similar technologies to support functionality, measure traffic, and help improve the user experience. Cookies are small files placed on your device that enable features such as remembering preferences or analyzing how visitors navigate pages.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with the Site. Google Analytics may set cookies and collect information about your device, browser, interactions, and general location. We use these insights to optimize search features, understand traffic patterns, troubleshoot issues, and improve overall functionality.
You can control Google Analytics in various ways, including using browser settings to block cookies, installing available opt-out tools from Google, or adjusting your privacy preferences on your device. If you block or delete cookies, some features of the Site may not function as intended.
Google AdSense
The Site uses Google AdSense to display advertisements. AdSense (and its partners) may use cookies or similar technologies to deliver, measure, and personalize ads based on your visits to this and other sites. This can include using or associating cookie identifiers and interest categories to provide more relevant advertising. You can manage your preferences for personalized ads through your Google account’s advertising settings or via industry-standard opt-out mechanisms available in many regions.
Your Choices for Cookies and Ads
Browser controls: Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. Consult your browser’s help section for instructions.
Device settings: Mobile operating systems may offer settings that limit ad tracking or reset advertising identifiers.
Opt-out tools: You may use available opt-out mechanisms for analytics and personalized advertising from Google and other participating providers. Opt-outs are browser- or device-specific and may not persist if you clear cookies or change devices.
How We Use Information
We use aggregated and de-identified information to:
Operate, maintain, and secure the Site.
Analyze traffic and usage to improve navigation, search features, and page performance.
Diagnose and fix technology issues.
Measure the effectiveness of content layout and link placement to help users find official resources faster.
Support display of advertising (including frequency capping, reporting, and fraud prevention).
We do not use this information to directly identify you, and we do not build user profiles tied to personally identifiable details.
Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell your personal information. We may share or disclose information in the following limited circumstances:
Service providers and partners: With analytics and advertising providers (such as Google Analytics and Google AdSense) to help operate and improve the Site, and to display and measure ads. These providers process information as described in their own privacy policies.
Aggregate insights: We may share aggregated, de-identified statistics about Site usage that cannot reasonably be used to identify an individual.
Legal and safety: If required by law, subpoena, or a valid legal process; or when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, users, or the public.
Links to Other Websites
The Site includes links to third-party resources—such as state or county agency pages, official payment portals, forms, and other government services. We do not control those websites and are not responsible for their content or privacy practices. When you leave our Site, your interactions are governed by the privacy policies of those external sites. We encourage you to review their policies before providing any information.
Data Retention
We retain analytics data in accordance with the default or configured retention periods provided by our analytics and advertising partners. Retention durations may vary depending on the provider and settings and are subject to change. We maintain only what we reasonably need to operate, secure, and improve the Site, and to meet legal or compliance obligations.
Security
We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect the information processed through the Site from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is fully secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Children’s Privacy
The Site is intended for general audiences and is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn that information from a child under 13 was collected inadvertently, we will take appropriate steps to delete it where feasible and consistent with law.
Your Privacy Choices and Controls
Analytics controls: You may use browser-level tools, cookie settings, or vendor-provided opt-outs to limit analytics cookies.
Advertising controls: You may adjust ad personalization through your Google account or device-level settings. You may still see ads after opting out, but they may be less relevant.
Do Not Track: Some browsers transmit “Do Not Track” (DNT) signals. The web industry does not yet operate a uniform DNT response standard, and the Site may not respond to these signals. You can still use the controls described above to manage cookies and tracking.
Users Outside the United States
This Site is operated within the United States. If you access it from outside the U.S., you understand that information may be processed in, and subject to the laws of, the United States, which may differ from those in your country or region.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we make material changes, we will revise the “Effective date” at the top of this page. Your continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.
Contact
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices for baldwinal.org, please reach out using the contact options provided on the Site.