Reduce,Reuse,Recycle LocatorRecycling Locator

Privacy

PRIVACY AND SECURITY POLICY

PURPOSE

This policy addresses the following privacy and security practices during your visit to the County’s website:

This Privacy & Security Policy explains our online information practices only and does not apply to non-county websites that you are able to reach from this website. We encourage you to read those privacy policies to learn how they collect and use your information.

SCOPE

This policy facilitates xxx.ocgov.com email domain name uniformity by including:

This standard applies to agencies/departments participating in the standard email domain naming conventions. Grandfathered agencies/departments are not governed by this policy, however all agencies/departments are encouraged to follow this standard.

WHAT WE AUTOMATICALLY COLLECT ONLINE

We collect information about your visit that does not identify you personally. We can tell the computer, browser, and web service you are using. We also know the date, time, and pages you visit. Collecting this information helps us design the site to suit your needs. In the event of a known security or virus threat, we may collect information on the web content you view.

WHY WE COLLECT INFORMATION

Our principal purpose for collecting personal information online is to provide you with what you need and want, address security and virus concerns, and to ease the use of our website.

We will only use your information for the purposes you intended, to address security or virus threats, or for the purposes required under the law. See “Choices on How We Use the Information You Provide” to learn more.

We collect information to:

HOW PRIVATE INFORMATION WILL BE USED

We may share personally identifiable information you provide to us online with representatives within the County of Orange’s Administration and related entities, other government agencies, or other named representatives as needed to speed your request or transaction. In a government-wide effort to combat security and virus threats, we may share some information we collect automatically, such as IP address, with other government agencies.

Also, the law may require us to share collected information with authorized law enforcement, homeland security, and national security activities. See the Privacy Act of 1974 below.

CHOICES ON HOW WE USE THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE

Throughout our website, we will let you know whether the information we ask you to provide is voluntary or required. By providing personally identifiable information, you grant us consent to use this information, but only for the primary reason you are giving it.

We will ask you to grant us consent before using your voluntarily provided information for any secondary purposes, other than those required under the law.

INFORMATION PRACTICES FOR CHILDREN

We do not intentionally collect information from children under the age of 13. If in the future we choose to collect personal information from children, we will comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

COOKIES OR OTHER TRACKING DEVICES

A “cookie” is a small text file stored on your computer that makes it easy for you to move around a website without continually re-entering your name, password, preferences, for example.

We only use “session” cookies on our website. This means we store the cookie on your computer only during your visit to our website. After you turn off your computer or stop using the Internet, the cookie disappears with your personal information.

WHAT SECURITY MEASURES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED

Security measures have been integrated into the design, implementation, and day-to-day practices of the entire County operating environment as part of its continuing commitment to risk management.

The technical standards governing security are enforced by the County’s Executive Office Information Technology department. These standards are generally derived from Generally Accepted Security Principles and Practices for Securing Information Technology Systems, published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a division of the United States Department of Commerce.

WHAT IS BEING MONITORED

The County of Orange provides this website and the information it contains as a public service. This system is monitored to ensure proper operation, to verify the functioning of applicable security features, and for comparable purposes. Anyone using this system expressly consents to such monitoring. Unauthorized attempts to modify any information stored on this system, to defeat or circumvent security features, or to utilize this system for other than its intended purposes are prohibited and may result in criminal prosecution.

METHODS OF SECURING YOUR INFORMATION

Properly securing the information we collect online is a primary commitment. To help us do this, we take the following steps to:

Tampering with County of Orange’s website is against the law. Depending on the offense, it is punishable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act.

YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE PRIVACY ACT OF 1974

The Privacy Act of 1974 protects the personal information the federal government keeps on you in systems of records (SOR) (information an agency controls recovered by name or other personal identifier). The Privacy Act regulates how the government can disclose, share, provide access to, and keep the personal information that it collects. The Privacy Act does not cover all information collected online.

The Act’s major terms require agencies to:

When the County of Orange collects information from you online that is subject to the Privacy Act (information kept in an SOR), we will provide a Privacy Act Statement specific to that collected information. This Privacy Act Statement tells you:

INTERNET LINKS POLICY

PURPOSE

This policy addresses the relationship of the County to public and private organizations to which it provides links for users. In addition, it provides direction as to what groups and businesses County Agency/Departments will consider providing links to. The following sections of our links policy explain these relationships:

  1. Links to External Resources
  2. Linking Criteria
  3. Adding a Link
  4. Removing a Link
  5. Endorsement & Liability

LINKS TO EXTERNAL RESOURCES

This website may contain hypertext links to external websites and pages containing information created and maintained by public and private organizations other than the County of Orange.

The County’s website is designed to provide residents access to government services and programs. Secondarily, the website also provides residents and visitors links to pertinent visitor-related information about the area. From time to time, departments may wish to provide links to other sites that provide information about the community, including festivals, cultural events and local news, emergency information or other information supporting the department’s mission and programs.

Links must be consistent with the county’s overall mission to deliver services to the community in ways that demonstrate excellence, leadership, stewardship and innovation.

LINKING CRITERIA FOR AGENCIES/DEPARTMENTS

The County of Orange Agencies/Departments may create these hypertext links if it determines that establishing the external link will be consistent with the following criteria:

  • Websites maintained by non-profits, including charitable, educational, hospital, social, scientific or cultural organization serving County community members.
  • Websites maintained by an established news-gathering organization that provides local news regularly and maintains a national network affiliation.
  • Official websites of the cities within Orange County.
  • Websites maintained by a state, local or federal government agency, board, committee or commission.
  • Websites maintained by an organization that receives direct financial support from the County.
  • Websites maintained by companies that provide utility services to County residents.
  • Organizations that support a County-sponsored event or activity.
  • Websites that provide a unique online tool to assist residents in accessing information on the site or in communicating with each other, e.g., Adobe Acrobat.

ADDING A LINK

The County of Orange, in its sole discretion, will determine whether the external website meets the purpose of this portal or for the specified informational purposes.

Parties interested in linking to the County should email the County’s webmaster at: webmaster@ocgov.com.

REMOVING A LINK

Hypertext links to external websites and pages may be removed or replaced at the sole discretion of the County, at any time without notice. In the event that a linked organization is later determined to be inappropriate, it will be removed from the County website.

ENDORSEMENT AND LIABILITY

The inclusion of a hypertext link to an external website is not intended as an endorsement of any product or service offered or referenced on the linked website, the organizations sponsoring said website, or any views that might be expressed or referenced in the website.

In the event you discover problems with or have concerns regarding the format, accuracy, timeliness or completeness of a linked external website, please contact the organization responsible for the linked external website. The County of Orange does not control, nor is it responsible, for any linked external websites, pages, or content.

DISCLAIMER POLICY

PURPOSE

This policy limits County of Orange’s liability for content published on the website. The policy explains the following:

  1. Disclaimer of Liability
  2. Exceptions to Disclaimers
  3. Indemnification
  4. Notice of Links to External Websites

1. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

The County of Orange disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, for any of the materials provided on this site, or any improper or incorrect use of them. The materials in this site are provided "as is,” and you are under no obligation to use them. County information and services may also be accessed by telephone, in person or by mail.

The County of Orange, in good faith, maintains this site to the best of its abilities, but the County shall not be liable for any damages incurred due to errors, interruptions, inadequacies, or malicious computer code or components on this site or its servers. The County does not warrant that all defects will be fixed. The County does not warrant the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of material on this site.

Materials and information on Orange County’s website are provided as a public service and intended to afford general guidelines on matters of public interest. Accordingly, the information in this site is not intended to serve as legal or financial advice.

Changes are made periodically to many County documents and these changes may or may not be reflected in the materials or information present on the County of Orange's website. Additionally, because the site is frequently under development, materials and information may be deleted, modified or moved to a different part of the site without advance notice.

2. EXCEPTIONS TO DISCLAIMERS

Certain State laws do not allow limitations on implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain damages. If these State laws apply to you, some or all of the above disclaimers, exclusions, or limitations may not be applicable and you may have additional rights.

3. INDEMNIFICATION

To the extent permitted by law, by using the County of Orange website, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless the County of Orange and its representatives from and against all claims and expenses, including attorneys' fees, arising out of your use of this site or information contained therein.

4. NOTICE OF LINKS TO EXTERNAL WEBSITES

There are multiple web domains affiliated with the County of Orange. When you click on a non-County link, a message will appear informing you that you are leaving an official County site. Once you link to another site, you are subject to the policies of the new site, not to those of the County of Orange's web portal.

NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO AND/OR UNDERSTAND ANY OR ALL OF THESE TERMS, PLEASE DO NOT USE THESE WEB PAGES.

ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

PURPOSE

The County recognizes that checks and balances are essential to mitigate the subjectivity of acceptable use, and will take measures to ensure fairness when dealing with cases of inappropriate use. The County of Orange's Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is intended to help protect our customers, and the Internet community, from the inappropriate use of the Internet. A customer's use of the County of Orange's website constitutes acceptance of this AUP. We reserve the right to revise and update this AUP from time to time. The following sections of our acceptable use policy explain:

  1. Use Violations and Descriptions
  2. Email
  3. Content Submission
  4. Third Party Information
  5. Reporting Inappropriate Use
  6. Consequences of Inappropriate Use

1. IMPERSONATION/FORGERY

Adding, removing, or modifying identifying network header information in an effort to deceive or mislead is prohibited. Attempting to impersonate any person by using forged headers or other identifying information is prohibited. The use of anonymous remailers and nicknames does not constitute impersonation. Using modified headers in news postings in order to avoid spam e-mail address collectors is allowed provided appropriate contact information is contained in the body of the posting.

  1. PRIVACY VIOLATIONS

    You may not attempt to gain access to any electronic systems, networks or data, without proper authorization.

  2. THREATS

    Verbal or written threats of bodily harm, libelous comments or destruction of property made through email, online communities, or uploaded files or links are prohibited.

  3. HARASSMENT

    Activity constituting harassment toward any individual or group for any reason, including, but not limited to, race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, is prohibited.

  4. ILLEGAL USE

    The use of the County portal for illegal purposes is prohibited.

  5. NETWORK DISRUPTIONS

    Any activities that adversely affect the ability of other people or systems to use the County's portal are prohibited. This includes but is not limited to "denial of service" (DoS) attacks against another network host or individual user, the known propagation or downloading of viruses, and all forms of hacking.

Interference with or disruption of other network users, network services or network equipment is prohibited. It is your responsibility to ensure that your network is configured in a secure manner. You may not, through action or inaction, allow others to use your network for illegal or inappropriate actions.

2. E-MAIL

Directly or indirectly sending viruses, hoaxes, chain letters, advertisements, unsolicited commercial e-mail, or large volumes of unsolicited e-mail, whether or not that e-mail is commercial in nature, is strictly prohibited.

3. CONTENT SUBMISSION

Content submissions become property of Orange County, which the County may use at its discretion to the extent permissible by law.

4. THIRD PARTY INFORMATION

In general, information presented on this website, unless otherwise indicated, is considered in the public domain. It may be distributed or copied as permitted by law. However, the County does make use of copyrighted data (e.g., photographs), which may require additional permissions prior to your use. In order to use any information on this website not owned or created by the County, you must seek permission directly from the owning (or holding) sources.

5. REPORTING VIOLATIONS OF ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

The County of Orange asks that anyone who believes that there is a violation of this AUP should direct any relevant information to the following address: webmaster@ocgov.com

6. CONSEQUENCES OF ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY VIOLATION

The County of Orange may take any one or more of the following actions in response to violations of this policy:

  • Issue written or verbal warnings;
  • Suspend the customer's posting privileges; or
  • Report the offender(s) to the appropriate legal authorities and Internet Service Providers.