Owen County Privacy Policy | Data & Website Use

Effective Date: May 28, 2025

Owen County, Indiana is committed to protecting your privacy when you visit our official website, owencounty.in.gov. This Privacy Policy describes what information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, and how we protect your information.

1. Information We Collect

We collect two main types of information from visitors to owencounty.in.gov:

Non-Personally Identifiable Information (Non-PII):

This information cannot be used to identify you personally. We collect this automatically when you visit our site. It includes:

Internet Protocol (IP) Address: The numerical address assigned to your computer when you are on the internet.
Browser Type and Version: Information about the web browser you are using (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Edge).
Operating System: The operating system of your device (e.g., Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS).
Date and Time of Visit: When you accessed our website.
Pages Visited: Which specific pages you viewed on our site.
Referring Website: The website that linked you to our site (if any).
Search Terms: If you arrived at our site via a search engine, the terms you used.
General Geographic Location: Derived from your IP address, but not precise enough to identify your exact location.
Session Information: Data related to your current visit, such as the time spent on pages.
Device Type: Whether you are accessing the site from a desktop, tablet, or mobile device.

Personally Identifiable Information (PII):

This information can be used to identify you personally. We only collect PII when you voluntarily provide it to us through specific interactions on the website. This may include:

Contact Information: Name, postal address, email address, phone number (e.g., when submitting a contact form, signing up for a newsletter, or registering for an event).
Financial Information: While we do not directly collect credit card numbers or bank account details on owencounty.in.gov, some services accessible through our website (e.g., online payments for taxes, permits, or fees) may redirect you to a secure third-party payment processor. In such cases, your financial information will be collected and processed by that third party, and their privacy policy will govern that transaction. We will clearly indicate when you are being redirected to a third-party site.
Other Information: Any other information you voluntarily provide in forms, applications, or requests for services (e.g., property information for online records, details for public record requests).

2. How We Collect Information

Automatic Collection: Non-PII is collected automatically using standard web server logs and analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics).
Voluntary Submission: PII is collected only when you choose to provide it to us by filling out online forms, sending emails, or otherwise interacting with services that require personal information.

3. How We Use the Information We Collect

We use the information collected for the following purposes:

To Improve Our Website: Non-PII helps us understand how visitors use our site, which pages are most popular, and what areas need improvement. This allows us to enhance user experience, optimize content, and ensure our site is accessible and effective.
To Respond to Your Requests: If you provide PII, we will use it to respond to your inquiries, process your requests (e.g., permit applications, public records requests), provide requested services, or send you information you have opted to receive (e.g., newsletters).
To Fulfill Legal and Regulatory Requirements: We may use or disclose information to comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or governmental requests, including but not limited to Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act (APRA) and other public information laws.
For Internal Operations: To manage and improve our internal operations, troubleshoot technical issues, and maintain the security of our systems.
For Public Information: Please be aware that many communications to Owen County government, including emails, forms, and other submissions, may be considered public records under Indiana law. This means they may be subject to disclosure to the public upon request, unless an exception applies.

4. Sharing and Disclosure of Information

Owen County does not sell, rent, or lease your personally identifiable information to third parties. We may share or disclose your information in the following circumstances:

Within Owen County Government: Information may be shared among Owen County departments and offices to provide services or respond to your requests efficiently.
Third-Party Service Providers: We may engage third-party vendors to perform functions on our behalf (e.g., website hosting, analytics, payment processing, online forms). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes for which they were hired.
Legal Requirements and Public Records: As a governmental entity, we are subject to public information laws. We may be required to disclose information, including PII, in response to a public records request, subpoena, court order, or other legal process. We will only disclose information as required or permitted by law.
To Protect Rights and Safety: We may disclose information when we believe it is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of Owen County, its employees, our users, or the public.
Aggregated or Anonymized Data: We may share aggregated or anonymized non-PII with third parties for research, analysis, or other purposes. This data cannot be used to identify you personally.

5. Cookies

Our website may use “cookies” to enhance your experience. A cookie is a small text file placed on your computer by a web server. Cookies help us:

Remember Your Preferences: For example, language settings or form autofill.
Understand Website Usage: Track which pages are visited, and how long visitors stay on the site.
Improve Website Functionality: Provide a more personalized and efficient Browse experience.

You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. However, declining cookies may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website’s features.

6. Links to Other Websites

Our website contains links to other websites that are not operated or controlled by Owen County. These links are provided for your convenience and information. Owen County is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of these external websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

7. Security

Owen County employs reasonable technical, administrative, and physical security measures to protect the information under our control from loss, misuse, alteration, or unauthorized access. However, no data transmission over the Internet or any wireless network can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. Therefore, while we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee the absolute security of any information you transmit to us.

8. Children’s Privacy

Owen County is committed to protecting the privacy of children. Our website is not intended for use by children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under 13 without parental consent. If we become aware that we have inadvertently received PII from a child under 13, we will delete such information from our records.

9. Your Choices and Access to Information

Voluntary Information: Providing PII to Owen County through the website is voluntary. If you choose not to provide certain information, you may not be able to utilize certain features or services.
Public Records: Be advised that information submitted to Owen County government may be subject to public records laws.
Accessing Your Information: While we do not offer direct online access to your personal information submitted through the website, you may have the right to request access to or correction of certain public records containing your PII as provided by Indiana law. Please contact the relevant Owen County department for such requests.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

Owen County reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Effective Date.” We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact Owen County government through the official contact methods listed on owencounty.in.gov.