🔐 Privacy & Content Policy
🔍 1. Your Privacy Matters — with Context
We respect your personal privacy and do not collect sensitive or personally identifiable information unless you voluntarily provide it (such as through a tip form or contact submission). We do not sell or share personal data with third parties.
However, by visiting this site or interacting with public content online, you are engaging in public behavior, and we may collect or observe publicly available information as part of our OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) methodology.
This includes:
- Referrer URLs, IP region data, and general analytics
- Public-facing comments, shares, or mentions of this site on social media
- Metadata embedded in shared files or links
- Page visit patterns and behavior captured by public tools
We do not use this data to identify individuals without cause, and we never publish or expose personal information without verification and editorial review. We collect only what is necessary to understand traffic patterns, assess digital signals, and document patterns relevant to public interest or investigative work.
If you are uncomfortable with OSINT-based observation, we recommend using a privacy-first browser, a VPN, and anonymized communication. We respect your right to remain unseen — but we also reserve the right to observe and document what happens in public spaces, including digital ones.
🤝 2. Anonymous Tips & Contact
If you submit a tip, your identity will remain confidential unless you explicitly consent to be identified. We do not publish unverified information. If you’re unsure whether something is important, send it anyway — we’ll review it carefully and independently.
We encourage the use of encrypted email or anonymous browsing tools for tip submissions. You can also contact us through the site’s secure form.
🍪 3. Cookies & Analytics
This website may use cookies or analytics tools to monitor general usage, page visits, or device types. This data is collected in aggregate and used only to improve site performance and content planning.
You can disable cookies in your browser settings at any time.
⚖️ 4. Content Use: Creative Commons & Copyright
Unless otherwise stated, original written content on this site is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
This means:
- You may share or republish our content as-is, with attribution, for non-commercial use.
- You may not remix, edit, or reuse the content commercially without explicit written permission.
Some materials on this site — including graphics, documents, or investigative content — are published under full Copyright. These items will be clearly labeled as such and may not be reused without written consent. If no label is present, assume the Creative Commons license applies.
🌐 5. External Links & Embedded Content
Articles may include links to outside sources, public records, videos, or embedded content. We do our best to vet these sources, but we are not responsible for third-party content or data practices.
Clicking external links or interacting with embedded content may subject you to the privacy policies of those platforms.
🧾 6. Content Removal Policy
We do not remove content simply because someone is unhappy with what was reported or wishes not to appear in a story.
Content may only be removed or corrected under the following limited circumstances:
- Factual errors substantiated with credible documentation
- Legal orders (court-issued takedowns, DMCA requests, etc.)
- Safety risks to minors or vulnerable persons, at editorial discretion
- Duplicate, outdated, or broken-link content no longer relevant
We will not remove content based on subjective discomfort, reputation management requests, or general disapproval. Public information is public. Documentation stays up unless it’s wrong — and if it’s wrong, we’ll fix it and note the correction.
🛠️ 7. Policy Changes
This policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in tools, laws, or practices. We will revise the “Effective Date” below with each change.
Effective Date: June 20, 2025
Contact: admin@lawtontowncrier.com