Terms, Privacy & Principles

Last updated: 04 March 2026

Welcome to dotpublic.org. This page explains how this site works, how content can be used, and how we handle privacy.

1. Changes to These Terms

We may update these terms from time to time. The latest version will always be published on this page, with an inspectable version history.

2. What This Site Is

This is a UK / EU–based website created to publish information about the dotPublic initiative.

This site:

  • Does not use cookies
  • Does not use tracking technologies
  • Does not carry advertising
  • Does not share or sell personal data
  • Will only ever use anonymised, aggregated analytics data — never tied to you personally

3. Our Principles

We built this site to share information without exploiting attention or personal data. That means:

  • We do not track or monetise user behaviour
  • We do not profile visitors
  • We do not use dark patterns or hidden subscriptions
  • If we don't need data, we don't collect it
  • Everyone will see the same website

If something changes, we will say so plainly. We aim to be transparent about how this site is sustained. If funding or structure changes in the future, we will disclose it.

For information about our organisation see the Who we are page.

4. Personal Data

We only receive personal data if you actively choose to give it to us (for example, contacting us by email).

This may include:

  • Your name
  • Your email address
  • The contents of your message

We keep correspondence only for as long as reasonably necessary to respond to your enquiry or maintain records of correspondence.

We do not sell, rent, trade, or share personal data.

If you email us, your message will be processed by our email provider in accordance with applicable data protection laws. We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. However, no internet transmission is completely secure.

5. Copyright & Licence

Unless otherwise stated, all content on this site is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

You are free to:

  • Copy and share the material
  • Adapt and build upon it
  • Use it for any purpose, including commercially

You must:

  • Give appropriate credit
  • Link to the licence
  • Indicate if changes were made
  • Not imply endorsement

If any content is excluded from this licence, it will be clearly marked.

6. Legal Basis (UK & EU GDPR and CCPA)

Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation, the EU General Data Protection Regulation, and the California Consumer Privacy Act, we process personal data on the basis of:

  • Legitimate interests — responding to enquiries
  • Consent — where you voluntarily provide information

7. Your Rights

Under UK and EU data protection law, you have the right to:

  • Request access to your personal data
  • Request correction
  • Request deletion
  • Object to processing
  • Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

In the UK, this is the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Our Data Protection Officer is Jake Berger. Requests for access should be sent to jake@dotpublic.org.

8. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent allowed by UK and EU law, we are not liable for:

  • Any loss or damage arising from your use of this site
  • Any reliance placed on the information provided

These terms do not override mandatory legal responsibilities.

9. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales (or the relevant EU jurisdiction where applicable).

10. Use of AI

EU AI Act Compliant Disclosure: In accordance with the EU AI Act, we disclose that parts of this website may use artificial intelligence (AI) to generate or manipulate content, including text, images, and audio.

Any AI-generated content will be clearly labelled with an 'AI-Generated' tag or icon. We will ensure that AI-generated outputs are marked in a machine-readable format to allow for detection, as required by law.

Content that has undergone significant human review and editorial responsibility may not carry an AI label, as permitted under Article 50(4).

11. Human Accountability

If you have a question, concern, or criticism, you can contact a real person.