Privacy Policy

At Gwirachau, we understand that genealogical research involves highly personal and sensitive family information. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data with the utmost care and respect. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and share information about you and your family history research.

Personal Account Information:

• Email address (required for account creation and communication)
• Username and password (encrypted and securely stored)
• Profile information you choose to provide
• Research preferences and notification settings

Genealogical Data You Contribute:

• Names, dates, and places for individuals in Welsh genealogy
• Family relationships and connections
• Historical sources and documentation you upload or reference
• Research notes and collaborative discussions
• Tribal and ancestral line information

Technical Information:

• IP address and browser information (for security purposes)
• Usage statistics and site interaction data
• Device and connection information

Primary Purposes:

• Genealogical Research: Building and maintaining the comprehensive Welsh genealogy database
• Community Collaboration: Facilitating discussions and consensus-building among researchers
• Source Verification: Implementing our Source Integrity & Anti-Duplication Protection system
• Account Management: Providing access to your research and maintaining your account
• Communication: Sending important updates, notifications, and research-related messages

Public Genealogical Data:

Most historical Welsh genealogical information (for individuals deceased for more than 50 years) is made publicly available as part of our mission to preserve Welsh heritage. This includes names, dates, places, relationships, and historical sources.

What Remains Private:

• Your email address and account credentials
• Private research notes marked as personal
• Information about living individuals
• Your personal communications with other researchers
• Research in progress that you haven't published

Research Collaboration:

When you contribute to discussions about genealogical connections, your username and contributions become part of the collaborative record. This transparency is essential for maintaining the integrity of our consensus-driven approach.

Technical Safeguards:

• SSL encryption for all data transmission
• Secure database storage with regular backups
• Password hashing and encryption
• Regular security audits and updates
• Restricted access controls for sensitive data

Source Integrity Protection:

Our unique anti-duplication system ensures that historical sources cannot be misattributed, protecting the integrity of Welsh genealogical records and preventing data corruption.

Account Control:

• Access: View and download your personal account information
• Correction: Update or correct your account details
• Privacy Settings: Control visibility of your research and profile
• Communication Preferences: Choose which notifications you receive

Data Deletion Requests:

You may request deletion of your personal account information. However, genealogical contributions that have become part of the collaborative Welsh heritage database may be retained to preserve the integrity of the historical record, with your personal identifying information removed.

Opt-Out Options:

• Unsubscribe from email communications
• Make your profile less visible to other researchers
• Withdraw from specific collaborative projects

External Links and References:

Gwirachau may include links to external genealogical resources, archives, and databases (such as WikiTree, Wikipedia, or Welsh Biography Online). These external sites have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices.

Service Providers:

We work with trusted service providers for hosting, email delivery, and site analytics. These providers are contractually required to protect your data and may only use it for providing services to Gwirachau.

Data Protection Laws:

We comply with applicable data protection laws, including GDPR for European users and relevant privacy legislation. Welsh genealogical research often involves international family connections, and we respect the privacy rights of researchers worldwide.

Legal Disclosure:

We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Gwirachau, our users, or others. Such disclosures will be limited to what is legally necessary.

We may update this privacy policy to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. Significant changes will be communicated to users via email or prominent site notice. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy indicates when the most recent changes were made.

Continued use of Gwirachau after policy changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.