Privacy

Purpose

The purpose of the statement is to inform users of this site with regard to the collection and use of personally identifiable information. Nothing herein should be construed to, nor does it, create any new or different rights than those available under existing state and federal laws. This policy only applies to information received through interaction between Orangeburg County and the public through the Orangeburg County Internet site.

By using the Orangeburg County website, you consent to the data practices described in this statement.

Definition of Personally Identifiable Information

For the purposes of this statement, "personally identifiable information" means any information relating to an identified or identifiable individual who is the subject of the information. This includes information such as names, addresses, social security numbers and credit card numbers.

Personally Identifiable Information Not Routinely Collected

Users are not required to provide personal information simply to visit Orangeburg County websites or to download information. Government agencies may request personally identifiable information in order to provide requested specialized services, but such information is handled as it would be on an in-person visit to a government office.

Personally Identifiable Information that May Be Subject to Public Disclosure

In the state of South Carolina, laws exist to ensure that government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by a government agency. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public’s right to access certain records in order to preserve the privacy of individuals. Such exemptions are authorized by both state and federal laws. Information collected by Orangeburg County, like information collected during an in-person visit to a government office, may be subject to inspection and copying by the public, unless such an exemption in law exists. In the event that there is a conflict between this Privacy Statement and a state or federal law governing the disclosure of public records, the applicable state or federal law shall control.

Use, Collection and Retention of Personally Identifiable Information

The IP (Internet Protocol) addresses of computers used to visit Orangeburg County websites are noted as part of the statistical analysis used to better design government services and improve access to them. However, Orangeburg County does not attempt to obtain personally identifiable information on individual users or to associate individual users with IP addresses.

Orangeburg County collects, retains, and uses personal information only where it is lawful and is essential to ad- minister and to provide products, services and other opportunities requested by a constituent via the Orangeburg County Internet site. It is the policy of Orangeburg County to avoid the display of social security numbers on the websites to the fullest extent possible.

Use of Cookies

Some Orangeburg County applications create "cookies" to hold user information. These "cookies" are then sent to, and stored on, the user’s computer. Any Orangeburg County application or Web page that uses "cookies" will identify itself as such. This information is handled in the same way as other personally identifiable information obtained by Orangeburg County. No user information will be gathered through the use of "cookies" except that which is required to run the specific application(s) being accessed by the user via the Orangeburg County Internet site.

Use of Constituent E-mail Addresses

E-mail addresses obtained as a result of requests to Orangeburg County websites will not be sold or given to any organization outside of Orangeburg County agencies for marketing purposes. The information collected is subject to the access and confidentiality provisions of the State’s Freedom of Information Act and other applicable sections of the South Carolina Code of Laws and/or federal law. E-mail or other information requests sent to Orangeburg County websites may be maintained in order to: respond to the request, forward that request to the appropriate agency, communicate updates to the Orangeburg County website page that may be of interest to citizens, or provide the Web designer with valuable customer feedback to assist in improving the site.

Non-Orangeburg County Websites

Various websites will be linked through Orangeburg County. This includes websites of other governmental agencies, as well as websites of private entities. Many of these sites may not be subject to the South Carolina Code of Laws, or may operate under different privacy standards. Visitors to those websites are advised to check the privacy statements of those sites and be cautious about providing personally identifiable information without a clear under-standing of how the information will be used.

Notice to All Requesters of Records

State law requires certain public bodies to provide notice to requesters of records. Please review the following notice and, if it appears applicable to you, it is your responsibility to further investigate and determine your duty, if any, under State law.

The Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) limits the use of certain information revealed in response to a FOIA request. See S.C. Code Ann. 30-4-50(B).

Obtaining or using public records from certain governmental entities for commercial solicitation directed to any person in this State is prohibited under South Carolina Code Section 30-2-50.

In addition, a person or private entity shall not knowingly obtain or use any “personal information” obtained from a public body for commercial solicitation directed to any person in the State. Section 30-2-50(A). “Personal information” is defined as follows: Information that identifies or describes an individual including, but not limited to, an individual’s photograph or digitized image, social security number, date of birth, driver’s identification number, name, home address, home telephone number, medical or disability information, education level, financial status, bank account(s) number(s), account or identification number issued by and/or used by any federal or state governmental agency or private financial institution, employment history, height, weight, race, other physical details, signature, biometric identifiers, and any credit records or reports. Section 30-2-30(1).

A person knowingly violating the provisions of 30-2-50(A) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars or imprisoned for a term not to exceed one year, or both. Section 30-2-50(D).

Penalty

 A person knowingly violating the provisions of 30-2-50(A) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars or imprisoned for a term not to exceed one year, or both. Section 30-2-50(D).