Privacy and cookies

Information about you: how we use it and with whom we share it

Why we collect your information

The information you provide will be used by the University to create a new WordPress blog and account. This information is also required for the purposes of authentication. This information will already have been disclosed by the users to the university previously and we will be making use of the same information within WordPress. We will also be gathering statistical information such as IP addresses for the purposes of providing the service. Users could also choose to express personal opinions within a blog which will be stored within the blogging service. You can choose whether to make these blogs publicly available or restrict their access. All of this personally identifying information is stored on University of Edinburgh servers within the UK.

Why we use information about you

We are using information about you because it is the legitimate interest of the University of Edinburgh to provide a blogging service that will be used to support the teaching, learning and academic engagement activities of the University.

Special categories of personal data such as race, ethnicity, political beliefs etc. are not required in order to provide the blogging service. However, it is conceivable that an individual may choose to disclose information about themselves via a blog that would fall into this category. On that basis the condition of processing this information relates to personal data which are manifestly made public by the data subject. It will always be possible for users to delete this information themselves.

Retention of personal data

It is possible for blog content to be modified and deleted by the author of the content whilst they are a member of the University.

Information used to create your WordPress account will be removed from the Blogging Service when you leave the University.

The length of time for which we hold blog content is dependent on the purpose for which the blog was created.

Staff and PGR Students

Personal blogs will be removed when you leave the University – you can export a copy and take with you – unless an arrangement to keep has been put in place; any contributions to project or student blogs will be retained unless alternative arrangements are made for deletion.

Taught Students

Your blogs will be deleted when you leave the University – you can export a copy and take with you; unless you have consented to allow the University to hold a copy for longer.

Automated processing and profiling

We do not use individual profiling or automated decision-making processes. We do use analytical data at an aggregate level to profile and monitor the use of the service for the purposes of capacity and availability management and for improving the provision of the service to the University.

Cookies

What cookies are and how we use them, a list of all the cookies used on the Academic Blogging Service and how to opt out of or block non-essential cookies.

A cookie is a small file, typically of letters and numbers, downloaded on to your device when you access certain web pages. Cookie information is then sent back to the originating website on each subsequent visit. Cookies are useful because they allow a website to recognise a user’s device.

We use several types of cookies for a range of reasons across the blogging service. Some are essential, while others you can opt out of or block. Opting out or blocking some cookies may affect the functionality of the service.

When you leave our blogging service or click on links that lead to external websites we are unable to control what cookies are set in any way. You will need to set your cookie preferences for those sites as well.

How to block cookies

You can restrict or block cookies which are set during your use of the blogging service by changing your browser settings. Some pages may not work if you completely disable cookies, but many third party cookies can be safely blocked.

The Academic Blogging Service offers a facility to allow you to easily opt out of different types of cookies. This banner will present itself to any new visitor. You may also change your settings at any time by pressing the “Cookie settings” button positioned in the bottom-left corner of your screen. This will re-call the cookie settings banner.

Check information in your browser’s help section for specific instructions on how to manage cookies. Alternatively, websites such as “All about Cookies” provide comprehensive guidance.

Guide to managing cookies