Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 05/23/2017

Last Reviewed Date: 2/11/2026

Last Revision Date: 2/11/2026

The State of California (State) is committed to promoting and protecting the privacy rights of individuals, as enumerated in Article 1 of the California Constitution and other Laws. It is the policy of the State to limit the collection and safeguard the privacy of Personal Information and Electronically Collected Personal Information (as defined below) that may be collected through CA.gov. CA.gov is maintained by the California Department of Technology (CDT), which was established by Government Code sections 11545-11548.

This Privacy Policy only applies to CA.gov website.

Applicable Laws

CA.gov’s information management practices conform to the requirements of the Information Practices Act (Civ. Code §§1798 et seq.), the Public Records Act (Govt. Code §§7920.000 et seq.), Government Code sections 11015.5 and 11019.9, and other applicable state and federal laws (e.g., Federal Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. § 552a)) pertaining to information privacy (Laws).

If any type of Personal Information or Electronically Collected Personal Information (as defined below) is requested on the CA.gov website or volunteered by the users, then this information will be governed by Laws. This information may become a public record once it is provided. To the extent required or permitted by law, certain public records may be subject to public inspection and disclosure. Personal Information is protected from disclosure except as authorized by law as set forth in Section 2 below.

Definitions of Personal Information and Electronically Collected Personal Information

“Personal Information” means any information that is maintained by an agency that identifies or describes an individual, including, but not limited to, the individual’s name, social security number, physical description, home address, home telephone number, education, financial matters, and medical or employment history. It includes statements made by, or attributed to, the individual. (Civ. Code §1798.3(a)).

“Electronically Collected Personal Information” means any information that is maintained by an agency that identifies or describes an individual user, including, but not limited to, the user’s name, social security number, physical description, home address, home telephone number, education, password, electronic mail address, and information that reveals any network location or identity, but excludes any information manually submitted to a state agency by a user, whether electronically or in written form, and information on or relating to individuals who are users, serving in a business capacity, including, but not limited to, business owners, officers, or principals of that business. (Gov’t Code § 11015.5(d)(1)).

Collection and Management of Personal Information

CA.gov website will not collect any Personal Information about you other than statistical information that can be used to make the website more effective. In the event that Personal Information is requested on CA.gov or volunteered by the users, CDT, in managing the CA.gov website, will adhere to the following principles in relation to the collection, use and management of Personal Information:

  1. Collection of Personal Information is limited to what is relevant and necessary to accomplish its lawful purpose, which is enumerated at or prior to the time of collection, in a privacy notice included on or with the form used to collect Personal Information. For example, CA.gov may ask for an individual’s e-mail address or telephone number to respond to the individual’s questions or to direct them to the requested assistance.
  2. CA.gov does not collect home, business, or e-mail addresses or account information from persons who simply browse the CA.gov website. Personal Information about individuals is collected through this website only if an individual provides such information on CA.gov voluntarily through e-mail, registration forms, or surveys. The Personal Information collected in this manner is protected under the Laws but records may be disclosed only when required or permitted by such Laws.
  3. Google Analytics are used to help improve the website. Google tracking cookies may be used to provide information to Google Analytics to track website statistics. Google tracking code used by every website or application that employs Google Analytics stores information that identifies device IP addresses, but the CA.gov website is anonymizing that information and only part of device IP addresses are being used. Consequently, no information identifying you or your device is being stored at Google via our utilization of Google Analytics implementation. You can find out more about Google Analytics anonymized IP addresses by clicking here. You can find out more about Google tracking cookies such as the length of time the cookies may remain on your device, or how to remove or manage the Google tracking cookies, by clicking here.
  4. You may choose to provide your Personal Information on CA.gov , as an e-mail address, with a comment or question. This Personal Information is used to improve CA.gov’s service to you or to respond to your request. Sometimes your e-mail may be forwarded to other State personnel who may be better able to help you, and these personnel may be working for a different agency within the State. Except for authorized law enforcement investigations or as required by law, your e-mail will not be shared with any other organizations. Submission of an email to CA.gov or CDT personnel, or communication through the website does not create any attorney-client or other privileged or confidential relationship. Accordingly, do not disclose any information to CA.gov, CDT, or other State personnel that you wish to remain private or confidential.
  5. Use and disclosure of Personal Information will be only as specified and consistent with those purposes enumerated at or before the collection of the Personal Information; unless the individual’s consent is obtained; or as required or allowed by law. However, Public Records Act (Gov. Code §§ 7920.000 et seq.) exists to ensure that California government is open, and that the public has a right to have access to appropriate records and information possessed by many state and local government agencies. The Public Records Act does include specific exceptions to protect privacy and other legally protected interests. As such, records containing Personal Information may be disclosed only as required or permitted by law and consistent with these exemptions. In the event of a conflict between this Privacy Policy, and the Public Records Act (Gov. Code §§ 7920.000 et seq.), the Information Practices Act (CA Civil Code §§ section 1798 et seq.) or any other applicable state or federal law governing the use or disclosure of records, the applicable law will control.
  6. Personal Information is collected directly from individuals who volunteer to use some of our services. The collection of Personal Information may be required to deliver specific services, but the use of these services is voluntary.
  7. Several steps have been taken to protect your Personal Information against loss, unauthorized access, use, modification, or disclosure. CDT, as developer and manager of CA.gov website has taken several steps to safeguard the integrity of its telecommunications and computing infrastructure, including but not limited to authentication, monitoring, and auditing. Security measures have been integrated into the design, implementation, and day-to-day practices of the entire state operating environment as part of its continuing commitment to risk management. This information should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof the security measures protecting information provided via CA.gov website. The technical standards governing security are enforced by CDT.
  8. Electronically Collected Personal Information about users will not be distributed or sold to any third party without prior written permission from the user except as set forth in Government Code section 11015.5(b). Moreover, any distribution of Electronically Collected Personal Information will be solely for the purposes for which it was provided to us. Certain lists and statistical reports of regulatory information may be provided or distributed as required by law, but no Personal Information is sold or distributed, and all relevant legal protections still apply to the website.
  9. CA.gov website automatically collects certain electronic information of users or visitors to the website through browser cookies, hardware or other methods. If you do nothing during your visit to CA.gov but browse or download information, the following information is automatically collected and stored about your visit:
    1. A partial IP address and domain name is collected, but not the e-mail address. The IP address is used to direct Internet traffic to you without identifying you individually and generate statistics used in the management of this website.
    2. The type of browser and operating system you used.
    3. The city and zip code you used it from.
    4. The date and time you visited this website.
    5. The web pages or services you accessed at this website (e.g., downloads, navigation).
    6. The website you visited prior to coming to this website.
    7. The website you visit as you leave this website.
    8. If you downloaded a form, the form that was downloaded.
    9. If you complete a form or survey on CA.gov, the form or survey you completed.
    10. If you click on a linked external website, the external website you clicked on.
    11. Website cookies (e.g., tracking, session, or analytic cookies).
    12. Website analytics (e.g., Google analytics or similar tools).
    If you voluntarily participate in an activity that asks for specific electronic information (e.g., completing a request for assistance, personalizing the content of the website, sending an e-mail, completing a form, or participating in a survey) more detailed data will be collected. If you choose not to participate in these activities, your choice will in no way affect your ability to use any other feature of the website.
  10. The electronic information we automatically collect, or store, or the Personal Information you provide us will be used to: (1) facilitate a response to you, (2) improve the content or navigation of the website, (3) provide survey information to you, (4) gather website statistics and (5) helps us analyze our website to continually improve the value of the materials available. CA.gov website logs do not identify a visitor by Personal Information, and no attempt is made to link other websites with the individuals that browse CA.gov website.
  11. Individuals who provide Personal Information to CA.gov or CDT personnel have the right to request: access to their Personal Information, deletion of their Personal Information, correction of any inaccuracies or incompleteness to their Personal Information, or that their Electronically Collected Personal Information be discarded without reuse or distribution. (Govt. Code § 11015.5). To make this request, use the contact information listed below.

Linking Policy

CA.gov website contains links to information created and maintained by other public organizations. These links are provided solely for your information and convenience. If you select a link to those websites, you’re leaving the CA.gov website and are subject to the privacy and security policies of that respective website.

Contact Us

If you have any further questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact CDT via email privacy@state.ca.gov, by phone at (916) 319-9223, or by mail to:

California Department of Technology
PO Box 1810
Rancho Cordova, CA 95741
Attn: Office of Legal Services/Privacy Coordinator