Privacy and Security

About this Privacy Statement

This privacy statement explains what information Georgia.gov may collect when you visit our websites, how we use and share that information, and how we work to protect it.

This statement applies to Georgia.gov websites that link to it in the footer. Other state agency websites may have their own privacy policies.

Information We Collect

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit a Georgia.gov website, we may collect information about how you use the site to help us understand and improve our digital services:

  • The domain or website you used to access the site

  • IP addresses, which are numbers automatically assigned to a computer when using the Internet

  • The type of browser and operating system used to access the site

  • The Internet address of the website from which users linked directly to the site

  • The search terms used to get to the website, in addition to search terms used in the site’s search engine

  • The dates and times users access the site

  • The type of device used to access the site

  • How often users visit the site

  • The pages users visit within the site

  • Links you select that take you to other websites

We use this information in aggregate to understand how people use Georgia.gov and improve our websites.

Google Analytics may store a cookie in your browser to recognize your browser when you return to the site.

For site security purposes the servers housing these sites use programs to monitor network traffic. Anyone using these sites consents to the monitoring of their use by these programs and the analysis of traffic to recognize possible security breaches.

Information You Provide

If you submit a form or otherwise provide information to Georgia.gov, we may collect personal information such as your name, mailing address, phone number, email address, or information you include in an application, form, survey, or other submission.

How We Use and Share Information

The information collected is not limited to text and may include audio, video and other graphic formats you send us. Information is retained and used in accordance with existing laws, rules, regulations, and other policies.

Depending on the specific service or transaction, the State of Georgia may share personally identifiable information among its agencies to provide such service or complete such transaction.

Public Records and Disclosure

Information you submit to the state of Georgia may be considered a public record and may be subject to disclosure under the Georgia Open Records Act or other applicable laws.

Security

Georgia.gov uses technical, administrative, and operational safeguards to help protect information submitted through our websites.

For services requiring online financial transactions, Georgia.gov uses the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption protocol to safeguard your sensitive personal information, including your credit card number. Information is encrypted from your computer to the Portal computer processing your request.

Never send passwords, credit card numbers, or other sensitive information by email or provide them in response to an unexpected phone call.

Email

Email may not be a secure way to send sensitive information. Don't email passwords, Social Security numbers, financial account information, or other sensitive personal information unless you're specifically instructed to use an approved secure method.

If you email Georgia.gov, we may use the information in your message to respond to your request. We may also forward your message to another state agency or employee who's better able to assist you.

Changes to this Privacy Statement

Revisions to this privacy statement will be posted to this page so you will know the type of information we collect and how that information is used. 

Our goal is to provide a private, efficient and friendly digital government experience. Please note that other agency websites not using the Georgia.gov web platform may contain additional or different privacy statements.

Additional Privacy and Security Resources

You can find more useful privacy and security-related materials through Google's policies and principles pages, as well as: