Privacy Policy
How Niles Connect handles personal information.
Niles Connect uses accounts for member community profiles, posts, events, marketplace listings, and related participation. Private messaging, friend connections, a searchable neighbor directory, and business-directory management are not currently available.
Current community feature visibility
Know who can see feature information.
- Private member messaging is not provided by the current community plugin. The available conversation controls are attached to community content; do not use them to share private messages.
- Community posts, event details, marketplace listings, and member profiles are restricted to eligible signed-in community members. Administrators manage review and reports. The current event system does not provide a separate private participant meeting note.
- Registration collects first name, last name, and ZIP code. These fields are visible to the account holder and site administrators. A member display name and introduction are visible to members. A searchable resident directory is not currently provided.
- Community posts use the member display name; the current composer does not provide anonymous posting. Review text and uploaded photos before sharing, and avoid details you do not want other members to see.
Retention periods and the inventory of hosting, email, analytics and other technical providers are still being finalized. This page does not promise a fixed deletion schedule or identify unverified providers. Copies in backups, email and external services require separate review.
To request a copy of your account-related data or removal of personal information, email soxside@gmail.com. Identify the account email and the information or page involved. Do not send your password. Niles Connect may need to confirm that the request is yours and review shared content and moderation records before responding.
Overview
Use only the information needed to operate the community tools.
Niles Connect should avoid collecting unnecessary personal information and should keep public participation separate from private account data wherever practical.
Public browsing
Most public information can be browsed without creating an account or community profile.
Accounts for participation
Accounts are used when interactive features need to be connected to a specific participating user.
Community profiles are separate
A site account does not automatically mean that all account information should be publicly visible as a community profile.
Information we use
Different features use different information.
The information associated with your use of Niles Connect depends on which parts of the site you choose to use.
Account information
Basic account information may include details needed for login, account identification, and participation in interactive features.
Community profile information
Members can edit their member display name and introduction. Registration names and ZIP code remain account information visible to the member and site administrators.
Community submissions
Information submitted through community tools may be associated with the account that submitted it for moderation, management, and accountability purposes.
Marketplace information
Marketplace listings are associated with the submitting account and may include an approximate location, price, description, and a photo. A permanent business directory is not currently provided.
Event and participation information
Event RSVPs, likes, feed preferences, reports, and related community actions may store information associated with the participating account. Friend connections and connection requests are not currently provided.
Technical information
WordPress, hosting, security, analytics, or other site systems may process technical information needed to operate the website.
Community profiles
Choose profile details carefully.
Member profiles support participation in community posts, events, and marketplace listings. A member account has registration information; an optional introduction should contain only information the member wants other members to see.
Share only what you are comfortable sharing
Do not add sensitive or unnecessary personal information to your community profile.
Member profiles are not a public people directory
The current plugin restricts member profiles to eligible signed-in members. It does not provide a searchable resident-discovery directory.
Reporting concerns
Use the report controls available on community content or contact Niles Connect about a concern. Member-to-member blocking and private messaging are not currently provided.
Content visibility
Public information and member content have different visibility.
Blog articles, published research, public records, civic information, and public datasets may be visible without an account. Community posts, events, marketplace listings, and member profiles require eligible member access.
Community posts
Published community posts are visible to eligible signed-in community members, rather than anonymous visitors. Do not include sensitive information or assume member-only visibility prevents another member from copying it.
Marketplace listings
Published marketplace listings are visible to eligible signed-in community members. Use an approximate location and avoid posting a private home address or unnecessary private contact information.
Public records
Public records and investigation materials may include information obtained from public sources or public-record processes.
Protect sensitive information
Do not submit information that does not belong on the site.
Passwords
Never post or email account passwords or authentication credentials.
Financial information
Avoid posting bank-account numbers, payment-card information, or other unnecessary financial data.
Government identifiers
Do not post Social Security numbers or similar sensitive identifiers.
Medical information
Avoid submitting private health or medical information unless there is a legitimate need and an appropriate private channel.
Private information about others
Do not expose another person’s private information merely because you have access to it.
Only provide what is needed
Personal information should be limited to what is reasonably necessary for the feature or communication you are using.
Other sources & services
Some parts of the site rely on outside systems.
WordPress hosting, public-source feeds, maps, analytics, email systems, embedded services, and other technical components may have their own data practices.
Public-source content
Civic information and public datasets may come from external public sources and may link back to those sources.
External links
Leaving Niles Connect through an external link means the destination site’s own privacy practices apply.
Technical providers
Hosting, security, analytics, and infrastructure providers may process technical information as part of operating the site.
Account & content control
Some information may need to remain for operational reasons.
Account information, moderation records, public submissions, audit information, and other records may not always be removable immediately simply because a user stops participating.
Published content
Published community content, marketplace listings, and other material may require review before deletion or removal.
Moderation & safety records
Reports, moderation actions, and similar operational records may be retained for review and community-safety functions. The current community plugin does not provide member-to-member blocking.
Public records
Authentic public records or source material are not the same as private user-profile information and may be retained as part of the site’s research functions.
Security
Reasonable safeguards matter, but no website is risk-free.
Niles Connect should use reasonable technical and operational safeguards appropriate to the project, but no online system can guarantee absolute security.
Protect your password
Use a strong password and do not share it with other people.
Be cautious with sensitive information
Avoid submitting information that is not reasonably needed for the feature you are using.
Report concerns
If you notice a privacy or account-security concern, contact Niles Connect with enough information to investigate it.
Privacy questions
Contact Niles Connect.
If you have a privacy question or concern involving your account, community profile, or information on the site, email:
Niles Connect is an independent community project.
Niles Connect is privately operated and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Village of Niles or any other government agency.
Related policies
Privacy is part of broader community participation.
Review the Community Guidelines, Moderation Policy, and Terms of Service for additional site rules.