Digital Footprint Assessment

Information We Collect Automatically

When you access the Digital Footprint Assessment platform ("Service"), we automatically collect certain technical information from your device and browser. This information is necessary to provide the Service and ensure its proper functioning. The information we collect may include:

Device identifiers, browser type and version, and operating system information
IP address and approximate geographic location derived from your IP address
Screen resolution, device pixel density, and display configuration
Hardware characteristics including processor configuration and available memory
Network connection type, estimated bandwidth, and connection quality metrics
Browser language settings and regional preferences
Timestamps and session duration data
Interaction data including scroll depth and time spent on individual pages

We use industry-standard technologies including browser APIs, device capability detection, and behavioural analytics to collect this information. This collection occurs automatically and does not require you to actively provide any data.

How We Use Your Information

The Digital Footprint Assessment uses the information described in Section 1 for the following primary purposes:

Service Delivery: To provide, maintain, and personalise the assessment experience based on your device and browser capabilities.
Performance Monitoring: To identify and resolve technical issues, monitor service availability, and measure system performance.
Analytics and Improvement: To understand how users interact with the Service, enabling us to improve functionality and user experience.
Security: To detect and prevent fraudulent activity, unauthorised access, and other security incidents.
Legal Compliance: Where required by applicable law, regulation, or enforceable government request.

We process your information on the legal basis of our legitimate interests in operating and improving the Service, and where applicable, on the basis of your consent as provided through your acceptance of this Privacy Policy.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

The Service uses browser storage technologies including cookies, local storage, and session storage to maintain state across your browsing session. These technologies allow us to remember your preferences and provide a consistent experience throughout your visit.

We may also use browser-based fingerprinting techniques, which involve collecting and combining technical attributes of your browser and device to create a statistical identifier. Unlike cookies, these identifiers cannot be cleared by deleting cookies or browsing in private mode. This identifier is used solely for analytics, session continuity, and fraud prevention purposes.

You may disable cookies through your browser settings; however, doing so may limit your ability to access or use certain features of the Service. Browser fingerprinting cannot be disabled through standard browser settings.

Research and Academic Collaboration

Digital Footprint Assessment is developed in association with academic institutions conducting research in the fields of digital privacy, online behaviour, and data literacy. As part of our commitment to advancing knowledge in these areas, we participate in ongoing research initiatives that contribute to peer-reviewed publications, conference proceedings, and educational programs.

From time to time, we may use information collected through the Service — including technical device data, behavioural metrics, and interaction patterns — for research purposes, including academic study, analysis of user behaviour patterns, and data science research. Such research may be conducted internally or in collaboration with third-party academic partners. Research outputs are typically anonymised and aggregated; however, raw technical data may be retained and analysed in identifiable form for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days from the date of collection.

By accepting this Privacy Policy, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this section, and you consent to the potential use of information collected through the Service for the academic and research purposes described above, including participation in studies examining digital literacy, privacy awareness, and online user behaviour. You further acknowledge that such research may be conducted without additional notice.

Data Sharing and Third Parties

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share technical and behavioural data with the following categories of recipients:

Service Providers: Third-party vendors who assist in operating the Service, including cloud infrastructure providers, analytics platforms, and security monitoring services. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.
Academic Partners: Affiliated research institutions as described in Section 4, subject to appropriate data sharing agreements and ethical oversight.
Legal Authorities: Where required by law, legal process, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of our users or the public.

All third-party data sharing is governed by data processing agreements that require recipients to maintain appropriate technical and organisational security measures.

Data Retention and Security

We retain automatically collected technical data for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of collection, after which it is securely deleted or permanently anonymised. Data retained for research purposes (as described in Section 4) is subject to the same ninety (90) day retention period unless anonymisation renders it no longer attributable to an identifiable individual.

We implement industry-standard technical and organisational security measures to protect the information we collect, including encryption in transit (TLS), access controls, and regular security assessments. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Rights and Contact Information

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights with respect to your personal information: the right to access, correct, or delete your data; the right to object to or restrict processing; and the right to data portability. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below.

As the automatically collected data described in this policy does not include your name or contact details, exercising certain rights (such as access or deletion) may require you to provide us with additional identifying information (such as your IP address or approximate visit time) to locate your records.

Contact: privacy@digitalfootprintassessment.edu.au
Jurisdiction: This policy is governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia.