Field Journal policies
Privacy Policy
This is a plain-language draft. It hasn't been reviewed by a lawyer yet and may change. It doesn't claim that Field Journal meets any particular law.
What Field Journal knows about you, who can see it, and how to have it removed.
Who looks after your information
Field Journal, run by Ryan Mountain. For any privacy question or request, email myfieldjournalcommunity@gmail.com.
What we collect and who can see it
- Your account: your email address and password. Passwords are stored scrambled, so nobody at Field Journal can read them. If you sign in with Google or another sign-in service, we receive your name, email and profile picture from it.
- Your Biography: name, username, bio, credentials, place, website and picture. Only signed-in members can see them.
- What you write: anyone can read the opening of a published piece and see its photos; signed-in members can read the whole piece. Drafts are seen only by you and Field Journal's moderators. Responses show with the piece.
- Letters: only you and the person you're writing to can read them. A moderator can read a letter only if someone reports it.
- What you do on the site: likes, follows, saves, collections and blocks are private to you; others only see totals. We also keep a list of which pieces you've opened, which only you can see.
- Forms: Get Involved, Journal Sponsor, Give Back and Shopkeeper forms (name, email and message) are seen only by moderators.
- Reports: only moderators see who reported something. The person reported isn't told who it was.
- Payments: our payment provider handles your card. We only keep whether your support is active and for which dates.
- Photos: hidden location (GPS) and camera details are removed from every photo when it's uploaded.
How we use it
We use it to run Field Journal: to show your work, let you talk with other members, keep the site safe (moderation and daily limits) and reply when you get in touch. We don't sell your information, we don't run advertising trackers, and we don't use your information or your work for AI.
Who helps us run the site
A few outside services handle information so the site can work:
- Our website host and its database and file storage keep the site, accounts and photos.
- Our payment provider handles card payments.
- Fonts are loaded from Google Fonts, so Google sees your device's internet address when a page loads.
- Pictures in approved sponsor notes may load from the sponsor's own website.
- Our host gives us basic visit counts, such as how many visits there were and which pages are popular. They don't tell us who you are.
These services may store or process information outside Canada, including in the United States.
In your browser
Your browser stores your sign-in so you stay signed in, plus a few settings like which moderation alerts you've already seen. There are no advertising cookies.
How long we keep it
We keep your information while your account is open. Deleting your account (in your Biography) removes your Biography, pieces, drafts, responses, Letters, likes, saves, follows, photos and any forms sent with your email. Daily backups of the database are kept for about two weeks, so a copy can stay there until it rolls off. Payment records are kept by our payment provider, and as tax rules require.
Your choices
You can change your Biography at any time, delete any piece, and delete your whole account. To get a copy of your information, correct something you can't edit yourself, or ask a question, email myfieldjournalcommunity@gmail.com.
If you're unhappy with how we've handled your information, you can also contact the privacy commissioner where you live. In Canada, that's the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada or your province's commissioner.
Sensitive places
Please think before naming exact spots for nests, dens, rare plants, private land or someone's favourite fishing hole. A valley or a town is usually enough. If you see a piece that gives away a sensitive place, you can report it.
Children
Field Journal isn't designed for children. If you think a child has shared personal information here, please email us and we'll remove it.
Keeping it safe
Database rules decide who can see what, so private information isn't simply hidden on the screen. No website is perfectly secure. If something ever goes wrong that affects your information, we'll tell you as the law requires.
Changes
If this policy changes, the date at the top will change too, and we'll mention bigger changes on the site.