Effective Date: March 2025
Who We Are & Our Commitment to Data Privacy and Security
The International Distance Education Benchmark Project (IDEBP) operates the website http://idebp.org. Our mission is to support educational institutions through data privacy and security measures while providing data-driven benchmarking and strategic insights. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect your information when you visit our website.
What Data We Collect & Why
Comments & Communication
When visitors leave comments on the site, we collect the data provided in the comment form, along with the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to assist in spam detection. An anonymized string created from your email address (a hash) may be sent to the Gravatar service to check if you use it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available here.
Media Uploads
If you upload images to our website, please avoid uploading images that contain embedded location data (EXIF GPS). Other visitors may be able to extract location data from uploaded images.
Cookies & Tracking Technologies
If you leave a comment, you may opt-in to saving your name, email address, and website in cookies for convenience. These cookies last for one year. Additional cookies are used for login sessions and website functionality, and they do not store personal information beyond session-related data.
If you log in, we will set up cookies to save your login information and display settings. Login cookies last for two days, while screen settings cookies last for one year. Selecting “Remember Me” keeps your login active for two weeks. Logging out removes these cookies.
If you edit or publish an article, a cookie will be stored in your browser to track the article’s post ID. This expires after one day.
Embedded Content From Other Websites
Articles on this site may include embedded content such as videos, images, or articles. Embedded content from other websites behaves the same as if the visitor had accessed the external site. These third-party websites may collect data, use cookies, embed additional tracking, and monitor your interaction with their content.
Who We Share Your Data With
If you request a password reset, your IP address will be included in the reset email. We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data.
How Long We Retain Your Data
- Comments and associated metadata are retained indefinitely to recognize and approve follow-up comments automatically.
- If users register on our website, we store the personal information provided in their user profile. Users can view, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (except for usernames). Website administrators can also see and edit this information.
Your Data Rights
If you have an account or have left comments, you can request an exported file of the personal data we hold about you. You may also request that we erase any personal data we hold about you. This does not include data we must retain for administrative, legal, or security purposes.
International Data Transfers & Compliance
As IDEBP works with institutions globally, data collected may be processed in different countries. By using our website, you consent to your data being stored and processed in accordance with applicable international data protection laws, including GDPR and other relevant privacy frameworks.
How We Protect Your Data
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include encryption, access controls, and routine security audits. However, no data transmission over the internet can be guaranteed 100% secure.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Effective Date.”
Contact Us
For questions regarding this policy, contact us here.