Privacy & Data Collection Policy

1. Introduction

1990 Web Archive ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy while preserving the digital heritage of the early internet. This Privacy & Data Collection Policy outlines how we gather, use, store, and safeguard information when you interact with our services, browse archived content, or manage an account.

By accessing or using our platform, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy. We may update this document periodically; continued use of our services following updates constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Public Web Archive Data

Our core function involves crawling and preserving publicly accessible websites. This includes HTML documents, images, scripts, metadata, and structural layouts. All archived content is stored read-only and tagged with timestamps, source URLs, and preservation hashes.

2.2 User-Provided Information

When you register, submit a crawl request, or contact support, we may collect:

• Account credentials (username, encrypted password)
• Communication preferences and support tickets
• Target URLs or collections you designate for archival

2.3 Automatic & Log Data

Our servers automatically record operational data to maintain service integrity:

• IP addresses and geolocation (approximate)
• Device type, browser headers, and OS information
• Search queries, page views, and navigation paths
• Error logs and API request timestamps

3. How We Use Your Data

We utilize collected information strictly for the following purposes:

• Service Delivery: Processing archival requests, rendering historical pages, and maintaining account functionality.
• Research & Preservation: Analyzing web evolution trends and optimizing crawling algorithms.
• Security & Compliance: Detecting abuse, preventing unauthorized access, and adhering to legal obligations.
• Communication: Sending service notifications, policy updates, and responding to inquiries.

4. Data Sharing & Third-Party Services

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data. Information may only be shared with:

• Infrastructure Providers: Secure cloud storage, CDN, and analytics partners bound by strict data processing agreements.
• Legal Authorities: When required by court order, subpoena, or to prevent imminent harm.
• Open Research Initiatives: Anonymized, aggregated datasets may be published for academic study, ensuring no individual or source is identifiable.

5. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our platform uses essential cookies to maintain session state and authentication. We also employ optional analytics cookies to understand user engagement. You may disable or manage cookies through your browser settings, though this may impact certain features like personalized collections or persistent search filters.

6. Your Rights & Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may exercise the following rights:

• Access & Portability: Request a copy of your personal data in a machine-readable format.
• Correction & Update: Modify inaccurate account or profile information.
• Deletion: Request removal of your account and associated data, subject to legal retention requirements.
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications or disable analytics tracking via privacy settings.

To exercise these rights, contact our privacy team at privacy@1990webarchive.net. We will respond within 30 days.

7. Data Security & Retention

We implement industry-standard security measures including AES-256 encryption for data at rest, TLS 1.3 for transit, role-based access controls, and regular third-party penetration testing. Archive content is retained indefinitely unless legally challenged or explicitly retracted by verified rights holders. User logs are automatically purged after 24 months unless flagged for security review.

8. Contact & Updates

This policy was last updated on October 15, 2024. Major revisions will be communicated via platform notifications and email. For questions, audits, or data requests, reach out through the contact box below.