UPDATED AUGUST 31, 2026
Privacy policy
CarolinaFlu.org collects information needed to administer the open letter, receive private offers of assistance and investigative leads, protect the integrity of its forms, and operate the project.
Signature information
When you sign, we collect your name, email address, ZIP or postal code, country or territory, optional affiliation, optional city and state, any optional signer comment, your public-display choices, consent version, and submission time. Your name, affiliation, location, and comment appear only according to the display choices you make and after administrative review. An authorized comment may be lightly edited for spelling, length, clarity, or safety without changing its meaning; the original submission is retained privately. Your email address, ZIP or postal code, and country are never displayed individually. Country and postal information may be used to publish aggregate signer statistics.
Private comment invitations
We may send existing signers a one-time invitation to add an optional comment to their signature. This administrative message does not enroll anyone in an email campaign. Each invitation uses a random, one-use private link that expires after 30 days. We store only a cryptographic hash of the link token. The link may be used to submit a comment for review and choose whether that comment is attributed by name or anonymously; it does not change how the original signature appears. Invitation pages are excluded from public analytics tracking.
Volunteer information
If you volunteer expertise, we collect the contact, background, skills, availability, and descriptive information you submit. Volunteer records are stored separately from public signatures, remain private, and are used only to evaluate your offer and contact you about possible assistance. They are not shared publicly without your permission.
Leads and source information
If you share a lead, we store the information and any optional identity or contact details you provide in a private administrative record. A lead may be submitted without a name, but we cannot guarantee complete technical anonymity or legal confidentiality. Leads are treated as unverified until corroborated; submitting a lead does not authorize us to publish or attribute your identity.
Security and abuse prevention
We create a privacy-preserving hashed network token for form submissions to help limit automated abuse. Service providers may process limited data as necessary to host, secure, and maintain the site. Administrative access is restricted to the project owner.
How we use information
We use submitted information only to operate and protect the open letter, evaluate volunteer offers and leads, communicate when authorized, and maintain project records. We do not sell personal information or use it for unrelated marketing.
Retention
Records are retained while relevant to the project and as reasonably necessary for integrity, security, review, and recordkeeping. Signers may request correction or removal through the project’s published contact channel; removed signatures are excluded from the public count.
Children and changes
This site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information. We may update this policy as the project develops; the date above identifies the current version.