This Privacy Policy explains how Integrity Index, available at IntegrityIndex.co.za, may process personal information in connection with the website, its public-interest profiles, source-based records, correspondence, technical operation and related activities.
This policy is written for a website that is primarily accessible to the public without user accounts, subscriptions or ordinary visitor submissions. It also covers situations where a person chooses to contact Integrity Index, requests a correction, submits a right of reply, or where Integrity Index processes publicly available information about public figures for accountability purposes.
1. Responsible party and contact
For purposes of this Privacy Policy, the responsible party for the website is Integrity Index, a public-interest project associated with Future Insights. Privacy enquiries, correction requests, access requests and related communications may be sent to info@futureinsights.co.za.
2. Scope of this policy
This policy applies to:
- ordinary visitors who access or browse the website;
- public figures, public officials, elected representatives and other identifiable persons who may be profiled or referred to on the website;
- persons who contact Integrity Index by email or other channels;
- persons who submit correction requests, updates, complaints, right-of-reply material or source information;
- technical information processed when the website is accessed, secured, maintained or analysed.
3. Personal information processed
Integrity Index may process the following categories of personal information, depending on the context:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Public profile information | Name, party, office, role, committee membership, public biography, public declarations of interest, public statements, public office history and other public-role information. |
| Public accountability information | Publicly available information about convictions, charges, investigations, ethics findings, official reports, court matters, declarations, conflicts of interest, allegations, corrections and right-of-reply material. |
| Source and evidence information | Source links, document names, publication dates, dates accessed, source reliability classifications, summaries and metadata needed to verify claims. |
| Contact information | Email address, name, organisation, role, telephone number or other details voluntarily provided when contacting Integrity Index. |
| Correction and reply information | Information supplied in correction requests, right-of-reply submissions, supporting documents, source links and correspondence. |
| Technical information | IP address, browser type, device information, log data, security events, approximate location derived from technical data, cookies or analytics information where used. |
4. Sources of personal information
Personal information may be collected from:
- official public sources such as Parliament, courts, regulators, commissions of inquiry, public registers, government departments, law-enforcement statements and public-sector reports;
- reputable media sources and public-interest journalism;
- civil society, research, transparency and accountability organisations;
- publicly available datasets, archives, reports, documents and websites;
- the person concerned, their representative or another person submitting a correction, update or right of reply;
- technical systems used to operate, secure and maintain the website.
5. Purpose of processing
Integrity Index processes personal information for the following purposes:
- to operate a public-interest accountability and transparency website;
- to create, update, verify and display public profiles of public figures and public officials;
- to organise source-based information about public accountability, integrity, conflicts of interest, public office and public conduct;
- to calculate, explain, review and update integrity, accountability, risk or transparency scores;
- to distinguish between allegations, investigations, charges, findings, convictions, dismissals, corrections and replies;
- to maintain source records, evidence tables, audit trails, score histories and changelogs;
- to process correction requests, privacy enquiries, right-of-reply submissions and disputes;
- to secure, maintain, improve and analyse the website;
- to comply with applicable legal obligations and enforce website terms.
6. Legal basis and public-interest basis
Integrity Index processes personal information on grounds that may include legitimate interests, public interest, accountability, transparency, freedom of expression, access to publicly available information, compliance with legal obligations, consent where a person voluntarily provides information, and other lawful grounds recognised by applicable South African law.
The website focuses on persons who hold or seek public power, public office or public influence. Public figures and public officials have a reduced expectation of privacy in relation to matters relevant to their public functions, public conduct, public accountability, integrity, conflicts of interest and use of public power. Integrity Index nevertheless aims to process information that is relevant, source-based, proportionate and not excessive for the stated public-interest purpose.
7. Special personal information and criminal behaviour information
Where the website refers to criminal charges, convictions, investigations, alleged misconduct or similar matters, Integrity Index aims to do so only where the information is relevant to public accountability, is publicly available or otherwise lawfully processable, and is presented with appropriate context and source references.
Integrity Index does not intend to publish unnecessary private information, irrelevant personal details, home addresses, identity numbers, private contact details, private family details, medical information or other information that is not relevant to the public-interest purpose of the website.
8. Accuracy, context and minimality
Integrity Index aims to keep personal information adequate, relevant, not excessive and reasonably accurate for the purpose for which it is processed. Profiles should, where practical, include context that distinguishes between allegations, investigations, charges, findings, convictions, cleared matters and disputed matters.
Because public information changes over time, some information may become outdated, incomplete or inaccurate. Integrity Index may update, correct, archive, reclassify or remove information where appropriate.
9. AI-assisted processing
Integrity Index may use automated tools, AI-assisted systems, search tools, classification tools, data extraction tools and scheduled update systems to help identify, organise, summarise and classify public-source information.
AI-assisted systems may assist with scoring, classification and updates, but Integrity Index aims to maintain evidence-based workflows, source links, confidence ratings and review procedures. Sensitive or high-risk entries may be flagged for additional review before publication or update.
10. Cookies, analytics and technical logs
The website may use basic technical logs, security tools, hosting logs, analytics tools or cookies to operate and protect the website, understand usage, prevent abuse, improve performance and diagnose technical problems.
If optional analytics or non-essential cookies are introduced, Integrity Index may update this Privacy Policy or provide additional notice where required. Browser settings may allow users to block or delete cookies, although this may affect some website functions.
11. Sharing of personal information
Integrity Index may share or make available personal information in the following limited contexts:
- by publishing public-interest profile information, source summaries, scores and evidence references on the website;
- with hosting providers, website service providers, security tools, analytics providers, contractors or technical service providers who help operate the website;
- with reviewers, contributors or authorised persons assisting with verification, correction, scoring or editorial workflows;
- where required by law, court order, regulator, lawful process or to protect legal rights;
- where necessary to respond to a correction request, right-of-reply request, dispute or privacy enquiry.
12. Cross-border processing
The website, hosting, email, analytics, backup, security or technical service providers may be located in South Africa or in other countries. Where personal information is processed outside South Africa, Integrity Index aims to use service providers and safeguards appropriate to the nature and purpose of the processing.
13. Retention
Integrity Index may retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the public-interest purpose of the website, source verification, correction history, audit trails, score history, legal compliance, dispute handling, security, archiving and accountability.
Public accountability information may remain relevant for extended periods, particularly where it relates to public office, public funds, official findings, convictions, public reports or historical accountability. Information may be archived, updated, contextualised or removed where it is no longer relevant, accurate or proportionate.
14. Security
Integrity Index aims to use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, unauthorised access, misuse, alteration, disclosure or destruction. No website, email system, hosting platform or internet transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
15. Rights of data subjects and affected persons
Subject to applicable law, a person may request access to their personal information, correction of inaccurate information, deletion or removal where appropriate, restriction or objection to processing, or review of a profile, classification, source reference or score.
Requests may be sent to info@futureinsights.co.za. A request should identify the person concerned, the relevant page or profile, the specific information at issue, the requested action, and the supporting documents or source links. Integrity Index may need to verify the identity or authority of the person making the request before acting on it.
16. Correction and right-of-reply process
Integrity Index may respond to a correction or right-of-reply request by correcting an error, adding context, updating a profile, adding a note that information is disputed, publishing a reply, changing a classification, recalculating a score, removing irrelevant information, or declining the request where it is unsupported or inconsistent with the public-interest purpose of the website.
Integrity Index may keep a record of correction requests, decisions, changes and supporting information for audit, accountability and dispute-management purposes.
17. Children
The website is not directed at children and does not intentionally collect children's personal information from ordinary visitors. Integrity Index does not intend to profile children. If information relating to a child is identified, it should only be processed where lawful, necessary and directly relevant to a public-interest purpose.
18. Complaints
Privacy-related concerns should first be raised with Integrity Index at info@futureinsights.co.za. A person may also have the right to approach the Information Regulator of South Africa or another competent authority where applicable.
19. Changes to this Privacy Policy
Integrity Index may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in law, website functionality, data practices, scoring methodology, contact details or operational requirements. The updated version will apply from the date of publication unless stated otherwise.
20. Contact
All privacy enquiries, access requests, correction requests, deletion requests, right-of-reply requests and related communications may be sent to info@futureinsights.co.za.