Last updated: 31 Jul 2025
LookingBackwards is a family-run genealogy website operated by Ashleigh and Katrina Mitchell, along with contributions from our extended family. Our website address is: https://lookingbackwards.net. We are committed to protecting your privacy while responsibly preserving and sharing our collective family history.
1. Purpose of This Policy
This website documents the names, relationships, and key life events (births, marriages, deaths) of our ancestors and extended family members. While we encourage shared discovery, we also place a high priority on protecting the privacy of living individuals.
2. Who We Are
We are Ashleigh and Katrina Mitchell, creators and caretakers of this family project. We welcome contributions from our relatives and community to build an accurate, respectful archive of our heritage.
3. What Personal Data We Collect and Why
Comments
When visitors leave comments, we collect the data shown in the comment form, along with your IP address and browser user agent to assist with spam detection.
If you use Gravatar, an anonymized hash of your email address may be sent to their service to check for an associated image. Gravatar’s privacy policy applies. Once your comment is approved, your Gravatar profile picture may appear publicly.
Media
If you upload images, avoid including location metadata (EXIF GPS), as it can be extracted by other visitors.
Embedded Content
Articles may include embedded media (e.g., videos, images, maps). Such content behaves as if you visited the source site directly and may collect data or track your interaction according to their own policies.
4. Suppression of Personal Data (Genealogy Specific)
To protect the privacy of the living:
- Anyone born within the past 100 years and without a recorded death date is presumed living
- For living individuals, the site suppresses:
- Names
- Birth, marriage, and other personal dates or notes
- Photographs and biographies
Users who do not wish to have any data stored must request complete exclusion, as suppression cannot prevent record creation.
5. Who Can Access Personal Data
Access to personal information is restricted:
- Only registered users may view sensitive genealogical content
- Access is limited to your own family branch, and registration requires stating your relationship to someone already listed
Typical access includes:
- You, your spouse, descendants, parents, grandparents
- Aunts/uncles, siblings, nieces/nephews, first cousins and their spouses
(But not their children unless explicitly permitted)
Spouses may need separate logins to view their own lineage.
6. Data Security, Retention, and Your Rights
- Your private information (e.g., email, address, phone) is stored securely and never shared unless legally required.
- Comments and metadata are retained indefinitely; registered users can update or delete their personal data (except usernames).
- You may request:
- An export of your data
- Correction or deletion (where legally permissible)
7. Cookie Policy
This section provides comprehensive information about how we use cookies on our website to enhance your browsing experience, improve performance, and deliver personalized content.
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit our site. They help us understand how visitors interact with the site and enable essential features. We are committed to transparency in how we use cookies.
For more information about your privacy rights, please refer to the rest of this Privacy Policy.
Essential Cookies
These enable core functionality and must be accepted for the site to function.
| Cookie ID | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| wpconsent_preferences | Stores the user’s cookie consent preferences | 30 days |
Comments
These cookies support the comment functionality.
| Cookie ID | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| comment_author | Tracks the commenter across sessions | Session |
| comment_author_email | Tracks the commenter’s email across sessions | Session |
| comment_author_url | Tracks the commenter’s website across sessions | Session |
Google reCAPTCHA
Used to prevent spam and abuse.
| Cookie ID | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _GRECAPTCHA | Sets a necessary cookie when executed for risk analysis | 179 days |
Login Cookies
Manage login and user session preferences.
| Cookie ID | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| wordpress_logged_in | Tracks logged-in user sessions | Persistent |
| wordpress_sec | Tracks login across multiple sessions | 15 days |
| wordpress_test_cookie | Tests whether the browser accepts cookies | Session |
8. Analytics and Spam Detection
We may use automated tools (e.g., spam filters and anonymized analytics) to:
- Improve site performance
- Prevent abuse
- Monitor visitor patterns
These tools do not store personally identifiable data.
9. User Restrictions and Copyright
By using this site, you agree to:
- Use its content only for personal genealogical research
- Not share login credentials beyond your immediate household
- Not republish any materials without written permission from:
- The site owner
- The content creator
- Any living person referenced or shown
You must credit this site in any derivative work and link to https://lookingbackwards.net.
10. Disclaimer
We strive for accuracy, but genealogy is an evolving process. Some entries may be incomplete or speculative. Please:
- Verify key facts independently
- Notify us of errors or concerns
- Understand we are not responsible for external content or third-party use of site materials
11. Contact Us
Site Owner: Ashleigh R. Mitchell
Email: [Insert contact email]
Website: https://lookingbackwards.net
12. Attribution
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