Information Collected by DOT

What Information DOT Collects from You

While you are visiting the DOT’s Web site, we will automatically collect information about your visit that does not identify you personally. We can tell the computer, browser, and web service you are using. We also know the date, time, and pages you visit. Collecting this information helps us design the site to suit your needs. In the event of a known security or virus threat, we may collect information on the web content you view.

Some of your additional rights under the Privacy Act include:

• A clear indication of whether information that a page requests of you is voluntary or mandatory.
• A clear indication of how to grant your consent when asked for information, such as with a check box next to the words “I Agree” or some other indication that you are willingly providing information.
• What specific personal information, such as your name or social security number, will be stored in a system of records.
• Notification that your information might be shared with authorized law enforcement or the Department of Homeland Security.

Why the DOT Collects Information from You

Our principal purpose for collecting personal information online is to provide you with what you need and want, address security and virus concerns, and to ease the use of our website.

Additional reasons we collect information include:

• Respond to your complaints
• Reply to your “feedback comments”
• Manage your access to restricted areas of the website
• Fulfill requests for reports and other similar information
• Address security or virus threats
• Register you for a member account

Sharing Your Information

We may share personally identifiable information you provide to us online with representatives within DOT’s Operating Administrations and related entities, other federal government agencies, or other named representatives as needed to speed your request or transaction. In a government-wide effort to combat security and virus threats, we may share some information we collect automatically, such as IP address, with other federal government agencies.