Privacy Policy

Last updated: December 8, 2025

This Privacy Policy explains how the Cook County, Illinois website, located at cookil.org (“we,” “us,” or “our”), collects, uses, and protects information when you visit or use our website (the “Site”). By accessing or using the Site, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not use the Site.

Our mission is to provide convenient access to resources, tools, contact details, and frequently asked questions related to Cook County, Illinois. We are committed to handling information about our visitors responsibly and transparently.

Information We Do Not Collect

We do not require user registration to access the Site. You can browse and use the resources on cookil.org without creating an account or providing personal details such as your name, phone number, mailing address, or similar direct identifiers.

We do not ask you to submit personal information through forms for the general use of the Site. If in the future we offer optional features that require you to provide information (for example, a newsletter subscription or feedback form), those will be clearly labeled, and this Privacy Policy will be updated accordingly.

Information We Collect Automatically

Although we do not intentionally seek to identify individual visitors, certain information is collected automatically when you visit the Site. This information helps us understand how the Site is used and supports our efforts to improve performance, security, and user experience.

The automatically collected information may include:

Internet Protocol (IP) address
Browser type and version
Device type and operating system
Language settings
Pages viewed and links clicked
The date and time of your visit
Referring and exit pages
General geographic location (such as city or region) derived from your IP address

This information is typically collected through cookies, log files, and similar technologies as described in more detail below.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to make the Site function effectively and to gain insight into how it is used. Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website.

We may use:

Essential cookies to enable core site functionality, such as page navigation and basic access to secure areas of the Site.

Analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with the Site, which pages are most frequently visited, and where users may encounter issues.

Advertising cookies in connection with Google AdSense to deliver and measure advertisements.

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality or performance of some parts of the Site.

Use of Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, to help us analyze how visitors use the Site. Google Analytics collects information such as:

Device type
Browser type
Operating system
IP address (which may be truncated or anonymized in some jurisdictions)
Pages visited and time spent on each page
Links clicked and other interactions

This information is processed by Google on our behalf to provide aggregated reports and statistics about Site usage. We use these insights to:

Understand how visitors find and use our Site
Monitor overall traffic and performance
Improve navigation, content, and functionality

Google may also use the data it collects in accordance with its own privacy practices. To learn more about how Google collects and processes data in connection with Google Analytics, please refer to Google’s privacy documentation. Many browsers and third-party tools also allow you to opt out of or limit Analytics tracking.

Use of Google AdSense

We use Google AdSense to display advertisements on the Site. AdSense may use cookies and similar technologies to:

Display ads based on your previous visits to this and other websites
Measure the effectiveness of advertisements
Prevent showing the same ads too frequently

These cookies may enable Google and its partners to serve ads based on your interests, inferred from your browsing history and other online activity. Where required by applicable law, certain ad personalization features may be limited or disabled, and you may be given additional choices.

You can adjust your ad preferences through your Google account settings or via tools offered by various industry organizations that provide options to opt out of interest-based advertising. Please note that choosing to opt out does not remove advertising entirely; it may instead result in less tailored ads.

How We Use Information

We use aggregated and pseudonymous information collected through our Site to:

Operate, maintain, and secure the Site
Monitor Site performance and usage trends
Diagnose technical issues and prevent fraud or abuse
Improve navigation, layout, and content
Better understand the needs and interests of our visitors

We do not use the information we collect to build profiles that directly identify individual visitors, nor do we sell personal information to third parties.

Sharing of Information

We may share information with:

Service providers and vendors that assist us in operating the Site, such as analytics and advertising partners (including Google), subject to contractual obligations to handle the data appropriately.

Government authorities or other third parties when required to comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or governmental requests, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of us, our users, or others.

Other third parties in an aggregated or anonymized form that does not reasonably identify you personally.

We do not disclose visitors’ direct contact information because we do not collect it in the normal operation of the Site.

Links to Other Websites

The Site may contain links to other websites, resources, or services provided by third parties. These external sites are not controlled by us, and their privacy practices may differ from ours. When you follow a link to a third-party website, you are subject to that website’s own policies and terms.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit before providing them with any information.

Data Retention and Security

We retain analytics and log information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect information against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, or unauthorized access. However, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Children’s Privacy

The Site is intended for a general audience and is not directed toward children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have unintentionally collected information from a child under 13, we will take reasonable steps to delete it as soon as practicable.

If you believe a child has provided information through our Site, please contact us using the details provided below.

International Visitors

The Site is operated from within the United States. If you access the Site from outside the United States, you understand that your information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate. Data protection laws in these jurisdictions may differ from those in your country of residence.

By using the Site, you consent to the transfer and processing of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable law.

Your Choices and Controls

Depending on your browser and device, you may be able to:

Block or delete cookies

Use “Do Not Track” or similar settings (although our Site may not respond to all such signals)

Install browser extensions or add-ons to limit tracking or advertisements

You can also manage your preferences for interest-based advertising and some analytics tools using settings provided by your browser, device, or third-party services.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will revise the “Last updated” date at the top of this page.

Your continued use of the Site after any changes are posted will signify your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed.

Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or our data practices, you may contact us by email at: cookilorg@hotmail.com