Last updated: October 25, 2026
Georgia Prisoners’ Speak (“GPS,” “we,” “us”) is the public-facing brand of The GDC Accountability Project, Inc. We are an accountability-journalism organization, and protecting the people who trust us — sources, incarcerated contributors, families, and readers — is central to everything we do. This policy explains what limited information we collect through this website and how we handle it.
Source and contributor confidentiality
This comes first because it matters most. We do not publish information that could identify a confidential source, an incarcerated contributor, a tipster, or a family member without their informed consent. We use pen names and withhold identifying details where publishing them could put someone at risk. Communications you send us in confidence are treated as confidential. For more on how we handle sources and anonymity, see our Editorial Standards & Ethics.
Information we collect
- Privacy-first analytics. We use Koko Analytics, a self-hosted, cookieless analytics tool that records aggregate page views and referrers without storing personal data, IP addresses, or cross-site identifiers.
- Google Analytics. We also use Google Analytics to understand aggregate traffic. Google may set cookies and process data under its own policies; we configure it to limit the data collected and do not use it to identify individual readers.
- Information you give us. If you contact us, submit a report or tip, sign up for updates, or use a form on this site, we collect what you choose to provide (such as a name, email, or message). You decide what to share, and you can share anonymously.
- Standard server logs. Like most websites, our host may keep basic technical logs for security and reliability.
How we use information
- To operate, secure, and improve this website.
- To understand, in aggregate, which reporting reaches people.
- To respond to you when you contact us or submit information.
- To send updates only if you ask us to.
We do not sell or rent your personal information, and we do not share it except as needed to operate the site (for example, our hosting and analytics providers) or where required by law.
Text messages (SMS/MMS) and calls
When you text GPS’s text line — or call it — here is what we keep and why.
- What we collect. The number you text from, the date and time, your messages, and any photos or video you send. If you call the line, GPS’s automated voice assistant answers and we keep a written transcript of what was said; we do not keep your caller ID. The voice service’s own copy of the call is deleted once our transcript is saved.
- How we use it. To read your report and act on it, to reply to you in the same conversation, and, only if you sign up, to send you alerts. Reports are confidential: they are read only by the people at GPS who handle reports, and the names of people in them stay internal unless you agree otherwise.
- No marketing sharing. No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties. Our phone and messaging provider handles texts and calls only to deliver them.
- How long we keep it. Reports, and the messages, photos and video that came with them, are kept with our case records for as long as we need them for our reporting and records. If you text STOP, we keep a record of that so we never text you again. You can ask us to delete your messages and number by contacting us.
- Opting out. Reply STOP to any GPS text to stop all texts from us; reply HELP for help. Msg & data rates may apply.
Cookies
Our own analytics (Koko) does not use cookies. Some third-party services, such as Google Analytics or embedded media, may set cookies. You can control or block cookies through your browser settings.
Third-party services
We rely on a small number of service providers to run this site, including our web host and Google Analytics. These providers process data under their own privacy policies. We may also link to external sites; this policy does not cover their practices.
YouTube
GPS uses YouTube API Services to upload our own videos to the Georgia Prisoners’ Speak YouTube channel and to read that channel’s details. We don’t use YouTube API Services to collect information about visitors, viewers or anyone else. If you watch GPS videos on YouTube, YouTube’s Terms of Service and Google’s Privacy Policy apply. The access GPS uses is held on our own server, is limited to uploading and reading our own channel, and can be withdrawn at any time in Google’s security settings. We don’t store YouTube data about other people.
Data retention and security
We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purpose it was given, and we take reasonable measures to protect it. No method of transmission or storage is perfectly secure, but we treat sensitive communications with particular care.
Your choices
You can browse this site without giving us personal information. You can opt out of any updates at any time, and you can ask us what information we hold about you, or to correct or delete it, by contacting us. To opt out of Google Analytics across sites, you can use Google’s browser add-on.
Children
This site is intended for a general adult audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. We will revise the “last updated” date above when we do.
Contact
Questions about this policy or your information? Reach us through our Contact page.
This is the privacy policy for the Georgia Prisoners’ Speak website. The Lighthouse app has its own privacy policy.