Privacy and Security

Privacy & Security 

Thank you for visiting mdes.ms.gov and reviewing our Privacy Notice. This notice addresses collection, use, security of, and access to information that may be obtained through your use of the mdes.ms.gov portal. You understand and agree that in addition to this mdes.ms.gov Privacy Notice, each state agency or institution Web site you visit may have a unique Privacy Notice.

This notice covers the following topics:

Information Collected and How it is Used
Personal Information and Choice
Public Disclosure
Access and Correction of Personal Information
Cookies
Security
Disclaimer
Contact Information

Information Collected and How it is Used

If you do nothing during your visit to mdes.ms.gov but browse or download information, we automatically collect and store the following information about your visit:

We use your e-mail address to respond appropriately. This may be to respond to you, to address issues you identify, to further improve our Web site, or to forward the e-mail to another agency for appropriate action.

Personally Identifiable Information and Choice

"Personally Identifiable Information" is information about a natural person that is readily identifiable to that specific individual.

Personally Identifiable Information includes, but is not limited to, such things as an individual's name, address, and phone number.

A domain name or Internet Protocol address is not considered personal information.

We collect no Personally Identifiable Information about you unless you voluntarily participate in an activity that asks for information (i.e. sending an e-mail). If you choose not to participate in these activities, your choice will in no way affect your ability to use any other functions of mdes.ms.gov.

If Personally Identifiable Information is requested on the Web site or volunteered by the user, state law and the federal Privacy Act of 1974 may protect it. However, this information is a public record once you provide it, and may be subject to public inspection and copying if not protected by federal or state law.

Public Disclosure

In accordance with the laws of the State of Mississippi, mdes.ms.gov will ensure that government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by the state. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public's right to access public records that serve various needs including the privacy of individuals. Both state and federal laws provide exceptions.

All information collected at this site becomes public records that may be subject to inspection and copying by the public, unless an exemption in law exists.

Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available for public inspection and copying all public records unless the record falls within the specific exemptions. See Section 25-61-1 and following of the Mississippi Code Annotated for the Mississippi Public Records Act.

With respect to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, Mississippi Department of Employment Security makes every effort to ensure compliance with applicable Federal law, including, but not limited to, The Privacy Act of 1974, The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and The Freedom of Information Act.

Wage and other confidential unemployment  claim information may be requested and utilized for other governmental purposes, including, but not limited to, verification of eligibility for other government programs pursuant to 20 CFR 603.11.

In the event of a conflict between this Privacy Notice and the Public Records Act or other law governing the disclosure of records, the Public Records Act or other applicable law will control. 

Access and Correction of Personal Information

You can review any personal information we collect about you. You may recommend changes to your personal information you believe in error by submitting a written request that credibly shows the error. If you believe that your personal information is being used for a purpose other than what was intended when submitted, you may contact us. In all cases, we will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections. See Contact Information section. 

Cookies

To better serve users many Web sites use "cookies" to customize your browsing experience. Cookies are simple text files stored on your computer by your Web browser. These files identify you as a unique user and track your movements through the site. This technology allows us to verify your transaction requests and walk you through some of the functions on the portal.

The mdes.ms.gov uses cookies. These cookies are temporary in nature and expire at the end of a session. If your browser has cookies disabled, information will be provided to you on how to enable your browser to accept cookies. 

Security

The Mississippi Department of Employment Security, as manager of mdes.ms.gov, has taken several steps to safeguard the integrity of its telecommunications and computing infrastructure, including but not limited to authentication, monitoring, auditing, and encryption. Security measures have been integrated into the design, implementation, and day-to-day practices of the entire portal operating environment. One of the key features is the use of SSL (Secure Socket Layer) for transmission of confidential information.

This information should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided at mdes.ms.gov.

For security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, our Web site also employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage.

Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on this service are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and The National Information Infrastructure Protection Act of 1996.

Disclaimer

The mdes.ms.gov could provide links to other Web sites. These include links to Web sites operated by other government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private businesses. Please be aware that we do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Further, the inclusion of pointers to particular items in hypertext is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed or products or services offered by the author of the reference or the organization operating the site on which the reference is maintained.

When you link to another site, you are no longer on mdes.ms.gov and this Privacy Notice will not apply. When you link to another Web site, you are subject to the privacy policy of that new site. 

The MDES.ms.gov Contact Information

To access your Personally Identifiable Information we collect, if any, or to request correction of factual errors in your Personally Identifiable Information or should you need further information on our Privacy Policy, please contact us.

Mail to:

Mississippi Department of Employment Security
ATTN: Communications Department
1235 Echelon Parkway
P.O. Box 1699
Jackson, MS 39215-1699
Telephone: (601) 321-6000

The Mississippi Department of Employment Security is an equal opportunity employer. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.