We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Philip Chapman please sign in and let everyone know.

Collection of Petition Signatory Location Data

We're waiting for Philip Chapman to read a recent response and update the status.

Dear House of Commons,
You provide a link to the raw json data that comprises a petition (for example: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions...). Inside that data you show the number of signatures ("signature_count") by country. On the petition form you request the user's postcode and country. It would also be possible in most circumstances to determine the user's location via their IP address.

Can you tell me:
1) The reasons for requesting the user's country location using 'both' the postcode and a dropdown list.
2) What do you do if the 2 country locations don't match up?
3) Do you store the IP address of the submitted form in any format?
4) If the answer to the above question is "Yes" then a) why do you store it, b) do you perform any form of IP-address location using the IP address, and c) what do you do if the IP address location doesn't match the postcode or country selection?
5) What value does the country location information have for the purposes of the petition?

Please note that my questions concern the Country location data, and not the Region or Constituency locations.

Yours faithfully,
Philip Chapman

FOI Commons, House of Commons

Dear Mr Chapman,

 

Freedom of Information request F21-070

 

Thank you for your request for information dated 10 February 2021,
received by us on the same date, which is copied below.

 

We will endeavour to respond to your request promptly but in any case
within 20 working days i.e. on or before 10 March 2021.

 

If you have any queries about your request, please use the request number
quoted above and in the subject line of this email.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

We will work hard to answer your information rights requests during the
current COVID 19 situation in line with statutory requirements, however
some requests may be affected by access to collections and availability of
staff. We will keep you informed of any identified delays in answering
your request.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Sarah Price

IRIS Support Officer
Information Rights and Information Security (IRIS) Service | House of
Commons

 

[1]www.parliament.uk | [2]@ukparliament | [3]@houseofcommons

[4]House of Commons Privacy Notice for the Public

[5]Supporting a thriving parliamentary democracy

 

 

 

From: Philip Chapman <[FOI #725931 email]>
Sent: 10 February 2021 08:31
To: FOI Commons <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Collection of Petition Signatory
Location Data

 

Dear House of Commons,
You provide a link to the raw json data that comprises a petition (for
example: [6]https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions...). Inside
that data you show the number of signatures ("signature_count") by
country. On the petition form you request the user's postcode and country.
It would also be possible in most circumstances to determine the user's
location via their IP address.

Can you tell me:
1) The reasons for requesting the user's country location using 'both' the
postcode and a dropdown list.
2) What do you do if the 2 country locations don't match up?
3) Do you store the IP address of the submitted form in any format?
4) If the answer to the above question is "Yes" then a) why do you store
it, b) do you perform any form of IP-address location using the IP
address, and c) what do you do if the IP address location doesn't match
the postcode or country selection?
5) What value does the country location information have for the purposes
of the petition?

Please note that my questions concern the Country location data, and not
the Region or Constituency locations.

Yours faithfully,
Philip Chapman

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[7][FOI #725931 email]

Is [8][House of Commons request email] the wrong address for Freedom of
Information requests to House of Commons? If so, please contact us using
this form:
[9]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/change_re...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[10]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
[11]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections

FOI Commons, House of Commons

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Chapman,

 

Freedom of Information Request F21-070

 

Thank you for your request for information as copied below. You have asked
the House of Commons five questions concerning the use of data submitted
by signatories of e-petitions on the House of Commons’ Petitions’
Committee website. Please find our responses to each of your questions
below.

 

It may help you to know initially that the UK Government and Parliament
e-petitions website is run by the Government Digital Service. It is
therefore more likely that they hold any of the technical information you
are looking for. You may wish to contact them under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 using the contact details listed here:
[1]https://www.gov.uk/government/organisati....

 

 1. [Please provide] the reasons for requesting the user's country
location using 'both' the postcode and a dropdown list.

 

This information is not held by the House of Commons. Please note that,
while we endeavour to be as helpful as possible, the Freedom of
Information Act provides the requester with an access right to recorded
information held by the House of Commons.  It does not extend, for
example, to requests for views, explanations or comments about a
particular matter.  Your request can be in the form of a question, but the
House of Commons does not have to answer your question if this would mean
creating new information, providing analysis or giving an opinion or
judgment that is not already recorded.  Further information can be found
at: [2]http://www.parliament.uk/site-informatio....

 

 2. What do you do if the 2 country locations don't match up?

 

This information is not held by the House of Commons. As above, technical
information about the website, where held, is held by the Government
Digital Service and you may wish to contact them for this information.

 

 3. Do you store the IP address of the submitted form in any format?

and

 4. If the answer to the above question is "Yes" then a) why do you store
it, b) do you perform any form of IP-address location using the IP
address, and c) what do you do if the IP address location doesn't
match the postcode or country selection?

 

This information is held by the House of Commons. The House does not store
the IP address of individuals submitting or signing petitions on the
e-petitions website.

 

As above, technical information about the website, where held, is held by
the Government Digital Service and you may wish to contact them for this
information.

 

 5. What value does the country location information have for the purposes
of the petition?

 

The House of Commons does not already hold information recording an
opinion on your question. Please note that, while we endeavour to be as
helpful as possible, the Freedom of Information Act not oblige the House
of Commons to answer questions if this would mean creating new
information, providing analysis or giving an opinion or judgment that is
not already recorded.  Further guidance for requesters about accessing
information is available here: 
[3]http://ico.org.uk/for_the_public/officia....

 

You may, if dissatisfied with the handling of your request, complain to
the House of Commons. Alternatively, if you are dissatisfied with the
outcome of your request you may ask the House of Commons to conduct an
internal review of any decision regarding your request.  Complaints or
requests for internal review should be addressed to: Information Rights
and Information Security Service, Research & Information Team, House of
Commons, London SW1A 0AA or [4][House of Commons request email].  Please ensure
that you specify the full reasons for your complaint or internal review
along with any arguments or points that you wish to make.

 

If you remain dissatisfied, you may appeal to the Information Commissioner
at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF,
[5]https://ico.org.uk/.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

IRIS Officer 
Informaiton Rights and Information Security (IRIS) | Research and
Information
House of Commons, Palace of Westminster, London SW1A 0AA 
[6]parliament.uk
[7][IMG]

The House of Commons welcomes feedback. If you have any compliments,
complaints or comments,
about the service that you have received please send an email
to [8][email address]

 

From: Philip Chapman <[9][FOI #725931 email]>
Sent: 10 February 2021 08:31
To: FOI Commons <[10][email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Collection of Petition Signatory
Location Data

 

Dear House of Commons,
You provide a link to the raw json data that comprises a petition (for
example: [11]https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions...). Inside
that data you show the number of signatures ("signature_count") by
country. On the petition form you request the user's postcode and country.
It would also be possible in most circumstances to determine the user's
location via their IP address.

Can you tell me:
1) The reasons for requesting the user's country location using 'both' the
postcode and a dropdown list.
2) What do you do if the 2 country locations don't match up?
3) Do you store the IP address of the submitted form in any format?
4) If the answer to the above question is "Yes" then a) why do you store
it, b) do you perform any form of IP-address location using the IP
address, and c) what do you do if the IP address location doesn't match
the postcode or country selection?
5) What value does the country location information have for the purposes
of the petition?

Please note that my questions concern the Country location data, and not
the Region or Constituency locations.

Yours faithfully,
Philip Chapman

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[12][FOI #725931 email]

Is [13][House of Commons request email] the wrong address for Freedom of
Information requests to House of Commons? If so, please contact us using
this form:
[14]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/change_re...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[15]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
[16]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections

We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Philip Chapman please sign in and let everyone know.