WinterGate Intelligence Collective (WIC)
Version 1.0 | Effective Date: 2026-04-19
Operators are permitted to use any and all information that is available from public sources. This includes information found on public websites, social media platforms, public government records (excluding restricted categories listed below), news publications, and other openly available materials.
There is no restriction on the volume, sensitivity, or nature of public information that can be collected and used for investigative purposes, provided it does not fall into the restricted categories defined in Section 2.
The following categories of information are strictly prohibited from collection, regardless of where they are found or their perceived public availability. This is a zero-tolerance rule.
Financial Data:
- Bank account numbers
- Routing numbers
- Credit card numbers
- Any financial transaction data
Government Identification:
- Social Security Numbers (SSN)
- Passport numbers
- Driver's license numbers
- Any government-issued identification numbers
All collected information, for any purpose, must be stored exclusively within the designated secure system, referred to as the Vault.
Requirements:
- The Vault is the only authorized repository.
- No case or investigative data may be stored on personal devices.
- No data may be stored in personal email accounts.
- No physical copies of data are permitted.
- No data may be stored in any other external location.
If restricted information from Section 2 is accidentally collected:
- It must be purged immediately.
- It must not be placed in the Vault under any circumstances.
The integrity of the Vault is paramount. All Operators are responsible for maintaining this standard.
Under no circumstances shall collected data be voluntarily offered or disclosed to the subject of the investigation (the Target).
The Sole Exception: Disclosure is permitted only if the Target themself explicitly requests to see their own data.
Mandatory Protocol Before Any Disclosure:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Operator must obtain and verify proof that the request is genuinely from the Target. |
| 2 | The proof must be captured and stored. Acceptable proof includes: a direct email from the Target's verifiable account, a signed written request, a recorded verbal request (where legal), or another form of secure, auditable communication. Even a screenshot is acceptable. |
| 3 | The proof of the Target's request must be saved directly into the Vault, linked to the case file. |
| 4 | Disclosure of data cannot proceed unless this proof is contained within the Vault. |
| 5 | Only after the above steps are complete may the specific information requested be disclosed, and only to the verified requester. |
Third-Party Disclosure: Data is never shared with law enforcement, clients, or other third parties unless specific, separate legal authorization (such as a subpoena) is provided and documented within the Vault.
The rule in Section 4 applies only to disclosures to the Target themself.
Operators are personally responsible for knowing and following this protocol.
Consequences of Breach:
- Improper storage outside the Vault
- Collection of prohibited data
- Unauthorized disclosure without following the proof-of-request rule
Any of the above will result in:
- Immediate termination of access
- Potential legal action
When in doubt: Consult the protocol and do not proceed.
All Operators are required to read, understand, and comply with this Data Handling Protocol. Ignorance of these rules is not an excuse for violation.
WinterGate Intelligence Collective – Protecting communities through lawful, transparent intelligence gathering.