This is a translation for convenience. The German version is the binding one.

Privacy policy

1. Controller

The operator of Schambereich is responsible for processing your data. Contact: redaktion@schambereich.net.

2. What data we process

Core data: username, email address, password (hashed).
Profile data (voluntary): description, website, gender, avatar.
Usage data: uploaded pictures, stories, surveys, comments, ratings, favourites.
Technical data: IP address, browser/user agent, timestamp (server logs, rotated regularly).
Cookies: session cookie for signing in, optional "remember me" cookie.

3. Purposes and legal bases (Art. 6 GDPR)

Providing the platform, account administration, sign-in — Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR (contract).
Activation and security mails (forgotten password, account restore) — Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR.
Server logs to prevent abuse and to diagnose faults — Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest in operational security).
Ad delivery through third-party services (see section 5) — Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR, or consent through the cookie banner where applicable.

4. Retention periods

Account data: for as long as the account exists. On self-deletion there is a 30-day restore window, after which the user record is hard-deleted. Content (pictures, stories, comments) remains, assigned to the system user “Schambereich”.
Inactive, never-activated accounts: removed automatically after a longer period.
Server logs: 30 days at most, then rotated.

5. Recipients / third-party services

Google Workspace (Gmail SMTP): Sending transactional email (activation, password reset, account restore). Transferred to the USA.
Google Analytics / Google Tag Manager: Audience measurement. Transferred to the USA.
ExoClick / TrafficStars: Ad delivery to visitors who are not signed in. This loads the domains magsrv.com and pemsrv.com (ExoClick) and tsyndicate.com (TrafficStars). These providers may set their own cookies; their privacy terms apply in addition. Signed-in members are not shown ads.
Hosting: Server located in the USA.

6. Your rights (GDPR)

Where the GDPR applies to you, you have the following rights:

Access (Art. 15)
Rectification (Art. 16)
Erasure (“right to be forgotten”, Art. 17) — self-service through profile → “delete account”, or by email to
Restriction of processing (Art. 18)
Data portability (Art. 20)
Objection (Art. 21)
Complaint to a data protection supervisory authority (Art. 77)

You can delete your account yourself: Delete account (while logged in). For the other rights please contact redaktion@schambereich.net.

7. Transfer to the USA / third countries

Because our server is located in the USA and we use US services (Google), personal data is transferred to the USA. Under data protection law the USA does not count throughout as a “safe third country” within the meaning of the GDPR; remedies against access by US authorities may be weaker than in the EU. By using the platform you consent to this transfer.

8. Minors

Schambereich is for adults only (18+). People under 18 may not use the platform or create an account. We do not knowingly process data from anyone under 13 (COPPA, 16 C.F.R. Part 312). If you have any indication of an account held by a minor, please contact redaktion@schambereich.net wenden.

For California Residents — CCPA / CPRA Notice

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1798.100 et seq.), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act, California residents have the following rights:

Right to Know what categories of personal information we collect, why, and to whom we disclose it.
Right to Delete the personal information we hold about you (with limited statutory exceptions).
Right to Correct inaccurate personal information.
Right to Opt-Out of any „sale" or „sharing" of personal information for cross-context behavioural advertising.
Right to Non-Discrimination for exercising any of these rights.

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information: we do not sell personal information in the traditional sense, but our use of third-party advertising services (ExoClick, TrafficStars) may qualify as „sharing" under the CCPA. California residents may opt out by e-mailing redaktion@schambereich.net with subject line CCPA Opt-Out or by enabling the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal in their browser.

To exercise any of the above rights, contact redaktion@schambereich.net. We will verify your request and respond within 45 days (extendable by another 45 days where necessary, with notice).

Children — COPPA

Schambereich is intended for adults only. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us at redaktion@schambereich.net and we will delete it promptly.

Cookies

We use a technically necessary session cookie for sign-in, plus an optional “remember me” cookie if you enable it. Third parties (Google Analytics, ExoClick, TrafficStars) may set their own cookies; their storage and retrieval follow the respective provider’s privacy terms. You can delete or refuse cookies in your browser at any time — some functions will then be unavailable or limited.

Changes to this privacy policy

Schambereich may adjust this privacy policy to reflect changes in the law, in features or in service providers. The current version is always available on this page.

Last updated: 24 May 2026