Privacy Policy

Vleesboek ("Company," "we," "us") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the rights you have over it. We design the Service around consent, privacy, and responsible participation.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information you provide

• Account information: username, display name, email, password (hashed);
• Profile information: bio, country, region, city, gender, pronouns, orientation, relationship status, website;
• Date of birth (used solely to confirm you are 18+ and to compute an optional age range);
• Content you post (posts, comments, reactions, media, messages);
• Communications with us (contact forms, takedown requests, verification requests);
• Optional identity verification data when you request the Verified Adult badge — see Section 11.

1.2 Information collected automatically

• Device and usage data: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system;
• Activity data: posts viewed, interactions, pages visited, timestamps;
• Cookies and similar technologies (see Section 8).

1.3 Information from others

Other users may share information about you (for example, by tagging you in a post or reporting content). We may also receive information from identity verification providers used to support the Verified Adult badge.

2. How We Use Information

• to provide, operate, and maintain the Service;
• to verify your age and identity where required;
• to create and manage your account and sessions;
• to display your profile, posts, and activity to other members according to your settings;
• to enforce our Community Guidelines, Content Policy, and Terms;
• to investigate reports, takedown requests, and suspected violations;
• to communicate with you about your account, the Service, and policy updates;
• to secure, debug, and improve the Service; and
• to comply with our legal obligations.

3. Legal Basis

Where the GDPR applies, we process personal data on the following legal bases: (a) performance of a contract with you (to provide the Service); (b) compliance with our legal obligations; (c) protection of the vital interests of individuals (for example, urgent safety reports); (d) our legitimate interests in operating, securing, and improving the Service; and (e) your consent, which you may withdraw at any time.

4. Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. We may share your information with:

• other members, to the extent you choose to make information visible to them;
• service providers who support our operations (hosting, email, analytics), under contractual obligations of confidentiality;
• identity verification providers, solely to perform verification;
• law enforcement or other competent authorities where required by law or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Vleesboek, our members, or the public; and
• successors in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, subject to the same confidentiality obligations.

5. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active and as necessary to provide the Service. After account deletion, we remove or anonymize your data within a reasonable period, except where we are required to retain it longer (for example, for legal compliance, fraud prevention, or pending investigation).

6. Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including hashed passwords, HTTP-only session cookies, encrypted transport (TLS), access controls, and audit logging. However, no method of transmission or storage is fully secure. Verification documents are never stored as plain profile data — only a secure storage reference is kept.

7. Your Rights

Where applicable law provides it, you may have the right to:

• access the personal data we hold about you;
• request rectification of inaccurate or incomplete data;
• request erasure of your data (subject to legal exceptions);
• receive a portable copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format;
• object to or restrict certain processing;
• withdraw consent at any time (without affecting prior processing); and
• lodge a complaint with your data protection authority.

You can exercise several of these rights directly from your account settings (for example, downloading your data or deleting your account). For other requests, contact us via the contact page.

8. Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies for session management (keeping you signed in), authentication, security, remembering preferences (such as your theme and age-gate acknowledgement), and basic analytics. We do not use cookies for cross-site advertising. You can control cookies through your browser settings; disabling them may affect some features of the Service.

9. Analytics

We may use privacy-respecting analytics to understand aggregate usage patterns. Where third-party analytics are used, we configure them to minimize personal data collection and to anonymize or aggregate data where possible.

10. Children's Privacy

The Service is strictly for adults 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has registered or provided personal data, please report it immediately through our takedown / report form and we will promptly investigate and remove the account.

11. Identity Verification

When you apply for the Verified Adult badge, we may use a trusted third-party verification provider. We do not store identity documents with your profile data — only a secure storage reference. Verification data is processed for the sole purpose of confirming you are an adult and may be deleted upon request once verification is no longer required.

12. International Transfers

Your information may be processed in countries other than your own, including for hosting and analytics. Where this occurs, we use appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses or other lawful transfer mechanisms to protect your data.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be notified through the Service or by other reasonable means. The updated policy takes effect when posted.

14. Contact

For privacy questions or to exercise your rights, contact us via our contact page.