Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy describes how YukiKoubou ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you use our website and services (collectively, the "Services"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information.

By using our Services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of this Privacy Policy, please do not use our Services.

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at privacy@yukikoubou.com.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide to Us

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us when using our Services:

• Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your username, email address (optional), and password. We also store your account preferences, settings, and profile information.
• Content Submissions: We collect content you submit to the platform, including images, comments, character information, tags, ratings, and any other contributions you make to the site.
• User Activities: We track your interactions with the platform, including comment reactions (likes/dislikes), search queries, page views, and other user activities that help personalize your experience.
• Communications: When you contact us for support, participate in surveys, or send us messages, we collect the information you provide in those communications.
• Donation Information: If you choose to make donations to support the platform, we may collect information necessary to process donations through third-party payment providers. We do not store payment details directly.

2.2 Information We Collect Automatically

We automatically collect certain information when you use our Services:

• Usage Data: We collect information about how you interact with our Services, including pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, search terms used, and other usage statistics through Google Analytics.
• Device Information: We collect basic information about your device through Google Analytics, including IP address and general location information for analytics purposes.
• Location Information: We may collect general location information based on your IP address to provide region-appropriate content and comply with local laws.
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to maintain login sessions, store preferences, and analyze site usage. You can control cookie settings through your browser.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

If you choose to link third-party accounts (such as Google, Twitter, or Discord) to your YukiKoubou account, we may receive profile information from those services as permitted by their privacy policies and your account settings.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

3.1 Service Provision

• Provide, maintain, and improve our Services
• Create and manage your account
• Process donations (through third-party providers)
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Personalize your experience and content recommendations

3.2 Platform Security and Integrity

• Enforce our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines
• Detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, and security issues
• Moderate content and user behavior
• Prevent spam and unauthorized access
• Debug and troubleshoot technical issues

3.3 Analytics and Improvement

• Analyze usage patterns and trends
• Monitor site performance and functionality
• Conduct research and development for new features
• Generate anonymized statistics and reports

3.4 Legal Compliance

• Comply with applicable laws and regulations
• Respond to legal requests and court orders
• Protect our rights and the rights of our users
• Investigate potential violations of our policies

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 Public Information

Much of your activity on YukiKoubou is public by design:

• Content you upload, including images, comments, and contributions
• Your username and profile information
• Your public activities such as comment reactions and character interactions
• Edit history and timestamps for content modifications

4.2 Private Information

We do not share your private information except in the following circumstances:

• With Your Consent: We may share information when you explicitly consent to such sharing.
• Service Providers: We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our Services (hosting, analytics, donation processing) under strict confidentiality agreements.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of YukiKoubou, our users, or others.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user information may be transferred as part of the transaction.
• Staff Access: Site administrators and moderators may access user information as necessary for platform operation, moderation, and support purposes.

4.3 What We Don't Share

We do not:

• Sell your personal information to third parties
• Share your email address or IP address with other users
• Provide your private information to advertisers without consent
• Share your private messages or personal communications

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of sensitive data in transit and at rest
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Access controls and authentication mechanisms
• Secure hosting infrastructure and backup systems
• Moderation team training on data protection and security practices

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our Services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy. Specific retention periods include:

• Account Information: Retained until you delete your account or request deletion
• Content and Contributions: May be retained indefinitely to maintain the integrity of our character database
• Usage Data: Typically retained for 2-3 years for analytics and improvement purposes
• Legal and Security Data: Retained as required by law or for legitimate security purposes

When we no longer need your personal information, we will securely delete or anonymize it in accordance with our data retention policies.

7. Your Rights and Choices

You have several rights regarding your personal information:

7.1 Account Management

• Access and update your account information and preferences
• Control the visibility of your activities and profile information
• Delete your account and associated data (subject to certain limitations)

7.2 Communication Preferences

• Opt out of promotional emails and notifications
• Control the types of notifications you receive
• Manage your communication preferences in your account settings

7.3 Cookie Controls

• Manage cookie preferences through your browser settings
• Opt out of certain analytics and tracking cookies
• Note that disabling cookies may affect site functionality

7.4 Legal Rights (Where Applicable)

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have additional rights including:

• Right to access your personal information
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing

8. Third-Party Services

Our Services may contain links to third-party websites, services, or integrations. This Privacy Policy does not apply to these third-party services, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you use.

8.1 Analytics Services

We may use third-party analytics services to help us understand how our Services are used. These services may collect information about your use of our Services and other websites.

8.2 Advertising Networks

We may work with advertising networks that collect information about your browsing activities to provide relevant advertisements. You can opt out of targeted advertising through industry opt-out tools.

9. International Data Transfers

Your personal information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws than your country. When we transfer your information internationally, we implement appropriate safeguards to protect your data.

10. Children's Privacy

Our Services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately so we can take appropriate action.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes, we will notify you by:

• Posting a notice on our website
• Sending an email notification (if you have provided an email address)
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information. Your continued use of our Services after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

12. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

We will respond to your inquiries and requests in accordance with applicable data protection laws and within reasonable timeframes.