Privacy Policy

aniSearch takes the security of your personal information very seriously.

1. Introduction

Protecting your personal data is very important to us. With this Privacy Policy, we would like to inform you which personal data we collect when you use our website and for what purposes this data is used.

1.1 Scope of Application

This Privacy Policy applies to all websites operated by “aniSearch”. This includes the following domains:

1.2 Contact of the Responsible Person

The person responsible for data processing within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other national data protection laws of the member states as well as other data protection provisions is:
Dominik Koziol
Delbrückstr. 41
12051 Berlin
Germany


E-mail: privacy@spamanisearch.spamcom
If you have any questions regarding data protection, you can contact us at any time – even anonymously – using the support form.

2. Protection of Minors

aniSearch is generally directed at all users; however, the use of our services by children under the age of 16 is only permitted with the express consent of parents or legal guardians. If you are younger than 16, please make sure you have the consent of your parents or legal guardians before providing personal data on our websites.

We only collect and process personal data of children under 16 with the express consent of parents or legal guardians, where legally required. If we become aware that we have inadvertently processed personal data of a child without the required consent, we will promptly delete this data.

3. General Information about Data Processing

3.1 Principles of Data Processing

We process your personal data only in accordance with applicable data protection laws. Processing is based on the following principles:
  • Lawfulness, Fairness, and Transparency: We collect and process your data lawfully and in a manner understandable to You.
  • Purpose Limitation: your personal data will only be processed for the purposes stated in this Privacy Policy.
  • Data Minimization: Only the data necessary for the respective purpose is processed.
  • Accuracy: We ensure that your personal data is accurate and up to date.
  • Storage Limitation: your data is only retained for as long as it is needed to achieve the processing purpose.
  • Integrity and Confidentiality: We protect your data from unauthorized access, misuse, and loss through appropriate technical and organizational measures.
Your personal data is processed on one of the following legal bases, in accordance with Article 6 of the GDPR:
  • Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR): If you have given us your explicit consent to process your data, processing is based on this consent.
  • Performance of a Contract (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR): We process your data if it is necessary to fulfill a contract to which you are a party.
  • Legal Obligation (Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR): If processing is required to comply with a legal obligation, we process your data on this basis.
  • Legitimate Interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR): In some cases, we process your data on the basis of our legitimate interests, for example to ensure the security of our IT systems.

3.3 Transfer of Personal Data to Third Parties and Processors

We generally only transfer your personal data to third parties if you have given your explicit prior consent or if we are legally obliged to do so. Possible recipients of your data include contest partners who send the prize to a delivery address you specify.

We ensure that all third parties receiving your data also adhere to strict data protection requirements.

3.4 Data Transfer to Third Countries

If your personal data is transferred to a country outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), we ensure that an adequate level of data protection is guaranteed. This can be achieved by one of the following measures:
  • Adequacy Decision by the EU Commission: We make sure that the third country offers a level of data protection comparable to that in the EU.
  • Standard Contractual Clauses (Art. 46 GDPR): In the absence of an adequacy decision, we ensure that the transfer is based on standard contractual clauses guaranteeing a high level of protection.
  • Consent: In some cases, we obtain your explicit consent before transferring your data to third countries.

3.5 Server Location and Data Security

Our servers, on which your personal data is stored, are located in Germany. This ensures that your data is processed in accordance with the strict data protection regulations of the GDPR. We work with carefully selected and contractually committed providers who also meet the GDPR requirements.

Additionally, we use technical and organizational measures such as encrypted data transmission (SSL/TLS), firewall protection, and regular security updates to protect your data from unauthorized access or loss.

3.6 Data Erasure and Storage Duration

Your personal data will be deleted or blocked as soon as the purpose of the storage no longer applies. Further storage may occur if provided for by the European or national legislator in EU regulations, laws, or other provisions to which we are subject. Blocking or deletion of data also takes place when a prescribed retention period expires, unless it is necessary to continue storing the data for concluding or fulfilling a contract.

4. Your Rights as a Data Subject

As a data subject, you have the following rights in connection with the processing of your personal data:

4.1 Right to Information

You have the right to request confirmation from us as to whether we are processing personal data about You. If this is the case, you have the right to obtain information about this personal data as well as further details, such as the purposes of processing, the categories of personal data, the recipients or categories of recipients, the intended storage period, and your other rights.

4.2 Right to Correction

You have the right to request the rectification or completion of incorrect or incomplete personal data that we have stored about you without undue delay.

4.3 Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”)

You have the right to request that we delete your personal data without delay if one of the following reasons applies:
  • The personal data is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or otherwise processed.
  • You withdraw your consent on which the processing was based and there is no other legal basis for the processing.
  • You object to the processing and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the processing.
  • The personal data has been unlawfully processed.
  • The erasure of the personal data is required to comply with a legal obligation.

4.4 Right to Restrict Processing

You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data if one of the following conditions is met:
  • You dispute the accuracy of the personal data, for a period enabling us to verify the accuracy of the personal data.
  • The processing is unlawful and you request the restriction of the use of the personal data instead of erasure.
  • We no longer need the personal data for the purposes of processing, but you require it for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims.
  • You have objected to the processing and it is not yet clear whether our legitimate grounds override Yours.

4.5 Right to Data Portability

You have the right to receive the personal data concerning you that you have provided to us, in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. You also have the right to transmit this data to another controller without hindrance, provided that the processing is based on consent or on a contract and is carried out by automated means.

4.6 Right of Objection

You have the right to object at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning you that is carried out on the basis of Art. 6(1)(e) or (f) GDPR. We will then no longer process the personal data unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing that override your interests, rights, and freedoms, or the processing serves the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims.

4.7 Account Termination

You can terminate your user account at any time using the function provided on our website. The termination is carried out as follows:
  • Your username and e-mail address as well as your avatar will be removed from your profile and replaced by a generic identifier (e.g. “aniSearchler-*”) so that your profile is completely anonymized.
  • Your profile will then no longer be publicly accessible.
  • Content such as ratings, comments, or forum posts that are not directly personal will remain in anonymized form.
We do not store any personal data from you once your profile is anonymized. If you wish to remove additional data (e.g. ratings, favorite lists) before termination, please do so Yourself. Subsequent removal is possible upon request.

If you have any questions about account termination or need assistance, you can contact us at any time.

4.8 Right to Lodge a Complaint with a Supervisory Authority

In the event of violations of the GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority. You can contact the supervisory authority of your usual place of residence, your place of work, or the place of the alleged infringement.

5. Collection and Processing of Personal Data

5.1 Use of the Website and Creation of Log Files

Each time our website is accessed, we automatically collect data and information from the computer system of the requesting device. This is done through so-called server log files. The data collected includes:
  • User’s IP address
  • Date and time of access
  • Browser type and version
  • User’s operating system
  • Referring URL (i.e. the website from which the user came)
  • Data volume transferred and the status of the request (successful or failed)
This data is stored only for the period necessary to display the website and ensure the IT security of our systems. It is also used for analyzing and optimizing the website.

5.2 Use of Cookies and Similar Technologies

To improve the user experience and provide certain features, we use cookies and similar technologies. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that allow us to recognize you and store your preferences. You can disable or delete cookies at any time in your browser settings. However, please note that this may limit the use of certain features of our website.

We use cookies for the following purposes:
  • Functional Cookies: For smooth website use, such as your login.
  • Analytics Cookies: To improve the website and user experience.
  • Advertising Cookies: To show you personalized ads based on your behavior, provided you have consented to this in our advertising partner’s consent dialog.
aniSearch stores necessary cookies to ensure the technically flawless and optimized provision of its services. If consent for the use of cookies or similar recognition technologies has been obtained, the processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of this consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR in conjunction with § 25 para. 1 TDDDG). Consent can be withdrawn at any time.

5.3 Registration and User Account

For certain functions on our website, such as creating a user account, we collect personal data that you provide during registration. This typically includes:
  • Username
  • E-mail address
  • Password (encrypted)
The processing of this data is done to provide you with the requested services (e.g., personalized content, forum participation). You can delete your user account at any time and have your personal data removed.

5.4 Contact Forms and E-Mail Communication

If you contact us via a contact form or by e-mail, we process the personal data you provide, such as:
  • Name
  • E-mail address
  • Message text
This data is used exclusively to handle your request and communicate with You. We will not pass this data on to third parties without your explicit consent. Additionally, your information will be processed in accordance with the provisions of § 6 TDDDG.

5.5 Posts and User Profiles

As a registered user, you can leave comments on certain content on our website and submit ratings for titles. In addition, you have a public profile containing information about the titles you have rated, and depending on the settings, your ratings and lists may be visible to other users. The data collected includes:
  • Comment texts and forum posts
  • Title ratings
  • Profile pictures (if uploaded)
This data is used to display your activities on the website and share them with other users. Please note that you are responsible for the information you disclose in your profile or in public comments and ratings. You can edit your profile at any time and adjust your privacy settings to determine which information is visible to others. This way, you can decide whether your ratings and lists are publicly visible or visible only to You.

5.6 Profiling and Personalized Content

We use profiling mechanisms to provide personalized content or recommendations to users upon request. These mechanisms analyze certain data that you provide to us through your interactions, such as:
  • Title ratings
  • Favorite lists
  • Your interactions on our platform
The processing is based on your explicit consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR), which you give by using these respective features. Without your request or consent, no profiling takes place. The recommendations are based solely on the ratings and lists you provide. There is no automated analysis or processing of your data beyond this.

5.7 Integration of External Content (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, etc.)

Our website allows the integration of external images, videos, and other content from third-party providers such as YouTube, Dailymotion, Vimeo, Facebook, and others. If you insert such external content in a profile text, comment, or a custom layout, external media will only load after you click on a placeholder image. These placeholder images serve as a safeguard to prevent data from being transmitted to external providers without your knowledge.

By clicking on a placeholder image, you agree that the embedded content will be loaded, which may result in the following data being transmitted to the respective external provider:
  • Your IP address
  • Your browser agent (e.g., the browser and operating system used)
  • The time the external content was accessed
These data are typically used by the external providers for analysis and their own purposes. We ensure that no external media are automatically loaded on our end, thus safeguarding your data. You can always decide here whether you want external images and videos to be displayed directly or replaced by placeholders:
Embedding external videos is only possible from the following sources, with exactly these URLs:
  • Youtube: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed or https://www.youtube.com/embed – Privacy Policy
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ – Privacy Policy
  • Vimeo: https://player.vimeo.com/video/ – Privacy Policy
  • Viki: https://www.viki.com/player/ – Privacy Policy
  • Dailymotion: https://www.dailymotion.com/ or via alias https://dai.ly/ – Privacy Policy

5.8 Contests

If you participate in contests on our website, personal data will only be collected if you win, and only to the extent necessary for shipping the prize.

No personal data is required to participate in the contests themselves. The data provided is used solely for the purpose of sending the prize and not for any other purpose. For more details, please refer to our terms and conditions for contests.

6. Social Media and Online Presence

We maintain an online presence on social networks and platforms to communicate with the users active there and to inform you about our offerings. The use of these social media channels is based on our legitimate interests according to Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR.

6.1 Shared Responsibility

If you visit one of our social media pages (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), we are jointly responsible with the respective platform operators for the data processing that takes place there, pursuant to Art. 26 GDPR.
  • The platform operator is responsible for the collection and primary processing of personal data.
  • We receive this data in aggregated and anonymized form (e.g., statistics on page views) to analyze our content and reach.
  • We have no influence on the primary data processing by the platform operator (e.g., via cookies).

6.2 Data Processing by the Operators of Social Networks

The operators of social networks may use the collected data for the following purposes:
  • Creating user profiles: Based on interactions (likes, comments) and usage behavior.
  • Targeted advertising: Within and outside the social networks.
  • Cross-device storage: If you are logged into a social network, data may be processed across multiple devices.
Please note that we have no influence on the data processing by the operators of social networks. For more information, please refer to their respective privacy policies.

6.3 Social Networks in Detail

Here are the social networks where we are active and their privacy policies:
  • Facebook – Meta Platforms Ireland Limited 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland
    The data processing is based on an agreement on joint processing of personal data under Art. 26 GDPR. Further information can be found in the Meta Privacy Policy.
  • Instagram – Meta Platforms Ireland Limited 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland
    Note: Personal data may be transferred by Meta Platforms Ireland Limited to Meta Platforms, Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. Further information can be found in the Instagram Privacy Policy.
  • X (formerly Twitter) – X Corp., 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
    Further information can be found in the X Privacy Policy.
  • Discord – Discord Inc. 444 De Haro Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA
    Personal data may be transferred by Discord to the USA and processed there. The transfer is based on standard contractual clauses according to Art. 46 GDPR. Further information can be found in the Discord Privacy Policy.

6.4 Storage and User Rights

The processing of personal data in social networks is based on the legitimate interests of the operators (e.g., market research, advertising) according to Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. If you have given your consent to data processing (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR), you can withdraw it at any time.

Please note: Inquiries about data collected directly by the social networks should be most effectively addressed directly to the respective platforms. More information on storage periods and privacy policies can be found in the platforms’ privacy statements.

7. Affiliates and Partner Programs

On our website, we use affiliate links and partner programs that lead to external pages. If you click on these links and perform a transaction (e.g., a purchase), we receive a small referral commission. There are no additional costs for You, and the commission helps us further develop and operate aniSearch. Thank you for your support!

Please note that when visiting external partner pages, your IP address and browser information as well as possibly cookies may be set in order to track conversions and customer journeys. These cookies are necessary to ensure proper billing of the partnerships and to identify commission-relevant sales. The collected data is processed in accordance with the privacy policies of the respective partners.

We participate in these partner programs on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e., our interest in the economic operation of our online offering within the meaning of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on data processing by our affiliate partners can be found in their respective privacy policies:

8. Analytics and Tracking Technologies

8.1 Matomo

We use the open-source web analytics service Matomo (formerly Piwik), which is operated on our own server. Since Matomo runs on our own server, third-party access to personal data is excluded.

Matomo does not set any cookies on your device and only records anonymized usage data, such as:
  • The shortened IP address of the visitor
  • The accessed webpage
  • The website from which the user reached our page
  • The subpages visited on our website
  • The length of time spent and frequency of page visits
The IP address is partially masked so that it can no longer be associated with a specific user. These data are stored solely on our server and not passed on to third parties.

The use of Matomo is based on our legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) to analyze and continuously improve the use of our website.

10. External Payment Service Providers

For processing payments (e.g., for premium memberships), we work with external payment service providers. These providers are independently responsible for the processing of payment data. For more information, please refer to their respective privacy policies:Data Processing by Payment Service Providers:
Your payment data (e.g., bank details, credit card data) is processed solely by the payment service providers. aniSearch does not have direct access to this data. Within the scope of payment processing, we only receive the following information:
  • From PayPal: Name, e-mail address, delivery address (if required).
  • From bank transfer: Name of the sender and IBAN/BIC.
Storage and Purpose Limitation:
The data we see (e.g., transfer details) is stored exclusively for processing the payment and complying with legal retention obligations. This data remains in our systems for a period of 10 years in accordance with tax regulations (§ 147 AO).

Data stored in the payment service providers’ systems (e.g., in your PayPal account) is subject to their own privacy policies and retention periods. Please consult the respective providers directly for information on their retention periods and deletion options.

Privacy Policy

  1. 1. Introduction
    1. 1.1 Scope of Application
    2. 1.2 Contact of the Responsible Person
  2. 2. Protection of Minors
  3. 3. General Information about Data Processing
    1. 3.1 Principles of Data Processing
    2. 3.2 Legal Basis of the Processing
    3. 3.3 Transfer of Personal Data to Third Parties and Processors
    4. 3.4 Data Transfer to Third Countries
    5. 3.5 Server Location and Data Security
    6. 3.6 Data Erasure and Storage Duration
  4. 4. Your Rights as a Data Subject
    1. 4.1 Right to Information
    2. 4.2 Right to Correction
    3. 4.3 Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”)
    4. 4.4 Right to Restrict Processing
    5. 4.5 Right to Data Portability
    6. 4.6 Right of Objection
    7. 4.7 Account Termination
    8. 4.8 Right to Lodge a Complaint with a Supervisory Authority
  5. 5. Collection and Processing of Personal Data
    1. 5.1 Use of the Website and Creation of Log Files
    2. 5.2 Use of Cookies and Similar Technologies
    3. 5.3 Registration and User Account
    4. 5.4 Contact Forms and E-Mail Communication
    5. 5.5 Posts and User Profiles
    6. 5.6 Profiling and Personalized Content
    7. 5.7 Integration of External Content (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, etc.)
    8. 5.8 Contests
  6. 6. Social Media and Online Presence
    1. 6.1 Shared Responsibility
    2. 6.2 Data Processing by the Operators of Social Networks
    3. 6.3 Social Networks in Detail
    4. 6.4 Storage and User Rights
  7. 7. Affiliates and Partner Programs
  8. 8. Analytics and Tracking Technologies
    1. 8.1 Matomo
  9. 9. Links to External Websites
  10. 10. External Payment Service Providers

Modifications

  • 07. Dezember 2024
    Privacy policy updated
  • 26. April 2023
    Advertising partner replaced
  • 04. August 2022
    Advertising partner replaced
  • 19. October 2020
    Privacy Manager replaced
  • 18. June 2020
    Advertising partner replaced
  • 13. June 2019
    Advertising partner replaced
  • 05. August 2018
    Advertising partner replaced
  • 24. May 2018
    Adjustments regarding GDPR