Privacy Policy

Deutsche Version — the German version is legally authoritative.

1. Controller

Raffael Hickisch
Goldschlagstraße 23/18
1150 Vienna
Austria
E-mail:

2. Principle: no personal data, no tracking

Siedler Österreich is built so that no personal data is collected:

No registration with e-mail, name or other identity data — you play under a freely chosen pseudonym.
No cookies, no localStorage, no fingerprinting.
No analytics or tracking services (no Google Analytics or similar).
No advertising, no sharing of data with third parties for advertising purposes.
Fonts and all other resources are served from our own server — no third-party CDNs (e.g. Google Fonts) are embedded.

3. Game data

To run the game, the following non-personal data is stored on the server: your pseudonym, your game state (coins, experience points, claimed parcels, quests, treasures) and chat messages you write within a game session. Please do not enter any personal data in your pseudonym or in the chat.

Access to your game state works via a random rejoin link (token in the URL). This link is only shown to you; it is not linked to your person.

4. Server logs and hosting

The application itself does not log IP addresses and does not create user profiles. Hosting is provided by exe.dev; at infrastructure level, technical connection data (e.g. IP address, time of request) may briefly arise there to ensure operation. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest in secure and functional operation).

5. Map data and external services

All map and cadastre data is retrieved via our own server (server-to-server); your IP address is not transmitted to the data providers.

Some features open external websites in a new tab upon your explicit action (e.g. Google Maps via the corresponding button). The privacy policy of the respective provider only applies once you open it.

6. Location data (GPS)

The optional GPS feature uses your browser's location query exclusively locally on your device to centre the map. Your location is not transmitted to the server and not stored. The feature is only active after your explicit consent in the browser and can be revoked at any time.

7. Protection of minors and chat safety

The game is intended for players aged 14 and over (§ 4(4) Austrian DSG / Art. 8 GDPR). Younger children may only play with a parent's or guardian's consent. We collect no age or identity data – so we treat every player as potentially a minor:

Chat is limited to the game session; no private messages, no profiles, no images.
Every message is checked automatically before it is sent. Blocked: insults, hate speech, sexual content, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, links, social-media handles, questions about age/location/photos/meeting up, and self-disclosure (age, school, address). Mild profanity is masked.
Chat rules must be accepted before the first message.
Any message can be reported with ⚑. Reported messages are hidden for everyone immediately and the reported player is blocked for you. 🚫 blocks a player at any time.
Violations earn strikes and escalating chat mutes (10 min → 24 h → permanent); several independent reports mute immediately.
The game creator can restrict chat to quick phrases or switch it off – e.g. for classroom use.
These decisions are automated (Art. 22 GDPR, Art. 17 DSA). You may object informally – see the imprint. Reports and mutes are e-mailed to the operator.

8. Retention

Game states are stored for game operation and may be deleted or reset at any time without notice during the beta phase. Chat messages are deleted automatically after 30 days; reported messages, reports and moderation logs are kept for 180 days for accountability. Cached map data is discarded automatically after expiry.

9. Your rights

Since no personal data is processed, stored game data can generally not be attributed to your person. Notwithstanding this, under the GDPR you have the right of access (Art. 15), rectification (Art. 16), erasure (Art. 17), restriction of processing (Art. 18), data portability (Art. 20) and objection (Art. 21), as well as the right to lodge a complaint with the Austrian Data Protection Authority (dsb.gv.at).

If you wish your game state to be deleted, simply send us your rejoin link or your pseudonym at the e-mail address given above.