Privacy Policy

Who This Policy Covers

This policy describes how GermanStates.com ("we", "our", "the site") collects, uses, and shares information about visitors to https://germanstates.com. It applies to every page on this domain and to any visitor accessing the site, regardless of location.

GermanStates.com is an editorial publication. We do not operate user accounts, do not run a store, do not run a newsletter system at this time, and do not host comments. Our data footprint is intentionally small.

Information We Collect

Information you provide directly

If you email us at [email protected], we receive the message, your email address, and any details you choose to include. We use that information solely to read and respond to your message.

Information collected automatically

Like most websites, GermanStates.com receives technical information when your browser requests a page. This typically includes your IP address, the date and time of the request, the pages you viewed, the referring URL, and details about your browser, device, and operating system. This information may be processed by our hosting provider, by Google Analytics, and by Google AdSense, as described below.

Cookies and similar technologies

We use a small number of cookies and similar identifiers, primarily for analytics and advertising. Full details — including categories, third parties, and how to opt out — are in our Cookie Policy.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics 4 to understand which pages are read, which states attract the most interest, and how readers move through the site. Google Analytics sets cookies and processes data such as IP address (truncated where supported), pages viewed, session duration, approximate location at city level, and device type.

The data is processed on aggregated, pseudonymous terms and is used to improve editorial decisions. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on or by blocking analytics cookies through your browser or a consent tool.

Google AdSense and Ad Personalization

GermanStates.com displays advertising served by Google AdSense. As outlined in Google's policies:

• Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this website or other websites.
• Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to our users based on their visit to this site and other sites on the internet.
• Users may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ad Settings.
• Users may opt out of some third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting aboutads.info or YourOnlineChoices.

For an overview of how Google uses information from sites that use its services, see policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites. For Google's broader ad policies, see policies.google.com/technologies/ads.

Third-Party Services Used

The following third parties may receive limited data when you load a page on this site:

• Google AdSense — advertising delivery and measurement.
• Google Analytics — aggregated traffic measurement.
• OpenStreetMap / Leaflet tile providers — interactive maps load tiles from third-party CDNs (unpkg.com for the Leaflet library; tile imagery from OpenStreetMap contributors). These providers receive your IP address as part of the standard request to fetch map tiles.
• Our hosting provider — required to deliver pages and maintain server logs.

Each of these vendors operates under its own privacy policy. We have no access to or control over the cookies they set independently.

Legal Bases for Processing (GDPR)

If you access the site from the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, the lawful bases on which we process your data are:

• Consent — for non-essential cookies, including analytics and personalized advertising, where required by local law.
• Legitimate interests — for security, fraud prevention, basic server logging, and aggregate audience measurement that does not identify individuals.
• Compliance with legal obligations — where we must retain or disclose information to comply with applicable law.

Your Rights

EU / UK (GDPR)

Subject to applicable law, you have the right to access, correct, delete, restrict, or object to the processing of your personal data, the right to data portability, and the right to withdraw consent. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data-protection authority.

California (CCPA / CPRA)

California residents have the right to know what personal information is collected, to request deletion, to correct inaccurate information, and to opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information for cross-context behavioural advertising. We do not sell personal information for monetary consideration; certain advertising cookie activity may, however, qualify as "sharing" under California law, and you can limit it by opting out of personalized advertising as described above.

How to exercise rights

Email [email protected] from the address associated with your request. We will respond within the timeframes required by applicable law. We may need to verify your identity before acting on certain requests.

Children

GermanStates.com is a general-audience travel publication and is not directed to children under 13 (or under 16 in jurisdictions where that is the relevant threshold). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Data Retention

We retain emails for as long as needed to handle the conversation and any reasonable follow-up. Aggregated analytics data is retained for the period configured in Google Analytics, which is currently the Google default for the property. Server logs maintained by our hosting provider follow that provider's standard retention schedule.

International Transfers

Some of the third-party vendors above are headquartered in the United States or other jurisdictions outside the EEA / UK. Where personal data is transferred internationally, those vendors rely on standard contractual clauses or other safeguards recognized under applicable law.

Security

The site is served over HTTPS. We do not run user accounts, store payment data, or maintain a customer database, which significantly limits the risk profile. Reasonable safeguards are applied to email correspondence and any backups.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy when our practices change, when third-party tools change, or when applicable law evolves. The "Last reviewed" date at the top of the page reflects the most recent substantive update. Material changes will be reflected by updating that date and, where appropriate, by a clear notice on the homepage.

Contact

For privacy questions, requests, or complaints, write to [email protected] with the word "Privacy" in the subject line. The data controller for the purposes of this policy is the publisher of GermanStates.com, operating from [Jurisdiction].