Privacy Policy - Hanshek

Effective date: June 5, 2026
Last updated: June 5, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Hanshek ("Hanshek," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, discloses, stores, and protects personal information when you use our website (including hanshek.com), Android and iOS mobile applications, and related services (collectively, the "Services").

This Policy is intended to apply globally. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights described in the "Your Privacy Rights" section below.

1. Who We Are / Contact Us

Hanshek is the provider of the Services and the controller of personal information processed under this Privacy Policy (where applicable law uses that term). The Services are operated by Ghazanfar Ali ("Hanshek").

If you have questions, requests, or concerns about privacy, you can contact us at:
Email: [email protected]
You may also contact us through our in-app / in-platform contact and support system.

2. Scope of This Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to personal information we collect through:

Our website and web app
Our Android and iOS mobile applications
Customer support and in-app contact systems
Account registration, login, and profile features

3. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly, information collected automatically, and information from certain third-party providers you choose to use.

3.1 Information You Provide to Us

Account Information: Email address, username/handle, display name, password (stored in hashed form), and date of birth (used for age eligibility and safety checks).
Profile Information: Profile description, avatar/profile image, and location selections or preferences (such as country/city or selected region).
Content and Communications: Posts, comments, likes, messages or notifications data, search queries, "Intents," and communications submitted through our Services.
Support Requests: Information you send when contacting us through email or our in-app contact/support system.

3.2 Information Collected Automatically

Device and Technical Data: IP address, browser type, device identifiers, operating system, app version, language, and security-related telemetry.
Usage Data: Interactions with the Services, including pages/screens viewed, features used, content engagement (such as likes/views), and certain in-app actions.
Location-Related Data: Coarse location signals (such as country) inferred from IP address and location preferences you choose in the Services. We use this to improve localization and content relevance.
Cookies and Similar Technologies: Session cookies, authentication cookies, and analytics or similar technologies used to operate and improve the Services.
Advertising & Analytics Providers: On our website we use Google AdSense (advertising), and Google Analytics and Ahrefs (analytics), which may set cookies and collect identifiers such as IP address and device/browser information. Our mobile apps do not currently display third-party ads.

3.3 Information from Third Parties (When You Choose Them)

Social Login Providers: If you sign in using a third-party provider (such as Google, Facebook, X/Twitter, or Apple), we may receive profile and account information from that provider, subject to the permissions you grant and the provider's policies.
Service Providers: We may receive delivery and technical status data from providers that help us send transactional emails, secure accounts, and operate the platform.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to provide, maintain, secure, and improve the Services, including to:

Create and manage user accounts
Verify email addresses and help secure accounts (including fraud and abuse prevention)
Enforce age eligibility requirements (including our 18+ policy)
Provide and personalize content, recommendations, and geographic relevance
Enable social, community, and engagement features
Respond to support requests and communicate with you about the Services
Monitor, troubleshoot, and improve performance, reliability, and security
Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service

5. Legal Bases for Processing (EEA/UK and Similar Jurisdictions)

Where required by applicable law, we process personal information on one or more of the following legal bases:

Contract: To provide the Services you request (for example, account creation, login, and platform features).
Legitimate Interests: To secure, operate, improve, and personalize the Services, prevent abuse, and maintain platform integrity.
Consent: Where required, such as for certain optional cookies/trackers or features.
Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws, lawful requests, and legal processes.

6. How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information for money. On our website, we may share certain information with advertising and analytics partners as those terms are defined by some privacy laws. We disclose information in the following circumstances:

With Other Users: Information you choose to make public (such as posts and public profile details) will be visible to others.
With Service Providers: Hosting, infrastructure, analytics, security, email delivery, customer support, and similar vendors that process information on our behalf under contractual restrictions.
With Social Login Providers: When you choose third-party sign-in, information flows between Hanshek and the selected provider as needed to authenticate your account.
With Advertising & Analytics Partners: On our website, with providers such as Google (AdSense, Analytics) and Ahrefs, to display and measure ads and understand usage.
For Legal, Safety, and Enforcement Reasons: When we believe disclosure is necessary to comply with law, respond to lawful requests, enforce our terms, investigate misuse, or protect the rights, safety, and security of Hanshek, our users, or others.
Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, or sale of assets, subject to applicable legal requirements.

7. Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to operate and improve the Services.

Strictly Necessary: Authentication, security, login sessions, and core platform functionality.
Analytics / Measurement: To understand usage and improve features and performance.
Preferences: To remember settings and improve user experience.
Advertising / Targeting: On our website, Google AdSense may set cookies to show and measure ads.

You can manage cookies through your browser or device settings. Some features may not function properly if essential cookies are disabled.

7.1 Mobile App Usage Analytics

With your optional permission, our Android and iOS mobile applications use Google Analytics for Firebase to help us understand general app usage and improve features, performance, and reliability.

Mobile usage analytics may include app opens, usage timing, app and device information, coarse location such as country, whether the app is being used by a guest or registered user, and selected feature events. We do not send your name, email address, messages, post content, search text, or advertising identifier as mobile usage analytics events.

Mobile usage analytics is disabled until you select "Allow." You may refuse without losing access to Hanshek, and you may change your choice at any time through Privacy Choices in the mobile app. Hanshek does not currently show third-party advertising in its mobile applications or use mobile analytics for advertising personalization.

8. International Data Transfers

Hanshek is available globally. Your personal information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including countries that may have different data protection laws.

Where required by law, we use appropriate safeguards for cross-border transfers (such as contractual protections or other lawful transfer mechanisms).

9. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, including to provide the Services, maintain security, and comply with legal obligations.

Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for a limited period afterward as needed for security, fraud prevention, dispute resolution, and legal compliance.
Content: Public content may remain visible until removed by you or us under our policies. After account deletion, content may be removed from public view, subject to backups, legal obligations, and technical limitations.
Security / Technical Logs: Retained for limited periods to investigate abuse, maintain reliability, and secure the platform.

10. Account Deletion

You may request deletion of your account through your account settings or by contacting us at [email protected] (including through our in-app contact/support system).

When your account is deleted, we will delete or de-identify personal information associated with your account, except where retention is required or permitted by law (for example, security, fraud prevention, legal claims, or compliance obligations).

11. Data Security

We use administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information, including secure password hashing, access controls, and measures to protect data in transit where appropriate.

No method of transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

12. Children's Privacy (18+ Services)

Hanshek is intended only for individuals who are at least 18 years old. We do not knowingly allow users under 18 to create accounts or use the Services.

If we learn that a person under 18 has provided personal information to us, we will take reasonable steps to delete that information and close the associated account.

13. Automated Processing and Personalization

We may use automated systems (including recommendation, ranking, localization, and personalization features) to improve the relevance and quality of content shown in the Services.

These processes are used to improve user experience and platform operations and are not intended to make decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects about you.

14. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights including:

Access to the personal information we hold about you
Correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
Deletion of personal information (subject to legal exceptions)
Objection to or restriction of certain processing
Withdrawal of consent where processing is based on consent
Data portability (where applicable)
Complaint to a data protection regulator or supervisory authority (where applicable)

14.1 How to Exercise Your Rights

To submit a privacy request, contact us at [email protected] or use our in-app / in-platform contact system. We may take reasonable steps to verify your identity before processing your request. We may also request additional information where necessary to confirm your request or protect against unauthorized access.

14.2 California and Other U.S. State Privacy Disclosures

If you are a resident of California or another U.S. state with applicable privacy laws, you may have additional rights (such as rights to know, delete, correct, and non-discrimination, and in some cases rights to opt out of certain data uses).

Hanshek does not sell personal information for money. Our website uses Google advertising and analytics, which may involve "sharing" as defined by some U.S. state privacy laws. You can opt out of ad personalization through Google Ads Settings (https://adssettings.google.com) and your browser's cookie controls. We will provide additional opt-out controls and notices where required by law.

14.3 EEA/UK Users

If you are in the EEA or UK, you may have rights under the GDPR / UK GDPR, including the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.

15. Third-Party Links and Services

The Services may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

16. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or the Services. We will post the updated version and revise the Effective Date at the top of this Policy. Where required by law, we will provide additional notice.