Privacy Policy

This policy explains how Mushimu collects, uses and protects information when you use mushimu.com or the Mushimu Android application (com.mushimu.android). The app displays the mobile website and uses the same account and service.

Cookies and local storage

Mushimu uses a strictly necessary session cookie to authenticate users and maintain the service. We may also store language and translation preferences to remember choices you make. These technologies are used only for functionality.

Where permitted by the rules applicable to your location, Mushimu enables its first-party usage analytics by default to understand impressions, post openings, reading time and feed interaction. You can opt out at any time through Cookie preferences; an earlier opt-out is respected. Third-party display advertising remains disabled unless you separately allow it.

Display advertising

If enabled, Mushimu asks for separate advertising consent before loading an Adsterra banner. Adsterra and its advertising partners may process your IP address, device information and cookies for advertising delivery and measurement under their own privacy terms. You can accept all, reject optional purposes, or configure analytics and advertising separately in the full-screen Mushimu privacy dialog. Use Cookie preferences to change or withdraw your choices. Refusing advertising does not prevent using Mushimu. Adsterra privacy policy.

Affiliate links and sponsorships

Mushimu may display labelled affiliate recommendations and paid sponsorships. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product photos hosted externally may send ordinary image requests to the photo host, including your IP address. Amazon Creators API image links are displayed for up to 24 hours before Mushimu hides them pending refresh. These cards do not load merchant scripts or set affiliate cookies on Mushimu. Clicking a link opens the merchant or affiliate network, which may process technical information and use attribution technologies under its own privacy terms. We do not share your Mushimu account details with merchants. Mushimu does not collect additional advertising analytics for these cards.

Mushimu for Android

The Android app stores website session cookies and web storage on your device. When you select a file using the Android file picker, that file is provided to the website for upload. The app does not request general storage, camera, microphone or location permissions. Optional website analytics and advertising remain subject to their consent controls.

Information we collect

We collect the information you provide when creating or managing an account, including your username, display name, email address, date of birth and password credentials. You may optionally provide your country and gender; these fields are private by default and are not displayed on your public profile. Passwords are stored only as secure hashes. We also store content and activity you choose to create, such as posts, comments, votes, follows, community memberships, reports, Discover choices and account preferences.

We process limited technical information needed to operate and secure the service, such as IP address, browser and device information, request logs, session identifiers and security events.

How we use information

We use this information to provide and personalize Mushimu, including using private Discover choices such as Interested and Pass to adjust recommendations. These functional preference signals are separate from optional analytics tracking. We also use information to authenticate accounts, verify email addresses, enforce age and community requirements, send transactional messages, prevent abuse, moderate content, diagnose problems and protect users and the service.

Service providers

We use trusted providers to operate Mushimu. These may include Cloudflare for network, security, email routing and transactional email delivery, Google when you choose Google sign-in, and infrastructure providers that host the application and database. When enabled, Cloudflare Turnstile processes technical signals and challenge responses during account creation and after repeated failed password sign-ins to help prevent abuse. These providers process information to provide their services to Mushimu and under their applicable privacy terms.

Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. Public profile information and content are visible according to the features you use. We may disclose information when required by law, to protect rights and safety, or as part of a business reorganization with appropriate safeguards.

Retention and security

We retain account information while your account is active and as reasonably necessary for security, legal compliance and dispute resolution. Short-lived verification and password-reset tokens expire automatically. We use access controls, encryption in transit and other reasonable safeguards, but no online service can guarantee absolute security.

Your choices and rights

You can update certain account information in Settings, download your personal data or permanently delete your account. Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict or receive a copy of your personal information, and to object to certain processing. You may also withdraw analytics consent at any time using cookie preferences.

Delete account. This page covers Mushimu accounts used on mushimu.com and in the Mushimu Android app. You can request deletion here without installing the app.

Children

Mushimu is not intended for children under 13, or under the higher minimum age required to use an online service in their country without parental authorization. We use date of birth to apply age requirements and do not display it publicly.

Changes and contact

We may update this policy as the service evolves. Material changes will be communicated through the service where appropriate. Privacy questions and requests can be sent to [email protected].