Last updated: October 30, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how The Dusty Shutter (https://thedustyshutter.com, “we”, “us”) collects, uses and protects personal data when you visit our website. We are based in Germany, so we process personal data in line with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and German data protection law.
Who is responsible
The controller responsible for data processing on this website is the operator of The Dusty Shutter. You can reach us via the details on our Contact page.
Data we collect
- Server log data: when you visit, our hosting provider automatically records technical data such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring page and time of access. This is needed to deliver the site securely (legal basis: legitimate interest, Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) and is deleted after a short period.
- Comments: if you leave a comment, we store the name, email address, website (optional), comment text and IP address you submit, so we can display and moderate comments and prevent spam.
- Contact by email: if you email us, we use your message and email address only to answer you.
- Cookies: small text files stored on your device, described below.
Cookies
We use technically necessary cookies (for example, to remember comment details or consent choices). With your consent, we and our partners may also use cookies for analytics and advertising. You can withdraw or change your consent at any time and delete or block cookies in your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may affect how the site works.
Google AdSense and third-party advertising
We may use Google AdSense, an advertising service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland (“Google”), to show ads on this site.
- Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this website or other websites.
- Google’s use of advertising cookies, including the DoubleClick cookie, enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visits to this site and/or other sites on the Internet.
- You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google’s Ads Settings. You can also opt out of some third-party vendors’ use of cookies for personalized advertising at www.aboutads.info or www.youronlinechoices.eu.
- For visitors in the EEA and UK, personalized ads are only shown after you give consent through our consent banner (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). Data may be transferred to Google LLC in the USA; Google is certified under the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework.
- More information: How Google uses information from sites that use its services.
Analytics
We may use analytics tools such as Google Analytics or Google Search Console to understand how visitors use the site (for example, which pages are popular). Analytics cookies are only set with your consent. IP addresses are shortened or anonymized where the tool allows. You can withdraw consent at any time via the cookie settings.
Affiliate links
Some posts may contain affiliate links (for example, to Amazon or other retailers). If you click such a link, the retailer may set a cookie to record that you came from our site, so we can earn a small commission if you buy something. We do not receive your personal data from these retailers. See our Disclaimer for details.
Embedded content and social media
Posts may include embedded content or share buttons (for example, Pinterest). Embedded content behaves as if you visited the other website directly, and that site may collect data about you under its own privacy policy.
How long we keep data
We keep personal data only as long as needed for the purposes above or as required by law. Comments are kept until the comment is deleted; emails are deleted when no longer needed to handle your request.
Your rights under the GDPR
You have the right to:
- access the personal data we hold about you (Art. 15 GDPR);
- have inaccurate data corrected (Art. 16);
- have your data deleted (Art. 17);
- restrict processing (Art. 18);
- data portability (Art. 20);
- object to processing based on legitimate interest (Art. 21);
- withdraw consent at any time with effect for the future (Art. 7(3));
- lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority, for example the authority in your German federal state of residence.
To exercise your rights, contact us via the Contact page.
Children
This website is not directed at children under 16, and we do not knowingly collect their personal data.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy when our site or the law changes. The current version is always available on this page.