Privacy Policy

Effective September 29, 2026

Gikochan collects only the information needed to operate and moderate the imageboard. We do not sell personal data or use it for advertising or commercial profiling.

Information we process

  • Posts and uploads: post text, names, tripcodes, subjects, uploaded files, original filenames, technical file details, timestamps, and board/thread relationships.
  • IP addresses: the IP address used to submit each post is stored with that post. IP addresses or network ranges may also appear in ban records and moderation logs. Tier-list ballots temporarily retain an IP address and a keyed IP hash for abuse detection.
  • Browser identifiers: random cookie values support post ownership/deletion and tier voting. Theme and interface-state cookies remember preferences. Tier-list drafts are stored locally in your browser and are not sent to Gikochan until submitted.
  • Operational data: security events, reports, moderation actions, login sessions, and ordinary server or reverse-proxy logs may contain timestamps, IP addresses, request paths, and browser/network information.

How we use information

Information is used only to provide the service, display and organize posts, remember user choices, let a browser manage its own posts, prevent duplicate or abusive voting, investigate reports, enforce rules and bans, secure and troubleshoot the service, preserve evidence, and meet legal obligations. It is not sold, rented, used for targeted advertising, or used to build commercial profiles.

Uploads and metadata

Ordinary newly uploaded images are re-encoded, and newly uploaded audio and video are remuxed, to remove embedded metadata where supported. The original filename remains public. Files imported from legacy archives, and administrator-uploaded banners, may retain metadata from their source. Do not upload a file if its contents or filename reveal information you do not want made public.

Retention

  • Posts, files, associated poster IP addresses, reports, bans, and moderation records may remain for as long as needed for operation, moderation, security, evidence preservation, or legal compliance. Gikochan currently does not promise automatic deletion after a fixed period.
  • Tier-ballot IP addresses and keyed IP hashes are scheduled to be cleared after approximately 24 hours; clearing occurs when tier moderation or voting maintenance runs. The random ballot identifier and vote may remain so the aggregate can be maintained and repeat voting controlled.
  • Moderator sessions expire after approximately 12 hours. Public preference cookies generally last one year. Random post-ownership and tier-voter cookies may last up to ten years unless cleared by the user.
  • Deleting a post through its ownership cookie removes the public database record and stored upload, but related moderation, ban, security, backup, or legal-preservation records may remain where necessary.

Disclosure

Data may be processed by infrastructure providers solely to host, secure, and deliver Gikochan. Operators may preserve or disclose relevant information when reasonably necessary to enforce the rules, protect a person or the service, investigate suspected abuse, comply with valid legal process, or report suspected illegal content to law enforcement or another appropriate authority. Gikochan does not publish poster IP addresses to ordinary users.

Your choices

You may clear site cookies and local storage through your browser. A browser that retains its post-ownership cookie can delete its own post or attached file using the post controls. Clearing that cookie removes this ability. Avoid including personal information in anonymous posts, filenames, or uploads.

Security and changes

We use reasonable technical controls, but no online service can guarantee absolute security. This policy may change as Gikochan develops; material revisions will be posted here with a new effective date.