shiba.town Privacy Policy
The shiba.town Operations Office ("the Operator") sets out this Privacy Policy ("this Policy") to describe how it handles information about Users of its social networking service "shiba.town" (the "Service").
1. Information We Collect
In the course of providing the Service, we collect the following information from Users.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Account information | Email address, password (stored encrypted), display name, avatar image, language preference |
| Shiba Profile | The name, bio, and avatar image of a Shiba Inu registered by a User, and, where the Memorial feature is used, that status and the date of passing, etc. |
| Posted content | Text and images posted by a User, and comments |
| Interaction data | Records of "Paws" (likes), follows, and blocks |
| Report information | The content of reports filed by a User, and information about the reported post or account |
| AI feature usage | The date/time and feature name for each use of the translation feature or the AI Shiba Writer feature (used only to enforce anti-abuse rate limits; the Service itself does not store the text submitted to, or generated by, these features) |
| Access logs, etc. | Technical log information, such as IP address and access timestamps, ordinarily collected by our service infrastructure (described below) |
Internal administrative information used to operate the Service, such as admin privileges (is_admin) or account status (e.g., a suspension flag), is not disclosed to the User themselves and is not included in the "data download" feature described below.
2. Purposes of Use
We use the information we collect for the following purposes.
- To provide, maintain, and operate the Service
- To authenticate and verify Users
- To provide safety features such as reporting and blocking
- To respond to violations of the Terms of Service or Content Policy (e.g., removing posts, suspending accounts)
- To provide features Users choose to use, such as the translation feature and the AI Shiba Writer feature
- To improve the Service and evaluate new features (using statistical information that does not identify individuals)
- To respond to inquiries
3. Sharing Information with AI Features (Anthropic's Claude API)
The Service's translation feature and its AI Shiba Writer (Shiba-voice conversion) feature are powered by the Claude API provided by Anthropic, PBC ("Anthropic").
- When a User uses either of these features, the text of the post or comment the User enters is transmitted to Anthropic's servers for processing.
- How Anthropic handles the transmitted content (whether and for how long it is retained, whether it is used to train models, etc.) is governed by Anthropic's own privacy policy and terms of service. Please refer to Anthropic's official website for the latest information.
- The Service itself does not store the text generated by these features unless and until the User chooses to save it as an actual post.
4. Third-Party Sharing and Subcontracting
The Service is operated using the following external providers. We may have these providers handle User information to the extent necessary to provide the Service. We do not share information with these providers for advertising purposes or sell it as a mailing list.
- Supabase (database, authentication, and file storage infrastructure)
- Vercel (hosting infrastructure for the Service's application)
- Anthropic (the AI features described in the previous section)
These providers may operate servers located outside Japan, in which case User information may be processed outside Japan.
The Service does not currently use any advertising networks or third-party analytics/tracking tools.
5. Use of Cookies, etc.
The Service uses cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes.
- To maintain login state (managing the authentication session)
- To remember the User's display language preference (e.g., Japanese/English)
Both of these are necessary to provide core functionality of the Service. The Service does not currently use cookies for advertising or third-party behavioral tracking.
6. Data Retention
User information is retained for as long as the account remains active. Once a User completes the account deletion process, their information is, in principle, deleted immediately, as described below.
Records of reports filed by other Users may be retained as an operational record even after the reported User has deleted their account.
7. Data Deletion and Export (User Rights)
The Service offers the following features.
- Data download (export): From the settings screen, Users can download, on demand, a JSON file containing their profile (excluding internal administrative information), Shiba Profiles, existing posts and comments, and the Paws, follows, and blocks they themselves have made.
- Account deletion: From the settings screen, after a confirmation step (entering the registered email address), Users can delete their account. Deletion is immediate and complete, with no grace period. Deletion also removes stored files such as post images and avatar images. Deleted data cannot be restored.
For Users located in regions subject to data protection laws such as the GDPR (including the EU/UK), the features above are intended to address requests for access to, and deletion of, one's own data. For any other requests, please contact us using the details below.
8. Use by Minors
The Service is intended for individuals aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 18.
9. Security
The Service employs general security measures such as database access controls (row-level access permissions) and encrypted communications. However, given the nature of internet-based services, we cannot guarantee the complete security of information.
10. Changes to This Policy
The Operator may amend this Policy as necessary. The amended Policy takes effect once posted on the Service. Where a material change is made, we will endeavor to provide notice through the Service to the extent practicable.
11. Contact
Please direct any questions about this Policy, or any questions or requests regarding the handling of your information, to the following contact:
- Contact email: info@shiba.town
Effective date: October 1, 2026