Privacy Policy

Last Updated: February 2026 | Effective Date: 1 January 2026

Welcome to ChicCritique.org (the “Website”), operated by ChicCritique. We are dedicated to respecting and protecting the privacy, security, and integrity of your personal information in strict accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, why we collect it, how it is used, stored, and shared, and the rights you hold concerning your personal information.

1. Who We Are

ChicCritique.org operates as an independent consumer information and advertorial review publication. For the purposes of the UK GDPR, the data controller is:

Happy Story GmbH
Weissenseestrasse 101, 81539 Munich, Germany
Email: [email protected]
Website: chiccritique.org

2. What Personal Data We Collect

We may collect and process the following categories of data:

Technical & Usage Information: When you access our Website, our servers automatically log standard network information, including your IP address, browser type and version, language settings, operating system, referring URL, date and time of access, and pages visited.
Communications Data: When you contact us by email or through a contact form, we collect your name, email address, and any information contained within your enquiry.
Cookies and Similar Tracking Technologies: We use essential technical cookies to ensure the proper functionality of the Website and to monitor site performance.

3. Lawful Basis for Processing

We process your personal data under the following legal bases pursuant to Article 6 of the UK GDPR:

Legitimate Interests: To operate, maintain, and secure our Website, analyse general traffic patterns, and provide informative consumer content.
Consent: Where you have expressly consented to the placement of non-essential analytical cookies or submitted enquiries directly.
Legal Obligation: Where necessary to comply with applicable statutory or regulatory requirements.

4. How We Use Your Data

We use the collected information for the following specific purposes:

To provide, maintain, and optimise the performance and display of our Website.
To prevent, detect, and address fraudulent activities, security breaches, or technical issues.
To measure aggregated audience engagement and improve the quality of our advertorial guides.
To respond to your questions, feedback, or support requests.

5. Third-Party Links & Commercial Relationships

Our Website contains outbound links to external third-party merchant and partner websites. When you click on an external link or promotional offer, you are directed to a third party’s platform. Please note that we do not operate or control those websites and are not responsible for their privacy practices. We strongly advise you to read the privacy notice of every website you visit.

6. Data Retention

We only retain personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law (such as tax, accounting, or legal compliance obligations).

7. Your Data Protection Rights

Under the UK Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR, you possess rights regarding your personal information, including:

Right of Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
Right to Erasure: Request the deletion of your personal data where there is no compelling reason for its continued processing.
Right to Restrict Processing: Request the suspension of processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.
Right to Object: Object to the processing of your data based on legitimate interests.
Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. If you consider that our processing of your personal data infringes UK data protection laws, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

8. Security of Your Information

We implement robust technical and organisational security measures to protect your personal data from unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, please be aware that no transmission over the Internet or electronic storage system can be guaranteed 100% secure.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our operational practices or applicable statutory requirements. Any revisions will be published on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date.

10. Contact Information

For any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact our Data Protection Team at [email protected].