Last updated: 17 October 2026
1. About this policy
H-BAR — www.h-bar.gr is an independent website dedicated to science, technology and philosophy.
This Privacy Policy describes how personal data is processed when you visit the website, contact us, publish comments or subscribe to our newsletter.
The data controller is Ioanna Theofilakou, based in Greece.
For questions or requests concerning personal data, contact info@h-bar.gr.
2. Data we process and why
Browsing and security
When you access the website, technical information may be recorded, including your IP address, access date and time, browser, operating system and requests sent to the server.
This information is used to operate the website, diagnose problems and protect against malicious or abusive activity. Processing is based on our legitimate interest in maintaining a secure website.
Communication
When you email us, we process your email address, the name you use and the contents of your message to handle and respond to your enquiry.
The legal basis is our legitimate interest in managing correspondence or, where relevant, taking steps at your request before entering into a contract.
Contacting us does not subscribe you to the newsletter.
3. Comments on articles
When you submit a comment, we collect the information provided in the form, including your name, email address, optional website address and comment. Your IP address and browser information may also be recorded to prevent spam and abuse.
Your name, comment and optional website link may be displayed publicly. The email address entered in the email field is not published.
Managing and publishing comments is based on our legitimate interest in hosting public discussion and protecting the website.
Profile pictures are provided through Gravatar, which may receive a hash of your email address and technical request information. Further information is available in Automattic’s Privacy Policy.
Newsletter subscription through the comment form is a separate choice and does not automatically result from submitting a comment.
4. Newsletter and MailPoet
We use MailPoet to manage subscriptions and the MailPoet Sending Service, part of the Automattic group, to send newsletters.
We process your email address, subscription list or language, and records relating to registration, confirmation and subscription status. Technical information necessary to send and deliver messages is also processed. Depending on the active settings, delivery, email-opening and link-click statistics may be recorded.
Newsletter registration and sending are based on your consent. Subscription is optional and is not required to access the website’s content.
You can unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link included in newsletters or by contacting info@h-bar.gr.
Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal.
Further information about the provider’s services is available in Automattic’s Privacy Policy.
5. Cookies, analytics and external services
H-BAR uses Google Analytics 4, with tags also managed through Google Tag Manager, to understand website traffic and improve its content.
The use of non-essential cookies and related analytics technologies requires your consent. Cookie categories and the management of your choices are described in our Cookie Policy.
The website may include embedded content and links to external services. Loading embedded content may transmit technical information to the relevant provider, which also applies its own privacy policy.
If you choose to support H-BAR through Ko-fi, the platform may share information with us, including your name, email address, support message and transaction information. We use this information to manage your support, communicate with you and meet any applicable legal obligations. Depending on the circumstances, processing is based on our legitimate interests, performance of the relevant transaction or a legal obligation.
The relevant providers’ policies are available here:
6. Providers, recipients and international processing
We use hosting, security, email and analytics services to operate the website. These include NameHero for hosting, the MailPoet Sending Service, Google and the services identified in the previous sections.
Authorised individuals and providers receive access to non-public data to the extent necessary for their respective services. Data may also be disclosed where required by law or to establish, exercise or defend legal claims.
Some providers may process data outside the European Economic Area. Transfers are subject to the requirements of Chapter V of the GDPR. Google and Automattic describe protection mechanisms in their terms, including standard contractual clauses.
You can request information about the relevant safeguards at info@h-bar.gr.
Further information about hosting is available in NameHero’s Privacy Policy.
7. Data retention
Data is retained according to its purpose:
- Correspondence: for as long as necessary to handle your enquiry and any related obligations or claims.
- Comments: while they remain relevant to discussion of the article, subject to removal or anonymisation where appropriate.
- Newsletter: while your subscription remains active. After unsubscribing, limited records may remain to prevent further unwanted messages, document your choices and meet legal obligations.
- Technical logs and analytics data: according to their security or measurement purpose, the relevant service settings and any need to investigate incidents.
Individual cookie durations are presented in the Cookie Policy and its accompanying table.
8. Your rights
Subject to the conditions of the GDPR, you may request access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing and data portability. You may also object to processing based on legitimate interests.
To exercise your rights, contact info@h-bar.gr. We may request information necessary to verify your identity. We normally respond within one month, with extensions where permitted.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Hellenic Data Protection Authority.
9. Security and policy updates
We apply technical and organisational measures appropriate to the data and risks involved, including access restrictions and website security tools.
This policy is updated when website features, services or relevant requirements change. The date of the latest revision appears at the beginning of this page.
