As of: December 2024
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer or mobile device by websites when you visit them. They are used to make websites functional, more efficient, and to enable certain features.
Cookies cannot be used to run programs or transfer viruses to your computer. They are not harmful to you as a user but help websites run smoothly and prevent you from having to log in again with every visit.
Transparency and Minimalism:
Varbe only uses cookies that are absolutely necessary for the operation of the platform or that significantly improve your user experience. We don't believe in invasive tracking or aggressive marketing cookies. Your privacy is important to us.
What we DO NOT use:
We use different types of cookies for different purposes:
These cookies are essential for the website to function and are set without your consent.
These cookies enable basic functions such as security, authentication, and network management. Without these cookies, Varbe would not work. You cannot disable these cookies without significantly affecting the functionality of the website.
What we store:
Authentication & Session:
Security:
Technical Functionality:
Legal Basis: Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest in operating the website)
Storage Duration: Session cookies: until browser is closed; Persistent cookies: maximum 30 days
Provider: Firebase (Google Ireland Limited)
These cookies enable enhanced features and are only set with your consent.
Functional cookies remember your preferences and make using Varbe more comfortable. They are not strictly necessary but significantly improve your user experience.
What we store:
Settings & Preferences:
Discovery Feed (once active):
Legal Basis: Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR (consent)
Storage Duration: 12 months
Control: You can disable these cookies in the cookie settings.
These cookies help us improve Varbe and are only set with your consent.
Analytical cookies collect anonymized information about how visitors use our website. This data helps us identify problems, improve user experience, and develop new features.
What we analyze:
Firebase Analytics:
Important:
Google Analytics (if implemented):
Legal Basis: Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR (consent)
Storage Duration: 26 months (anonymized)
Right to Object: You can object to analysis at any time at info@varbe.org or in the cookie settings.
We currently DO NOT use any marketing cookies.
Varbe does not use invasive marketing or remarketing cookies. We believe in organic growth and respect your privacy. There are:
Social Media Sharing (optional):
If you want to share content on social media, connections to these platforms are only established when you actively click the "Share" button. There are no passive social media trackers on Varbe.
Future (with your consent):
If we use limited marketing cookies in the future (e.g., for targeted artist acquisition campaigns), you will be informed in advance and asked for explicit consent.
Some cookies are set by third-party providers whose services we use to operate Varbe. These providers process data on our behalf and are bound by data processing agreements.
Purpose: Hosting, authentication, database
Provider: Google Ireland Limited, Dublin, Ireland
Cookies: Firebase Authentication Cookies, Firebase Session Cookies, Firebase Analytics Cookies (consent only)
Privacy: firebase.google.com/support/privacy
Legal Basis: Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (necessary cookies) / Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR (Analytics)
Purpose: Secure payment processing
Provider: Stripe Payments Europe Ltd., Dublin, Ireland
Cookies: Stripe Session Cookies, Fraud Detection Cookies
Privacy: stripe.com/privacy
Legal Basis: Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR (contract performance)
Important: Stripe cookies are only set when you start the checkout process. No Stripe cookies are set when browsing Varbe normally.
You have full control over the use of cookies on Varbe.
On your first visit to Varbe, a cookie banner appears where you can choose:
You can change your cookie preferences at any time:
You can also manage or delete cookies directly in your browser:
Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
Safari: Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data
Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data
Mobile (Safari iOS): Settings → Safari → Block All Cookies
Mobile (Chrome Android): Chrome → Settings → Site settings → Cookies
You can install browser extensions that automatically block cookies:
Important: Disabling all cookies can significantly affect the functionality of Varbe. You may not be able to log in or use certain features.
We recommend allowing at least the necessary cookies to use Varbe.
| Cookie Name | Type | Purpose | Duration | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| __session | Necessary | Session management | Session | Firebase |
| firebase-auth-token | Necessary | Authentication | 30 days | Firebase |
| varbe-lang | Functional | Language setting | 12 months | Varbe |
| varbe-theme | Functional | Theme preference | 12 months | Varbe |
| varbe-consent | Necessary | Cookie consent | 12 months | Varbe |
| _ga | Analytical | Google Analytics | 24 months | |
| _gid | Analytical | Google Analytics | 24 hours |
This list is updated when new cookies are added.
We may update this cookie policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or when new features are rolled out.
For significant changes:
Recommendation: Visit this page occasionally to stay informed about our cookie practices.
Version History:
Cookies are necessary for you to log in and stay logged in. Without cookies, you would have to log in again with every page view, which would be very impractical.
No, never. We do not sell any data to third parties. We only use cookies to make Varbe better for you.
The website requires at least the necessary cookies for authentication and session management. All other cookies are optional.
Your interactions (likes, follows, comments) are stored to personalize the Discovery Feed – but these are not "cookies", they are data in your account. You can object to personalization at any time.
Instagram and Facebook use aggressive tracking cookies that follow you across many websites and use them for targeted advertising. Varbe doesn't do that. We only track what happens on our own platform and don't use the data for advertising.
For questions about our cookie policy or your cookie settings:
Email: info@varbe.org
Subject: Cookie Question
Postal Address:
Varbe
Olando Heeke
Fesenfeld 12
28203 Bremen
Germany
We usually respond within 24 hours (on business days).
Last updated: December 2024
This cookie policy applies to all Varbe domains (varbe.org and subdomains) as well as the Varbe mobile app.