Privacy Policy

This is a courtesy English translation. The legally binding version is the German Datenschutzerklärung.

1. Controller

Gerrit Kelbassa, Ampferweg 1, 49716 Meppen, Germany. Contact: see Imprint.

2. Principle

Kelly Search is a data-minimal search service. We store queries (search terms and results) for operation and caching — but no personal user profiles. No tracking, no advertising, no sharing of user data with third parties.

3. Server log files (Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR)

The web server processes and stores technically necessary access data with truncated IP addresses (ipv4/64), including: truncated IP, time, requested page, HTTP status, amount of data transferred, referrer, browser. This data cannot be assigned to specific persons and is not merged with other data sources. Purpose: ensuring smooth operation, security, abuse detection. Deleted after a short period (max. 14 days).

4. Search queries and cache (Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR)

Search terms and results may be cached locally to answer recurring queries faster. Storage is anonymous: API searches are not linked to IP addresses, accounts or other personal characteristics. No user profiling takes place.

5. Account data (Art. 6 (1)(b) GDPR)

An account can be created for API usage. Stored data: e-mail address and a password hash (for login), derived API keys and technical usage data (number of requests for rate limiting/abuse protection). We use this data exclusively for contract performance (providing API access). It is not shared with third parties; not combined with search terms.

6. Contact

If you contact us by e-mail, the data transmitted (e-mail address, message) is stored to process the request and for possible follow-up questions. We do not share this data without your consent.

7. No cookies, no analytics

This website does not use analytics, marketing or session cookies. No third-party services (Google Fonts, Analytics, ad networks, etc.) are embedded. The login uses strictly necessary session cookies (login area only, Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR).

8. External search federation partners (YaCy peers)

To answer search queries, our service may query public nodes of a distributed search network (YaCy). The search query (not your IP address) is transmitted to these peers. No processing of personal user data towards these peers takes place; we transmit only the search term.

9. Your rights

You have the right at any time to free information about your stored personal data (Art. 15 GDPR), its rectification (Art. 16), erasure (Art. 17), restriction of processing (Art. 18), data portability (Art. 20) and objection to processing (Art. 21). Contact the address in the Imprint. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection authority.

10. Data security

Transmission is encrypted via HTTPS/TLS. Servers are located in the EU. Credentials are stored as hashes; API keys have restricted rights.

Last updated: September 2026