Summary: SanrioCharacters.com is a free, independent public encyclopedia. We do not require user accounts, do not sell personal data, do not process financial transactions, and do not use advertising or affiliate trackers. We only collect basic anonymous technical telemetry and aggregated traffic statistics to maintain site performance and research relevance.
1. Introduction
Welcome to SanrioCharacters.com (“we,” “our,” or “the website”). We operate an independent digital encyclopedia and historical ranking archive dedicated to documenting official Sanrio characters, lore, friend circles, and popularity contest records.
This Privacy Policy explains how information is handled when you visit and browse our encyclopedia. We are committed to transparency and respect visitor privacy by minimizing data collection to only what is technically necessary to operate a fast, secure, and accessible resource.
2. Information We Collect Automatically
When you access and browse the website, standard web server infrastructure automatically logs certain routine technical data transmitted by your web browser, which may include:
- Technical Identifiers: Your Internet Protocol (IP) address and approximate geographic region (country or city level).
- Device & Browser Information: Browser type, operating system, device hardware category, and screen resolution.
- Usage Logs: Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) paths visited, referring web pages, date and timestamp of requests, and HTTP status codes.
This information is processed in aggregate to diagnose server issues, prevent denial-of-service attacks, and ensure network stability.
3. Cookies and Local Storage
A cookie is a small text file stored on your device by your web browser. SanrioCharacters.com adheres to a minimal cookie approach:
- Essential Functionality: We do not require non-essential tracking cookies or profiling cookies to browse character profiles, rankings, or blog articles.
- Client-Side Storage: Interactive features (such as local search filtering, character comparison selections, and puzzle game progress) execute entirely within your local browser session. We do not use browser localStorage or sessionStorage to track personal identities across other sites. Game progress (such as placed jigsaw pieces, timer, and difficulty preferences) is stored locally on your device solely to let you resume active gameplay without requiring user accounts.
4. Web Analytics
We use Google Analytics (via Google Analytics 4 Measurement ID G-1QNBYHBNX4) to understand aggregate traffic patterns and improve our encyclopedia content. Google Analytics uses first-party cookies to collect aggregated, non-personally identifiable statistical data, such as:
- Total page views and session durations.
- Most frequently viewed character profiles and ranking guides.
- General device categories (desktop, tablet, or mobile).
IP addresses collected through analytics are masked/anonymized where supported. You can disable analytics tracking at any time by configuring your browser privacy settings or installing a standard browser privacy extension.
5. Search and Interactive Tools
Our global character search bar and character comparison tool operate directly using static, client-side JavaScript datasets (assets/js/site.js). When you type a search term or compare two characters, the processing occurs locally on your own computer or device without transmitting personal search histories to external profiling networks.
6. Forms and Information Visitors Submit
SanrioCharacters.com does not require user registration, user logins, profile creation, or password management. We do not host public commenting systems, message boards, or newsletter forms that collect names or email addresses. Visitors enjoy full, unrestricted access to the entire encyclopedia without submitting personal information.
7. Third-Party Services
To deliver optimized typography and secure hosting, we utilize select technical service providers:
- Google Fonts: We embed web fonts (Playfair Display, DM Sans, Shippori Mincho) via Google Fonts CDN for high-legibility typographic rendering.
- Google Analytics: Provides aggregated, anonymous traffic reporting as detailed above.
In accordance with our strict site-wide Zero Outbound Link Policy, third-party services are referenced in plain text rather than clickable external links.
8. Advertising and Affiliate Tracking
SanrioCharacters.com contains zero third-party advertisements, zero sponsored commercial popups, and zero affiliate tracking links. We do not monetize visitor clicks, nor do we partner with ad exchanges or behavioral tracking networks.
9. Data Retention
Routine web server access logs are retained only for temporary periods necessary for security monitoring, cache maintenance, and system administration before being automatically rotated or deleted. Aggregated analytics reports do not contain individual personal identifiers.
10. Data Security
We implement standard security measures, including Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) encryption with modern TLS protocols, to protect data in transit between your browser and our servers. While no internet transmission is 100% secure, our architecture is designed to minimize risk by storing no sensitive personal data or financial records.
11. Children’s Privacy
Because Sanrio characters appeal to fans of all ages, including young children, our encyclopedia is designed as a family-safe educational and reference resource. We do not knowingly collect, request, or store personal information from children under the age of 13 (or 16 in applicable jurisdictions). If you believe a child has inadvertently transmitted personal information to us, please notify us so we can promptly delete it.
12. Your Choices and Controls
You have full control over your privacy while using SanrioCharacters.com:
- Cookie Management: You can adjust your browser settings to block or delete cookies at any time.
- Do Not Track (DNT) / GPC: You can enable Global Privacy Control (GPC) or Do Not Track signals in your web browser.
- Client Data: You may clear your browser cache at any time to remove locally stored stylesheet or script assets.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect modifications in technical infrastructure, server configurations, or regulatory requirements. Any updates will be published directly on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date at the top.
14. Contact and Inquiries
If you have questions regarding this Privacy Policy or our data handling practices, please consult our About page and Editorial Methodology for background regarding our editorial standards and archival operations.
15. Legal Disclaimer
SanrioCharacters.com is an independent fan encyclopedia and research archive. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or associated with Sanrio Co., Ltd. Character names, images, logos, and trademarks belong to their respective intellectual property owners.