Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Cookie Policy
Community Guidelines
Child Safety Policy

‍

Privacy Policy

‍

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy describes how Associazione non riconosciuta WaldorfMinds ("WaldorfMinds", "we", "us", or "our"), with registered seat at Via Gioberti 67, 50121 Firenze, Italy, collects, processes, and protects the personal data of users ("you") of the WaldorfMinds mobile application (available on iOS and Android) and website at waldorfminds.org (collectively, the "Platform").

WaldorfMinds is committed to protecting your privacy and processing your personal data in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (the General Data Protection Regulation, "GDPR"), Italian Legislative Decree no. 196/2003 (as amended by Legislative Decree no. 101/2018), and any other applicable data protection legislation.

This Policy explains what data we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, how long we retain it, and what rights you have in relation to it. We encourage you to read it carefully before using the Platform. By creating an account or using the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

This Policy should be read together with our Terms of Service, Cookie Policy, and Community Guidelines.

2. Data Controller

The data controller responsible for your personal data is:

Associazione non riconosciuta WaldorfMinds

Via Gioberti 67, 50121 Firenze, Italy

Email: privacy@waldorfminds.org

Website: waldorfminds.org

For all data protection enquiries, requests to exercise your rights, or concerns about how your data is handled, please contact us at the email address above.

3. Data We Collect

We collect personal data in the following ways: data you provide to us directly when using the Platform, data collected automatically through your use of the Platform, and data received from third-party services that power certain Platform features.

3.1 Data you provide directly

When you create an account and use the Platform, you provide us with the following categories of personal data:

Account registration data

• Email address: used as your login identifier and for account-related communications

• Password: stored in encrypted form using industry-standard hashing. We never store your password in plain text and cannot retrieve it.

• Year of birth: used to determine whether you are eligible to register and to apply appropriate age-based safety restrictions

• Account type: the category under which you register (student, parent, teacher, alumni, or organisation), which determines the features and communication permissions available to you

Profile data

• Display name or full name

• Profile photograph (optional)

• Biographical information or personal description (optional)

• School or organisation affiliation (optional)

• Country of residence or location (optional)

Content data

• Text posts, reflections, and other written content you publish on the Platform

• Photographs and images you upload to the Platform

• Any other materials you choose to share within the community spaces of the Platform

Communication data

• The content of private messages you exchange with other users through the in-app chat feature

• Reports and communications you submit to our moderation team

Correspondence data

• Any messages, requests, or enquiries you send to privacy@waldorfminds.org or other contact addresses

3.2 Data collected automatically

When you use the Platform, certain data is collected automatically by our systems or by the third-party services we use:

Technical data

• IP address

• Device type, model, and manufacturer

• Operating system and version

• Mobile application version

• Crash reports and error logs

• Network connection type

Usage data (website only)

• Pages visited and time spent on each page

• Referring website or source

• General geographic location at country level (derived from IP address)

• Browser type and version

Usage data for the website is collected through Google Analytics. This data is anonymised and aggregated. IP addresses are anonymised before storage. We do not use this data to identify individual users.

Push notification tokens (mobile app)

When you install the WaldorfMinds mobile application and enable push notifications, a unique device token is generated by Firebase Cloud Messaging (a service provided by Google LLC). This token is used solely to deliver functional notifications to your device, such as alerts about new messages or activity on your posts. Firebase does not receive the content of your messages or posts.

3.3 Data received from third-party services

Google Maps

The WaldorfMinds community map feature is powered by Google Maps. When you interact with the map, your device communicates with Google's servers. Google may process your IP address and location data in accordance with its own privacy policy. We do not share your personally identifiable profile data with Google Maps, and we do not receive personal data about you from Google Maps.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data only where we have a valid legal basis under the GDPR to do so. The legal basis applicable to each category of processing is set out below.

• Performance of a contract (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR): We process account registration data, profile data, content data, and communication data to the extent necessary to provide you with the Platform and its features, as described in our Terms of Service. Without this processing, we cannot provide the service.

• Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR): We process optional profile data (such as profile photographs and biographical information) on the basis of your freely given consent. You may withdraw consent at any time by editing or deleting your profile information.

• Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR): We process technical data and certain usage data to maintain Platform security, prevent fraud and abuse, investigate reported content, and improve the performance and reliability of the Platform. We have assessed that our legitimate interests in these purposes are not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms.

• Legal obligation (Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR): Where we are required by applicable law to process or retain certain data — for example, in connection with mandatory reporting obligations relating to illegal content — we process data on this legal basis.

4.1 Special provisions for users aged 14 to 15

Where the user is between 14 and 15 years of age, Italian law requires parental or guardian consent for the processing of personal data in connection with information society services. By registering, users in this age group confirm that they have obtained such consent from a parent or legal guardian.

Parents and guardians of users in this age group may contact us at privacy@waldorfminds.org to request information about the data processed in relation to their child's account, to request correction of that data, or to request deletion of the account. We will respond to such requests within 30 days.

5. How We Use Your Data

We use the personal data we collect for the following purposes:

• Account creation and management: to create your account, verify your eligibility, and provide you with access to the Platform

• Service delivery: to enable all Platform features, including posting content, browsing community spaces, using the map, accessing events and exchanges, and communicating with other users

• Age-based safety restrictions: to apply appropriate restrictions to users under 18, including limitations on private messaging with users in other account categories

• Push notifications: to send you functional notifications about activity relevant to your account, such as new messages, replies to your posts, or updates from organisations you follow. These notifications are opt-in and can be disabled at any time through your device settings.

• Content moderation: to review reported content and behaviour, enforce our Community Guidelines and Terms of Service, and maintain a safe environment for all users

• Security and fraud prevention: to monitor for unauthorised access, abuse, and violations of our Terms of Service

• Analytics and improvement: to understand how the website is used in aggregate and to improve its performance and usability (website only, via anonymised Google Analytics data)

• Legal compliance: to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including mandatory reporting obligations

• Communication: to respond to your enquiries, requests, and reports

We do not use your personal data for targeted advertising, profiling for commercial purposes, or any purpose incompatible with those described above.

6. Private Messages

The private messaging feature of WaldorfMinds allows users to communicate directly with one another. The content of your private messages is stored on our servers in Zurich, Switzerland, and is accessible only to the sender and recipient of each message.

WaldorfMinds does not read the content of private messages except in the following limited circumstances:

• Where a message has been reported by one of its recipients as potentially harmful, abusive, or in violation of our Community Guidelines or Terms of Service, our moderation team may review its content for the purpose of investigating the report

• Where we are required by law or court order to disclose the content of communications to public authorities

We do not share the content of private messages with third-party service providers, advertisers, or any other parties beyond those described above.

7. Data Storage, Transfers, and Retention

7.1 Storage location

Your personal data is stored on servers operated by Supabase Inc., located in Zurich, Switzerland. Switzerland is a country recognised by the European Commission as providing an adequate level of protection for personal data, pursuant to an adequacy decision issued under Art. 45 GDPR. No additional transfer safeguards are required for data stored in Switzerland.

7.2 International transfers to the United States

Some of the third-party services we use — in particular Google LLC (Firebase Cloud Messaging, Google Analytics, Google Maps) — are operated by entities based in the United States. Transfers of data to Google LLC are subject to the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, under which Google has certified its compliance, and/or to Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission. We have assessed these transfer mechanisms as providing an adequate level of protection for your data.

7.3 Retention periods

We retain your personal data for as long as your account remains active and for a reasonable period thereafter to allow you to reactivate your account if you wish.

• Account and profile data: retained for the duration of your account and deleted within 30 days of account deletion

• Content data (posts, photographs): deleted within 30 days of account deletion, unless individual pieces of content have been reported and are subject to an ongoing moderation review

• Private messages: deleted within 30 days of account deletion. Messages may be retained for longer where they have been reported and are subject to a moderation review or legal hold.

• Technical and security logs: retained for up to 12 months for security purposes

• Data subject to legal retention obligations: retained for the period required by applicable law

8. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to any third party. We share personal data only in the following circumstances:

8.1 Service providers (data processors)

We share personal data with the following service providers who process data on our behalf under data processing agreements:

• Supabase Inc. (Zurich, Switzerland): database hosting, authentication, and storage infrastructure

• Google LLC — Firebase Cloud Messaging: delivery of functional push notifications to mobile devices

• Google LLC — Google Analytics: anonymised website usage analytics

• Google LLC — Google Maps: community map feature within the mobile application and website

Each of these providers processes only the data necessary for the specific service they provide and is contractually prohibited from using your data for their own purposes.

8.2 Legal disclosure

We may disclose personal data to law enforcement authorities, courts, or other public bodies where we are required to do so by applicable law, court order, or legal process, or where we have a good-faith belief that disclosure is necessary to prevent or address a serious and imminent threat to the safety of any person.

8.3 Moderation-related disclosure

In the event that reported content or conduct is referred to law enforcement authorities, relevant data (including account information, content, and communications) may be shared with those authorities as part of that referral.

9. Your Rights Under the GDPR

As a data subject under the GDPR, you have the following rights in relation to your personal data. These rights may be subject to certain limitations and conditions under applicable law.

• Right of access (Art. 15 GDPR): You have the right to obtain confirmation of whether we process personal data about you, and if so, to receive a copy of that data and information about how it is processed.

• Right to rectification (Art. 16 GDPR): You have the right to request correction of inaccurate personal data and completion of incomplete data.

• Right to erasure (Art. 17 GDPR): You have the right to request deletion of your personal data where it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, where you withdraw consent, or where processing is unlawful. This right is subject to legal retention obligations and legitimate interests in retaining certain data.

• Right to restriction of processing (Art. 18 GDPR): You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your data in certain circumstances, for example while a dispute about accuracy is resolved.

• Right to data portability (Art. 20 GDPR): You have the right to receive personal data you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format, and to transmit that data to another controller.

• Right to object (Art. 21 GDPR): You have the right to object to processing of your personal data carried out on the basis of our legitimate interests. We will cease processing unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds that override your interests.

• Right to withdraw consent: Where processing is based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal.

• Right not to be subject to automated decision-making: We do not make decisions about you based solely on automated processing that produce legal or similarly significant effects.

To exercise any of the above rights, please contact us at privacy@waldorfminds.org. We will respond to your request within 30 days. If your request is complex or numerous, we may extend this period by a further two months, in which case we will notify you.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Italian Data Protection Authority: Garante per la protezione dei dati personali, Piazza Venezia 11, 00187 Roma, Italy, www.garanteprivacy.it.

10. Security

WaldorfMinds implements appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, accidental loss, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encrypted storage of passwords using industry-standard hashing algorithms

• HTTPS encryption for all data transmitted between your device and our servers

• Access controls limiting which members of our team can access personal data, on a need-to-know basis

• Regular review of security practices as the Platform develops

We note that no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. While we take data security seriously and strive to implement appropriate protections, we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data. In the event of a data breach that is likely to result in a risk to your rights and freedoms, we will notify you and the relevant supervisory authority as required by law.

11. Cookies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies. Our Cookie Policy, available at waldorfminds.org, provides full details of the cookies we use, their purposes, and how you can manage your cookie preferences. The WaldorfMinds mobile application does not use browser cookies.

12. Children and Minors

WaldorfMinds is designed for users aged 14 and above. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 14. If we become aware that a user is under 14, we will promptly delete their account and associated data.

For users between 14 and 15 years of age, heightened protections apply, as described in Section 4.1 above. Our full approach to the protection of younger users is set out in our Child Safety Policy.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or Platform features. Where changes are significant, we will notify you through the Platform or by email to the address associated with your account, with reasonable advance notice. The date of the most recent revision appears at the top of this document. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically.

14. Contact

For any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy or to the processing of your personal data, please contact us at:

privacy@waldorfminds.org

Associazione non riconosciuta WaldorfMinds

Via Gioberti 67, 50121 Firenze, Italy

‍

Terms of Service

1. Introduction and Acceptance

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Associazione non riconosciuta WaldorfMinds ("WaldorfMinds", "we", "us", or "our"), with registered seat at Via Gioberti 67, 50121 Firenze, Italy, governing your access to and use of the WaldorfMinds mobile application (available on iOS and Android) and website at waldorfminds.org (collectively, the "Platform").

By creating an account or otherwise using the Platform, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and Community Guidelines, all of which are incorporated into these Terms by reference. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not create an account or use the Platform.

If you are accessing the Platform on behalf of an organisation, school, or other institution, you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

2. About WaldorfMinds

WaldorfMinds is a community platform designed for members of the international Waldorf movement, including students, alumni, parents, teachers, schools, farms, festivals, and affiliated organisations. It is operated by Associazione non riconosciuta WaldorfMinds, a non-profit cultural association established under Italian civil law, whose members contribute to the project on a voluntary basis.

WaldorfMinds is not a commercial social network. It does not carry advertising, does not sell user data, and does not operate for profit. It is built and maintained by a small international team of volunteers united by a shared connection to Waldorf education.

3. Eligibility

To create an account on the Platform, you must:

• Be at least 14 years of age

• If you are between 14 and 15 years of age, have obtained the consent of a parent or legal guardian before registering

• Be a member of the international Waldorf community, or have a genuine connection to Waldorf education, culture, or values

• Not have been previously suspended or permanently removed from the Platform for violations of these Terms

By registering, you confirm that you meet all of the above requirements. WaldorfMinds reserves the right to verify eligibility and to decline or remove accounts that do not meet these criteria.

Users who provide a false year of birth to circumvent age restrictions, or who otherwise misrepresent their eligibility, may have their accounts suspended or permanently removed without notice.

4. Account Registration and Security

To access the features of the Platform, you must register an account using a valid email address and a secure password. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, truthful, and complete information during registration and in your profile

• Keep your account information up to date

• Maintain the confidentiality of your password and not share your login credentials with any third party

• Notify us immediately at privacy@waldorfminds.org if you suspect unauthorised access to your account

• Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account

WaldorfMinds will never ask you for your password by email or through any channel other than the official Platform login.

You may not create more than one personal account. Organisation accounts are separate from personal accounts and must accurately represent the organisation they are associated with.

5. User Content

5.1 Ownership and licence

You retain full ownership of the content you create and publish on the Platform ("User Content"), including text posts, photographs, and other materials. WaldorfMinds does not claim ownership of your User Content.

By posting User Content on the Platform, you grant WaldorfMinds a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, sublicensable licence to display, reproduce, distribute, store, and otherwise use that content solely for the purpose of operating and providing the Platform and its features. This licence terminates when you delete the content or your account, subject to any technical delays associated with caching or backup systems.

5.2 Your responsibilities

You are solely responsible for the User Content you post. You represent and warrant that:

• You own or have the necessary rights and permissions to post the content

• Your content does not infringe the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or other rights of any third party

• Your content complies with these Terms and our Community Guidelines

5.3 Prohibited content

You agree not to post, share, or transmit content that:

• Violates any applicable law or regulation, including laws on copyright, defamation, privacy, and data protection

• Is defamatory, abusive, threatening, harassing, or hateful toward any individual or group

• Discriminates against or demeans others on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic

• Is sexually explicit, obscene, or pornographic

• Contains graphic violence or imagery designed to shock or disturb

• Exploits, endangers, or sexualises minors in any way

• Promotes, facilitates, or glorifies illegal activities, including drug use, self-harm, or violence

• Is designed to deceive, manipulate, or mislead other users

• Constitutes spam, unsolicited advertising, or commercial promotion unrelated to the Waldorf community

• Contains malware, phishing links, or other harmful code

• Infringes the intellectual property rights of any third party

• Discloses the personal data of others without their explicit consent

6. Communication Features

6.1 Private messaging

The Platform includes a private messaging feature enabling direct communication between users. The following restrictions apply:

• Users under the age of 18 may only exchange private messages with other users registered as students. Private messaging between users under 18 and adult users registered in other account categories (parents, teachers, alumni, organisations) is restricted by default at the account level.

• This restriction cannot be overridden by the minor user and may not be circumvented by any adult user through any means.

6.2 Expected conduct in communications

All communications on the Platform — including private messages, comments, and posts — are subject to these Terms and our Community Guidelines. You agree to communicate with other users in a respectful and considerate manner. Harassment, unsolicited contact, and persistent messaging after a user has not responded are not permitted.

7. Prohibited Conduct

In addition to the content restrictions described above, you agree not to:

• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Platform, any other user's account, or any system or network connected to the Platform

• Circumvent, disable, or interfere with security features of the Platform

• Scrape, crawl, or systematically collect data from the Platform without our prior written consent

• Use automated tools, bots, or scripts to interact with the Platform

• Impersonate any person, organisation, or entity, including WaldorfMinds team members

• Use the Platform in any way that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair its functioning

• Attempt to reverse-engineer, decompile, or extract the source code of the Platform

• Use the Platform to collect or harvest personal data about other users without their consent

• Create false or misleading accounts or profiles

8. Moderation and Enforcement

8.1 Reporting

Every user has access to in-app tools to report content or behaviour that appears to violate these Terms or our Community Guidelines. You may also submit reports directly to privacy@waldorfminds.org. All reports are reviewed by our moderation team.

8.2 Moderation actions

WaldorfMinds reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to take the following actions in response to violations of these Terms:

• Remove or hide content that violates these Terms or our Community Guidelines, without prior notice

• Issue a formal warning to the account holder

• Temporarily suspend an account

• Permanently terminate an account and bar re-registration

• Report illegal content or conduct to the relevant law enforcement authorities

The severity of the action taken will generally be proportionate to the severity of the violation, though WaldorfMinds reserves the right to take immediate action — including permanent termination — in cases involving serious harm, particularly harm to minors.

8.3 Appeals

If your account is suspended or content is removed and you believe the action was taken in error, you may submit an appeal to privacy@waldorfminds.org within 30 days of the action. We will review your appeal and respond within a reasonable time. Our decision on appeal is final.

9. Account Suspension and Deletion

9.1 Deletion by user

You may delete your account at any time through the account settings in the Platform. Upon deletion, your personal data will be removed in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Certain data may be retained where required by law or for legitimate security purposes.

9.2 Inactive accounts

WaldorfMinds reserves the right to deactivate accounts that have been inactive for an extended period (currently defined as 12 months without any login). We will notify you by email before deactivating an inactive account and give you an opportunity to reactivate it.

9.3 Termination by WaldorfMinds

WaldorfMinds reserves the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time where you have violated these Terms, where continued provision of the service is not technically or organisationally feasible, or where required by law. Where termination is not due to a violation, we will provide reasonable advance notice where possible.

10. Platform Availability and Changes

WaldorfMinds is operated by a small volunteer team and is provided on an "as available" basis. We do not guarantee that the Platform will be available at all times or free from interruptions, errors, or downtime. We will endeavour to notify users of planned maintenance where possible.

We reserve the right to modify, update, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Platform at any time, including the addition or removal of features. Where changes are material, we will communicate them to users through the Platform or by email with reasonable notice.

11. Intellectual Property

The WaldorfMinds name, logo, and all original design elements, graphics, and Platform architecture are the property of Associazione non riconosciuta WaldorfMinds and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws. Nothing in these Terms grants you any right or licence to use our trademarks, trade names, logos, or other proprietary materials without our prior written consent.

The name "Waldorf" is a registered trademark of the Bund der Freien Waldorfschulen. Its use within the name "WaldorfMinds" is subject to ongoing dialogue with that organisation.

12. Third-Party Links and Services

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or integrate third-party services. These are provided for convenience only. WaldorfMinds is not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or terms of any third-party website or service, and the inclusion of a link does not constitute an endorsement.

13. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available", without warranty of any kind, express or implied. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, WaldorfMinds disclaims all warranties, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free from harmful components.

14. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, WaldorfMinds and its team members shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or in connection with your use of or inability to use the Platform, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

Our total aggregate liability for any claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform shall not exceed the amount you have paid us in the twelve months preceding the claim, or EUR 50, whichever is greater.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot be excluded under applicable mandatory law, including liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.

15. Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Italy, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or the use of the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Florence, Italy.

If you are a consumer resident in the European Union, you may also be entitled to bring proceedings in the courts of your country of residence under mandatory consumer protection laws applicable in your jurisdiction. Nothing in these Terms affects your rights as a consumer under mandatory EU law.

16. Severability and Waiver

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, that provision shall be severed from the remainder of the Terms, which shall continue in full force and effect. Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms on a particular occasion shall not constitute a waiver of our right to enforce it on a future occasion.

17. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or Platform features. Where changes are material, we will notify you through the Platform or by email at least 14 days before the changes take effect. Your continued use of the Platform after that date constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you must stop using the Platform and may delete your account.

18. Contact

For any questions about these Terms, please contact:

privacy@waldorfminds.org

Associazione non riconosciuta WaldorfMinds

Via Gioberti 67, 50121 Firenze, Italy

‍

Cookie Policy

1. Introduction

This Cookie Policy explains how Associazione non riconosciuta WaldorfMinds ("WaldorfMinds", "we", "us", or "our") uses cookies and similar technologies on the WaldorfMinds website at waldorfminds.org (the "Website"). It explains what cookies are, which ones we use, why we use them, and how you can manage your preferences.

This Cookie Policy should be read together with our Privacy Policy, which provides broader information about how we process personal data.

2. Scope

This Cookie Policy applies exclusively to the WaldorfMinds website (waldorfminds.org). The WaldorfMinds mobile application (available on iOS and Android) does not use browser cookies. Data collection within the mobile application is described in our Privacy Policy.

3. What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) when you visit a website. They allow the website to recognise your device on subsequent visits, remember your preferences, and collect information about how you use the site.

Similar technologies include local storage (a mechanism for storing data within your browser) and tracking pixels (small images embedded in web pages that can be used to track activity). Where we use such technologies, they are described in this Policy.

Cookies can be:

• Session cookies: temporary cookies that are deleted when you close your browser

• Persistent cookies: cookies that remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them

• First-party cookies: set by the website you are visiting

• Third-party cookies: set by a domain other than the website you are visiting, typically by a service embedded in the website

4. Cookies We Use

4.1 Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are essential for the Website to function and cannot be switched off. They do not store any personally identifiable information. They are set in response to actions you take on the Website, such as setting your privacy preferences or logging into your account.

• Session cookies: maintain your browsing session while you navigate the Website, allowing you to move between pages without losing information. These are deleted when you close your browser.

• Security cookies: help us detect and prevent fraudulent or abusive activity, including CSRF protection tokens that guard against cross-site request forgery attacks.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary, they do not require your consent and are always active.

4.2 Analytics cookies (Google Analytics)

We use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google LLC, to collect anonymised, aggregate information about how visitors use our Website. This helps us understand which pages are most visited, how users navigate the site, and where improvements can be made. Google Analytics does not identify individual users.

Google Analytics sets the following cookies:

• _ga: used to distinguish users. This cookie is persistent and expires after 2 years.

• _gid: used to distinguish users. This cookie expires after 24 hours.

• _gat: used to throttle the rate of requests to Google Analytics. This cookie expires after 1 minute.

IP addresses collected by Google Analytics are anonymised before storage. We have configured Google Analytics with IP anonymisation enabled. The data collected is processed by Google in accordance with Google's own privacy policy and, where applicable, the terms of the EU-US Data Privacy Framework.

We do not use Google Analytics to serve personalised advertising and do not share Google Analytics data with third parties.

These cookies are set only with your consent, which you can manage through our cookie consent banner.

4.3 Third-party cookies (Google Maps)

Our Website may embed components from Google Maps, a mapping service provided by Google LLC, to display the WaldorfMinds community map. When Google Maps is loaded on a page, Google may set its own cookies on your device in accordance with Google's privacy and cookie policies.

We do not control these cookies and are not responsible for their content or functionality. If you wish to prevent Google Maps cookies from being set, you can do so through your browser settings or by opting out of Google's services through your Google account settings.

5. Cookies We Do Not Use

WaldorfMinds does not use:

• Advertising or targeting cookies

• Social media tracking pixels

• Cookies for profiling or behavioural tracking

• Fingerprinting or other non-cookie tracking technologies for identification purposes

6. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

6.1 Cookie consent banner

When you first visit the WaldorfMinds Website, you will be presented with a cookie consent banner. You may choose to accept all cookies, accept only strictly necessary cookies, or manage your preferences in more detail. Your preferences are saved so that you are not asked again on subsequent visits, unless you clear your cookies.

6.2 Browser settings

Most web browsers allow you to manage cookies through their settings. You can typically:

• View and delete cookies already stored on your device

• Block all cookies or cookies from specific websites

• Receive a warning before a cookie is stored

Please note that disabling certain cookies — particularly strictly necessary cookies — may affect the functionality of the Website. Instructions for managing cookies in common browsers can be found at:

• Google Chrome: support.google.com/chrome

• Mozilla Firefox: support.mozilla.org

• Apple Safari: support.apple.com

• Microsoft Edge: support.microsoft.com

6.3 Opting out of Google Analytics

You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking across all websites by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, available at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

7. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the cookies we use, changes in applicable law, or other operational reasons. We will notify you of significant changes through the Website. The date of the most recent revision appears at the top of this document.

8. Contact

If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact us at:

privacy@waldorfminds.org

Associazione non riconosciuta WaldorfMinds

Via Gioberti 67, 50121 Firenze, Italy

‍

Community Guidelines

WaldorfMinds was built on a simple belief: that digital spaces can be something more than noise. That they can hold real conversations, real curiosity, real friendship. What follows are not rules imposed from above — they are an invitation to show up in the way that makes this possible.

1. Who This Space Is For

WaldorfMinds is a community platform for students, alumni, parents, teachers, schools, and organisations connected to the international Waldorf movement. It is designed for people aged 14 and above who wish to connect, share, and build something meaningful together across cultures and generations.

This is a space shaped by the values of Waldorf education: creativity, depth, care for the human being, and the belief that genuine encounter is worth protecting. We hope you feel that here.

If you are here, you are part of this community. That comes with both a welcome and a responsibility.

2. How We Speak to Each Other

Every person you encounter here has a story, a school, a life. Speak accordingly.

WaldorfMinds is a space for genuine conversation. We ask that you engage with others with curiosity, patience, and care — the way you would wish to be engaged with.

• Speak honestly, but with kindness. Disagreement is welcome here; contempt is not.

• Listen as much as you speak. Ask questions. Be open to perspectives different from your own, especially across cultures and generations.

• Remember that behind every profile is a real human being — often a young person still finding their way.

• Avoid language that demeans, excludes, or diminishes others on the basis of their background, identity, culture, religion, language, beliefs, or any other characteristic.

• Do not mock, belittle, or publicly criticise other users, their schools, or their communities.

• If a conversation becomes difficult, pause before responding. Words posted online can carry more weight than intended.

3. What We Share

This is a space for things that matter — art, ideas, experiences, questions, connections.

WaldorfMinds is built around the belief that sharing something of yourself — a piece of music, a reflection, a photograph, a question you are sitting with — is an act of trust. We ask you to honour that trust in what you post and in how you respond to others.

3.1 What is welcome

• Reflections, experiences, and thoughts connected to your life, your education, and your community

• Artistic and creative work — music, visual art, writing, performance, crafts

• Educational resources, research, and ideas inspired by Waldorf education and culture

• Events, initiatives, exchanges, and opportunities relevant to the Waldorf world

• Photographs of places, nature, art, and community life

• Questions, wonderings, and things you are still figuring out

• Celebrations of milestones, graduations, and community moments

3.2 What is not welcome

• Content that is hateful, discriminatory, abusive, or harassing toward any individual or group

• Sexually explicit content of any kind

• Content that endangers, exploits, or sexualises minors in any way

• Misinformation, fabricated content, or material designed to deceive

• Spam, unsolicited advertising, or promotional content unrelated to the Waldorf community

• Content that violates the intellectual property rights of others

• Personal data of others — addresses, phone numbers, locations — shared without their explicit consent

• Content that promotes self-harm, eating disorders, substance use, or dangerous behaviours

• Graphic violence or imagery designed to disturb or shock

4. How We Connect

Genuine connection takes time. It cannot be rushed or extracted.

The messaging features of WaldorfMinds are designed to support real relationships — not to replace them, and not to harvest them. We ask you to use them accordingly.

• Approach private conversations with the same respect you would bring to an in-person encounter.

• Do not use private messages to pressure, manipulate, or persist after someone has not responded or has asked you not to contact them again.

• Do not use private messages to share content that would not be acceptable in public spaces on the Platform.

• Users under 18 may only exchange private messages with other users registered as students. This is not a restriction — it is a form of care, and it applies to all adult users as well.

• If someone makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, you have the right to block them immediately and to report the behaviour to our moderation team. You will never be penalised for doing so.

5. Younger Members

We hold a particular responsibility toward the young people in this community.

WaldorfMinds is a space where many members are still in school, still forming their sense of self, still figuring out who they want to be. This is one of the things that makes it beautiful. It is also what makes it a responsibility.

We ask all members — and especially adults — to hold the presence of younger users with care and intention.

• Do not share content with younger users that would be inappropriate for their age.

• Do not attempt to establish private contact with users under 18 outside the boundaries described in these Guidelines.

• Do not encourage younger users to share personal information, meet in person, or engage in any activity that could compromise their safety.

• Do not attempt to position yourself as a confidant or mentor to a young person in a way that excludes their parents, guardians, or other trusted adults.

• If you witness behaviour that feels wrong — even if you cannot name exactly why — please report it. It is always better to raise a concern than to stay silent.

6. Cultural Sensitivity and International Community

We come from many countries, many languages, many ways of being Waldorf.

WaldorfMinds is international by design. Our community spans many countries, languages, traditions, and cultural expressions of Waldorf education. This diversity is one of our greatest gifts.

• Approach cultural differences with curiosity, not judgment.

• Do not assume that the way Waldorf education works in your country is the only valid way.

• Be patient with language differences. Not everyone is writing in their first language.

• Celebrate the variety of artistic traditions, seasonal celebrations, and community customs you encounter here.

7. Organisations and Institutions

Waldorf schools, kindergartens, biodynamic farms, festivals, and anthroposophical organisations are warmly welcomed on WaldorfMinds. Verified organisation accounts may share events, announcements, educational resources, and initiatives relevant to the wider Waldorf community.

Organisations are asked to:

• Ensure that all content shared through their profile is accurate, relevant, and up to date

• Designate a responsible person for the management of their account and ensure that person is familiar with these Guidelines

• Refrain from using their profile for commercial advertising unrelated to Waldorf education and culture

• Represent their institution honestly and not misrepresent their relationship to the Waldorf movement

8. Moderation

WaldorfMinds maintains a moderation team responsible for reviewing reported content and ensuring that these Guidelines are upheld. Moderation is carried out with care and with respect for the humans involved. It is not a punitive process, but a protective one — its purpose is to preserve the quality and safety of this community for everyone.

If you encounter content or behaviour that seems harmful, disrespectful, or out of place in this community, please use the in-app reporting tools or contact privacy@waldorfminds.org. All reports are reviewed seriously and with confidentiality.

Depending on the nature and severity of a violation, our response may include:

• A private, respectful reminder of the Community Guidelines

• Removal of the content in question

• Temporary suspension of the account

• Permanent removal from the Platform

• Referral to legal authorities where required by law or where the safety of a person — particularly a minor — is at risk

We are a small team doing our best to build something good. If you have questions or concerns about a moderation decision, you are always welcome to write to us. We will listen.

9. A Note on Technology

We are aware of the world we are building in. We do not take that lightly.

WaldorfMinds exists in the digital world, and we hold that tension honestly. We are not naive about what social media can do to attention, to relationships, to young people. We think about it often.

Our intention is to build a platform that resists the worst tendencies of this world: the performance, the passivity, the endless scroll, the metrics of attention. A space that asks something of you — presence, thoughtfulness, genuine engagement — rather than simply offering you a feed.

We ask you to bring that same awareness to how you use WaldorfMinds. Come here with intention. Stay for the things that matter. Leave when you have what you came for.

And if you notice that something about the platform is pulling you away from that — tell us. We want to know.

10. Questions, Concerns, and Contact

If you have questions about these Guidelines, wish to report a concern, or want to share a suggestion about how we can do better, please write to us at privacy@waldorfminds.org. We read every message and will respond thoughtfully.

These Guidelines may be updated from time to time to reflect the evolving needs of the community. We will communicate significant changes through the Platform.

‍

Child Safety Policy

WaldorfMinds is a community that includes young people. That is not incidental — it is central to what we are. And it means that the safety and wellbeing of minors is not one concern among many. It is a foundation.

1. Scope and Purpose

This Child Safety Policy applies to all users of the WaldorfMinds platform — the mobile application (iOS and Android) and the website at waldorfminds.org — and to all members of the WaldorfMinds team. It describes the measures we have put in place to protect users under the age of 18 from harm, exploitation, abuse, and inappropriate contact.

This Policy is intended to comply with applicable child protection legislation, including EU Regulation 2021/1232 on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children, and with the child safety requirements of the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. It should be read together with our Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, and Community Guidelines.

2. Minimum Age and Registration

WaldorfMinds is open to users aged 14 and above. Users under the age of 14 are not permitted to create an account.

During registration, users are required to provide their year of birth. The Platform does not permit completion of registration for users whose stated year of birth indicates an age below 14.

Users between the ages of 14 and 15 must have obtained the consent of a parent or legal guardian before registering. By completing registration, users in this age group confirm that such consent has been obtained. Parents and guardians may contact privacy@waldorfminds.org to enquire about or request the deletion of their child's account.

While we do not currently implement technical age verification beyond self-declaration, we take misrepresentation of age seriously. Accounts where there is credible evidence that the stated age is false — particularly where a user appears to be under 14 — will be suspended or deleted without notice. Users who become aware of an account belonging to a user under 14 are encouraged to report it using the in-app reporting tools or by contacting privacy@waldorfminds.org.

3. Architectural Safety for Minors

The safety of younger users is built into the design and architecture of the Platform, not only into its rules. The following technical restrictions apply to all users under the age of 18:

3.1 Private messaging restrictions

• Users registered as under 18 are restricted by default to private messaging with other users registered as students.

• Private messaging between users under 18 and adult users registered in other account categories — including parents, teachers, alumni, and organisations — is disabled by default at the account level.

• This restriction is enforced at the system level and cannot be overridden by the minor user through any setting or action within the Platform.

3.2 Account type and visibility

• Users who register as students and indicate they are under 18 are assigned a minor account type that carries the above restrictions automatically.

• Any change to account type that would affect communication permissions for a minor account is subject to review.

4. Prohibited Conduct Involving Minors

The following conduct is strictly prohibited on WaldorfMinds. Violations may result in immediate and permanent removal from the Platform, preservation of evidence, and referral to law enforcement authorities without delay.

4.1 Child sexual abuse material (CSAM)

The sharing, uploading, soliciting, distributing, or otherwise making available of child sexual abuse material in any form — including photographs, videos, illustrations, and written descriptions — is absolutely prohibited. This prohibition applies regardless of whether the material is presented as fictional, artistic, educational, or historical.

WaldorfMinds will report any discovered or credibly reported CSAM to the relevant national authorities and, where applicable, to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) or its European equivalents, in accordance with mandatory reporting obligations.

4.2 Grooming and predatory behaviour

Grooming — the process of establishing a relationship of trust, dependency, or affection with a minor for the purpose of exploitation, abuse, or manipulation — is prohibited in any form. Indicators of grooming behaviour include, but are not limited to:

• Attempts to isolate a minor from their peers, parents, or other trusted adults

• Requests to communicate outside the Platform on private channels

• Offering gifts, favours, special attention, or preferential treatment to a minor

• Encouraging a minor to keep communication secret

• Gradually introducing sexual or inappropriate topics into conversation with a minor

• Requesting photographs or personal information from a minor

4.3 Sexual content involving minors

• Sending, sharing, or soliciting sexually explicit or sexually suggestive content involving or directed at any user under the age of 18 is strictly prohibited.

• This includes text messages, images, videos, and links to external content.

4.4 Solicitation of personal information

• Soliciting personal contact information — including phone numbers, home addresses, school addresses, or social media accounts not on the Platform — from users under 18 is prohibited.

4.5 Circumvention of safety restrictions

• Attempting to circumvent the messaging restrictions described in Section 3 — including by encouraging a minor to change their account settings, by using third-party platforms to establish contact, or by any other means — is prohibited.

4.6 Arranging in-person meetings

• Attempting to arrange in-person meetings with users under 18 through the Platform, without the explicit prior knowledge and consent of that user's parent or guardian, is prohibited.

5. Content Standards Protecting Minors

All content published on WaldorfMinds must be appropriate for a community that includes users as young as 14. In particular:

• No sexually explicit or sexually suggestive content of any kind is permitted on the Platform, regardless of the ages of the users involved

• No content that depicts, describes, solicits, or facilitates the sexual abuse or exploitation of minors may be shared, even if framed as fictional, artistic, satirical, or educational

• No content that promotes, glorifies, or provides detailed information about self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, or dangerous substance use may be shared, in recognition of the particular vulnerability of younger users to such content

• Content that could be used to psychologically manipulate or coerce younger users is not permitted

6. Reporting Mechanisms

6.1 In-app reporting

Every user of the Platform has access to in-app tools to report content, messages, or user behaviour that raises safety concerns. These tools are designed to be accessible and easy to use. Reports can be submitted anonymously.

Reports involving potential harm to a minor are assigned the highest priority in our moderation queue and are reviewed as a matter of urgency.

6.2 Direct reporting

Users may also report child safety concerns directly to privacy@waldorfminds.org. We commit to acknowledging receipt of all such reports and to responding with urgency. Reports submitted by email are treated with strict confidentiality.

6.3 Mandatory reporting to authorities

Where reported content or conduct constitutes or credibly suggests a criminal offence against a minor — including the presence of CSAM, grooming behaviour, or sexual solicitation of a minor — WaldorfMinds will report the matter to the appropriate law enforcement authorities without delay and without prior notification to the reported user.

In such cases, WaldorfMinds will cooperate fully with law enforcement investigations, including by preserving and providing relevant data in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

7. Moderation Response to Child Safety Reports

Upon receipt of a report involving potential harm to a minor, WaldorfMinds commits to the following response protocol:

• Acknowledging receipt of the report within 24 hours

• Reviewing the reported content or conduct as a matter of urgency

• Taking immediate protective action where the risk is credible, including removal of the content and suspension of the reported account pending investigation

• Preserving all relevant evidence — including account information, messages, and content — in a manner suitable for potential law enforcement referral

• Reporting the matter to law enforcement where required or where the circumstances warrant

• Notifying the reporting user of the outcome of their report to the extent permitted by applicable law and confidentiality obligations

8. Data Protection for Minors

WaldorfMinds applies heightened data protection standards to users under the age of 18, consistent with the requirements of the GDPR, applicable Italian data protection law, and the Children's Online Privacy Protection principles:

• We do not use the personal data of users under 18 for profiling, behavioural analytics, or advertising purposes

• We do not share the personal data of users under 18 with third parties beyond what is strictly necessary for the operation of the Platform and the delivery of functional services

• Profile information of users under 18 is not made publicly searchable outside the Platform

• Parents and guardians of users aged 14 to 15 may contact privacy@waldorfminds.org to request a copy of the data held about their child, to request corrections, or to request deletion of the account

9. Team Responsibilities

All members of the WaldorfMinds team who have access to user data, moderation tools, or platform systems are made aware of this Child Safety Policy and of their obligations under it prior to being granted such access.

The protection of minors is a shared responsibility across the entire team. Any team member who encounters content or behaviour that may constitute harm to a minor — in the course of their work on the Platform — is required to escalate the matter to the project coordination team immediately.

No team member may access, view, or retain data relating to a minor beyond what is strictly necessary for the performance of their role.

10. Review and Updates

This Child Safety Policy is reviewed at least annually and updated as necessary to reflect changes in applicable law, technological developments, Platform features, and evolving best practices in child online safety.

Significant updates to this Policy will be communicated to users through the Platform. The date of the most recent revision appears at the top of this document.

11. Contact

To report a child safety concern, to ask questions about this Policy, or to request information about your child's account, please contact:

privacy@waldorfminds.org

Associazione non riconosciuta WaldorfMinds

Via Gioberti 67, 50121 Firenze, Italy

All child safety reports are treated as the highest priority and handled with urgency and confidentiality.

‍