Last Updated: December 25, 2025

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to Hobius, the first truly antisocial network. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the services Hobius provides (the "Services"), and any information, text, graphics, or other materials uploaded, downloaded or appearing on the Services ("Content").

Hobius is a topic-centric platform, not a traditional social network. You don't need to be friends with anyone, collect followers, or maintain a social profile to participate. We're about content and subjects, not social graphs and popularity contests.

Your access to and use of the Services is conditioned on your acceptance of and compliance with these Terms. By accessing or using the Services you agree to be bound by these Terms.

2. User Responsibilities and Conduct

You are responsible for your use of the Services, for any content you post to the Services, and for any consequences thereof. The Content you submit, post, or display will be viewable by other users interested in the same subjects. You should only provide Content that you are comfortable sharing with complete strangers who share your interests.

Remember: Hobius is about sharing quality content on topics you care about, not about collecting likes from people you barely know. Post things that total strangers would care about and stuff you'd read if it was posted by someone you don't know.

You agree to use the Services only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You are prohibited from:

• Posting content that violates intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or other legal rights
• Harassing, threatening, or abusing other users (being antisocial doesn't mean being an asshole)
• Distributing spam, malware, or engaging in phishing activities
• Attempting to gain unauthorized access to the Services or other users' accounts
• Impersonating any person or entity or misrepresenting your affiliation
• Posting off-topic content just to gain visibility (respect the subjects you post to)
• Creating accounts solely to promote yourself, your blog, or your business

3. Data Processing and Privacy (GDPR Compliance)

3.1 Data Controller

Hobius acts as the data controller for personal information collected through the Services. For data protection inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

3.2 Personal Data We Collect

We collect and process the following categories of personal data:

• Account Information: username, email address, password (encrypted), basic profile information
• Content Data: posts, comments, messages, uploaded media, interactions (likes, favorites)
• Usage Data: IP addresses, browser type, device information, access times, pages viewed
• Communications: messages sent through the platform, support correspondence
• Cookies and Tracking: session cookies, preferences, analytics data

Note: Unlike traditional social networks, we don't track your social connections, friend graphs, or try to build a profile of your personal relationships. We focus on your content interests and subject preferences.

3.3 Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

• Contractual Necessity: to provide the Services you have requested
• Consent: where you have provided explicit consent for specific processing activities
• Legitimate Interests: to improve our Services, ensure security, and prevent fraud
• Legal Obligations: to comply with applicable laws and regulations

3.4 Data Retention

We retain your personal data for the following periods:

• Active Account Data: retained while your account remains active
• Deleted Account Data: permanently deleted within 30 days of account deletion request
• Public Content: may remain visible in caches and backups for up to 90 days after deletion
• Legal Compliance Data: retained as required by law (typically 2-7 years depending on jurisdiction)
• Server Logs: retained for 90 days for security and performance monitoring

3.5 Your Data Protection Rights

Under GDPR and applicable data protection laws, you have the following rights:

• Right of Access: request a copy of your personal data we hold
• Right to Rectification: correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data
• Right to Erasure ('Right to be Forgotten'): request deletion of your personal data
• Right to Data Portability: receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Right to Restrict Processing: limit how we use your personal data
• Right to Object: object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Right to Withdraw Consent: withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: file a complaint with your local data protection authority

To exercise these rights, please contact us at [email protected] or use the data export/deletion tools in your account settings.

3.6 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies for:

• Essential Cookies: required for authentication and core functionality
• Preference Cookies: remember your settings and language preferences
• Analytics Cookies: understand how users interact with our Services
• Third-Party Cookies: social media integrations (Facebook, Twitter, VK)

You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Note that disabling essential cookies may limit functionality.

3.7 International Data Transfers

Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA). We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission.

4. Content Ownership and Licensing

You retain your rights to any Content you submit, post or display on or through the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying Content on or through the Services, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license (with the right to sublicense) to use, copy, reproduce, process, adapt, modify, publish, transmit, display and distribute such Content in any and all media or distribution methods.

This license is necessary for us to provide the Services and make your Content available to other users interested in the same subjects. Your content is shared based on subject subscriptions, not social connections.

5. User-Generated Content and Moderation

All Content is the sole responsibility of the person who originated such Content. We may not monitor or control all Content posted via the Services and we cannot take responsibility for such Content. Any use or reliance on any Content or materials posted via the Services or obtained by you through the Services is at your own risk.

We reserve the right, but have no obligation, to remove Content that violates these Terms or that we find objectionable. This includes off-topic spam, self-promotion disguised as content, and garbage posts that degrade subject quality. We may also suspend or terminate accounts that repeatedly violate these Terms.

Subject limits exist to maintain quality: no one would subscribe to every topic knowing the choice is limited. It's survival of the fittest at its finest.

6. Service Modifications and Termination

Hobius may stop providing the Services to you, or modify, suspend, or discontinue any features or functionality within the Services at any time, with or without notice. We reserve the right at all times to remove or refuse to distribute any Content on the Services and to terminate users or reclaim usernames.

You may terminate your account at any time through your account settings. Upon termination, your right to access and use the Services will immediately cease.

7. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

Your access to and use of the Services or any Content is at your own risk. You understand and agree that the Services are provided to you on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis. We make no warranty and disclaim all responsibility and liability for the completeness, accuracy, availability, timeliness, security or reliability of the Services or any content thereon.

Hobius will not be responsible or liable for any harm to your computer system, loss of data, or other harm that results from your access to or use of the Services, or any Content. You also agree that Hobius has no responsibility or liability for the deletion of, or the failure to store or to transmit, any Content and other communications maintained by the Services.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, HOBIUS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES.

8. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of France, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Services shall be resolved through:

• Informal Negotiation: we encourage you to contact us first to resolve any issues
• Mediation: disputes may be submitted to voluntary mediation
• Arbitration or Court Proceedings: as a last resort, disputes will be resolved in the courts of France

For users in the European Union, you retain the right to bring proceedings in your country of habitual residence.

9. Changes to Terms

We may revise these Terms from time to time. The most current version will always be posted on this page with the "Last Updated" date. Material changes will be notified through the Services or via email. By continuing to access or use the Services after revisions become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised Terms.

10. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms or data protection matters:

• General Inquiries: [email protected]
• Data Protection Officer: [email protected]
• Legal Matters: [email protected]

11. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these Terms shall otherwise remain in full force and effect.