As I received several registration request via email during the last days, I think it is time for a short statement.
Well, at the end of April 2018 I accidently stumbled over the news at the blog of a professional photographer (at that time and also earlier there was nothing concerning this in the media such as newspapers and television) that the Regulation (EU) 2016/679, known as General Data Protection Regulation (short: GDPR), is applicable as of 25 May 2018 in all member states to harmonize data privacy laws across Europe and lays down rules relating to the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and rules relating to the free movement of personal data. This regulation protects fundamental rights and freedoms of natural persons and in particular their right to the protection of personal data. The free movement of personal Data within the European Union shall be neither restricted nor prohibited for reasons connected with the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data. This regulation also applies to the processing of personal data wholly or partly by automated means and to the processing other than by automated means of personal data which form part of a filing system or are intended to form part of a filing system. According to Art. 2 (2) (a) GDPR this regulation does not apply to the processing of personal data by a natural person in the course of a purely personal or household activity. However, according to Recital 160 this regulation should also apply to the processing of personal data for historical research purposes, which should also include historial research and research for genealogical purposes, bearing in mind that this regulation should not apply to deceased persons ... Because of this the privacy policy of this website has to be altered.
Working full time, I only have the weekends to deal with this. Further, I was abroad for a 2-week vacation. As this all is quite complex and a little bit difficult for me, as I am not used to deal with law, the editing of the privacy policy is lasting a bit longer. Thus I decided before my vacation to disable new registrations until the new privacy policy is finished.
I do not know how long it will still last. All I can say is that it is in progress. Once the new privacy policy is online it will be possible again to registrate at this website.