// Data Protocol

Privacy Policy

1. General Information

This Privacy Policy explains how the developer ("we", "us") collects, uses, and protects user information in the mobile application "Hidezone - IRL Hide and Seek". We take your privacy seriously. The core principle of our app is data minimalism: we do not store your movement profiles or chat history permanently.

2. Data We Collect and Process

To provide the game functionality (Real-Life Hide and Seek), the app requires access to the following data:

• Location Data (GPS): The app collects your precise location data only while you are in an active game round. This data is transmitted to our game server to display your position to other players (e.g., the "Seeker") within your game lobby.
• User-Generated Content (Chat): The app includes a chat feature allowing players to communicate during a game. Messages are transmitted via our servers to other players in the lobby.
• Device Information: We may collect non-personal technical data (e.g., device model, operating system version) for error logging and app stability.

3. Data Retention and Deletion (Ephemeral Processing)

We strictly adhere to a policy of immediate deletion.

• Temporary Storage: Location data, game states, and chat messages are stored on our servers exclusively for the duration of the active game round.
• Immediate Deletion: As soon as a game round ends (via time limit or game completion), all game-related data—including chat history and location logs—is automatically and permanently deleted from our servers.
• No Archiving: We do not create or store permanent movement profiles or chat logs of our users.

4. Third-Party Services

We use trusted third-party services to support the app's infrastructure and monetization. These providers may collect and process data (such as Advertising IDs) according to their own privacy policies.

• Google AdMob (Advertising): We use Google AdMob to display advertisements. AdMob may use your device's Advertising ID to show personalized or non-personalized ads.
  Google Privacy Policy
• Google Play Billing / Apple StoreKit (In-App Purchases): Payments for premium features (e.g., "Pro" upgrades) are processed entirely by Google Play or Apple. We do not have access to your credit card information or bank details. We only receive a confirmation of the transaction status.
• RevenueCat (Purchase Management): We use RevenueCat to manage and validate our in-app purchases and subscriptions. RevenueCat processes anonymous purchase receipts to verify your subscription status, but does not receive or store any payment details or personal information.
  RevenueCat Privacy Policy

5. App Permissions

The app requests the following permissions for the described purposes:

• ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION: Required to track your position during the game.
• INTERNET: Required to communicate with the game servers.

6. User Rights (GDPR & CCPA)

Since we are based in Germany, we strictly adhere to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable privacy laws. You have the right to access, correct, port, and request the deletion of your personal data. However, because we process data ephemerally and do not store any permanent records after a game session ends, there is practically no personal data retained that could be exported or deleted upon request. This zero-storage architecture ensures your rights are upheld by design.

7. Children's Privacy

Our app is designed to be safe for users of all ages, including children under 13 (as per US COPPA) and under 16 (as per EU GDPR-K). We achieve this by adhering to a strict "No Permanent Data Collection" policy. We do not collect, store, or share Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from any user. Location data and chat messages are ephemeral, used exclusively for the duration of a live game, and are instantly deleted when the session ends. Because free-text chat is available during games, we encourage parents to monitor their children's app usage.

8. Contact

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle data, please contact us at:
Email: dramileydev@gmail.com