Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to Chess World ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our chess platform application and services.

Please read this privacy policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access the application.

1. Information We Collect

Personal Information You Provide

When you register for an account, we collect the following information:

• Account Information: Username, email address, password (encrypted)
• Profile Information: Display name, country, avatar/profile picture, player title, bio
• User Preferences: Board theme, piece style, notification settings, time zone

Information Automatically Collected

When you use Chess World, we automatically collect certain information:

• Game Data: Game moves, results, ratings, match history, tournament participation
• Device Information: Device type, operating system, unique device identifiers
• Usage Data: Features used, time spent, interaction patterns, error logs
• Connection Data: IP address, connection timestamps, socket connections

Information from Third Parties

• Social Login: If you choose to register using a third-party service (like Google or Apple), we receive basic profile information from that service
• Payment Information: Payment processing is handled by third-party providers; we do not store full credit card details

2. How We Use Your Information

Service Delivery

• Create and manage your account
• Enable gameplay (real-time matches, tournaments, bot games)
• Calculate and update player ratings
• Match you with opponents of similar skill level
• Provide leaderboards and statistics

Communication

• Send you game invitations and challenge notifications
• Notify you of tournament updates and results
• Send friend requests and social notifications
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Send important service announcements

Improvement and Analytics

• Analyze usage patterns to improve our service
• Identify and fix technical issues
• Develop new features and functionality
• Conduct research and analysis

Security and Fraud Prevention

• Detect and prevent cheating and abuse
• Protect against unauthorized access
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Comply with legal obligations

3. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following situations:

With Other Users

• Public Profile: Username, rating, country, title, and avatar are visible to other users
• Game History: Your match results and tournament participation are public
• Leaderboards: Your ranking and stats may appear on public leaderboards

Service Providers

We may share your information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf:

• Cloud hosting providers (AWS, Google Cloud, etc.)
• Email service providers
• Analytics providers
• Customer support tools
• Payment processors

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to:

• Court orders or legal processes
• Government requests
• Protection of our rights and property
• Investigation of fraud or illegal activities
• User safety and security concerns

Business Transfers

If Chess World is involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

4. Data Storage and Security

Data Location

Your data is stored on secure servers located in trusted cloud hosting regions. We use industry-standard cloud hosting providers with robust security measures.

Security Measures

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data:

• End-to-end encryption for sensitive data
• Secure socket layer (SSL/TLS) encryption for data transmission
• Regular security audits and penetration testing
• Access controls and authentication mechanisms
• Regular backups and disaster recovery procedures

Data Retention

• Active Accounts: We retain your data for as long as your account is active
• Inactive Accounts: Accounts inactive for 2 years may be archived or deleted
• Game History: Match records are retained indefinitely for statistical purposes

5. Your Rights and Choices

Access and Portability

• Request a copy of your personal data in a portable format
• Access your profile, game history, and statistics through your account settings

Correction and Update

• Update your profile information, email, and preferences at any time
• Correct inaccurate or incomplete information

Deletion

• Request deletion of your account and associated data
• Note: Some information may be retained for legal compliance or legitimate business purposes
• Game history may be anonymized rather than deleted to preserve statistical integrity

Opt-Out

• Unsubscribe from promotional emails (service emails may still be sent)
• Disable push notifications through device settings
• Adjust privacy settings in your account preferences

Data Restriction

• Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances
• Object to processing based on legitimate interests

6. Children's Privacy

Chess World is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

Users aged 13-18 should have parental consent before using our service.

7. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and maintained on servers located outside of your country. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to:

• Maintain your session and keep you logged in
• Remember your preferences and settings
• Analyze usage and improve our service
• Provide personalized content

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect functionality.

Types of Cookies We Use

9. Third-Party Links

Our application may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. Please review their privacy policies.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy on this page
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Sending you an email notification for material changes
• In-app notification

Your continued use of Chess World after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

📧 Email: contact@varnastechsolutions.com
🌐 Website: https://www.varnastechsolutions.com

12. Consent

By using Chess World, you consent to our Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.