Detective stories

Privacy Policy for Detective Stories

Last Updated: 16-DEC=2025

Effective Date: 16-DEC=2025

Introduction

Welcome to Detective Stories ("we," "our," or "us"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application ("App"). Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using our App, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.

Information We Collect

1. Information You Provide Voluntarily

  • Player Names: When you participate in a game, you may choose to provide a display name that will be visible to other players in the same game room. This name is optional but required to participate in multiplayer games.
  • Game Data: When you play games, we collect and transmit:
    • Questions you ask as a detective
    • Answers you provide as a host
    • Story selections
    • Clues you share or receive
    • Game state information (room assignments, player roles, game progress)

2. Information Collected Automatically

  • Device Information: For the purpose of preventing duplicate ratings and ensuring fair gameplay, we generate a device fingerprint that may include:
    • On Android devices: Device model, manufacturer, brand, device identifier, product name, hardware information, Android ID, and Android version
    • On iOS devices: Device model, device name, operating system name, iOS version, and identifier for vendor (IDFV)
    • Platform type and locale settings

    This device fingerprint is created locally on your device using a hash function and is used solely for rating purposes to prevent abuse. The raw device information is not transmitted to our servers; only the hashed fingerprint is sent.
  • Connection Information: When you connect to our multiplayer servers, we automatically collect:
    • Socket connection IDs (temporary session identifiers)
    • Room IDs (which you may share with other players)
    • Connection timestamps and session duration
  • Technical Information: We may collect technical information such as:
    • App version
    • Platform (iOS, Android)
    • Network connection type

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  1. Game Functionality: To enable multiplayer gameplay, synchronize game state between players, and facilitate real-time communication during games.
  2. Rating System: To allow you to rate stories while preventing duplicate or fraudulent ratings using device fingerprints.
  3. Content Delivery: To fetch and display story content from our servers.
  4. Service Improvement: To understand how our App is used and to improve user experience, troubleshoot technical issues, and ensure service stability.
  5. Communication: To send in-game notifications and messages to players within the same game room.

Data Transmission and Storage

Data Transmission

  • HTTP Requests: Your device communicates with our servers at https://detective-stories.com to:
    • Fetch available stories
    • Retrieve story details
    • Submit story ratings
  • WebSocket Connections: For real-time multiplayer functionality, your device establishes a WebSocket connection to our game servers. This connection transmits:
    • Game state updates
    • Player actions (questions, answers, story selections)
    • Chat messages between players
    • Room join/leave events

Data Storage

  • Local Storage: Game data is stored temporarily in your device's memory during active gameplay sessions. We do not use persistent local storage (such as databases or local files) to store your personal information or game history.
  • Server Storage: Game data transmitted during active sessions may be temporarily stored on our servers to facilitate real-time gameplay synchronization. This data is associated with temporary session identifiers and room IDs, not with your personal identity.

Third-Party Services

Services We Use

  • Socket.io: We use Socket.io client library to enable real-time multiplayer communication. Socket.io is a communication protocol that facilitates WebSocket connections between your device and our game servers.
  • Device Info Plus: We use the device_info_plus library to access device information necessary for generating device fingerprints. This library only accesses publicly available device information.

Social Sharing Features

Our App includes features that allow you to share game room links via third-party platforms (WhatsApp, Twitter, Telegram, Facebook, or your device's native sharing functionality). When you use these features:

  • You are responsible for the content you choose to share
  • The sharing is handled by your device's operating system or the respective third-party app
  • We do not have access to or control over information shared through these third-party platforms
  • Your use of third-party sharing services is subject to their respective privacy policies

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do NOT sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

  1. With Other Players: Your display name and in-game actions (questions, answers, story selections) are visible to other players in the same game room. This is necessary for the multiplayer game functionality.
  2. Service Providers: We may share information with service providers who assist us in operating our App, such as hosting providers and server infrastructure services. These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.
  3. Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or governmental regulation, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to:
    • Comply with legal processes
    • Protect our rights, property, or safety
    • Protect the rights, property, or safety of our users or others
    • Prevent fraud or abuse
  4. Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to the same privacy protections.

Data Retention

  • Active Game Sessions: Game data is retained on our servers only for the duration of active game sessions. When a game ends or all players leave a room, the game data is typically deleted.
  • Device Fingerprints: Device fingerprints used for rating purposes may be retained to prevent duplicate ratings, but are not associated with your personal identity.
  • Server Logs: We may retain server logs containing connection information and technical data for a limited period for security, troubleshooting, and service improvement purposes.

Your Rights and Choices

Access and Control

  • Display Names: You can choose any display name you wish, or choose not to provide a name (though this will limit your ability to participate in multiplayer games).
  • Leaving Games: You can leave a game room at any time, which will end your participation in that game session.
  • Uninstalling the App: You can uninstall the App at any time, which will stop all data collection and transmission from your device.

Regional Rights

Depending on your location, you may have additional rights under applicable privacy laws (such as GDPR, CCPA, etc.), including:

  • The right to access your personal information
  • The right to request deletion of your personal information
  • The right to data portability
  • The right to object to processing of your personal information
  • The right to withdraw consent

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section below.

Children's Privacy

Our App is not intended for children under the age of 13 (or the minimum age required in your jurisdiction). 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. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational security measures to protect your information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your country. By using our App, you consent to the transfer of your information to these countries.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

  • Posting the updated Privacy Policy in the App
  • Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
  • For significant changes, we may provide additional notice through the App or other means

Your continued use of the App after any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

Permissions

Our App requires the following permissions:

  • Internet Permission: Required to connect to our servers to fetch story content, enable multiplayer functionality, and submit ratings. This is a standard permission for apps that require network connectivity.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: [email protected]

Mailing Address: [Your mailing address, if applicable]

Website: https://detective-stories.com

We will respond to your inquiry within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable privacy laws.

Consent

By downloading, installing, and using Detective Stories, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use our App.

Note for App Store Submissions: This Privacy Policy is designed to comply with the privacy policy requirements of the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. It covers all data collection, use, and sharing practices of the Detective Stories mobile application.