Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Phidoku ("we," "our," or "us"). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our Phidoku mobile application (the "App").

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By downloading, accessing, or using our App, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not access or use our App.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide to Us

We may collect information that you voluntarily provide when you:

• Contact us via email or through our support channels
• Register for an account (if applicable)
• Submit feedback or report issues
• Participate in surveys or promotions

This information may include your name and email address.

When you choose to create or sign in to an account using Sign in with Apple, we receive information provided by Apple, including your name and email address (you may choose to use Apple's Private Email Relay to hide your real email address). We use this information solely to create and identify your account and to provide cross-device cloud synchronization.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use our App, we may automatically collect certain information, including:

• Device Information: We collect information about your mobile device, including the hardware model, operating system and version, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information.
• Usage Data: We collect information about how you use the App, such as the time and duration of your usage, app features you use, and other diagnostic data.
• Analytics Data: We use third-party analytics tools to help us measure traffic and usage trends for the App.

2.3 Camera Access

Our App requires camera access to photograph Sudoku puzzles for solving. These photos are:

• Used only for recognizing and solving Sudoku puzzles
• Processed on your device whenever possible
• Only transmitted to our servers when necessary for processing complex puzzles
• Not stored permanently on our servers
• Not used for any purpose other than providing the puzzle-solving service

2.4 Cross-Platform Data Association (Optional, Mainland China Only)

If you also use our WeChat mini program edition, you may choose to link your mini program account with your App account. Linking only happens after you generate a link code in the mini program and confirm it in this App. Once linked, we sync your WeChat openid (used solely as an account association identifier), membership entitlements purchased in the mini program, and puzzle completion records to this App's server (located in mainland China) over an encrypted channel. This data is used only to keep membership and progress consistent across both platforms and is never shared with third parties. You may unlink at any time in this App. Deleting your App account removes the account, the link, and the synced data on our side, without affecting your mini program account or its data.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve our App and services
• Process and solve your Sudoku puzzles
• Respond to your comments, questions, and requests
• Send you technical notices, updates, security alerts, and support messages
• Understand how users interact with our App to improve functionality and user experience
• Detect, investigate, and prevent fraudulent transactions and other illegal activities
• Protect the rights and property of Phidoku and others

4. Legal Basis for Processing (For EEA Users)

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), we process your personal data when:

• You have given us consent for a specific purpose
• Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract with you
• Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation
• Processing is necessary to protect your vital interests or those of another person
• Processing is necessary for our legitimate interests, provided they do not override your rights

5. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties except as described in this policy. We may share your information with:

• Service Providers: Third-party vendors and service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as cloud storage providers and analytics services.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., court order, government request).
• Business Transfers: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
• With Your Consent: We may share information with third parties when you consent to such sharing.

6. Data Retention

We will retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. To determine the appropriate retention period, we consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the data, the potential risk of harm from unauthorized use or disclosure, the purposes for which we process the data, and applicable legal requirements.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

7.1 For EEA, UK, and Similar Jurisdictions (GDPR)

You have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
• Request deletion of your data
• Restrict or object to certain processing of your data
• Request portability of your data
• Withdraw consent at any time (where processing is based on consent)
• Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

7.2 For California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

You have the right to:

• Know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
• Delete personal information held by businesses
• Opt-out of the sale of personal information
• Non-discrimination for exercising your CCPA rights
• Correct inaccurate personal information
• Limit use and disclosure of sensitive personal information

7.3 Account Deletion

You can delete your account at any time directly in the App: go to Profile → Account → Delete Account. Deleting your account permanently removes your account and the data synced to our servers.

7.4 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request within the timeframe required by applicable law.

8. Data Security

We implement reasonable and appropriate security measures to protect your personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. However, no internet or electronic storage system is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in countries other than your country of residence. We take steps to ensure that your information receives an adequate level of protection in the countries where we process it, including through appropriate data transfer agreements such as Standard Contractual Clauses.

10. Children's Privacy

Our App is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or 16 in the European Union). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected], and we will take steps to delete such information.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time in response to changing legal, technical, or business developments. When we update our Privacy Policy, we will take appropriate measures to inform you, consistent with the significance of the changes we make. We will obtain your consent to any material changes if and where required by applicable data protection laws.

The date at the top of this Privacy Policy indicates when it was last updated. We encourage you to periodically review this Privacy Policy to stay informed about our data practices.

12. Contact Us

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

[email protected]