# Privacy Policy — Stop the Clock
**Last updated: July 7, 2026**
This Privacy Policy explains how **Stop the Clock** ("the App", "we", "our") collects, uses, and protects information when you use our Android application. By downloading or using the App, you agree to the practices described in this policy.
---
## 1. Information We Collect
### 1.1 Information You Provide
- **Username** — You may choose a display name that is stored locally on your device and used to identify your scores on the global leaderboards.
### 1.2 Account Information (Optional)
- If you choose to sign in with **Google**, we receive your Google account display name, email address, and a unique identifier provided by Google. This information is used solely to associate your score with your account on the leaderboard.
- If you do not sign in with Google, the App automatically creates an **anonymous account** via Firebase Authentication. No personally identifiable information is collected in this case.
### 1.3 Gameplay Data
- **Game scores and records** — Your best times, scores, and in-game statistics (e.g., attempts, daily streaks, medal counts) are saved locally on your device and, for leaderboard modes (Survival and Secret modes), also uploaded to our cloud database (Firebase Firestore).
- **Timestamps** — The date and time of your best scores are stored to track record history and daily challenge streaks.
### 1.4 Device & Usage Data (Advertising)
- The App uses **Google AdMob** to display interstitial advertisements. AdMob may collect device identifiers, IP addresses, and other usage data in accordance with [Google's Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy). This data is used for ad targeting and measurement. We do not have direct access to this data.
### 1.5 Automatically Collected Data (Firebase)
- Firebase services (Authentication and Firestore) may automatically collect certain technical data such as device type, operating system version, and crash information. This data is governed by [Google Firebase's Privacy Policy](https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy).
---
## 2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information collected for the following purposes:
| Purpose | Data Used |
|---|---|
| Display your score on global leaderboards | Username, game scores, Firebase user ID |
| Save your progress and settings locally | All gameplay data (stored only on your device) |
| Serve in-app advertisements | Handled entirely by Google AdMob |
| Authenticate you anonymously or via Google | Firebase Authentication token |
| Maintain daily challenge streaks | Daily play date (stored locally) |
We do **not** sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties.
---
## 3. Data Storage and Retention
- **Local data** (settings, records, daily history, skin preferences) is stored in your device's private SharedPreferences storage. This data is never transmitted to our servers except where explicitly stated (leaderboard scores).
- **Leaderboard data** uploaded to Firebase Firestore (username, score, Firebase user ID, timestamp) is retained as long as your account exists. You may request deletion at any time (see Section 7).
- **Anonymous Firebase accounts** may be deleted automatically by Firebase after a period of inactivity as per Google's data retention policies.
---
## 4. Permissions
The App requests the following Android permissions:
| Permission | Reason |
|---|---|
| `INTERNET` | Required to connect to Firebase (leaderboards, authentication) and load advertisements |
| `VIBRATE` | Used to provide haptic feedback during gameplay (can be disabled in Settings) |
The App does **not** request access to your camera, microphone, contacts, location, or any other sensitive device data.
---
## 5. Third-Party Services
The App integrates the following third-party services, each governed by their own privacy policies:
- **Google Firebase Authentication** — [https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy](https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy)
- **Google Firebase Firestore** — [https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy](https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy)
- **Google AdMob** — [https://policies.google.com/privacy](https://policies.google.com/privacy)
- **Google Sign-In** — [https://policies.google.com/privacy](https://policies.google.com/privacy)
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of these services for details on how they handle your data.
---
## 6. Children's Privacy
The App is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information through the App, please contact us and we will promptly delete such information.
---
## 7. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights:
- **Access** — Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- **Deletion** — Request that your leaderboard data and Firebase account be deleted. To do so, contact us at the email address below.
- **Opt-out of personalized ads** — You can opt out of interest-based advertising by adjusting your device's ad settings (Settings > Google > Ads > Opt out of Ads Personalization on Android).
- **Manage Google Sign-In** — You can revoke the App's access to your Google account at any time via your Google account security settings ([myaccount.google.com](https://myaccount.google.com)).
- **Clear local data** — You may clear all locally stored data at any time using the "Reset Stats" option in the App's Settings screen, or by clearing the App's data from your device's system settings.
---
## 8. Data Security
We take reasonable measures to protect your information. Leaderboard data is stored in Firebase Firestore with security rules that restrict write access to the authenticated user's own document. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
---
## 9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated policy will be made available within the App and/or on our website, and the "Last updated" date at the top of this page will be revised accordingly. Continued use of the App after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the new policy.
---
## 10. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the data we hold, please contact us at:
Email:lucaspotomik@gmail.com
App Name: Stop the Clock
Developer:21J