TRACE A PHONE PRIVACY POLICY
Effective Date: 2 November 2026 Last Updated: 2 November 2026
Operator: New Version Limited Location: New Zealand Contact: casefiles.support@newversion.studio
In short: we do not collect any personal data. Trace a Phone has no accounts, no servers, no analytics, no ads and no tracking. Your progress, settings and detective name stay on your device. We only receive what you choose to send us by email.
1.0 INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE
1.1 Welcome to Trace a Phone. This Privacy Policy describes how New Version Limited ("we," "us," or "our") handles information when you use the Trace a Phone game (the "App"), available on iOS and macOS through the Apple App Store and on Android through Google Play.
1.2 Trace a Phone is a phone-investigation mystery game. You are handed a fictional stranger's phone, unlock it, read its simulated messages, photos, maps and notes, answer questions and accuse a culprit. The "phone" is entirely simulated inside the App. All characters, phone numbers, places and brands in the App are fictional.
1.3 This Privacy Policy applies to all users of the App, regardless of location. Because we do not collect personal data, most of the rights and procedures that privacy laws describe have nothing to attach to, but Sections 9.0 to 11.0 explain how the App relates to those laws.
1.4 This Privacy Policy should be read together with our Terms of Use, which govern your use of the App.
2.0 INFORMATION WE COLLECT
2.1 WE DO NOT COLLECT ANY PERSONAL DATA.
2.1.1 We do not collect, receive, store, share or sell any personal data about you. Nothing about you or your play is sent to New Version Limited.
2.1.2 Trace a Phone does not have user accounts. There is no sign-in, no registration, no email address and no password. The detective name you may enter is stored only on your device (see 2.2). We do not run a backend server for the App.
2.2 DATA THAT STAYS ON YOUR DEVICE
The App stores the following only on your own device, in a local database inside the App's private storage. We never receive a copy of it: (a) Your game progress: which cases you have opened, the evidence you have pinned, your answers and accusations, and your case results (b) Your settings and preferences (c) Your hint balance and which hints you have used (d) A local record of which purchases you own (your "entitlements"), so the App can unlock what you bought. These can be re-verified with the App Store or Google Play using Restore Purchases (e) The detective name you choose, if any. It is optional, can be any name you like (it does not need to be your real name), can be changed or cleared in Settings, and is only used to address you inside the App (f) A random player ID (shown as your badge number), created on your device the first time you open the App. It is not linked to your identity, your device's advertising identifier or any account, and is never sent anywhere automatically. Its only purpose is to help us find your report if you choose to email support (see 2.7) (g) When you were last asked to rate the App, so the App does not ask too often
2.3 INFORMATION THE APP DOES NOT ACCESS
The App does not access your real contacts, photos, camera, microphone, location, messages, call history, calendar, files, health data, advertising identifier or any other personal information on your device. Every contact, message, photo and map you see inside the in-game phone is fictional content that ships inside the App.
2.4 NO ANALYTICS, ADVERTISING OR TRACKING
Trace a Phone does not contain any advertising, analytics, crash-reporting, attribution or tracking software, and no third-party SDK that collects data. We do not build advertising profiles and we do not track you across other apps or websites. The App does not request App Tracking Transparency permission because it does not track.
2.5 AI-GENERATED ARTWORK AND AUDIO
Some artwork, sound effects and music in the App were created with the help of AI tools. This is done by the developer, before release, using prompts we wrote ourselves. The finished images and audio are bundled inside the App. The App does not upload your photos or any personal data to any AI service, and does not use AI on your data.
2.6 INFORMATION FROM THE APP STORES
When you download the App or make a purchase, Apple or Google processes that transaction under its own terms and privacy policy. They may make aggregated, anonymous statistics available to us (for example, download counts, sales figures, and crash or performance reports from users who have chosen to share diagnostics with developers). These reports do not identify you and we do not combine them with any other data about you.
2.7 SUPPORT EMAILS YOU CHOOSE TO SEND
If you tap Contact support, the App opens your own email app with a draft addressed to us. The draft includes your app version, device model, operating system version, player ID, purchase status (for example, whether a subscription is active and until when), hint balance and phone region, to help us fix problems quickly. Nothing is sent until you press send in your email app, and you can edit or delete any of it first. If you send it, we receive your email address and whatever the message contains, use it only to answer you, and delete support emails within 24 months of the conversation ending, unless the law requires us to keep them longer.
2.8 RATINGS AND REVIEWS
The App may occasionally show the App Store's or Google Play's own rating prompt. Any rating or review you leave is handled by Apple or Google under their terms; the App does not see it.
3.0 HOW WE USE INFORMATION
3.1 Because we do not collect personal data, we do not use personal data. The data that stays on your device is used only by the App itself, on your device, to: (a) Save and restore your game progress (b) Remember your settings (c) Apply the purchases you have made (d) Track your hint balance
3.2 We do not use any data for advertising, profiling, research or sale.
4.0 DATA STORAGE AND SECURITY
4.1 All App data is stored locally in the App's private, sandboxed storage on your device (the iOS and macOS app sandbox; Android app-private storage). Other apps cannot read it under normal operating-system protections. Protection of that data also depends on your device's own security, including a device passcode and the platform's built-in encryption.
4.2 The App does not transmit your game data anywhere. The App makes no network requests of its own. The only network activity associated with the App is carried out by the Apple App Store or Google Play when you view, buy or restore in-app purchases.
4.3 Because we hold no personal data, there is no data on our systems that could be breached. If the App's data practices ever change, we will update this Privacy Policy before the change takes effect (see Section 13.0).
5.0 THIRD-PARTY SERVICES
5.1 The only third parties involved are the platform stores that process in-app purchases: (a) iOS and macOS: Apple Inc. (App Store / StoreKit) (b) Android: Google LLC (Google Play Billing)
5.2 Apple and Google process all payment information directly. We never see or receive your payment card details, billing address or Apple Account / Google account details. The App receives from the store only the information needed to unlock what you bought (for example, which products you own and whether a subscription is active).
5.3 Apple's and Google's handling of your information is governed by their own privacy policies: (a) Apple Privacy Policy: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/ (b) Google Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
5.4 We do not sell or rent personal information, do not share it with advertisers or data brokers, and do not use third-party analytics or advertising networks.
6.0 YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS AND CONTROLS
6.1 Everything the App stores about you is on your device, so you are in control of it: (a) View: your progress and settings are visible within the App (b) Reset: Settings → Reset all progress erases your game progress (cases, saves, stars); your settings, hint balance and local purchase record are kept (c) Delete everything: uninstalling the App removes all of its locally stored data (d) Purchases: managed in your App Store or Google Play account, not in the App
6.2 Because we hold no data about you, we have no data to access, correct, export or delete on our side. If you contact us with a privacy request, we will tell you so and help you with the steps above.
7.0 DATA RETENTION AND DELETION
7.1 Local data stays on your device until you uninstall the App (Reset all progress erases game progress only). Uninstalling the App deletes all data it stored on the device.
7.2 We hold no server-side data, so there is nothing for us to retain or delete.
7.3 Game progress is not backed up by the App. If you delete and reinstall the App, or move to a new device, your progress is not carried over. Purchases can be restored from the App Store or Google Play with Restore Purchases (consumable hint packs cannot be restored). Your device-level backups (for example, iCloud Backup or Google's Android backup) are controlled by your device settings and are outside our control.
7.4 Records of your purchases are held by Apple or Google under their own policies, not by us, and may be retained by them for tax, accounting and legal purposes.
8.0 CHILDREN'S PRIVACY
8.1 Trace a Phone is a grounded crime thriller rated for teens (12+ / Teen; the exact label varies by store). It is not directed at children under 13, and it is not part of any program for apps designed for children.
8.2 We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone, including children under 13. The App collects no personal data from any user, and has no accounts, chat, user-generated content or advertising.
8.3 Purchases, including in-app purchases, are made through your Apple Account or Google account. Parents and guardians can use the parental and purchase controls built into iOS, macOS and Android (for example, Ask to Buy, Screen Time and Google Play parental controls) to manage purchases by a child. Those controls are provided by Apple and Google and operate outside the App.
8.4 If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, contact casefiles.support@newversion.studio and we will investigate. As described above, we do not expect to hold any such information.
9.0 INTERNATIONAL USERS AND TRANSFERS
9.1 New Version Limited operates from New Zealand. The App is available in many countries. Because personal data is not collected and does not leave your device, the App does not transfer personal data internationally.
9.2 For users in New Zealand, we act consistently with the Privacy Act 2020. For users in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom, the App processes no personal data on our systems; data stored on your device is under your control. Apple and Google, as independent controllers of store and payment data, handle their own international transfers.
10.0 EUROPEAN UNION / UNITED KINGDOM USERS (GDPR)
10.1 We do not process your personal data on our own systems, and so do not act as a controller of personal data collected through the App. You retain full control of the data on your device.
10.2 Your rights under the GDPR (access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, objection and withdrawal of consent) are satisfied in practice by the on-device controls described in Section 6.0. If you wish to raise a request or concern, email casefiles.support@newversion.studio with the subject "GDPR Rights Request". We will respond within one month.
10.3 You may lodge a complaint with your local Data Protection Authority. EU authorities are listed at https://edpb.europa.eu/about-edpb/board/members_en. UK users may contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk).
11.0 CALIFORNIA USERS (CCPA / CPRA)
11.1 In the past 12 months we have not collected, sold, "shared" (as defined for cross-context behavioral advertising) or disclosed any personal information of California residents through the App. We do not sell or share the personal information of minors.
11.2 You have the right to know, delete, correct and not be discriminated against for exercising your rights. Because we hold no personal information about you, there is nothing to disclose or delete on our side. To make a request anyway, email casefiles.support@newversion.studio with the subject "CCPA Rights Request". We respond within 45 days.
12.0 FICTIONAL CONTENT NOTE
12.1 All people, phone numbers, messages, places, businesses, brands and events in the App are fictional. Phone numbers use fictional ranges and are not intended to reach anyone. Any resemblance to real persons or events is coincidental. Nothing in the App is a real person's information.
13.0 CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY
13.1 We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices, new features or legal requirements. If we ever begin collecting any personal data, we will update this policy and provide notice in the App before that change takes effect.
13.2 The "Last Updated" date at the top shows when this policy last changed. Continued use after an update means you accept the revised policy. If you do not agree, stop using the App and uninstall it.
13.3 Current Version: 1.0 — Effective 2 November 2026. The first edition of the Trace a Phone Privacy Policy.
14.0 CONTACT INFORMATION
14.1 PRIVACY INQUIRIES For questions, concerns or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices: Email: casefiles.support@newversion.studio Subject: "Privacy Inquiry"
14.2 BUSINESS INFORMATION Operator: New Version Limited Location: New Zealand App: Trace a Phone (iOS, Android and macOS)
14.3 DATA PROTECTION AUTHORITIES (a) New Zealand: Office of the Privacy Commissioner — www.privacy.org.nz (b) European Union: your national Data Protection Authority — https://edpb.europa.eu/about-edpb/board/members_en (c) United Kingdom: Information Commissioner's Office — ico.org.uk (d) California: California Attorney General — oag.ca.gov/privacy
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
By using Trace a Phone, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.
END OF PRIVACY POLICY
New Version Limited 2 November 2026