Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Pickies ("we," "us," "our") collects, uses, and safeguards your information when you use our website and applications (collectively, the "Service").

Information We Collect

• Account data: name, email, phone number, username, bio, favorite team, and other profile settings.
• Sign‑in data: if you use Sign in with Apple, the identifiers and email (which may be a private relay address) Apple shares with us under its own privacy policy.
• Usage data: actions taken in the app, device and browser information, and general diagnostics.
• Content you provide: avatars or other media you upload.
• Community & chat content: messages, GIFs, and stickers you post in pool chats or other in‑app discussions.
• Push notification data: if you enable push notifications, the push subscription your browser or device creates (an endpoint URL and encryption keys) so we can deliver alerts you've opted into. See Push Notifications below.
• Communication preferences: your email and notification settings; unsubscribe choices.
• Cookies and local storage: see our Cookie Policy for details.

How We Use Information

• Provide, maintain, and improve the Service.
• Authenticate users and secure accounts.
• Operate community features (e.g., chat, GIFs, stickers) and, where necessary, moderate content.
• Communicate with you about updates, security, and support; send transactional emails; offer optional announcements and push notifications you've opted into.
• Analyze aggregated usage to improve performance and features.

Chat and Community Content

Messages and content shared in chats are generally visible to members of the relevant pool and its admins. Do not share sensitive personal information in chat. Chat is not end‑to‑end encrypted. We may remove or restrict content that violates our Acceptable Use rules or applicable law.

Email Communications

We send transactional emails (for example, login links, password resets, security alerts) and may send non‑essential announcements about features or updates. You can opt out of non‑essential emails at any time by using unsubscribe links or contacting us. You cannot opt out of strictly necessary communications related to your account or security.

Push Notifications

If you enable push notifications, your browser or device generates a subscription (an endpoint URL and encryption keys) that we store to deliver alerts, such as missed‑pick reminders, kickoff reminders, weekly winner announcements, chat mentions, night‑before reminders, and (for admins) pool‑readiness alerts. Push notifications are optional and can be turned off per‑category in your profile settings, or disabled entirely through your browser or device notification permissions. We automatically remove subscriptions that your browser or device reports as no longer valid.

Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share data with trusted service providers who help operate the Service (e.g., hosting, authentication, push and email delivery), under confidentiality obligations. We may disclose information to comply with legal obligations or protect our rights.

No Sale or Sharing for Cross‑Context Behavioral Advertising

We do not sell your personal information and do not share it for cross‑context behavioral advertising.

Service Providers

We rely on third‑party service providers (processors) to operate and support the Service. These may include cloud hosting and content delivery networks, authentication and database services, file storage, realtime messaging, push notification delivery, email delivery, GIF/sticker search (chat search queries are proxied through our servers, not sent directly from your device), and operational tooling. If you use Sign in with Apple, Apple acts as an identity provider under its own privacy policy. These providers act under contracts and confidentiality obligations consistent with this policy.

We track basic first‑party usage counters (e.g., how often you visit) to support the Service; we do not use third‑party analytics or advertising trackers.

Service providers may process data in the United States or other countries. See “International Users” below.

Your Choices

• Access/Update: Manage your profile in-app.
• Cookies & local storage: Manage via your browser and in-app settings (where available).
• Emails: You can opt out of non-essential emails.
• Push notifications: Toggle categories in your profile settings, or disable entirely via your browser/device permissions.
• Deletion: Delete your account at any time from Profile → Account → Delete account. This permanently removes your profile, picks, and pool memberships. If you run a pool that still has other members, delete that pool first — or email us and we will complete the deletion for you. You can request deletion at any time by contacting us at thepickiesapp@gmail.com.

Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or obtain a copy of your data, and to object to or restrict certain processing. To exercise rights, contact us at the email below. We may take steps to verify your request.

Signals and Preferences

We honor browser‑based privacy signals such as Global Privacy Control (GPC) where required by applicable law. We do not respond to Do Not Track (DNT) signals that are not legally mandated.

Automated Decision‑Making

We do not use automated decision‑making that produces legal or similarly significant effects. Routine automation (e.g., fraud or abuse detection, spam filtering, rate limiting) may be used to keep the Service secure and reliable.

Data Retention

• We retain account and usage information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service.
• Community content (e.g., chat) may be retained to preserve pool history and for moderation, safety, and audit purposes.
• Push notification subscriptions are deleted automatically once invalid, or when you disable push notifications.
• We may retain certain information as required by law, to resolve disputes, and to enforce our agreements.
• Backups are deleted on a rolling basis according to our operational schedules.

Data Security

We employ reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your information. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.

Children

The Service is not directed to individuals under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from children.

International Users

Your data may be processed in the United States or other countries where we or our service providers operate. These locations may have different data protection laws than your country. Where required by law, we use appropriate safeguards for cross‑border transfers.

Changes

We may update this policy from time to time. We will update the "Last Updated" date and, when appropriate, notify you in-app or via email.

Contact

If you have questions or requests, contact us at thepickiesapp@gmail.com.