Privacy policy
Backronym is operated by Steve McGuigan. This policy describes how information is used to run the multiplayer game at backronym.app. For privacy questions or requests, email help@backronym.app.
The launch version does not serve paid ads or load Google advertising or analytics scripts. Public pages load Google's consent-management service to present and remember privacy choices where applicable. Google receives connection information such as your IP address and browser information, and may store your consent choice in cookies or browser storage. You do not need to accept optional advertising to play.
Information used to play
The game processes your nickname, room membership, answers, votes, scores, chat messages, connection information and session identifier. People in your room can see game content as it is revealed during play. Do not put sensitive or private information in your nickname, answers or chat.
Your browser stores game preferences in local storage and a reconnection token in session storage. Local storage can remain until you clear this site's data. Session storage is associated with your browser tab and may survive a browser session restore. Clearing site data can remove preferences and your ability to resume a game.
Hosting and security
Our Linode hosting infrastructure, provided by Akamai, receives your IP address and connection information to deliver the site, maintain game connections, limit abuse and diagnose errors. Web-access logs record IP addresses, request paths, timestamps, response codes and response sizes. The configured access-log format excludes URL query strings. Error logs can contain additional request or diagnostic details.
Active game and session state is held in server memory, not a persistent game database. Restarting the application clears that memory. It does not erase browser storage, operational logs or separately retained diagnostics and backups. Other players may independently retain content they see.
Support messages
Email to help@backronym.app is forwarded through ImprovMX to an operator-managed Gmail account. ImprovMX and Google process the email to route, deliver and store it. Your message, address, attachments and any details you provide are used to respond to you, resolve issues and handle privacy or abuse reports. Avoid sending passwords or unnecessary sensitive information.
See ImprovMX's privacy policy, Google's privacy policy and Akamai's privacy statement for provider information. Providers may process information outside your country. Contact us for details about processing relevant to your request.
Why we use information
We use game information to provide the game you request, and connection information and diagnostics to keep it secure and reliable. Where a legal basis is required, we rely on providing the requested service and our legitimate interests in operating and protecting it, subject to applicable law. We use support correspondence to respond to requests and may retain information to meet legal obligations. Optional advertising processing will require the appropriate choices before it is enabled.
Retention
Game information remains in memory while needed for the session and room lifecycle. Web-server logs are configured for daily rotation with 14 rotated files retained. Empty logs may not rotate, so this is not a guarantee that every record is erased within 14 days.
Application and system diagnostics, support correspondence and backups have separate retention. We keep these for operational needs, resolving requests, investigating incidents and meeting legal obligations. There is not currently a fixed deletion schedule covering all these categories. You can ask about or request deletion of information associated with you.
Advertising and privacy choices
Paid advertising is disabled for launch. We are applying for Google H5 Games Ads, but an application or ads.txt entry does not mean advertising is active.
If advertising is introduced, Google and participating providers may use cookies or similar identifiers to deliver, personalize and measure ads, including using information about visits to this and other sites. We will update this policy, disclose participating providers, and make the applicable consent and withdrawal controls available before activation. Rejecting optional advertising will not prevent play.
For background, see how Google uses information from partner sites and Google's advertising controls. Those external controls do not imply that Google ads are running here.
Your choices and rights
You can leave a game, clear this site's browser storage and avoid sharing identifying information in game content. Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct or delete personal information, restrict or object to processing, receive a copy, withdraw consent, or complain to a privacy regulator.
Send requests to help@backronym.app. We may need enough information to identify your records and verify a request without collecting unnecessary details. Some requests may be subject to legal exceptions or limits, and game data may already have expired.
Children and sensitive information
Backronym contains live, player-written content that is not reviewed before other players see it. It is not designed for children under 13. Do not submit children's personal information or sensitive personal details. Contact us if you believe such information has been shared so we can investigate what remains available.
Changes
Updates will appear here with a revised date. We will provide additional notice or choices where required for a material change in processing.