Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains what information MakeAChessBot.com ("we," "us," the "Service") collects, how we use it, and the choices you have.

1. Children under 13

The Service is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Signup requires you to confirm you are 13 or older. If we learn that a child under 13 has created an account, we will delete the account and its personal information. If you believe a child under 13 is using the Service, contact us.

2. Information we collect

Information you give us:

• Account info: email address, username, birth date, and password (passwords are stored hashed by our authentication provider — we never see them in plain text).
• Content you create: bots and everything attached to them (names, bios, rules, weights, openings, voice lines, avatar images or prompts, animation choices), chat messages, and emoji reactions.
• Messages to us: anything you send through the feedback form or to our support email.

Information collected automatically:

• Usage and analytics data: pages visited, session duration, approximate (city-level) location derived from IP address, browser and device type, and gameplay events (matches played, results, ratings, achievements). Our hosting platform and its analytics collect standard server logs including IP addresses.
• Cookies and similar technologies: we use cookies and local storage only for essential functions such as keeping you signed in and remembering your display preferences. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies.

We do not collect: real names, physical addresses, phone numbers, or payment information (the Service currently has no paid features).

3. How we use information

We use information to operate the Service (accounts, matchmaking, ratings, leaderboards, chat); generate AI avatars and rules you request; send account emails (verification codes, security notices); moderate content and enforce our Terms of Service; understand usage to improve the Service; and comply with legal obligations. We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for third-party advertising.

4. What others can see

This is a multiplayer, community service. The following are public: your username; your bots and all their attached content (avatars, bios, voice lines, animations); your match history, results, and Elo rating; leaderboard placements; and chat messages and emojis you send during matches (visible to your opponent and spectators). Your email address is never public.

5. How information is shared

We share information only with:

• Service providers that power the Service: our hosting, database, authentication, and storage platform; email delivery for verification codes; and third-party AI providers, accessed through our hosting platform, that process the prompts you submit for avatar and rule generation. These providers process data on our behalf under their own security commitments.
• Legal requirements: if required by law, or to protect the safety, rights, or security of users or the Service.
• A successor: if the Service is ever transferred to a new operator, information may transfer with it; we would post notice of any such change.

6. Data retention

We keep account information while your account is active. If you delete your account (or request deletion), we will delete or de-identify your personal information within a reasonable period, except limited records we must keep for security, legal, or backup-integrity reasons. Public match records may be retained in de-identified form (for example, the game moves without your username).

7. Your choices and rights

• Access, correct, delete: contact us to request a copy of your data, correct it, or delete your account.
• Email: the only emails we send are transactional (verification, security, important service notices).
• Depending on where you live (for example, the EU/UK under GDPR or California under the CCPA/CPRA), you may have additional legal rights over your personal information. We honor reasonable requests from all users regardless of location — contact us and we will help.

8. Security

We rely on our hosting provider's security controls (encrypted connections, hashed passwords, access controls). No online service can guarantee perfect security. If we discover a breach affecting your personal information, we will notify affected users as required by law.

9. Where data is processed

The Service is operated from the United States and data is processed on servers that may be located in the U.S. If you use the Service from elsewhere, you understand your information will be processed in the U.S.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the Service evolves. We will post the updated policy with a new effective date and, for material changes, provide notice on the Service at least 7 days in advance.

11. Contact

A dedicated support email (support@makeachessbot.com) is coming soon. Until it is live, use the in-app feedback form to reach us — it goes straight to the operator.

Operator: MakeAChessBot, Westchester County, New York, USA.