Privacy Policy

Site operator

OWdle (https://playowdle.com) is an independent, unofficial fan project and is not endorsed by or affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment. For privacy purposes, the operator of OWdle is the data controller and can be reached at [email protected].

Information collected

The site has no accounts and never requires a login. The following information is collected:

Provided by users

• Feedback. If a user submits feedback, the text they provide is stored. Users should avoid including personal details they don’t want stored.
• Tips. If a user tips through the embedded Ko-fi panel, the payment is handled entirely by Ko-fi; card details are never seen by OWdle.

Collected automatically

Standard analytics tools, including Google Analytics, are used to understand how the game is used. They record:

• Pages viewed, page exits, errors, and general gameplay activity.
• Technical and approximate-location data: IP address (used to estimate country/region/city), device type, browser, operating system, screen size, the referring page, and any campaign parameters.
• A randomly generated, anonymous identifier. Identified profiles are not created for anonymous visitors.

Session replay

Analytics may include session replay — anonymized recordings of on-page interactions, used to diagnose bugs and usability issues. When used, it captures only a sample of sessions, masks text entered into form fields, and never records payment information.

Stored in the browser

Puzzle progress, streaks, and game settings are saved in the browser’s local storage. That data stays on the device and is not transmitted to OWdle.

Cookies and similar technologies

OWdle and its partners use cookies and similar browser storage for the purposes below. In the EU/UK, non-essential and advertising cookies are only set after the user consents through the cookie banner (see Advertising).

• Strictly necessary — keeping the site online and protecting it against abuse.
• Analytics — anonymous usage measurement and error reporting, including Google Analytics (_ga cookies).
• Advertising — Monumetric and its partners, for delivering, capping, personalizing, and measuring ads (when ads are live).
• Payments — Ko-fi, only if the tip panel is opened.
• Local storage — saving puzzle progress and settings in the browser; not a cookie and not sent off the device.

Cookies and local storage can be cleared at any time through the browser settings, and Google Analytics can be opted out of with Google’s opt-out add-on.

Advertising

OWdle is supported by ads, managed through Monumetric.

This Site is affiliated with Monumetric (dba for The Blogger Network, LLC) for the purposes of placing advertising on the Site, and Monumetric will collect and use certain data for advertising purposes. To learn more about Monumetric’s data usage, click here: Publisher Advertising Privacy.

Monumetric works with third-party advertising partners, including Google. These partners may set their own cookies and use device and usage data to select, deliver, cap, measure, and personalize ads. For how Google uses data from sites that use its advertising, see Google’s partner-sites notice.

Ad choices

• EU/UK: before any advertising or non-essential cookies load, a consent banner appears where users can accept or reject ad personalization and analytics.
• California and other US: users can opt out of the “sale/share” of their information for personalized advertising — see Do Not Sell or Share.

How information is used

• Run, maintain, and improve the game.
• Understand how the game is used, and diagnose errors and performance issues.
• Display, cap, measure, and (with consent) personalize ads.
• Respond to feedback.
• Protect the site against abuse, fraud, and security threats.

Legal bases (EEA / UK)

For users in the European Economic Area or the UK, OWdle relies on these legal bases under the GDPR:

• Legitimate interests — operating and securing the site and understanding aggregate usage.
• Consent — for non-essential cookies and for advertising and ad personalization. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.

How information is shared

OWdle does not sell users’ personal information for money. Data is shared only with the providers needed to run the site:

• Analytics providers, including Google.
• A hosting and content-delivery provider.
• Monumetric (The Blogger Network, LLC) and its advertising partners.
• Ko-fi, only if a user chooses to tip.

Under California law, allowing ad partners to use this information for personalized advertising may be considered a “sale” or “share.” See Do Not Sell or Share.

International transfers: some providers are located in the United States, so information may be processed there. Where required, transfers from the EEA/UK rely on appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses and/or the EU-US Data Privacy Framework.

Privacy rights

EEA / UK (GDPR): users have the right to access, correct, delete, restrict, or object to the processing of their personal data, to data portability, and to withdraw consent. Users may also lodge a complaint with their local data protection authority.

California (CCPA/CPRA): California users have the right to know what is collected, to delete it, to correct it, to opt out of its sale or sharing, and not to be discriminated against for exercising these rights.

To exercise any of these, users can email [email protected]. Because OWdle does not maintain user accounts, much of the data held is anonymous and may not be linkable to a specific person; OWdle may request information to help locate the data or verify a request.

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

California residents (and users covered by a similar US state law) can opt out of the “sale” or “sharing” of their personal information for personalized advertising:

• Use the choices in the consent/privacy banner shown with the ads, or
• Enable a Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal in the browser — a valid GPC signal is treated as a request to opt out, or
• Email [email protected].

Children’s privacy

OWdle is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13 (or under 16 where that is the applicable age of digital consent). OWdle does not knowingly collect personal information from children. Anyone who believes a child has provided information can contact [email protected] to have it removed.

Data retention

Analytics data is retained for a limited period according to the analytics providers’ standard settings. Feedback is kept for as long as it is useful. Data stored in the browser remains until the user clears it.

Security

OWdle uses reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect the limited data it handles, including serving the site over HTTPS. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so absolute security cannot be guaranteed.

Changes to this policy

This policy may be updated as the site evolves. The “Last updated” date at the top will be revised, and significant changes will be made more prominent.

Contact

Questions about this policy or user data can be sent to [email protected].