PRIVACY POLICY

1. Introduction

Welcome to Pac-Man Arcade ("we", "our", or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience on our website. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website pacmanonline.org.

By using our website, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy. Where applicable law requires consent for certain analytics or advertising technologies, your browser settings, ad settings, or other controls offered by the relevant providers may affect how those technologies operate.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we and our third-party service providers may automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing behavior through cookies, local storage, scripts, server logs, and similar technologies:

• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type (desktop, mobile, tablet)
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, click patterns, game sessions, and interaction with features
• Technical Data: IP address, approximate location derived from IP, referral URL, language preference, screen resolution
• Game Statistics: Scores, game modes played, session duration (stored locally on your device)

2.2 Information You Provide

Our website does not require user registration or account creation. We generally do not ask you to submit direct identifiers such as your name, email address, or phone number. If you contact us, however, we may receive and use the information you include in your message, such as your name, email address, and the contents of your request.

2.3 Local Storage

We use browser local storage to save your game preferences, high scores, and settings. This information is stored locally on your device and is not transmitted to our servers.

3. Analytics and Tracking Technologies

We use third-party analytics services to understand how visitors use our website and to improve user experience:

3.1 Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to analyze website traffic and usage patterns. Google Analytics may use cookies and similar identifiers to collect information such as:

• Number of visitors and page views
• Time spent on the website
• Geographic location (country/region level)
• Browser and device information

Google may process this data on our behalf and may use it as described in Google's own policies. You can opt-out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

Learn more: Google Privacy Policy

3.2 Plausible Analytics

We use Plausible Analytics, a privacy-focused analytics service designed to avoid cookies and minimize the personal data it processes. Plausible provides us with aggregated website usage statistics.

Learn more: Plausible Privacy Policy

3.3 Microsoft Clarity

We use Microsoft Clarity to understand how users interact with our website through session recordings and heatmaps. Clarity collects:

• User interactions (clicks, scrolls, mouse movements)
• Session replays (anonymized)
• Device and browser information

We do not intentionally use Clarity to collect direct identifiers such as your name or email address through the website interface. However, Microsoft may process technical and interaction data as described in its privacy statement.

Learn more: Microsoft Privacy Statement

4. Advertising

4.1 Google AdSense

We are not currently serving Google AdSense ads on our website. If our AdSense application is approved or we enable AdSense in the future, Google and its partners may use cookies, device identifiers, and similar technologies to show, personalize, and measure ads based on your visits to this and other websites.

If AdSense is enabled in the future, whether ads are personalized can depend on your region, browser settings, device settings, and Google account settings.

You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings or by visiting www.aboutads.info.

Learn more: How Google uses data when you use our partners' sites or apps

5. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Improve User Experience: Understand how visitors use our website and optimize features
• Analytics: Monitor website traffic, popular game modes, and user engagement
• Technical Maintenance: Identify and fix bugs, improve performance, and ensure website functionality
• Advertising: If advertising is enabled in the future, display and measure relevant advertisements through Google AdSense
• Compliance: Comply with legal obligations and prevent fraudulent activity

5.1 Legal Bases for Processing (EEA/UK Users)

Where GDPR or similar laws apply, we generally rely on the following legal bases:

• Legitimate Interests: Operate, secure, maintain, and improve the website
• Your Consent or Choices: For certain non-essential analytics or advertising technologies where required by law or made available through provider controls
• Legal Obligations: Comply with applicable law, lawful requests, and enforcement needs

6. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information for money. However, depending on your jurisdiction, disclosures to analytics or advertising partners for measurement or personalized advertising may be considered "sharing" or similar regulated processing. We may share information with:

• Analytics Providers: Google Analytics, Plausible Analytics, Microsoft Clarity (as described above)
• Advertising Partners: If advertising is enabled in the future, Google AdSense for ad delivery and measurement
• Legal Requirements: If required by law, court order, or to protect our rights and safety

7. Cookies and Similar Technologies

We and our service providers use cookies, local storage, and similar technologies to support the website, understand usage, and display advertising:

7.1 Types of Cookies We Use

• Strictly Necessary or Functional Technologies: Used to remember settings such as language preferences and keep the website working. These may include local storage instead of cookies.
• Analytics Technologies: Google Analytics, Plausible Analytics, and Microsoft Clarity for usage statistics and product improvement
• Advertising Technologies: If enabled in the future, Google AdSense and its partners for ad delivery, measurement, and personalization where available
• Local Storage: Saves game preferences and high scores on your device

7.2 Managing Cookies

You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:

• View and delete cookies
• Block third-party cookies
• Block cookies from specific websites
• Block all cookies
• Delete all cookies when closing the browser

Note: Blocking or deleting cookies may affect your user experience and some features may not function properly.

You can also manage some third-party settings directly through Google Ads Settings and the Google Analytics opt-out tools linked above.

8. Your Privacy Rights

8.1 GDPR Rights (European Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have the following rights:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate data
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitation of data processing
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured format
• Right to Object: Object to processing of your data
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time

8.2 CCPA Rights (California Users)

If you are a California resident, you may have the following rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act and California Privacy Rights Act (CCPA/CPRA), subject to applicable exceptions:

• Right to Know: Request disclosure of collected personal information
• Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising, where applicable
• Right to Non-Discrimination: Not receive discriminatory treatment for exercising your rights

8.3 How to Exercise Your Rights

Much of the game-related data on this website is stored locally in your browser, while analytics data, and if advertising is enabled in the future advertising-related data, may be processed by third-party providers. You can:

• Clear your browser cookies and local storage to delete all locally stored data
• Opt-out of Google Analytics using the browser add-on
• Manage ad preferences in Google Ads Settings
• Email us at [email protected] for privacy requests or questions

We may ask for information reasonably necessary to verify and respond to your request.

9. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, please note that:

• No method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure
• No electronic storage system is completely secure
• We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data

We use HTTPS encryption to protect data transmitted between your browser and our servers.

9.1 Data Retention

Game preferences and high scores stored in your browser remain on your device until you delete them or your browser clears them. Analytics, advertising, and other provider-side data are retained according to the relevant third-party provider's settings and policies, which may change over time and are outside our direct control.

10. Children's Privacy

Our website is intended for general audiences and is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly ask children to create accounts or submit direct personal information through the website.

Because the website uses third-party analytics tools, and may in the future use third-party advertising tools, online identifiers and usage data may still be processed when any visitor uses the site. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that a child has provided us with personal information, please email [email protected], and we will review the request and take appropriate steps.

11. International Data Transfers

Our service providers may process data in the United States and other countries where they operate. Those countries may not provide the same level of data protection as your home jurisdiction.

For more detail about how Google, Microsoft, Plausible, and other partners handle international transfers, please review the privacy policies linked in this notice.

12. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Notify users of significant changes through a notice on our website

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Material changes will take effect when posted unless a different effective date is stated.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or would like to submit a privacy request, please contact the project at [email protected].

Please do not send sensitive personal information unless it is necessary for your request.

15. Legal Disclaimer