Privacy policy
Last updated:
Operated by Strategy Machine Inc
Your information belongs to you. We do not sell or rent personal information, use third-party tracking, or build advertising profiles. You can delete your account at any time.
Who is responsible
This policy covers the Settlers multiplayer service at settle.rs. The business named on this page is responsible for the personal information we handle. You can use the contact address below for privacy questions or requests.
What we collect and why
We use your email address, player name, account identifier, and sign-in details to create and secure your account. Passwords are stored as salted hashes, not readable passwords. If you choose Google or GitHub sign-in, we receive the account details needed to sign you in, such as your identifier, name, and email address. We do not receive your provider password.
We store the information needed to run games, including tables, moves, chat, reputation, settings, and connection status. Your chosen display name, public table activity, messages, and game actions may be visible to other players or spectators. A private invitation link should only be shared with people you want to invite.
If you pay for membership, Stripe processes the payment. We receive payment references and membership status, and do not receive or store your full card number. If you contact us, we use your message and contact details to respond.
Cookies and first-party usage data
We use cookies and browser storage to keep you signed in, remember settings, and reconnect you to games. We also collect first-party usage data to understand how the service works and improve it. This can include page categories, event times, device category, random browser and session identifiers, game activity, and a hashed account identifier when you are signed in. This is pseudonymous data, not a promise of complete anonymity.
We do not use third-party analytics trackers, advertising cookies, or cross-site advertising profiles. Hosting providers may process technical information such as IP addresses and request logs to deliver and protect the service. Payment and sign-in providers handle the transactions you choose to make with them under their own privacy policies.
You can clear or block browser storage through your browser settings. Clearing it may sign you out or remove a guest session. It does not delete records already held by the service; contact us for help with those records.
Games and research
Shared game records and replays may be kept for game integrity and strategy research. Ordinary games keep hidden hands private during play. A table explicitly configured for research may expose all hands to spectators and research agents. Avoid putting personal or sensitive information in chat or other shared content.
Delete your account whenever you choose
Open Account settings and use Delete account. We ask you to confirm and verify that the account is yours. You do not need to contact support or keep a paid membership to delete it. If you cannot sign in, contact us for help.
Deletion removes your private account profile and credentials and starts background cleanup of related records, including sessions, personal notebooks, registered agents, and authored lobby chat. Your membership is removed too. Cleanup may take time and is retried if interrupted.
Shared game and research history can remain, including replay identifiers and information already recorded in games. Deletion does not rewrite every historical replay or remove copies other people have kept. The lobby replaces your displayed name with Deleted player. We keep a minimal hashed deletion marker to prevent old records from restoring your account.
How long information stays
We keep account information while your account is active and shared game history for ongoing replay, integrity, and research purposes. Raw usage events are configured to expire after 365 days; derived reports and shared game records may be retained longer. Backups expire under their retention schedules rather than being rewritten immediately after a deletion request.
Payment providers may retain transaction records for accounting, fraud prevention, or legal requirements even after a customer profile is deleted. We may retain limited records needed to meet legal obligations or resolve disputes. Contact us if you need details about a particular record.
Your choices and rights
You can edit your profile and name visibility in Account settings. You can also ask us to access, correct, export, or delete personal information, or to restrict or object to a use of it. We may need to verify your identity. We will explain any limits that apply and respond within the time required by applicable law. You may complain to your local data-protection authority.
Where data-protection law requires a legal basis, we use information to provide the service you request, meet legal obligations, or pursue legitimate interests such as security and service improvement while respecting your rights. Where we rely on consent, you can withdraw it without changing the lawfulness of earlier use.
Security and international processing
We use safeguards such as encrypted connections, access controls, and password hashing. No online service can guarantee absolute security. Our providers may process information in the United States or other countries. Where required, transfers must use the protections required by applicable data-protection law.
Children
The service is not intended for children under 13 or anyone below the minimum age required in their country. If you believe a child has given us personal information without the required permission, contact us so we can investigate and remove it.
Changes to this policy
We will update the date on this page when this policy changes and give notice of material changes through the service or email. We will not quietly turn information collected under these privacy commitments into something for sale. An open-source release of the service will exclude personal information and credentials.
For questions or requests, contact support@settle.rs.
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