Last Updated: January 16, 2025
Effective Date: January 16, 2025
Introduction
The Human Chain Project ("we," "our," or "us") is operated by Gamikaze Scheidegger, a registered business in Switzerland (CHE-467.312.860). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use The Human Chain Project mobile application ("App").
By using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
Information We Collect
Account and Chain Data
- Anonymous User ID: A unique identifier generated by Firebase Authentication to operate your account.
- Optional Email Address: If you choose to create and link an account using email and password, we collect your email address solely for authentication, account recovery, and restoring your chain position across devices.
- Chain entry: Position number, flag and flag code you select, representation (e.g. male or female), status ("active" or "deleted"), joinedAt, lastSeen, and timestamps for soft deletion.
- Chain metadata: Aggregated counters such as total positions and active counts (read-only for clients).
- App preferences: Language, flag, and representation selections stored on-device and/or in Firestore as needed to render your spot.
Information We Do NOT Collect
- No name, phone number, physical address, or other direct identifiers
- No payment data; purchase processing is handled entirely by the app store
- No device identifiers, advertising identifiers, contacts, calendar, photos, microphone, camera, or location data
- No tracking data for advertising or marketing purposes
How We Use Your Information
| Purpose | Data Used |
|---|---|
| Assign and maintain your position in the global chain | Anonymous User ID, chain entry |
| Restore your position across devices (if account is linked) | Email address, Firebase Auth user ID, chain entry |
| Show your spot, paginate the chain, highlight "My spot" and "Newest" | Chain entry, chain metadata, language/flag/representation settings |
| Allow flag or representation changes without changing position | Chain entry (flag, flagCode, representation) |
| Create a branded screenshot you can share | Flag, representation, position (generated locally on your device) |
| Process deletion requests and keep ordering intact | Firebase Auth user ID, chain entry (status "deleted") |
| Protect the service (abuse prevention, integrity of counters) | Firebase Auth user ID, chain metadata |
Visibility and Sharing
- Your chosen flag, representation, and position are visible to other users when they browse the chain.
- If you share a screenshot, you choose to disclose your position and flag externally; that content is not stored by us.
Third-Party Services
Firebase (Google) & Google Cloud
- Purpose: Anonymous and email/password authentication, Firestore data storage, Cloud Functions to assign positions and process deletions.
- Data Shared: Firebase Auth user ID, optional email address, chain entry data, chain metadata.
- Data Location: United States (us-central1).
- Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy
Data Storage and Security
- Data is stored in Firestore (us-central1). By using the App, you consent to this transfer.
- Chain reads are allowed to clients; writes (join, delete, flag change, representation change) happen via Cloud Functions to keep numbering consistent.
- Transport encryption (HTTPS/TLS) is used between the App and Firebase.
- Email addresses (if provided) are used only for authentication and account recovery and are not used for marketing.
Retention and Deletion
- Your chain position stays reserved to preserve ordering. If you delete your data, the entry is marked "deleted" and the flag and representation are removed; it is not reassigned.
- Your Firebase Authentication account (anonymous or email-based) is deleted during the delete flow.
- After deletion, you may create a new account and join again, which will assign a new position.
- Uninstalling the App does not delete your data; use Settings > Delete to trigger the deletion flow.
- Content you shared externally (screenshots, posts) cannot be recalled by us.
Your Rights and Choices
- Access: View your position, flag, and representation in the App.
- Rectification: Change your flag or representation without changing your position.
- Deletion: Use the in-app delete option to remove your account and mark your chain entry as deleted.
- Data copy/portability: Contact us at info@gamikaze.ch.
We do not sell personal information.
Children's Privacy
The App is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact info@gamikaze.ch and we will delete it.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you by updating the "Last Updated" date and posting the new policy in the App or on our website.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
Gamikaze Scheidegger
Email: info@gamikaze.ch
Website: https://gamikaze.ch
Additional Information for Specific Regions
Switzerland and EEA (FADP/GDPR)
You may have rights to access, rectify, delete, restrict, object to processing, and request data portability. To exercise these rights, contact info@gamikaze.ch.
California (CCPA)
California residents can request to know, access, or delete personal information and have the right to equal service and price. We do not sell personal information.
This Privacy Policy is available at: https://gamikaze.ch/the-human-chain-project/privacy