1. About this policy
This policy explains how CaniChessCoach, developed by Ruan Vermeulen in South Africa (“we”, “us”), handles information in its chess training app and on this privacy policy website. Advertising, Google Play purchases and app updates described here apply to the Android app. The desktop version is ad-free.
2. Chess activity and local storage
The app stores puzzle progress, lesson completion and preferences on your device so you can continue practising. Imported chess notation (PGN), game positions and Stockfish analysis are processed locally. We do not upload your games to an analysis server or operate a cloud game library.
The app does not require registration or ask for access to your contacts, microphone, camera or precise device location. When you choose a file to import or export, the app uses the file access you grant for that action.
3. Advertising on Android
The Android app integrates Google AdMob (Google Mobile Ads) to display banners on the home and ladder screens, and full-screen ads at selected transitions between puzzles. Development builds currently use Google's test ad units.
The advertising SDK can collect and share IP addresses (which can indicate approximate location), device or account identifiers such as the Android advertising ID and app set ID, app and ad interactions, and diagnostic or performance data. Google uses this information for ad delivery, measurement and fraud prevention. The information processed depends on SDK settings, consent choices and service availability.
Google's User Messaging Platform also processes consent choices and related information to manage privacy messages. Non-personalised or limited ads may still involve data processing; they do not necessarily mean no data is collected.
Read Google's Privacy Policy and how Google uses information for advertising for more information.
4. Consent and your choices
Where Google's consent system requires it, the app presents a privacy message and requests ads only when that system permits requests. When available, open the app's menu and select Privacy choices to review or change your selections.
You can also manage or delete your advertising ID using your Android device's privacy or advertising settings, and review your Google advertising preferences. Available controls vary by device and region.
Chess training works offline. An unavailable ad or consent service does not block puzzles. Where available, a verified Remove ads purchase stops the app from requesting and displaying ads. It does not delete information Google already holds.
5. Google Play purchases
Google Play handles the optional one-time Remove ads payment. We do not receive your payment-card details. The app reads purchase information from Google Play and stores a signed receipt and signature locally to verify and remember your ad-free entitlement, including while offline.
Purchase checks and restoration communicate with Google Play. The current app verifies receipts on your device and does not send them to a developer-operated purchase server. Restoring a purchase requires the same Google Play account. Refunded or revoked purchases may stop granting ad-free access after a successful online check.
Google processes payment and transaction information under its own policies. See Google Play's refund information.
6. Google Play app updates
The Android app checks Google Play for newer versions and uses Google's in-app update service to download and install them. Google Play processes the app and version information needed to check availability and manage the update. The app remembers a confirmed required version locally until it is installed.
We do not operate a separate app update server or upload your chess games for these checks. Google Play manages the update process under Google's own policies.
8. Retention, deletion and security
Local progress, preferences and cached purchase information remain until you clear the app's storage or uninstall it. Android app backup is disabled in the current app. Clearing storage removes local progress; there is no developer-hosted backup from which we can restore it.
Uninstalling or clearing storage does not cancel or refund a Google Play purchase. You can restore an eligible purchase through Google Play. Google determines retention of data it processes; use Google's data and privacy controls for available deletion and management options.
Device security and operating-system protections help protect local data. No storage or transmission method can be guaranteed completely secure.
9. Privacy requests
Depending on the law that applies to you, you may have rights to access, correct or delete personal information, object to certain uses, or withdraw consent. Contact us using the details below about information we hold. We cannot remotely access or erase training data stored only on your device; use the deletion steps above. Requests concerning Google's records should also be directed to Google.
10. Children's privacy
The app does not ask users to submit their age or create a personal profile. Parents and guardians should supervise children's use of advertising and purchase features. If you believe a child has provided personal information directly to us, contact us so we can review the request and delete information we hold where appropriate.
11. This privacy policy website
This page contains no advertising, analytics scripts, tracking pixels, external fonts or forms, and does not set cookies itself. When hosted through Cloudflare Pages, Cloudflare processes request information such as IP address and browser information to deliver and secure the website. See Cloudflare's Privacy Policy. Following an external link takes you to a service with its own privacy practices.
12. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy when app features, service providers or data practices change. The updated version will be published here with a revised date. Where required, we will provide additional notice or request consent.
13. Contact
Developer: Ruan Vermeulen
App: CaniChessCoach
Country: South Africa
For privacy questions, open a privacy enquiry on our GitHub repository. GitHub requires an account and issues are public. Do not post personal information, purchase receipts or other sensitive details. For a private request, use the developer email listed on CaniChessCoach's Google Play store listing when available.