This Privacy Policy explains how Efan Studios LLC ("Efan Studios," "we," "us," or "our"), a Minnesota limited liability company based in Alexandria, Minnesota, handles information in our mobile games and apps for iOS and Android (the "Apps") and on this website, efanstudios.com (the "Site"). It applies to every App we publish, including Thin Ice Tycoon.
The short version: You don't need an account to play. We don't ask for your name, email, or phone number. Our Apps are supported by ads and use analytics, so our partners (such as Google) may collect device identifiers and usage data to show ads, measure performance, and keep the Apps working. We don't sell your information for money. You have choices, explained below.
1. Information we collect
Information you give us
We don't require an account, and the Apps don't ask for personal details to play. If you email us for support, we receive your email address and whatever you choose to include in your message.
Information collected automatically
When you use an App, we and our service providers may automatically collect:
- Device identifiers: such as your device's advertising identifier (IDFA on iOS, Advertising ID on Android) and, where permitted, other app or device identifiers.
- Device and technical information: device model, operating system and version, language, time zone, screen size, app version, and mobile carrier or network type.
- Approximate location: derived from your IP address (for example, country or region). We do not collect precise GPS location.
- Usage information: how you use the App, such as sessions, levels or milestones reached, features used, purchases, and ad interactions (for example, ads viewed or clicked).
- Diagnostics: crash logs and performance data.
- IP address: which our partners receive when your device connects to their services.
Information stored on your device
Game progress and settings are stored locally on your device. We don't have access to this data unless you send it to us.
Information we don't collect
We don't knowingly collect your name, email address, phone number, contacts, photos, microphone or camera data, or precise location through the Apps.
2. How we use information
- To provide, operate, and maintain the Apps;
- To show ads, and to measure and improve how ads perform;
- To understand how people use our Apps so we can fix bugs and improve gameplay;
- To process and verify in-app purchases, if an App offers them;
- To respond to your questions and support requests;
- To detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, and security or technical problems;
- To comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Use.
3. Advertising
Our Apps are free to play and are supported by advertising. We use third-party ad networks and mediation partners to serve ads. Currently these include Google AdMob. As our Apps change, we may add other ad partners.
These partners may use device identifiers, IP address, and information about your use of the App to:
- Show ads, including ads that are personalized to your interests based on your activity across apps and websites;
- Limit how often you see the same ad (frequency capping);
- Measure ad performance and prevent ad fraud.
Learn how Google uses data from apps that use its services at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites. Ad partners have their own privacy policies and are responsible for their own practices.
Consent and tracking prompts
- iOS: Where required, we ask for your permission through Apple's App Tracking Transparency prompt before tracking you across other companies' apps and websites. If you decline, ads can still appear but won't use your IDFA for personalization.
- EEA, UK, and Switzerland: Where required by law, we show a consent message (using a Google-certified consent management platform) before using identifiers for personalized ads. You can change your choice at any time from the App's settings, if available, or by contacting us.
- Android: You can reset your advertising ID or opt out of ads personalization in your device settings.
4. Analytics and crash reporting
We use analytics and diagnostics tools to understand how the Apps are used and to find and fix problems. These currently include Google Analytics for Firebase and, if enabled, Firebase Crashlytics. These tools collect information such as app interactions, device information, and identifiers, and send it to Google to provide the service to us.
Learn more at firebase.google.com/support/privacy.
Third-party services at a glance
| Service | Purpose | Data involved |
|---|---|---|
| Google AdMob | Serving and measuring ads | Advertising ID, IP address, device info, ad interactions, approximate location |
| Google Analytics for Firebase | Usage analytics | App instance ID, device info, usage events, approximate location |
| Firebase Crashlytics (if enabled) | Crash and stability reports | Crash logs, device info, app version |
| Apple App Store / Google Play | Downloads and in-app purchases | Handled by Apple or Google under their own policies; we don't receive your payment details |
5. How we share information
We don't sell your personal information for money. We share information only as described here:
- Service providers and partners: the advertising, analytics, and crash-reporting providers listed above, who process information on our behalf or as independent controllers under their own terms.
- Advertising: Sharing identifiers and usage information with ad partners to show and measure ads may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of personal data, or "targeted advertising," under some state privacy laws. See Your privacy rights for how to opt out.
- Legal and safety: where we believe disclosure is required by law, legal process, or to protect rights, safety, and security.
- Business transfers: if Efan Studios is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
6. Your choices
- Ad personalization (iOS): Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking, and turn off tracking for our Apps. You can also review Apple's ad settings under Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising.
- Ad personalization (Android): Settings → Security & privacy → Privacy → Ads (menu names vary by device) to delete your advertising ID or opt out of ads personalization.
- Google ad settings: manage your Google ad preferences at adssettings.google.com.
- Delete local data: uninstalling an App removes the data stored on your device.
- Industry opt-outs: you can also use tools such as the Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out.
Opting out of personalized ads doesn't remove ads; they'll just be less relevant to you.
7. Your privacy rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights over your personal information. These can include the right to know what we collect, access or obtain a copy of it, correct it, delete it, and opt out of targeted advertising, sales, or profiling. Residents of the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, and Switzerland may also have the right to object to or restrict certain processing and to withdraw consent. Residents of several U.S. states, including California and Minnesota, have similar rights under state law.
Because the Apps don't require an account and we don't maintain profiles that identify you by name, most of the data about your device is held by our advertising and analytics partners rather than by us. To exercise a right, email us at hello@efanstudios.com. We may ask for information to help locate your device-related data, and we'll respond within the time required by applicable law. We won't discriminate against you for exercising your rights. You may also be able to appeal a decision by replying to our response, and you can contact your state attorney general or data protection authority if you have concerns.
You can opt out of targeted advertising using the device controls described in Your choices. Where supported, we also honor browser-based opt-out preference signals, such as Global Privacy Control, on the Site.
8. Children's privacy
Our Apps and Site are intended for a general audience and are not directed to children under 13 (or under 16 in the EEA, UK, and where local law sets a higher age). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children below those ages. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact us at hello@efanstudios.com and we will take steps to delete it. If an App is ever designed for children, we will update this policy and comply with the applicable children's privacy laws and store policies first.
9. Data retention and security
We keep emails you send us for as long as needed to handle your request and for a reasonable period afterward. Data held by our advertising and analytics partners is retained under their policies. We use reasonable safeguards to protect information, but no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we can't guarantee absolute security.
10. International data transfers
We're based in the United States, and our service providers, including Google, may process information in the United States and other countries that may have different data protection laws than where you live. Where required, these transfers rely on safeguards such as standard contractual clauses or other approved mechanisms.
11. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we'll post the new version here and update the "Last updated" date above. If changes are material, we'll provide additional notice where appropriate, such as in the App. Please check back periodically.
12. Contact us
Questions or requests about this policy or your information:
Efan Studios LLC
Alexandria, Minnesota, USA
Email: hello@efanstudios.com