Privacy notice
Who we are
SimulationsWatch (“we”, “us”) publishes independent reviews of free simulation games available on Google Play. The site is operated from Canada and this notice explains how we handle personal information under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
For any privacy question, or to exercise the rights described below, write to [email protected]. We answer within 30 days.
Information we collect
Collected automatically
- Technical and log data — IP address, browser user-agent, operating system, referring page, pages viewed, date and time of the visit.
- Cookies and similar technologies — small files stored by your browser. Categories and lifetimes are listed in our cookie notice.
- Audience measurement — aggregated statistics on how sections of the site are used, so we can see which reviews are read.
- Advertising identifiers — identifiers set by advertising partners to limit repetition and measure campaigns, only where you have allowed advertising cookies.
Given by you
- Sign-up form data — e-mail address (required), first name and phone number (both optional), and the fact that you ticked the consent box, with its date and time.
- Push notification identifiers — if you allow browser notifications, a subscription identifier issued by your browser together with basic device and browser information.
- Messages — anything you send us by e-mail, including your address and the content of your message.
Why we use it, and on what basis
| Purpose | Information used | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Serving and securing the site | Technical and log data, necessary cookies | Our legitimate interest in a working, protected site |
| Audience measurement | Usage statistics, analytics cookies | Your consent |
| Sending the shortlist by e-mail | E-mail address, first name | Your express consent |
| Sending browser notifications | Push identifier, device and browser data | Your express consent, given twice: on the form and in the browser prompt |
| Optional contact by phone about the shortlist | Phone number | Your express consent |
| Advertising and its measurement | Advertising identifiers, advertising cookies | Your consent |
| Answering your messages | E-mail address, message content | Your request |
Push notifications and OneSignal
Our e-mail sign-up and browser notifications are operated for us by OneSignal, Inc., which acts as our service provider. When you complete the form and give consent, the following is passed to OneSignal: your e-mail address, the first name and phone number you chose to enter, our domain name, the source of the sign-up, and — if you allow the browser prompt — the push subscription identifier issued by your browser along with basic device, browser and language data.
OneSignal stores this information on our behalf and may process it outside Canada, including in the United States. Information held abroad can be subject to the laws of that country. We use only providers that commit to appropriate safeguards for the transfer.
You can withdraw consent at any time: use the unsubscribe link in any message, turn notifications off for this site in your browser settings, or write to us and we will delete your details.
Who else receives information
- Hosting and content delivery — the providers that store and serve the site files and protect them from abuse.
- Audience measurement providers — aggregated usage statistics.
- Advertising networks — for delivering and measuring advertising where you allowed it.
- OneSignal, Inc. — e-mail and browser notification delivery, as described above.
We do not sell personal information and we do not rent our sign-up list to anyone. Information is disclosed to public authorities only where the law requires it.
How long we keep it
- Server log data — up to 12 months.
- Cookies — for the lifetimes listed in the cookie notice, at most 13 months.
- Sign-up details (e-mail, name, phone, push identifier) — until you withdraw consent, and for up to 24 months after the last time you opened a message from us.
- E-mail correspondence — up to 24 months after the exchange ends.
Your rights
Under PIPEDA you may ask us to confirm what personal information we hold about you, to give you access to it, to correct anything inaccurate, and to withdraw consent for any use that relies on it. You may also ask us to delete information we no longer need.
Send requests to [email protected]. If our answer does not resolve the matter, you may complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC), 30 Victoria Street, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 1H3, priv.gc.ca. Residents of Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia may also address their provincial privacy authority.
Security
The site is served over an encrypted connection. Access to sign-up data is restricted to the people who run the desk and to the providers named above. No system is perfect, so we keep the amount of information we hold as small as the service allows.
Children
The site is written for adults choosing games, including games suitable for a family audience. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you think a child has sent us details, write to us and we will remove them.
Changes
If this notice changes, the new version appears on this page with a fresh update date. Material changes affecting the sign-up list are announced in the message you receive from us.