This Privacy Policy explains how Mahjong Elite ("the Application", "we") handles information when you use the Service, and describes your privacy rights. A short summary comes first; the full policy follows.
In short: no sign-up is needed. Your progress is saved to an anonymous Player ID. Payments are handled by Apple. Ads are provided by Google AdMob, and they are personalized only if you allow tracking (and, in the EEA, UK and Switzerland, give consent). We do not sell your data. You can ask us to delete everything at any time.
Data Controller
Mahjong Elite is developed and published by Efekan Efe, an independent developer, who is the data controller responsible for the processing described in this policy. You can reach us at [email protected].
Definitions
- Application / Service refers to Mahjong Elite, the mobile software application.
- Device means any device that can access the Service, such as a smartphone or tablet.
- You means the individual using the Service.
Anonymous Accounts
Mahjong Elite does not require registration with an email address, password, or any other credentials. When you first launch the Application, an anonymous account with a randomly generated Player ID is created automatically. This ID is used to save your game progress and purchases and to restore them if you reinstall the Application. It is not connected to your name, email address, phone number, or any other directly identifying information. You can view and copy your Player ID in the Application under Profile settings.
Data We Collect
We collect and store the following data, linked to your anonymous Player ID:
- Game progress: completed levels, scores, stars, daily streaks, missions, boosters, and energy.
- Virtual currency and purchase history: your in-game coin balance and records of in-app purchases. Payments are processed entirely by Apple; we never receive or store your payment card details.
- Leaderboard data: a display alias (randomly generated or chosen by you) and your scores, which are visible to other players on leaderboards. Please do not use your real name or other personal information as your alias.
- Rewarded ad records: when you choose to watch a rewarded ad, we record that a reward was granted so that rewards are delivered correctly and cannot be abused.
- Technical and diagnostic data: device type, operating system version, app version, device time zone, language, coarse region (country), and error reports when the Application encounters a problem. Error reports are stored on our own backend. Precise location is never collected.
In addition, our advertising partner Google collects certain data directly from your device when ads are shown, as described in the Advertising section below.
Advertising
The Application is free to play and is supported by ads provided by Google AdMob, operated by Google LLC (Google Ireland Limited for users in the EEA, UK and Switzerland).
- Full-screen ads may appear at natural breaks in the game, such as before starting a level.
- Rewarded ads are always optional: you may choose to watch one to receive an in-game reward.
To show ads, limit how often you see them, measure their performance, and prevent ad fraud, Google may collect and process information such as your device's advertising identifier (IDFA, only if you allow tracking), IP address, device type, operating system, app version, and your interactions with ads. Google acts as an independent controller for this data. You can learn how Google uses this information at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites and manage your Google ad preferences at myadcenter.google.com.
App Tracking Transparency (iOS): On first launch, the Application asks for your permission under Apple's App Tracking Transparency framework. If you allow it, your device's advertising identifier may be used to show you personalized ads. If you decline, your advertising identifier is not shared for tracking; you may still see ads, but they will not be personalized based on your activity in other companies' apps or websites. The Application remains fully functional either way. You can change this choice at any time in your device settings under Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking.
Users in the EEA, UK and Switzerland: Before ads are personalized, the Application asks for your consent through Google's consent form, in line with the GDPR and related laws. If you do not consent, you may see non-personalized or limited ads, and you can continue to use the Application normally. You can review, change, or withdraw your consent at any time using the privacy options button (shield icon) in the Application's Settings.
Purposes of Processing
We use the collected data to:
- Operate the core gameplay and save your progress
- Deliver and restore in-app purchases
- Operate leaderboards and competitive features
- Deliver rewards from rewarded ads and prevent their abuse
- Adapt content based on regional settings and language
- Monitor performance, prevent cheating and abuse, and fix technical issues
- Show ads, measure their performance, and, with your permission or consent, personalize them
Legal Bases (EEA, UK, Switzerland and Turkey)
If you are located in the EEA, the UK, Switzerland, or Turkey (Personal Data Protection Law No. 6698, "KVKK"), we process your data on the following legal bases:
- Performance of a contract: to provide the game, save your progress, operate leaderboards, and deliver purchases and rewards.
- Legitimate interests: to keep the Application secure, prevent cheating and fraud, fix technical issues, and show non-personalized or limited ads that keep the game free.
- Consent: for personalized advertising and for storing or accessing information on your device for advertising purposes. You may withdraw your consent at any time as described above.
- Legal obligation: where we must retain or disclose data to comply with applicable law.
Third-Party Services
We use the following categories of third-party service providers:
- Backend hosting provider: hosting, anonymous authentication, and game data storage
- Purchase management provider: validation of in-app purchases and management of your entitlements
- Apple: payment processing for in-app purchases
- Google AdMob, operated by Google LLC (Google Ireland Limited for users in the EEA, UK and Switzerland): advertising. Privacy policy: policies.google.com/privacy
Our hosting and purchase management providers process data only on our behalf and are not permitted to use it for their own purposes. Apple and Google process data under their own privacy policies; Google processes advertising data as an independent controller and, where required, only with your consent.
Data Retention and Deletion
Data linked to your anonymous account is retained for as long as the account exists. You may request deletion of your account and all associated data at any time, as described under Your Privacy Rights; we will complete the deletion within 30 days. Technical logs and error reports are retained only as long as necessary and are then deleted or anonymized. Advertising data collected by Google is retained according to Google's own retention policies.
Data Transfer
Data may be processed on servers located in different jurisdictions, including outside your country of residence. Appropriate technical and organizational safeguards (including encryption in transit) and, where required, approved transfer mechanisms such as Standard Contractual Clauses are applied to ensure data security and compliance with applicable data protection laws, including the GDPR and KVKK.
Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction (including under the GDPR and Article 11 of the KVKK), you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or receive a copy of the data associated with your anonymous account, to object to or restrict certain processing, and to withdraw your consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority (in Turkey, the Personal Data Protection Authority, KVKK).
You can control advertising at any time:
- Tracking: Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking on your device.
- Ad consent (EEA, UK, Switzerland): the privacy options button in the Application's Settings.
To exercise your other rights, email us at [email protected] and include your Player ID so we can locate your account. You can copy your Player ID under Profile settings in the Application. Alternatively, use the support button in the Application's Settings, which adds your Player ID to the email automatically.
Disclosure of Information
We do not sell or rent your data. We disclose data only to the service providers listed above, to our advertising partner as described in the Advertising section and subject to your choices, or where required by applicable law or lawful government requests.
Security of Data
We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data, including encrypted connections and signed local storage. However, no electronic transmission or storage method can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.
Children's Privacy
Mahjong Elite is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect data from individuals under the age of 13 (or the higher minimum age required in your jurisdiction), and ads in the Application are not intended for children. If you believe a child has provided us with data, please contact us and we will delete it.
This Website
This website (mahjongelite.com) does not ask you for any personal information. On your first visit a banner asks whether you accept optional cookies, such as analytics or embedded media. Nothing optional is loaded or set unless you accept, and you can change your choice at any time with "Cookie settings" at the bottom of every page. Your choice itself is stored only in your own browser. Like any website, the site is delivered by a hosting and content delivery provider that processes technical request data, such as IP addresses, briefly in server logs to deliver pages and protect the site against abuse.
Links to Other Websites
The Application, this website and the ads shown in the Application may contain links to third-party websites. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content or privacy practices of those websites.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date, and significant changes will also be announced in the Application.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, you may contact us by email: [email protected].