Short version: we collect the little we need to run your competition, we don't use tracking cookies, we don't run ads, and we never sell your data.
No cookies. The Service does not use cookies for tracking, advertising, or analytics — which is why you were never shown a cookie banner. Sign-in and your place in a competition are held in your browser's local storage instead, and only your browser can read it.
You do not need an account to join a competition. We do not ask members for an email address.
?src= label (for example from a social media profile), we record that label so we know which channels bring people in.We do not use Google Analytics, advertising pixels, session recording, or cross-site trackers.
Payments are processed by Stripe. Your card number never reaches our servers and we never see or store it. We keep the email address used at checkout, the amount, and Stripe's transaction reference, so we can issue receipts and refunds.
We do not use your data to build advertising profiles, and we do not sell or rent it to anyone. Ever.
We rely on a small number of service providers, each handling data only to provide their service to us:
We may also disclose information if legally required to, or to protect the rights and safety of users and the Service.
Within a competition, your display name, real name (if given), score, and completion time are visible to the other members of that league, on leaderboards and on the results page. Anyone with your league's results link can see standings, so share it only with your league.
If someone in your league purchases the Answer Key, they can see which questions each player got wrong in that competition, including yours. Nothing outside that competition is ever exposed.
Competition data is kept while your account exists so results stay available to your league. Product event records are kept in aggregate for business reporting. Payment records are kept as long as tax and accounting rules require, typically seven years. Delete your account and we remove your personal data as described below.
Email support@theprovingground.app to:
We'll act on verified requests within 30 days. Deleting an account removes your competitions and their participants. We may keep minimal payment records where the law requires it, and anonymous aggregate counts that can no longer identify you.
Depending on where you live — for example California or the European Economic Area — you may have additional statutory rights, including the right to object to processing or lodge a complaint with a regulator. We honor these requests regardless of where you live.
To clear the identity stored on your own device, clear your browser's site data for theprovingground.app.
Traffic is encrypted with HTTPS. Passwords are stored as salted hashes. Access to production data is limited to the Operator. No system is perfectly secure, but if a breach affects your personal data we will notify affected users promptly.
The Service is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their personal data. Accounts require you to be 18 or older. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us personal data, contact us and we will delete it.
The Service is operated from the United States and data is stored there. If you use it from elsewhere, you consent to that transfer.
We may update this policy. The "last updated" date above will change, and material changes will be announced on the site.
Privacy questions or requests: support@theprovingground.app.