The Daily Dots — Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 5, 2026

The Daily Dots is a daily connect-the-dots puzzle game. We keep data collection to a minimum, and this page explains exactly what the app collects and who else receives it.

What we collect

• Gameplay & leaderboard. Your scores, streaks, and a display name are stored in Apple iCloud (CloudKit) so the shared daily leaderboard can show rankings. If you do not sign in, a random anonymous ID and an auto-generated name (e.g. “Player 1234”) are used. If you choose Sign in with Apple, an Apple-provided identifier (and the name you allow) is used instead.
• Diagnostics. Anonymous crash and error reports (via Sentry) to help us fix bugs. These do not include personally identifying information.
• Gameplay analytics. Anonymous signals about how the game is played — puzzle started, solved or missed, hint used, result shared, onboarding completed — are sent to TelemetryDeck so we can see which puzzles are too hard and where people get stuck. These signals carry no personally identifying information and are not used for advertising.
• Advertising. The free game is supported by ads served through Google AdMob (rewarded ads, and an interstitial after the score reveal). To show ads, Google receives your device's IP address and general device information, and may use your device's advertising identifier (IDFA) and an on-device ad ID. Google also uses Apple's SKAdNetwork to measure ad performance without the IDFA.
• Purchases. If you buy DailyDots+ or Remove Ads, the transaction itself is handled by Apple — we never see your payment details. We use RevenueCat to check what you are entitled to; it receives an anonymous app user ID and your App Store purchase receipt.

Your choices

• Ad tracking. iOS asks your permission before the app can use your advertising identifier for personalized ads. Declining does not change the game — you still see ads, just non-personalized ones. You can change your answer at any time in Settings › Privacy & Security › Tracking.
• Removing ads. The Remove Ads purchase (and DailyDots+) turns off advertising entirely, which also stops the data sharing with Google described above.
• Consent in the EEA and UK. Where required, Google's User Messaging Platform asks for your advertising consent before any personalized ad is served, and you can change that choice from within the app.
• Deletion. You can have your leaderboard entry removed at any time — see below.

What we do NOT do

• We do not sell your personal information for money.
• We do not collect your contacts, photos, location, or health data.
• We do not use your gameplay analytics for advertising, and we do not combine them with ad data.
• We do not receive your payment or card details — Apple handles every purchase.

One clarification, because the distinction matters legally: if you allow tracking, Google may use your advertising identifier to personalize the ads you see. Under some U.S. state privacy laws — California's in particular — that counts as “sharing” personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising, even though no money changes hands. Declining the tracking prompt, or buying Remove Ads, stops it.

Data deletion & contact

Email dailydots@burchfam.com to request deletion of your leaderboard entry, to exercise any privacy right you have under your local law, or with any privacy question.