Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how The Hello World Games (“we”, “us”, or “our”) handles information in connection with the World Map & Countries mobile application (the “App”) for Android, distributed through Google Play.

We act as the data controller for the limited information described below. The App is an educational, informational, and entertainment product that lets you explore countries, an interactive world map, geography games, and an AI travel companion. You can use the vast majority of the App without providing any personal details.

The App is designed to collect as little as possible. We group information into three categories.

a. Information you choose to provide

• AI chat messages. The text you type into the “Ask AI” (per-country) and “Atlas AI” (worldwide) chats is sent to our AI provider to generate a response. For Premium users, the Atlas AI companion may also include the names of countries you’ve added to your travel lists, so it can personalize suggestions.
• Personal notes & travel status. Notes you write on a country and markers such as “I’ve been”, “want to go”, or “researched”. These are stored only on your device.

b. Information stored only on your device

The following never leaves your phone and is not transmitted to us. It is removed when you clear it in-app or uninstall the App:

• App settings — theme, language, measurement units, and notification preferences.
• Your Premium entitlement status (kept locally so the App works offline).
• Chat history, saved on-device and controlled by the “Save chat history” setting, which you can turn off or purge.
• Game progress — daily streaks, high scores, and loyalty/unlock counters.

c. Information collected automatically

Through the third-party services listed in section 06, limited technical information is processed to keep the App working, stable, and (for free users) ad-supported:

• Usage & interaction data — such as which screens are viewed and events like opening the paywall, starting a free trial, or sending an AI message (via Google Analytics for Firebase).
• Device & diagnostic data — app version, device model, operating-system version, language, and crash reports/stack traces (via Firebase Crashlytics), used to diagnose problems.
• Advertising identifier — for free users, the device’s resettable Advertising ID and ad-interaction data are used to serve and measure ads (via Google AdMob).
• Approximate location derived from IP address — inferred by map and network services (e.g., Mapbox, Google) to deliver tiles and content. We do not access your device’s GPS or precise location.

We use the limited information above only to:

• Provide and operate the App’s features, including the AI chats, interactive map, and games.
• Deliver AI-generated responses to the messages you send.
• Understand which features are used so we can improve the App, and fix crashes and bugs.
• Show and measure advertising to users on the free tier, and honor your consent choices.
• Process and validate Premium subscriptions through Google Play.
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Use.

Where required by law (for example in the EEA/UK), we rely on your consent for advertising and non-essential analytics, on the performance of our contract with you to run the App and AI features, and on our legitimate interests to keep the App secure and functioning.

The App includes two AI chat experiences powered by OpenAI: “Ask AI” inside a country’s page, and the worldwide “Atlas AI” companion.

• When you send a message, its text is transmitted to OpenAI’s API, which generates the reply. For Premium Atlas AI, the country names on your travel lists may be included to tailor suggestions.
• OpenAI processes this input under its own privacy policy and terms as our service provider.
• Your conversations are stored locally on your device (see section 02b) and are governed by the in-app “Save chat history” control.

The free version of the App shows ads through Google AdMob (app-open, interstitial, and optional rewarded ads). Ads may use your device’s Advertising ID to serve and measure them, and — where you allow it — to personalize them.

• EEA / UK & other regulated regions. On first launch we show Google’s certified consent form (Google User Messaging Platform) so you can accept or decline personalized ads. No ad requests are made before consent is resolved.
• Change your choice any time. Where applicable, open Settings → About → “Ad privacy options” in the App to review or withdraw your consent.
• Limit ad tracking. You can reset or delete your Advertising ID, or opt out of ad personalization, in your Android device settings (Settings → Privacy → Ads).
• Premium removes all ads. Subscribing to Premium disables every ad format entirely.

We rely on trusted providers to deliver certain features. Each processes data under its own privacy policy; we share only what is needed for the feature to work.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their policies, linked above.

Premium is an optional auto-renewing subscription sold through Google Play Billing. All payment processing is handled by Google Play — we never receive or store your payment-card details. The App only receives your entitlement status (whether Premium is active) so it can unlock features and remove ads. Your purchase history and payment methods are governed by Google’s privacy policy and your Google account settings.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising beyond the ad services described above. We disclose information only:

• To the service providers in section 06, strictly to operate the relevant feature.
• When required by law, regulation, legal process, or a valid government request.
• To protect the rights, safety, and security of our users, the public, or the App.
• In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, subject to this policy.

Because most data is stored locally, you are in control:

• On-device data (notes, travel lists, chat history, settings, game progress) is kept until you delete it in-app or uninstall the App. Uninstalling removes it.
• Chat history can be turned off or cleared via the “Save chat history” setting.
• Analytics & crash data are retained by Google for the periods stated in its documentation, then deleted or anonymized.
• Advertising identifiers can be reset or deleted at any time in your Android settings.

To request deletion of any information you believe we hold, contact us at thehelloworldgames.apps@gmail.com.

Depending on where you live (for example under the EU/UK GDPR or the California CCPA/CPRA), you may have the right to:

• Access, correct, or delete personal information about you.
• Object to or restrict certain processing, and withdraw consent at any time.
• Request portability of information you provided.
• Opt out of personalized advertising, and of any “sale” or “sharing” of personal information (we do not sell it).
• Lodge a complaint with your local data-protection authority.

Many choices are available directly in the App and your device settings (ad consent, ad ID reset, clearing local data). For anything else, email us and we will respond as required by applicable law.

Our service providers (including OpenAI, Google, and Mapbox) may process information on servers located in the United States and other countries. Where such transfers occur, they are carried out under appropriate safeguards, such as the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses or an equivalent recognized mechanism.

The App is a general-audience product intended for users aged 13 and older (or the minimum age of digital consent in your country). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided information through the App, please contact us and we will take appropriate steps to delete it.

The App requests only the permissions it genuinely needs:

• Internet & network state — to load the map, AI responses, ads, and to detect when you’re offline.
• Notifications (Android 13+) — optional; used only for the “Daily country spotlight”. You can decline or disable it any time, and it changes nothing else.

The App does not request location, camera, microphone, contacts, or file/storage permissions.

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect information, including encrypted (HTTPS/TLS) connections to all third-party services and keeping personal content on your device wherever possible. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security, but we work to protect your information and continually improve our safeguards.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the App, our providers, or the law. When we make material changes, we will update the “Last updated” date above and, where appropriate, provide notice in the App or on Google Play. Your continued use of the App after an update means you accept the revised policy.

If you have questions, requests, or concerns about this Privacy Policy or your information, we’re happy to help.