Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 2026

This Privacy Policy applies to Crossword Alive, published by Black Otter Studios ("we", "us"). We built the app with privacy in mind.

Data We Collect

Anonymous device identifier: a randomly generated ID stored only on your device, sent with each scan request so our server can enforce the weekly free-scan limit. This ID is not linked to your name, email, or any other personal information. • Scan count: we store how many scans you have performed this week on our server for quota enforcement.

Photos

Images you submit for grid detection are sent to our server over HTTPS, processed immediately, and discarded. We do not retain, store, or use your photos for any other purpose.

Data We Do Not Collect

We do not collect your name, email address, location, contacts, browsing history, advertising identifiers, or any other personal data.

Data Retention

Anonymous user IDs and weekly scan counts are stored for quota enforcement and automatically purged after 90 days of inactivity.

Third-Party Services

The app's backend is hosted on Railway, which has access to standard server request logs (IP address, request timestamp). Railway does not see your photos beyond their transient processing. We do not use advertising, analytics, or tracking SDKs.

Your Rights

To request deletion of your data, contact us at blackotterstudios@gmail.com.

Contact

blackotterstudios@gmail.com