Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 1, 2025

Effective Date: January 1, 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to My Hospital Town Doctor Games, operated by Visionary Games Zone ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and the privacy of children who use our educational gaming platform. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect information when you visit our website and use our services.

Our website is designed for children aged 4-12 and their parents or guardians. We strictly comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and other applicable privacy laws.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information We Do NOT Collect from Children

We do not collect any personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. This includes:

• Names, addresses, or contact information
• Email addresses or phone numbers
• Photos, videos, or audio recordings
• Social security numbers or other identification numbers
• Location information

2.2 Information We May Collect

We may collect limited, non-personal information to improve our services:

• Technical information such as browser type and device information
• Usage statistics (pages visited, time spent on site)
• Cookie information (with consent)
• IP addresses (anonymised)

2.3 Information from Parents/Guardians

We may collect contact information from parents or guardians who:

• Contact us with questions or concerns
• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Report technical issues

3. How We Use Information

Any information we collect is used solely for:

• Providing and improving our educational gaming services
• Ensuring website security and functionality
• Responding to parent/guardian inquiries
• Complying with legal requirements
• Analysing website performance (anonymised data only)

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance user experience. Our cookie usage includes:

4.1 Essential Cookies

• Session cookies for website functionality
• Security cookies to protect against fraud
• Preference cookies to remember user settings

4.2 Analytics Cookies

With your consent, we may use analytics cookies to understand how our website is used. This helps us improve our educational content and user experience. All analytics data is anonymised.

4.3 Cookie Consent

We obtain explicit consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device. You can withdraw consent at any time through our cookie settings or by contacting us.

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer personal information to third parties. We may share information only in the following circumstances:

• With your explicit consent
• To comply with legal obligations
• To protect our rights or the safety of others
• With trusted service providers who assist in website operation (under strict confidentiality agreements)

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your information:

• SSL encryption for data transmission
• Secure servers with limited access
• Regular security audits and updates
• Staff training on data protection
• Data minimisation practices

7. Data Retention

We retain information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy:

• Technical data: Retained for up to 12 months
• Analytics data: Retained for up to 24 months (anonymised)
• Contact information: Retained until you request deletion
• Cookie data: As specified in individual cookie settings

8. Your Rights

Under GDPR and other privacy laws, you have the following rights:

• Right to Access: Request information about data we hold
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
• Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your data
• Right to Restriction: Request limitation of data processing
• Right to Portability: Request transfer of your data
• Right to Object: Object to data processing
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time

9. Parental Rights and Controls

Parents and guardians have additional rights regarding their children's information:

• Review any personal information collected from their child
• Request deletion of their child's personal information
• Refuse to permit further collection or use of their child's information
• Contact us with any concerns about their child's privacy

10. Third-Party Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage parents to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites their children visit.

11. International Data Transfers

We primarily store and process data within the United Kingdom. If data is transferred internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including:

• Adequacy decisions by relevant authorities
• Standard contractual clauses
• Binding corporate rules
• Appropriate certifications

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make significant changes, we will:

• Post the updated policy on our website
• Update the "Last Updated" date
• Notify users through our website or email (if applicable)
• Obtain fresh consent where required by law

13. Compliance and Monitoring

We regularly review our privacy practices to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Our compliance measures include:

• Regular privacy impact assessments
• Staff training on privacy and data protection
• Monitoring of data collection and processing activities
• Regular updates to security measures

15. Supervisory Authority

If you are not satisfied with our response to your privacy concerns, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority:

UK: Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
Website: ico.org.uk
Phone: 0303 123 1113

16. Legal Basis for Processing

We process personal data based on the following legal grounds:

• Consent: When you provide explicit consent
• Legitimate Interest: For website security and improvement
• Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws
• Vital Interest: To protect the safety of individuals

This Privacy Policy demonstrates our commitment to protecting your privacy and ensuring compliance with all applicable privacy laws and regulations.