Episode - Choose Your Story

"cookie identifiers, mobile IDs, unique device ID, MAC address, advertising identifier, OpenUDID, IMEI number, hardware type, the version of your operating system ("OS"), Internet Protocol (IP) address, access times, browser type and language may be logged automatically. We may also request access to your address book to connect you to other players in the game."

Episode Interactive collects an unusually broad range of device identifiers (MAC address, IMEI, OpenUDID) and requests access to users' address books, which goes well beyond what a story game requires.

"We may also give users the opportunity to opt-in to location-based services, which rely upon a device's precise location services. You may opt-out of these precise location services via the settings on your device. We may also collect your general location (based on your IP address)."

The app collects both precise GPS location and IP-based geolocation. While precise location is opt-in, general IP-based location tracking happens automatically with no opt-out.

"We may update this Policy from time to time. You are responsible for periodically reading this Policy. We will post all changes to this Policy on this page and the modified policy will specify its effective date."

The company can change the privacy policy at any time and places the burden on users to periodically check for changes, rather than providing meaningful notice.

"Third party analytics and ad tech companies also collect information, which may include personal information, through the Service as described in our Cookies section. These third party vendors may combine this data across multiple sites and devices to improve analytics and advertising for their own purpose and others."

Third-party analytics and advertising companies collect personal information directly through the app and combine it across sites and devices for their own purposes, not just Episode Interactive's.

"We retain personal information for two months or as long as necessary to provide the services and fulfill the transactions you have requested, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce our agreements, and other legitimate and lawful business purposes. Because these needs can vary for different data types in the context of different services, actual retention periods can vary significantly."

Despite mentioning a two-month baseline, the broad exceptions ('as long as necessary' for legal obligations, disputes, business purposes) effectively allow indefinite retention with no clear deletion timeline.

"In carrying out these purposes, we combine data we collect from different sources to give you a more seamless, consistent, and personalized experience. These third party vendors may combine this data across multiple sites and devices to improve analytics and advertising for their own purpose and others."

Episode Interactive combines data from multiple sources into unified profiles and allows third-party vendors to track users across multiple sites and devices.

"You may contact us regarding any questions or comments regarding this Privacy Policy or with any request to access, update or delete your personal information by emailing us at support@episodeinteractive.com. If we delete certain information about you, your account may become deactivated."

There is no self-service account deletion option; users must email support, and the company reserves broad rights to decline requests it deems 'unreasonable or excessive.'