Your privacy matters to us at MapiDesk. This policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your choices — including how we work with third-party advertising partners like Google. We are committed to transparency and giving you control over your information.
Information we collect directly
We do not require accounts or logins. You can use all core study features without providing any personal information. However, we do handle the following data:
- Anonymous usage & game state (browser-only): Your progress, study session data, and map pins are stored only in your browser's memory and cleared when you close the tab.
- Newsletter subscription (optional): If you choose to subscribe, we collect your email address via a third-party email service (e.g., Mailchimp or similar). We only use this to send you study tips, new feature announcements, and occasional educational content. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link in every email.
- Theme preference & settings: Your light/dark mode choice and any tool-specific settings are saved in your browser's local storage to remember your preferences across visits.
- Shareable study links: When you share a study challenge or map configuration, the link contains an encoded snapshot of the session parameters. This data is not stored on any server; it is encoded directly in the URL and decoded locally by the recipient's browser.
Cookies and tracking technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience and to enable advertising. Here is how we use them:
Essential cookies
- Session cookies: We may set a session cookie to remember your preferences (like theme) during your visit. This cookie is deleted when you close your browser.
- Local storage: We store theme preferences and game state in your browser's local storage. This is not a cookie but serves a similar function.
Advertising cookies (Google AdSense)
- Google AdSense: We partner with Google AdSense to display advertisements on our site. Google may use cookies and web beacons to collect information about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide personalized ads based on your interests.
- Third-party vendors: Google and other third-party vendors may use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this website or other websites.
- DoubleClick cookie: Google's use of the DoubleClick cookie enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to our site and/or other sites on the Internet.
- Non-personalized ads: You may also choose to receive non-personalized ads, which are not based on your browsing history.
Other third-party cookies
- Map tiles: Provided by CARTO and OpenStreetMap. These services may set cookies or collect anonymized usage data according to their own privacy policies.
- Fonts: Google Fonts may log standard web request data (e.g., IP address, user agent) via
fonts.googleapis.comandfonts.gstatic.com.
How we use data
We use the data we collect only to:
- Deliver and improve the study tools and map interactions.
- Send newsletters to subscribers who have explicitly opted in.
- Generate shareable links that contain only necessary session parameters.
- Remember your preferences for a smoother experience.
- Display relevant advertisements through Google AdSense.
We never sell, rent, or share your personal data with third parties for their own marketing purposes. We do not use your data for automated decision-making or profiling.
Third-party services and advertising partners
To provide our educational tools and monetize our content, we rely on the following trusted third-party services:
Google AdSense
We use Google AdSense to serve advertisements. Google AdSense uses cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to our website or other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to our site and/or other sites on the Internet.
You can learn more about how Google uses data from our site by visiting How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services.
For more information about Google's privacy practices, please review the Google Privacy Policy.
Other third-party services
- Map tiles: Provided by CARTO and OpenStreetMap. These services may collect anonymized usage data per their own privacy policies. We do not control their data practices.
- Newsletter delivery: We use a reputable email service provider (e.g., Mailchimp, Sendinblue) to manage subscriptions and send emails. Your email address is stored with them and subject to their privacy policy. We retain access only to manage the list and send campaigns.
- Fonts: We use Google Fonts (Fraunces, Inter, etc.) which may log standard web request data (e.g., IP address, user agent). We serve them via
fonts.googleapis.comandfonts.gstatic.com.
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of these third-party services for more information.
Your choices and rights
We respect your privacy and provide you with meaningful choices:
- Opt-out of personalized ads: You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ad Settings. You can also opt out of third-party vendor use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting www.aboutads.info/choices.
- Disable cookies: You can manage or disable cookies in your browser settings at any time. However, disabling essential cookies may affect the functionality of some interactive features.
- Do Not Track: We honor your browser's Do Not Track (DNT) setting and do not engage in cross-site tracking.
- Newsletter: You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any email we send. You can also contact us directly to request removal.
- Clear your data: Close the tab or clear your browser's local storage, session data, and cookies to remove all game state and preferences.
- Access and deletion: Since we do not hold personal data beyond your email (if you subscribed), you can request access to or deletion of your email address by contacting us. We will respond within 30 days.
Cookie consent (GDPR and ePrivacy compliance)
If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or other regions with similar data protection laws, we will request your explicit consent before setting any non-essential cookies, including advertising cookies. You will see a cookie banner upon your first visit where you can:
- Accept all cookies
- Reject non-essential cookies
- Customize your cookie preferences
You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our footer.
Children's privacy
MapiDesk is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect any personal information from minors. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us, and we will delete it promptly.
Data security
We take reasonable measures to protect any data we handle. All communications with our site are encrypted via HTTPS. Newsletter subscriber data is stored with industry-standard security practices by our third-party provider.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy occasionally to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or advertising partners. Any updates will be posted here with an updated "last updated" date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
Contact us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding your privacy, please reach out to us:
- Email: [email protected]
We aim to respond to all inquiries within 7 business days.
This privacy policy was last updated on April 17, 2026. By using MapiDesk, you agree to the terms outlined above.