Privacy Policy
Your privacy matters. Learn how we protect, use, and respect your personal data in our mission to advance game development education.
Our Commitment to Data Protection
GameDev Academy is committed to protecting your privacy and personal data. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share your information when you visit our website, engage with our educational content, or enroll in our game development programs.
We understand that trust is fundamental to the educational relationship, and we take our responsibility to protect your data seriously. This policy outlines our advertising data practices, your rights under data protection laws like GDPR and CCPA, and how you can control your information.
As a Canadian educational institution working with international advertising platforms, we ensure compliance with applicable privacy regulations while delivering personalized learning experiences and reaching prospective students effectively.
Data Collection by Advertising Platforms
Google Services Data Collection
Google Analytics Data
- • Page views and session duration across our educational content
- • Bounce rates and user engagement with course information
- • Device information including browser type and screen resolution
- • Geographic location data for regional course recommendations
- • Referring websites and search queries that lead to our site
Google Ads Integration
- • Conversion data when you submit contact forms or course inquiries
- • Remarketing audiences based on pages visited and time spent
- • Interest categories derived from browsing behavior patterns
- • Cross-device tracking through Google account integration
- • Default retention period: 26 months for remarketing lists
Facebook/Meta Data Collection
Facebook Pixel Tracking
- • Page views on course descriptions and enrollment pages
- • Button clicks on contact forms and course inquiry buttons
- • Form submissions for consultation requests and downloads
- • Time spent engaging with educational content and testimonials
- • Custom events for specific actions like video plays
Audience Building
- • Website visitor audiences for remarketing educational content
- • Lookalike audiences based on successful student profiles
- • Custom audiences from email lists with proper consent
- • Cross-platform tracking across Facebook family of apps
- • Retention period: 180 days for remarketing audiences
Microsoft/Bing Data Collection
UET Tag Implementation
- • Conversion tracking for course consultation requests
- • Goal completion measurement for educational downloads
- • User action tracking on course comparison pages
- • Page visit data for career-focused content sections
- • Search query attribution for organic discovery
Microsoft Integration
- • Site visitor segmentation for targeted advertising
- • Engagement metrics for educational content performance
- • Demographic information when linked to Microsoft accounts
- • Cross-service data linking for comprehensive targeting
- • Maximum retention period: 390 days for advertising data
How We Use Your Data
Purposes of Processing
Educational Service Delivery
Providing course information, processing inquiries, delivering educational content, and facilitating enrollment in our game development programs.
Marketing and Student Outreach
Advertising our courses to prospective students, optimizing marketing campaigns, and personalizing educational content recommendations.
Analytics and Performance
Measuring website performance, analyzing user engagement with educational content, and improving our course offerings and website experience.
Security and Fraud Prevention
Protecting our website and services from fraud, abuse, and security threats, ensuring safe learning environment for all students.
Legal Basis for Processing
Consent
For marketing communications, advertising cookies, and non-essential data processing. You can withdraw consent at any time.
Legitimate Interest
For analytics, security measures, fraud prevention, and improving our educational services based on user feedback.
Contract Performance
For delivering educational services, processing course enrollments, and fulfilling our obligations to students.
Legal Obligation
For compliance with tax requirements, educational regulations, and other legal obligations in Canada.
Data Sharing with Third Parties
Advertising Partners
Google Advertising
Analytics, Ads, Tag Manager for targeting prospective students
Meta/Facebook
Pixel, Conversions API for social media advertising
Microsoft Advertising
Bing Ads, Clarity for search advertising optimization
Programmatic Networks
Third-party advertising platforms for broader reach
Service Providers
Web Hosting
Cloud infrastructure providers for website operations
Email Services
Email marketing platforms for educational communications
Payment Processors
Secure payment handling for course fees and transactions
Customer Support
Help desk and support tools for student assistance
Data Transfers
EU-US Framework
Data Privacy Framework participants for compliant transfers
Standard Clauses
Contractual safeguards for international data transfers
Adequacy Decisions
Transfers to countries with adequate protection levels
Local Requirements
Compliance with Canadian data localization laws
Your Rights and How to Exercise Them
GDPR Rights (EU/UK Residents)
Right to Access
Request a copy of all personal data we hold about you, including data sources and recipients.
Right to Rectification
Correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal data in our records.
Right to Erasure
Request deletion of your personal data when no longer necessary for original purposes.
Right to Restrict Processing
Limit how we use your data while maintaining stored records.
Right to Data Portability
Receive your data in machine-readable format for transfer to another service.
CCPA Rights (California Residents)
Right to Know
Learn what personal information we collect, use, disclose, and sell about you.
Right to Delete
Request deletion of personal information we have collected about you.
Right to Opt-Out
Opt-out of the sale or sharing of your personal information for advertising.
Right to Non-Discrimination
Receive equal service regardless of exercising your privacy rights.
Right to Correct
Request correction of inaccurate personal information in our systems.
Data Retention and Deletion
Retention Periods
| Data Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Contact Form Data | 3 years from last interaction |
| Analytics Data | 26 months (Google default) |
| Marketing Data | Until consent withdrawn or 2 years inactive |
| Legal Records | 5-7 years as required by law |
| Security Logs | 90 days |
Deletion Procedures
Automatic Deletion
Data is automatically deleted after retention periods expire through automated systems.
Manual Deletion
User-requested deletions processed within 30 days of verified requests.
Anonymization
Personal identifiers removed while preserving statistical data for research.
Third-Party Coordination
Deletion requests forwarded to advertising platforms and service providers.
Exceptions to Deletion
- • Legal obligation to retain (tax, education regulations)
- • Legitimate business purposes (fraud prevention, security)
- • Freedom of expression and research purposes
- • Public interest archiving and historical research
Contact and Compliance Information
How to Exercise Your Rights
Contact Form
Use our website contact form to submit privacy requests and data protection inquiries.
Platform Controls
Directly manage settings through Google, Facebook, and Microsoft privacy dashboards.
Cookie Preferences
Update cookie and advertising preferences through our cookie management page.
Response Timeframes
Verification Requirements
We may request additional information to verify your identity before processing requests that involve personal data access or deletion.
Last updated: August 10, 2025
This policy may be updated to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We will notify users of material changes through our website.
For privacy-related questions, please use our contact form.