ChessWave Privacy Policy
Last updated: September 9, 2026
ChessWave Inc. (“ChessWave”) is responsible for the handling of personal information described in this Privacy Policy.
ChessWave is designed around a simple principle: your chess data should remain under your control.
ChessWave uses a local-first architecture. Chessboard images used for computer-vision recognition are processed on your device and are not sent to ChessWave servers. Your personal chess games, positions, journal data, analysis history, and saved chessboard photographs are not collected into a centralized ChessWave database. When you choose to synchronize or back up ChessWave data, it is stored using services you control, such as your own Google Drive account.
This Privacy Policy describes how ChessWave handles information through the ChessWave application, ChessWave Link, and chesswave.io.
1. Chessboard Images and Camera Access
ChessWave can use your device’s camera or images you select to recognize chess positions.
Chessboard recognition is performed locally on your device.
Images submitted for chessboard recognition do not leave your device and are not transmitted to ChessWave for recognition, analytics, advertising, or machine-learning training.
If you choose to save a photograph in your ChessWave journal or synchronize it with your own storage, that is a separate action initiated by you.
2. Chess Data Stored on Your Device
ChessWave may store information locally on your device, including:
• chess games and positions;
• PGN files;
• engine analysis and analysis results;
• journal entries and collections;
• photographs you choose to save;
• player profiles;
• opening and training information; and
• application settings and preferences.
This information remains on your device unless you choose to use a feature that transfers, synchronizes, imports, or exports it.
ChessWave does not use your private games, positions, photographs, journal contents, or analysis history for advertising, behavioral profiling, or training machine-learning models.
3. Google Drive
ChessWave uses the Google Drive `drive.file` permission to provide backup, synchronization, import, and export functionality.
This permission allows ChessWave to create and manage files created by ChessWave and files that you explicitly make available to ChessWave. It does not give ChessWave general access to all files in your Google Drive.
ChessWave uses information obtained through Google Drive only to provide functionality requested by you.
ChessWave does not use information obtained through Google APIs for advertising, advertising measurement, creditworthiness, unrelated profiling, or machine-learning training.
ChessWave’s use and transfer of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.
You can revoke ChessWave’s access to your Google account at any time through your Google account permissions.
Google’s handling of information associated with Google Drive and your Google account is governed by Google’s own privacy policies.
4. ChessWave Accounts and ChessWave Link
Some ChessWave features, including ChessWave Link, may require authentication or a ChessWave account.
For these services, ChessWave may maintain limited information necessary to operate the account or service, such as:
• your email address or account identifier;
• authentication information or tokens;
• entitlement status;
• account creation and modification information; and
• limited security and service records.
ChessWave Link allows ChessWave on your device to communicate with compatible software running on another computer.
Depending on the connection you choose, communication may occur directly over your local network or through ChessWave infrastructure used to establish or relay the connection.
ChessWave does not use chess positions transmitted through Link to construct an advertising profile or a database of your chess activity.
When Link can operate entirely over your local network, that traffic does not need to pass through ChessWave’s internet relay infrastructure.
5. Account Deletion
If you create a ChessWave account, you may request deletion of your account and personal information associated with it.
ChessWave provides an account-deletion control within the application. If completing the deletion process requires use of the web, the application links directly to the ChessWave account-deletion page on chesswave.io.
You may also contact ChessWave at support@chesswave.io regarding an account you can no longer access. This is an additional contact method and does not replace the account-deletion control provided within the application.
When an account is deleted, ChessWave deletes personal information associated with that account unless particular information must be retained to comply with legal obligations or for legitimate purposes permitted by law, such as security, fraud prevention, dispute resolution, or financial recordkeeping.
Deleting your ChessWave account does not automatically delete information stored independently:
• on your device;
• in your own Google Drive; or
• by a third-party service you have connected to ChessWave.
You remain able to delete locally stored and Google Drive data separately.
Deleting a ChessWave account also does not necessarily cancel a subscription or purchase administered by an app store or another payment provider. Those purchases or subscriptions must be managed through the applicable provider.
If ChessWave supports Sign in with Apple in the future, account deletion will also revoke the applicable Sign in with Apple authorization as required by Apple.
6. Purchases and Paid Features
ChessWave may offer paid applications, downloadable content, features, or services.
Purchases made through Google Play are processed by Google. ChessWave does not receive your payment-card information from Google.
Some ChessWave desktop features or services may be purchased separately through PayPal. Payments made through PayPal are processed by PayPal, and ChessWave does not receive your payment-card information from PayPal.
ChessWave may receive limited information necessary to confirm that you are entitled to paid functionality, such as:
• a transaction or purchase identifier;
• the product or feature purchased;
• purchase or entitlement status; and
• relevant purchase or expiration dates.
Payment providers process payment information according to their own privacy policies.
ChessWave does not use purchase or entitlement information for advertising or unrelated profiling.
The Android application does not require users to purchase desktop services in order to use its core local chess features.
7. Google Play Integrity and Application Security
On supported Android devices, ChessWave may use Google Play Integrity to help verify the authenticity of the application and the integrity of the environment in which it is running.
When an integrity check is performed, information required for application and device attestation is communicated to Google, and an integrity result is returned.
ChessWave uses this process for application security, abuse prevention, licensing protection, and protection of ChessWave software and services.
Google’s processing of information through Google Play services is governed by Google’s applicable privacy policies.
8. Third-Party Chess Services
ChessWave may allow you to connect to third-party chess services, including services such as Chess.com and Lichess.
If you choose to connect such a service, ChessWave exchanges only the information necessary to perform the feature you request, such as authentication or retrieving games.
Authentication credentials or access tokens supplied for third-party chess services are not used for advertising or unrelated profiling.
Information independently held by Chess.com, Lichess, or another third-party service remains subject to that service’s own terms and privacy policy.
9. ChessWave Website and Mailing List
The ChessWave website, chesswave.io, may collect information that you voluntarily provide, including your email address when you:
• join the ChessWave waitlist;
• subscribe to product updates;
• contact ChessWave; or
• request information.
Email addresses supplied for ChessWave announcements are used to send information about ChessWave, including availability, releases, major product updates, and related ChessWave communications.
Where consent is required, ChessWave obtains consent before sending commercial electronic messages.
You may unsubscribe from promotional ChessWave emails at any time using the unsubscribe mechanism included in those messages.
ChessWave does not sell mailing-list information.
The ChessWave website is built and hosted using Framer and uses Framer Analytics to understand how visitors use the website.
Framer and its associated infrastructure may process technical and usage information such as:
• IP address;
• browser and device information;
• pages viewed;
• referring pages or sources;
• approximate geographic information;
• interaction and usage information; and
• technical request information.
ChessWave uses this information to understand website traffic, evaluate website performance, and improve the ChessWave website and product communications.
ChessWave does not use Framer Analytics to build a profile of your chess activity or to obtain the chess positions, games, photographs, or analysis data stored in the ChessWave application.
Framer’s processing of information is also governed by its own privacy terms and policies.
10. Technical Information, Diagnostics, and Crash Reporting
ChessWave uses Firebase Crashlytics, a Google service, to help identify crashes, errors, and technical problems in the ChessWave application.
When a crash or technical error occurs, Crashlytics may receive technical information associated with the event, which may include information such as:
• application version;
• operating-system version;
• device model or device characteristics;
• crash stack traces;
• diagnostic and error information;
• application state associated with the crash; and
• identifiers or technical information used by the service to associate related crash events.
ChessWave uses this information to diagnose software defects, improve application stability, and maintain the reliability and security of ChessWave.
ChessWave does not intentionally include your scanned chessboard photographs, private chess games, journal photographs, or personal analysis history in Crashlytics reports.
Information processed through Firebase Crashlytics is handled by Google subject to Google’s applicable terms and privacy practices.
ChessWave may also use aggregated statistics supplied by application-distribution and payment platforms, such as installation counts, purchase statistics, subscription statistics, and application performance information.
ChessWave does not use diagnostic or crash information to construct an advertising profile or profile of your chess activity.
11. Children
ChessWave is a general-audience chess application and is not directed specifically to children under 13.
ChessWave does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without legally required parental consent and does not use children’s personal information for behavioral advertising or profiling.
In jurisdictions where a higher age threshold applies, ChessWave does not knowingly collect personal information from a child below the applicable age of consent without the authorization required by law.
If ChessWave learns that personal information from a child has been collected contrary to applicable requirements, ChessWave will take appropriate steps to delete or otherwise address that information.
12. Data Retention
ChessWave retains personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for:
• providing the service for which it was collected;
• maintaining application or account security;
• processing or documenting transactions;
• complying with applicable legal requirements; or
• resolving legitimate disputes.
Information stored solely on your device remains there until you delete it, clear application data, or uninstall the application.
Information stored in your own Google Drive remains under your control and is subject to your Google Drive settings and deletion choices.
Account, security, transaction, diagnostic, and operational information maintained by ChessWave or its service providers is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the applicable purpose, subject to legal obligations and the retention practices of the relevant service provider.
13. Security and Privacy by Design
ChessWave uses reasonable technical and administrative measures intended to protect personal information.
ChessWave also minimizes privacy risk through its architecture.
Computer-vision processing occurs on the user’s device. Personal games, analysis information, journal contents, and photographs are generally stored on the user’s device or in storage chosen by the user rather than collected into a centralized ChessWave database.
ChessWave seeks to collect only the information necessary to provide services that inherently require ChessWave infrastructure or third-party infrastructure, such as accounts, remote connectivity, entitlements, application diagnostics, website analytics, and security.
No internet-connected service can guarantee absolute security.
14. Processing Outside Quebec or Canada
Some service providers used by ChessWave, including platform, hosting, analytics, diagnostic, authentication, payment, or infrastructure providers, may process information outside Quebec or Canada.
Where ChessWave communicates personal information outside Quebec, ChessWave does so in accordance with applicable Quebec privacy requirements and takes appropriate measures regarding the protection of that information.
The privacy practices of independent third-party platforms are also governed by their respective privacy policies.
15. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on where you live and the circumstances involved, you may have rights concerning personal information held by ChessWave.
These may include the right to:
• request access to personal information ChessWave holds about you;
• request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information;
• withdraw consent where processing is based on consent, subject to applicable legal and contractual restrictions;
• request deletion where applicable;
• obtain qualifying computerized personal information collected from you in a structured and commonly used technological format where a right to portability applies;
• request that qualifying personal information cease to be disseminated or that a hyperlink associated with your name be de-indexed where the conditions established by applicable law are satisfied;
• ask questions about how your information is processed; and
• make a complaint concerning ChessWave’s privacy practices.
Privacy requests may be made using the contact information below.
ChessWave may need to verify your identity before fulfilling a request involving personal information.
Residents of Quebec may also contact the Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec concerning the handling of their personal information.
Persons in other jurisdictions may have additional rights under applicable privacy legislation.
16. Contact and Person Responsible for Privacy
Responsibility for the protection of personal information at ChessWave is assigned to:
Mathew Rogers
ChessWave Inc.
Person Responsible for the Protection of Personal Information
Email: support@chesswave.io
Website: chesswave.io
Mailing address: 203-1453 Rue Beaubien E, Montréal, QC H2G 3C6, Canada
Questions, privacy requests, requests for access or correction, account-deletion requests, and complaints concerning ChessWave’s handling of personal information may be directed to this contact.
17. Changes to This Privacy Policy
ChessWave may update this Privacy Policy when its products, services, technology, or legal obligations change.
The date at the top of this policy indicates when it was most recently updated.
Where required by applicable law, ChessWave will provide additional notice or obtain consent before making a material change to the way personal information is processed.