Privacy Policy

Last updated: 3 October 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Ball of Names ("we", "us", "our"), available at ballofnames.com, handles information when you use our website. By using the site you agree to the practices described here.

1. Information you enter in the game

If you play without signing in, names, photos, colours, settings and race results stay in this browser. Photos are resized on your device. If you Sign in with Google, that same information is also saved to your account (see section 2). A live room uploads only what viewers need (see section 3). You can clear the list in the app or clear this site’s data in your browser.

If you use the Share list button, the names on your list are placed in the link itself. Anyone you send that link to can see those names. Photos are never included in shared list links.

2. Google / Gmail sign-in

If you press Sign in, Google asks you to share your name, email and profile photo. We use that to show your account and to keep this list with that account on this browser. We do not get your Gmail password. You can sign out at any time. If you play without signing in, the list stays only in this browser.

3. Live races

If you choose to host a live room with Go live, the list, colours, mode, progress and results needed for viewers are sent through a realtime relay for that room code. Photos and custom images are shared only when you allow photos for that room and the size fits. Anyone with the live link can see that information. It is removed when you press End live race. Only include names you are happy to share with that audience.

When you watch a live race, we record a temporary, anonymous presence marker so the host can see how many people are watching. It is removed automatically when you leave the page.

4. Anonymous identifier and race counter

Each browser keeps a random local identifier so only the host can control a live room. It does not include your name, email address or any other personal details.

5. Information collected automatically

Like most websites, our hosting provider may automatically log standard technical information when you visit, such as your IP address, browser type, device type, referring page and the time of your visit. This is used to keep the site secure and running reliably and is not used to identify you personally.

6. Cookies and similar technologies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We do not set our own tracking cookies. However, our advertising partners, including Google, use cookies and similar technologies (such as local storage and device identifiers) as described below.

7. Advertising and Google AdSense

We use Google AdSense, a third-party advertising service provided by Google LLC, to show ads on this website. This helps us keep Ball of Names free.

• Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your previous visits to this website and other websites.
• Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visits to this site and/or other sites on the Internet.
• You may opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings. You can also opt out of some third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalised advertising by visiting www.aboutads.info or, in Europe, www.youronlinechoices.eu.
• Other third-party ad vendors or ad networks may also serve ads on our site. A list of these vendors, with links to their privacy policies and opt-out options, is shown in our consent message, which you can reopen at any time using Privacy & cookie settings.

To learn more about how Google uses information from sites that use its services, please read How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services, as well as Google's advertising policies.

8. Consent (EEA, UK and Switzerland)

If you visit from the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, we ask for your consent before personalised ads or non-essential cookies are used. Consent is collected using a Google-certified consent management platform that supports the IAB Transparency & Consent Framework. If you do not consent, you may still see non-personalised ads, which use cookies only for purposes like frequency capping, aggregated ad reporting and fraud prevention. You can change or withdraw your consent at any time with the Privacy & cookie settings link in the footer.

9. Your rights in US states (including California)

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to know what personal information is collected, to request its deletion, and to opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information for targeted advertising. Apart from live rooms you choose to host, we do not store your game data on our servers, so most such information is held by our advertising partners. You can exercise opt-out choices using the Privacy & cookie settings link, Google Ads Settings, or a browser signal such as Global Privacy Control where supported. You may also contact us using the details below.

10. Children's privacy

Ball of Names is suitable for general audiences and is often used in classrooms under a teacher's supervision. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or the equivalent minimum age in your country). Because game data stays on the device, no personal information from children is sent to us through the game. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

11. Data security and retention

The site is served over HTTPS. Data stored in your browser stays there until you delete it. Server logs kept by our hosting provider are retained only for as long as needed for security and operational purposes.

12. Links to other websites

Our site, including advertisements, may contain links to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to read their privacy policies.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes take effect when posted on this page, and the "Last updated" date above will be revised.

14. Contact us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or want to exercise your rights, contact us at privacy@ballofnames.com or through our contact page.