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Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 11, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how [LEGAL ENTITY NAME] ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and shares information about you when you use A Crowded Galaxy at acrowdedgalaxy.com — including the comic and novel reader, membership and store, community features, and the in-browser Airlock game (together, the "Service").

By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.

Information We Collect

Information you give us

  • Account information. When you create an account we collect your email address, a username or display name, and a password. Passwords are stored in encrypted form; we do not keep them in plain text.
  • Payment information. Subscriptions and purchases are processed by our payment provider, Stripe. Stripe collects and stores your card details directly; we do not receive or store full payment card numbers. We do receive limited billing information such as your name, the last four digits of your card, your subscription status, and transaction history.
  • Communications and content. If you contact us, submit fan art, post in community features, or create content within the game, we collect the information you provide.

Information we collect automatically

  • Usage and device data. We use PostHog for product analytics. This may include the pages you view, links and buttons you interact with, referring URLs, your approximate location (derived from your IP address), and details about your browser, device, and operating system, along with performance metrics.
  • Cookies and similar technologies. We use cookies and local storage to keep you signed in, remember your preferences, and measure usage. See Cookies and Analytics below.
  • Game activity. When you play the Airlock game, we record in-game actions and session events so the game works and so we can improve it.

Information from third parties

  • Third-party sign-in and linking. If you sign in or link your account through Discord or Patreon, we receive basic profile information from those services as you authorize — for example your user ID, username, and email address. We use this to create or connect your account and to confirm your membership benefits.

Cookies and Analytics

We use two broad categories of cookies and similar technologies:

  • Strictly necessary. Required to sign you in, keep your session secure, and remember essential settings. The Service does not function without these.
  • Analytics. Used by PostHog to understand how the Service is used so we can improve it. These are not required for the Service to function.

Most browsers let you refuse or delete cookies through their settings. We honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) and "Do Not Track" signals where required by law. Disabling non-essential cookies will not prevent you from using the Service.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Provide, operate, and maintain the Service, and authenticate you;
  • Deliver the memberships, chapters, and other content you are entitled to;
  • Process payments, manage subscriptions and purchases, and prevent fraud;
  • Understand and improve the Service, and measure performance and reliability;
  • Communicate with you, including sending transactional messages (such as receipts, security alerts, and password resets) and, where you have opted in, updates and marketing;
  • Maintain the security and integrity of the Service; and
  • Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms.

If you are in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, we process your personal data on the following legal bases: performance of a contract with you (to provide the Service you request); our legitimate interests (such as securing and improving the Service), where not overridden by your rights; your consent (for example, optional analytics or marketing, where consent is required); and compliance with a legal obligation.

How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only as described here:

  • Service providers. We share information with vendors who process data on our behalf, including: Stripe (payments), PostHog (analytics), Vercel (hosting), Neon (database), our email provider (transactional email), and Discord and Patreon (authentication and membership). These providers are permitted to use your information only to provide services to us.
  • Legal and safety. We may disclose information if required by law, or if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to comply with a legal obligation, protect our rights or property, protect the safety of any person, or investigate fraud or abuse.
  • Business transfers. If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any change in ownership or use of your personal information.

Data Retention

We keep your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. We also retain information as necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. When information is no longer needed, we delete or anonymize it.

Your Rights and Choices

Depending on where you live, you may have some or all of the following rights regarding your personal information:

  • Access — request a copy of the information we hold about you;
  • Correction — ask us to correct inaccurate information;
  • Deletion — ask us to delete your information;
  • Portability — request a copy in a portable format;
  • Objection / restriction — object to or ask us to restrict certain processing;
  • Withdraw consent — where we rely on consent, withdraw it at any time.

California residents (CCPA/CPRA): you have the right to know what personal information we collect and how we use and share it, to request deletion, to correct inaccurate information, and to opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information. We do not sell your personal information. We will not discriminate against you for exercising these rights.

EEA/UK residents (GDPR): in addition to the rights above, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

You can update some information directly in your account settings, and manage your subscription through the Stripe customer portal. To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@acrowdedgalaxy.com. We may need to verify your identity before acting on your request.

Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed to children under 13 (or under 16 where a higher age of consent applies), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

International Data Transfers

We operate from, and use service providers located in, the United States and other countries. If you access the Service from outside those regions, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in a country whose data protection laws differ from those in your country. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards for such transfers.

Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect your information, including encryption of stored passwords. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

The Service may link to or integrate with third-party websites and services (such as Discord, Stripe, and Patreon). This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third parties, and we are not responsible for their practices. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. If we make material changes, we will provide additional notice as required by law. Your continued use of the Service after an update means you accept the revised policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, contact us: