Privacy Policy

In short: We use information to provide and protect Rat Race Idle, respond to pilot enquiries, save progress where supported, answer support requests, understand how the website is used, and meet our legal obligations. We do not sell personal data.

1. Who controls your personal data

The data controller responsible for the Services is:

This policy covers the website and any invitation-led desktop web pilot we make available. Corporate Edition is in development; the design previews on the landing page do not create accounts or save careers. The current website does not process game purchases. The playable office stores your career, chosen name, appearance and preferences in this browser’s local storage. These game records are not uploaded to our servers. You can export, restore or delete your local career in the office Settings.

2. Information we may collect

The information we process depends on the features you use, the device you use, and whether you contact us. It may include:

• Contact information: your name, email address, pilot-invite enquiries, support messages, and information you choose to include in a request. A pilot request is sent through your own email service; opening the email link alone does not send it to us.
• Account information: login details, account identifiers, preferences, and account status if the relevant version of the Services supports accounts.
• Game information: chosen display name and avatar, fictional employee profile, Cheddar, activities, achievements, earned cosmetics, department membership, settings, and game events needed to provide or secure features where pilot access is available.
• Device and technical information: device type, operating system, browser or pilot version, language, time zone, IP address, browser type, crash reports, diagnostic data, and security or performance logs.
• Usage information: pages visited, referring pages, approximate location inferred from IP, and interactions with the website or available pilot where needed for analytics, security, and service improvement.
• Information you provide voluntarily: feedback, survey answers, competition entries, or other content you send to us.

RatRaceIdle does not monitor real work, typing outside the game, other applications, meetings, documents, screenshots, employers or actual productivity. We do not request workplace integrations, contacts, precise location, microphone or camera access. Cheddar measures only the fictional game simulation.

3. How we collect information

We collect information directly from you, from the browser used to access the Services, and from service providers that help us operate the website and any available pilot. The appearance preview uses temporary page state only; those choices are not saved as a career or submitted to us.

Our website currently uses Plausible Analytics in a privacy-focused configuration to understand website traffic and improve the experience. We use aggregated or pseudonymous page-usage information rather than building advertising profiles. If the analytics configuration changes, we will update this policy and provide any consent choice required by law.

4. Why we use personal data and our legal bases

Where UK data protection law applies, we rely on one or more of the following lawful bases:

• Performance of a contract: to provide the Services, operate accounts, save supported progress, and respond to requests about your use of the Services.
• Legitimate interests: to secure, troubleshoot, maintain, measure, and improve the Services; prevent fraud and abuse; keep business records; and communicate service updates. We balance these interests against your rights.
• Consent: where the law requires consent, such as certain non-essential cookies, optional marketing, or a permission-based feature. You can withdraw consent at any time, although this does not affect earlier processing.
• Legal obligation: to keep accounting records, respond to lawful requests, resolve disputes, enforce terms, and comply with applicable laws.

If you do not provide information that is necessary for a requested feature, we may be unable to provide that feature. We will explain this at the point of collection where it matters.

5. How we use information

We use personal data to:

• provide, personalise, maintain, and secure the website, desktop pilot, game progress, and related features;
• authenticate users and manage accounts where accounts are available;
• respond to pilot-invite enquiries and customer-support requests;
• diagnose crashes, prevent cheating, detect fraud, and protect users, systems, and intellectual property;
• understand website and product usage, measure performance, and improve design, content, and gameplay;
• send service, security, pilot-access or support communications. Requesting a pilot invite does not subscribe you to a newsletter;
• enforce our Terms and Conditions and respond to legal, regulatory, or law-enforcement requests; and
• manage a merger, acquisition, financing, restructuring, or sale of part of our business.

6. Who we share information with

We share information only when needed for the purposes above, with appropriate safeguards. Recipients may include:

• hosting, cloud storage, authentication, communications, customer-support, security, and software providers that process information for us;
• Plausible Analytics for privacy-focused website measurement;
• professional advisers, insurers, auditors, and potential buyers or investors subject to confidentiality obligations;
• courts, regulators, law enforcement, or other public authorities where required or permitted by law; and
• other people or organisations when you ask us to share information or give us permission.

When social features are available in the pilot, chosen employee profiles and contributions may be visible to department members according to the visibility settings explained in the game. Email addresses are not shown on employee profiles or department rosters. Sharing outside the department requires a player choice.

We do not sell personal data or share it with advertising networks to build profiles about you. We do not use your game progress or support messages for targeted advertising.

7. International transfers

Some providers may process information outside the United Kingdom. When this happens, we use a lawful transfer mechanism and appropriate safeguards, such as a UK adequacy decision, the UK International Data Transfer Agreement, the UK Addendum to standard contractual clauses, or another mechanism permitted by data protection law. You can contact us for more information about relevant safeguards.

8. Cookies and similar technologies

The website may use strictly necessary cookies or local storage for security, preferences, and basic operation. Where we use non-essential cookies or similar technologies, we will provide the choices and information required by applicable law. The current Plausible Analytics setup is intended to measure traffic without advertising cookies.

9. How long we keep information

We keep personal data only for as long as necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, to provide the Services, resolve issues, enforce agreements, and meet legal or accounting requirements. As a guide, support correspondence is normally kept for up to 24 months after the request is resolved, and we retain pilot-invite correspondence only as needed to handle the request. Business records may be retained where required by law. Backups may take longer to clear and are protected from ordinary use while they remain.

10. Security

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure. No internet transmission or storage system is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. Please keep account credentials private and contact us promptly if you suspect unauthorised access.

11. Children

The Services are not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from a child under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal data to us, contact contact@ratraceidle.com and we will investigate and delete it where appropriate. If you are under 18, use the Services only with a parent or legal guardian’s permission.

12. Your rights

Depending on the law that applies and the circumstances, you may have the right to:

• be informed about how your personal data is used;
• request access to and a copy of your personal data;
• request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data;
• request erasure of data in certain circumstances;
• request restriction of processing in certain circumstances;
• receive certain data in a portable format;
• object to processing based on legitimate interests or to direct marketing; and
• withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.

These rights are not absolute and exceptions can apply, including where we must retain information to comply with law or establish, exercise, or defend legal claims. To exercise a right, email contact@ratraceidle.com with the request and enough information for us to verify your identity and locate the relevant data. We will normally respond within one month, subject to any lawful extension.

13. Complaints

Please contact us first so we can try to resolve your concern. You also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the supervisory authority for data protection in the United Kingdom. Information about contacting the ICO is available at ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint.

14. Third-party services

Hosting, analytics, email and, where available, authentication providers help deliver the Services. Other services you choose to use, including your own email provider, may process information under their own privacy policies. We will update this policy when the pilot introduces new processing that changes the information described here.

15. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when the Services, technology, providers, or legal requirements change. We will post the updated version here and change the “Last updated” date. If a change materially affects how we use personal data, we will provide additional notice or obtain consent where required.

16. Contact us

For privacy questions, rights requests, or data concerns, email contact@ratraceidle.com. For pilot, account, or technical support, email support@ratraceidle.com.