Privacy Policy for Pocket BGG

Last updated: 13 August 2026

Pocket BGG is a free, unofficial mobile client for BoardGameGeek, developed by broth3rsdev. This policy explains what happens to your data when you use it.

Summary

I do not run any servers. Pocket BGG has no analytics, no crash reporting, no advertising, and no tracking SDKs. I never receive your personal data. Everything the app stores stays on your device; everything else goes directly to BoardGameGeek and the other services listed below, exactly as it would if you used them yourself.

Information stored on your device

The app stores the following locally, in its private app storage:

• Your BoardGameGeek session, if you log in. This includes your username, your BGG user id, your display name, and the session cookie BGG issues. It is used to keep you signed in.
• A cache of content you have viewed: game details, your collection, logged plays, forum threads, news items, podcast subscriptions and playback progress.
• App preferences, such as theme and podcast download settings.
• Podcast episodes you download, which you may choose to store on external storage.

None of this is transmitted to me. Logging out clears your stored session; uninstalling the app, or clearing its storage in system settings, removes all of the above.

Information sent to third parties

Using the app causes your device to contact these services directly:

• BoardGameGeek / Geekdo (boardgamegeek.com, api.geekdo.com, cf.geekdo-static.com). If you log in, your username and password are sent to BGG’s login endpoint to obtain a session. Actions such as adding games to your collection, rating games, and logging plays are written to your BGG account. All browsing requests reach BGG with your IP address. See BGG’s privacy policy at boardgamegeek.com/privacy.
• Podcast Index (api.podcastindex.org), used to look up board game podcasts and their episodes.
• Podcast publishers. Episode feeds, artwork, and audio are fetched from the publishers’ own servers, which receive your IP address and player requests.
• YouTube (img.youtube.com), for video thumbnails shown on game pages.
• Google Play services on Android. The app uses Google’s Cronet networking component and the Google Play in-app review prompt. Google Play and the Apple App Store also collect installation and diagnostic data as store operators, independently of this app. See policies.google.com/privacy and apple.com/legal/privacy.
• Any website you open. Links you tap open in an in-app browser or your device browser, and those sites apply their own policies.

Analytics, crash reporting and advertising

There are none. The app contains no analytics, telemetry, attribution, or advertising SDKs, and no crash reports are transmitted anywhere. Diagnostic logs exist only in memory while the app runs.

If you use the “Report an issue” option, your email app opens with a message pre-filled with the app version and your OS version. Nothing is sent until you send it yourself, and you can edit or delete anything before sending.

Cookies

The app itself sets no cookies for its own purposes. BoardGameGeek uses session cookies for authentication; those cookies are stored on your device and sent back only to BoardGameGeek.

Permissions

• Internet and network state: to fetch content.
• Notifications, foreground service, and wake lock: to show playback controls and keep podcast audio playing while the screen is off.
• Storage: only if you choose to save podcast downloads to external storage.

Legal basis and your rights (EEA/UK)

Where the GDPR applies, the limited processing carried out by the app is based on your consent (logging in to BGG) and on legitimate interest in making the app work. Because I hold no copy of your data, requests for access, correction, erasure, portability, or objection concerning data held about you should be directed to BoardGameGeek for your BGG account, and are satisfied on your device by logging out or uninstalling the app. You may lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

Sale of personal information

I do not sell or share your personal information, and I never have. This includes “sale” and “sharing” as defined by the California Consumer Privacy Act.

Data retention and deletion

I retain nothing, because I receive nothing. Locally stored data is kept until you log out, clear the app’s storage, or uninstall it. To delete your BoardGameGeek account and the data BGG holds, use BoardGameGeek’s own account settings.

Children’s privacy

Pocket BGG is not directed at children under 13 (or under 16 where local law sets that age). I do not knowingly collect personal information from children. Since no information reaches me at all, there is nothing for me to delete; if you are a parent or guardian with a concern, contact me at the address below.

Security

Data stored by the app lives in its private storage area, protected by your device’s operating system and, where enabled, device encryption. All network requests use HTTPS. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure, so absolute security cannot be guaranteed.

Changes to this policy

I may update this policy as the app changes. The revised version will be posted on this page with a new “Last updated” date, and takes effect when posted.

Contact

Questions or suggestions: broth3rsdev@gmail.com