Privacy Policy
Gawkin (“we”, “us”) is a 1-on-1 online staring-contest game. This policy explains what we collect and why. We aim to collect as little as possible.
What we collect
- Camera & microphone (during play only). Your camera drives on-device blink detection and is streamed peer-to-peer to your current opponent as live video for the duration of a match. We do not record or store this video on our servers. Any clip you save stays on your device unless you choose to share it, and match clips record only when both players consent.
- A random per-install ID and a display name you choose. Used to show you on the leaderboards and to connect friends. The name is public; the ID is not your identity and isn't linked to your real name.
- Gameplay stats. Stare durations and wins, to power the global leaderboards.
- Gem balance and transactions. If you buy or send gems (an in-app currency), we store the balance and transfer history against your install ID. Gems are purchased through Apple (in the app) or our payment processor Stripe (on the website) and can never be converted to cash.
- Abuse reports. If you report a player, we store the reporter ID, the reported ID, and the reason so we can review and act on it.
- Purchases. In-app subscriptions and purchases are processed by Apple; purchases on the website are processed by Stripe. In both cases we receive confirmation of the purchase, not your card details.
- Ads. Gawkin currently shows no third-party ads. If we add them later (free tier only), we will update this policy and request App Tracking Transparency consent first.
Face data (TrueDepth / Face ID camera)
On supported iPhones, Gawkin uses Apple’s ARKit face tracking (the TrueDepth camera) only to act as the on-device referee: it reads your real-time eye-blink and gaze values to detect the moment you blink or look away (the core of the game), and to position optional cosmetic face filters. This face data is processed entirely on your device. We do not collect it, transmit it, store it, or share it with anyone — it never leaves your iPhone and is discarded as each camera frame is processed. The only thing sent to our servers is the result of a round (for example, that a blink occurred), which is not face data. We never use face data for identification, authentication, advertising, or any purpose other than running the game on your device.
What we do NOT collect
Real name, contacts, precise location, or browsing history. We don't sell your data.
Who we share with (processors)
- Apple — In-App Purchases, Game Center (optional).
- Cloudflare — hosts our backend (matchmaking, leaderboards, report log).
Live video & safety
Matches are live and between strangers. Nudity, harassment, and illegal content are not allowed (see the Community Guidelines). You can report and block any player in-app; reports are reviewed and violators are removed.
Children
Gawkin is not directed to children under 13 (or the minimum age in your region).
Data retention & deletion
Leaderboard entries, gem records, and reports persist until deleted. To request deletion of your leaderboard entry or data tied to your install ID, email ois@gamebok.com.
Security
We use reputable infrastructure (Apple, Cloudflare) and transport encryption. No system is perfectly secure.
Changes
We'll update this page and the effective date when this policy changes.