Privacy Policy - PayKnights

1. Introduction

PayKnights (“we”, “us”, “our”, or “PayKnights”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you use our platform and services (collectively, the “Service”).

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

KEY COMMITMENT: We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

Account Information

When you create a PayKnights account, we collect:

• Email address (required for account creation and communication)
• Phone number (required for account verification and security)
• Username (your chosen PayKnights display name)
• Password (stored in encrypted form)

Profile Information

You may choose to provide:

• Profile picture or avatar
• Bio or description
• Streaming schedule
• Preferred games, content categories, and streaming style
• Communication preferences (vibe, humor style, etc.)
• Time zone and availability

Payment Information

If you subscribe to a paid tier:

• Payment method details (credit card, PayPal, etc.)
• Billing address
• Transaction history

Note: Payment processing is handled by third-party payment processors. We do not store full credit card numbers on our servers.

2.2 Information from Twitch Integration

When you connect your Twitch account via OAuth, we collect:

Twitch Account Information

• Twitch user ID and username
• Profile information (display name, profile picture, bio)
• Account creation date
• Twitch partner/affiliate status

Twitch Channel Information

• Channel URL
• Follower count
• Following list (streamers you follow)
• Subscriber count (if available)
• Stream status (online/offline)
• Current game/category being streamed
• Stream title and description

Streaming Activity Data

• Stream schedule and frequency
• Average viewer count
• Stream duration and history
• VOD availability

Raid Activity

• Raids you initiate through PayKnights
• Raids you receive (when available through Twitch API)
• Viewer counts during raids
• Timing and frequency of raids

Important: We only access Twitch data that you explicitly authorize through the OAuth connection. You can revoke this access at any time through your Twitch account settings.

2.3 Information Collected Automatically

Usage Data

• Pages and features you access
• Time spent on different parts of the Service
• Sweeps viewed and interactions
• Raids initiated through the Platform
• Feature usage patterns
• Error logs and diagnostics

Device and Technical Information

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Device type (mobile, desktop, tablet)
• Screen resolution
• Referring website
• Access times and dates

Cookies and Similar Technologies

• Session cookies (essential for Service functionality)
• Preference cookies (to remember your settings)
• Analytics cookies (to understand usage patterns)

See Section 11 for detailed Cookie Policy.

2.4 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

• Twitch: As described in Section 2.2
• Payment processors: Transaction confirmations and payment status
• Analytics providers: Aggregated usage statistics
• Security services: Fraud detection and prevention data

2.5 Karma and Activity Data

We automatically collect and calculate:

• Number of raids you initiate through PayKnights
• Timing and frequency of your raid activity
• Karma score and historical changes
• Streak multiplier status
• Tier level and tier history
• Raids you appear in (sweeps where you were shown)
• Raids you receive from other PayKnights users

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 To Provide and Improve the Service

We use your information to:

• Create and manage your PayKnights account
• Authenticate your identity and prevent fraud
• Connect and authorize your Twitch account
• Calculate your karma score and streak multipliers
• Match you with compatible streamers in the sweep system
• Facilitate raids between users
• Display your profile to other users in sweeps
• Process subscription payments and manage billing
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Send service-related communications (account updates, security alerts)

3.2 To Personalize Your Experience

We use your information to:

• Customize your sweep results based on preferences
• Recommend streamers aligned with your interests
• Remember your settings and preferences
• Optimize matching algorithms for better compatibility
• Tailor the user interface to your usage patterns

3.3 To Maintain Platform Integrity

We use your information to:

• Detect and prevent karma manipulation and abuse
• Identify multiple accounts or fraudulent activity
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Monitor for harassment, hate speech, or harmful conduct
• Investigate reported violations
• Protect the security and safety of our users

3.4 To Analyze and Improve

We use aggregated and anonymized data to:

• Understand how users interact with PayKnights
• Identify bugs, errors, and technical issues
• Test new features and improvements
• Measure the effectiveness of our algorithms
• Conduct research and development
• Generate statistics and insights about platform usage

3.5 To Communicate with You

We may send you:

• Account notifications (password resets, security alerts)
• Transactional emails (payment confirmations, subscription changes)
• Service updates (new features, changes to Terms or Privacy Policy)
• Optional marketing communications (with your consent)
• Surveys and feedback requests

You can opt out of marketing communications at any time through account settings or unsubscribe links.

3.6 Legal Compliance and Protection

We may use your information to:

• Comply with legal obligations and court orders
• Respond to lawful requests from law enforcement
• Protect our rights, property, and safety
• Protect the rights, property, and safety of our users
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Prevent illegal activity or violations

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

4.1 Within the PayKnights Platform

Public Profile Information

The following information is visible to other PayKnights users:

• Your Twitch username and profile picture
• Your streaming preferences (games, style, vibe)
• Your online/offline status (via Twitch)
• Your current stream information (game, title, viewer count)

In Sweeps

When you appear in another user's sweep:

• They can see your public profile information
• Your karma tier may be indicated (e.g., “High Karma Streamer”)
• Your exact karma score is NOT visible

Not Shared Publicly

The following is kept private:

• Your email address and phone number
• Your exact karma score
• Your streak status and multiplier
• Your subscription tier
• Your payment information
• Your raid history (except raids visible on Twitch)

4.2 With Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate PayKnights:

Essential Service Providers

• Hosting providers: To store data and maintain infrastructure
• Payment processors: To handle subscription billing (Stripe, PayPal, etc.)
• Email services: To send transactional and service emails
• Authentication services: To secure your account

Analytics and Monitoring

• Analytics platforms: To understand usage patterns (Google Analytics, Mixpanel, etc.)
• Error tracking: To identify and fix bugs (Sentry, etc.)
• Performance monitoring: To ensure Service reliability

Customer Support

• Support platforms: To manage and respond to inquiries (Zendesk, Intercom, etc.)

All service providers are contractually required to:

• Use your information only as necessary to provide their services to us
• Maintain appropriate security measures
• Not use your information for their own purposes
• Comply with applicable privacy laws

4.3 With Twitch

When you use PayKnights:

• We send raid commands to Twitch on your behalf (when you initiate a raid)
• Twitch may record this activity in your Twitch account
• Your Twitch followers/viewers may see raids you initiate
• The streamer you raid will see your Twitch username

We do not control Twitch's use of this information. Please review Twitch's Privacy Policy.

4.4 For Legal Reasons

We may disclose your information if required by law or in good faith belief that such disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with legal obligations, court orders, or subpoenas
• Respond to lawful requests from government authorities
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of PayKnights, our users, or others
• Prevent fraud, abuse, or illegal activity
• Investigate security incidents or Terms violations

4.5 Business Transfers

If PayKnights is involved in a merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email and/or prominent notice on our Service of any change in ownership or uses of your personal information.

4.6 With Your Consent

We may share your information with third parties when you explicitly consent to such sharing.

5. Data Retention

5.1 Active Accounts

While your account is active, we retain:

• All account information (email, phone, profile)
• Twitch connection data
• Last 30 days of karma-relevant raid activity (for karma calculation)
• Historical karma scores (for tier tracking and analytics)
• Subscription and payment history
• Support communications

5.2 Inactive Accounts

If you have not logged in for 12 months, we may:

• Send reminder emails about account inactivity
• Reduce storage of historical data
• Delete old analytics data

After 24 months of inactivity, we may delete your account and associated data.

5.3 Deleted Accounts

When you delete your account:

• Personal information (email, phone) is deleted within 30 days
• Twitch connection is revoked immediately
• Profile information is removed from public view immediately
• We may retain anonymized data for analytics
• We may retain transaction records for tax and legal compliance (up to 7 years)
• We may retain data necessary to enforce Terms or resolve disputes

5.4 Legal Requirements

We may retain information longer if required by law, regulation, or legal process.

6. Your Privacy Rights

6.1 Access and Portability

You have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request a copy of your data in a portable format (JSON, CSV)
• Review your karma history, raid activity, and account details

Request data access through account settings or by emailing info@payknights.com.

6.2 Correction and Update

You have the right to:

• Correct inaccurate personal information
• Update your profile, preferences, and settings
• Change your email address or phone number

Most information can be updated through account settings.

6.3 Deletion

You have the right to:

• Delete your PayKnights account at any time
• Request deletion of specific personal information (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Revoke Twitch OAuth connection

To delete your account:

1. Go to Account Settings → Delete Account, OR
2. Email info@payknights.com with your deletion request

Note: Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. All karma, tier status, and subscription benefits will be lost.

6.4 Opt-Out of Communications

You can opt out of:

• Marketing emails (via unsubscribe link or account settings)
• Optional notifications (via account settings)

You cannot opt out of essential service communications (security alerts, Terms updates, transaction confirmations).

6.5 Restrict Processing

You may request that we limit how we use your personal information in certain circumstances, such as:

• While we verify the accuracy of your information
• When you object to our processing but we need to verify legitimate grounds
• When you need us to retain data for legal claims but we no longer need it

6.6 Object to Processing

You have the right to object to our processing of your personal information for:

• Direct marketing purposes (automatic opt-out)
• Processing based on legitimate interests (subject to evaluation)

6.7 California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to Know: Request disclosure of personal information collected, used, and shared
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of personal information (subject to exceptions)
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of the sale of personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights

To exercise CCPA rights, email info@payknights.com with subject line “CCPA Request.”

We will respond within 45 days. Identity verification may be required.

6.8 European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), UK, or Switzerland, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right to Access: Obtain confirmation and access to your personal data
• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate personal data
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of personal data (“right to be forgotten”)
• Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your data
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured format
• Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for processing at any time
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: File a complaint with your supervisory authority

Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR):

• Contractual Necessity: To provide the Service you requested
• Legitimate Interests: To improve the Service, prevent fraud, and ensure security
• Consent: For marketing communications and optional features
• Legal Obligation: To comply with laws and regulations

To exercise GDPR rights, email info@payknights.com with subject line “GDPR Request.”

7. Data Security

7.1 Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

Technical Safeguards

• Encryption of data in transit (TLS/SSL)
• Encryption of sensitive data at rest
• Secure password hashing (bcrypt or similar)
• Regular security audits and penetration testing
• Firewall protection and intrusion detection

Administrative Safeguards

• Access controls and authentication requirements
• Employee training on data privacy and security
• Background checks for employees with data access
• Incident response and breach notification procedures

Physical Safeguards

• Secure data center facilities
• Restricted access to servers
• Environmental controls and monitoring

7.2 Third-Party Security

We carefully vet all third-party service providers for their security practices and require them to maintain appropriate safeguards.

7.3 No Guarantee

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

7.4 Your Responsibility

You are responsible for:

• Keeping your password confidential
• Using a strong, unique password
• Enabling two-factor authentication (if available)
• Logging out of shared devices
• Notifying us immediately of any security breach

7.5 Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information:

• We will notify you via email within 72 hours of discovery (or as required by law)
• We will describe the nature of the breach and steps you should take
• We will notify relevant authorities as required by law

8. International Data Transfers

8.1 United States Operations

PayKnights is based in the United States. If you access our Service from outside the United States, your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States.

8.2 Data Transfer Mechanisms

For users in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland:

• We rely on Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission
• We implement additional safeguards as required by GDPR
• We comply with EU-U.S. and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield principles (if applicable)

8.3 Your Consent

By using PayKnights, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and other countries that may have different data protection laws than your jurisdiction.

9. Children's Privacy

9.1 Age Restriction

PayKnights is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

9.2 Parental Consent

Users between 13 and 18 years old (or the age of majority in their jurisdiction) must have parental or guardian consent to use PayKnights.

9.3 Discovery of Children's Data

If we discover that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent:

• We will delete the information as quickly as possible
• We will terminate the account
• We will notify parents (if identifiable)

If you believe a child under 13 has provided information to PayKnights, contact us immediately at info@payknights.com.

10. Third-Party Links and Services

10.1 External Links

PayKnights may contain links to third-party websites, services, or Twitch channels. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites.

10.2 Third-Party Privacy Policies

When you leave PayKnights or interact with third-party services:

• Our Privacy Policy no longer applies
• You are subject to the third party's privacy policy
• We encourage you to review their privacy practices

10.3 Twitch Integration

Our integration with Twitch is subject to:

• Twitch's Terms of Service
• Twitch's Privacy Policy
• Twitch's Community Guidelines

We do not control Twitch's data practices. Please review Twitch's policies for information on how they collect and use your data.

11. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

11.1 What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device by your web browser. They help us provide and improve our Service.

11.2 Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies (Required)

• Session cookies: Keep you logged in during your visit
• Authentication cookies: Verify your identity and prevent fraud
• Security cookies: Detect abuse and protect your account

You cannot disable these cookies if you want to use PayKnights.

Functional Cookies (Optional)

• Preference cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
• UI cookies: Maintain your interface choices

You can disable these in browser settings, but some features may not work properly.

Analytics Cookies (Optional)

• Usage analytics: Track how users interact with PayKnights
• Performance monitoring: Identify errors and slow pages
• A/B testing: Compare different features and designs

We use these to improve the Service. You can disable them in browser settings.

11.3 Third-Party Cookies

Some third-party services we use may set their own cookies:

• Google Analytics (analytics)
• Stripe (payment processing)
• Twitch (authentication and raids)

These third parties have their own privacy policies.

11.4 Cookie Management

You can control cookies through:

• Browser settings: Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies
• Cookie preference center: Manage optional cookies through our settings (if available)
• Third-party opt-outs: Use tools like Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on

Note: Disabling essential cookies will prevent you from using PayKnights.

11.5 Do Not Track

Some browsers have “Do Not Track” (DNT) features. We do not currently respond to DNT signals, but we limit tracking as described in this policy.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

12.1 Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect:

• Changes in our practices or Service features
• Legal or regulatory requirements
• User feedback and best practices

12.2 Notification

When we make material changes:

• We will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy
• We will notify you via email (to the address on file)
• We may display a prominent notice within the Service
• We will provide at least 30 days' notice before changes take effect

12.3 Acceptance

Continued use of PayKnights after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

12.4 Review

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

13. Contact Us

13.1 Privacy Questions

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Email: info@payknights.com

Mail:
PayKnights Privacy Team
845 North State Street
Chicago, IL

Support Portal: https://payknights.com/support

13.2 Response Time

We will respond to privacy inquiries within:

• 30 days for general questions
• 45 days for CCPA requests
• 30 days for GDPR requests

13.3 Data Protection Officer (if applicable)

For GDPR-related inquiries, you may contact our Data Protection Officer at info@payknights.com.

14. Miscellaneous

14.1 Entire Agreement

This Privacy Policy, together with our Terms of Service, constitutes the entire agreement regarding your privacy on PayKnights.

14.2 Severability

If any provision of this Privacy Policy is found invalid or unenforceable, that provision will be limited to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full effect.

14.3 No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any provision of this Privacy Policy does not constitute a waiver of that provision.

14.4 Language

This Privacy Policy is provided in English. Translations (if any) are provided for convenience only. In case of conflicts, the English version prevails.

BY USING PAYKNIGHTS, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY.

WE DO NOT SELL YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION.