Policies for schools and families 📄

1. About us

AlphaGames (alphagames.uk) is a website where people make browser games with AI (in AlphaGen Studio) and play games made by others. AlphaGames is a sole trader business based in the United Kingdom, trading as "AlphaGames". For anything about these policies or your data, email [email protected].

These policies work together with our Terms and Conditions and our Rules.

2. What information we collect

3. How we use it, and our legal reasons

• To run AlphaGames (accounts, making and sharing games, ZCoins, classes): this is needed to provide the service you or your school asked for (contract).
• To keep everyone safe (moderation, preventing cheating and misuse, security): our legitimate interest, and our duty to protect children using the site.
• Payments and business records: needed for the purchase (contract) and required by UK law (legal obligation).
• Improving AlphaGames: using general information about how the site is used, in our legitimate interest. We don't build advertising profiles and don't sell information.
• We send emails only when needed: for example a verification code for a teacher, or answers to messages you send us.

4. Pupil accounts and schools

• When a teacher creates pupil accounts, the school decides why and how pupils' information is used, and AlphaGames processes it on the school's behalf, only to provide AlphaGames to the school. In data protection terms, the school is the controller and AlphaGames is the processor for pupil accounts.
• Teachers confirm, when they create their teacher account, that their school allows them to create pupil accounts. Schools are responsible for telling pupils and parents about their use of AlphaGames, in line with their own privacy notices.
• We recommend fun nicknames rather than real names. We don't ask for pupils' email addresses, dates of birth, photos or contact details.
• Pupils can't buy anything. ZCoins are given to them by their teacher, and pupils can only send ZCoins to classmates.
• Teachers can see their pupils' games, ZCoins and activity, reset passwords, remove pupils and archive classes.
• When a teacher removes a pupil, the account is closed and hidden straight away. We delete pupil accounts permanently when the school asks us to (for example at the end of the school year).
• A data processing agreement is available for schools on request. Email us.

5. Who we share information with

We only share what each service needs to do its job. We never sell information.

Some of these services are based outside the UK (for example in the USA). When information leaves the UK, we rely on the protections UK law allows, such as the UK–US Data Bridge or approved contract clauses.

We may also share information if the law requires it, or to protect a child's safety.

6. How we use AI

• AlphaGen Studio sends a player's game idea, plan and game code to an AI service, which writes or changes the game. Buddy, our planning helper, sends the chat about the game idea to an AI service.
• Safety checks: written comments, bug reports and gift messages, and profile pictures, are checked by an AI moderator before other people can see them.
• We send AI services only what's needed. We never send names, email addresses or passwords. Players are told not to type personal information, and Buddy is instructed never to ask for it.
• Some AI services we use on free plans may use what is sent to them to improve their own services. If a school prefers, a teacher can add the school's own AI account for their classes, which is then used first.
• AI can make mistakes. Games are tested automatically, and our team reviews every new game.
• Players who choose "Use your own AI" copy a prompt into another AI service themselves. That service's own rules and privacy policy apply.

7. Children's privacy and safety

AlphaGames is designed with children in mind, following the principles of the UK Information Commissioner's Age Appropriate Design Code (the Children's Code):

• High privacy by default: Google profile photos stay private; a profile picture is only shown if our AI check finds it suitable (no photos of people). Only a tiny copy of each profile picture is stored.
• No profiling for advertising, no advertising at all, and no tracking cookies.
• No private messaging between users. Comments are public to the game's audience and checked first.
• Limited sharing: gifts of ZCoins have daily limits; pupils can only gift classmates.
• No pressure to spend: earning ZCoins by playing and creating is free; purchases have daily limits; pupils can't buy anything.
• Safe games: every game runs in a locked sandbox that can't access accounts, open other websites, show pop-ups or collect information.

8. Safeguarding and moderation

• Everything on AlphaGames must be suitable for children (see our Rules).
• New and changed games go live straight away and are reviewed by our team; unsuitable games are removed and the creator is told why.
• Comments, bug reports, gift messages and profile pictures are checked by word filters and an AI moderator before others see them. Anyone can report a comment or message, and reported items are hidden straight away until we check them.
• Accounts that break the Rules can be paused or closed.
• Concerned about a child's safety? Email [email protected] with "Safeguarding" in the subject and we'll treat it as a priority. If a child is in immediate danger, contact the police (999 in the UK).

9. Security

• The whole site uses secure HTTPS connections.
• Passwords are stored as secure hashes (bcrypt), never as plain text.
• Teachers' AI keys and pupils' login-card passwords are stored encrypted (AES-256).
• Only a tiny copy of each profile picture is kept; the original upload is never stored.
• Access to the server and the admin area is limited to the AlphaGames team.
• The database and files are backed up every day; backups are kept for 14 days.
• If a data breach ever affected personal information, we would act quickly, tell affected schools and users, and report it to the ICO where the law requires.

10. How long we keep information

11. Cookies

• We use one essential cookie to keep you logged in. It's needed for the site to work, so it doesn't need consent.
• Your browser also stores a few settings on your device (like your favourite way of making games). These stay on your device.
• We don't use advertising cookies, tracking cookies or analytics cookies.
• Cloudflare may set a strictly necessary security cookie to protect the site from attacks.

12. Your rights and complaints

Under UK data protection law you can ask to see the information we hold about you, correct it, delete it, limit or object to how we use it, or get a copy to take elsewhere. Parents and carers can make requests on behalf of their children. For pupil accounts, please contact the school first, as the school is in control of that information; we'll help the school respond.

Email [email protected]. We'll reply within one month.

If you're not happy with how we handle your information, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113. We'd appreciate the chance to help first.

13. Accessibility

We want everyone to be able to use AlphaGames. The site works with keyboards and screen readers, respects "reduced motion" settings, and is designed to work on phones, tablets and computers. Games made with AI can vary, and some may be harder to use with assistive technology. If something is difficult to use, please tell us and we'll try to fix it.

14. Changes to these policies

We'll update this page when things change and show the date at the top. If a change is important, we'll tell teachers and players on AlphaGames.