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Privacy Policy

Last updated: 9 May 2026

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how Game Industry Belgium (“we”, “us”, “our”) collects, uses, and shares information when you visit gameindustry.be (the “Service”). The Service catalogues the Belgian video game industry, including companies, games, jobs, events, and mentors.

Questions about this policy can be sent to [email protected].

2. Information We Collect

We collect the minimum information needed to operate the Service:

  • Server logs — IP address, user agent, request path and timestamp. Used for rate limiting, abuse detection, and operational diagnostics. Retained for up to 31 days in our log infrastructure (Grafana / Loki).
  • Browser storage — your browser’s localStorage and sessionStorage are used for functional preferences (selected language, navigation cache, trending-score cache). We do not use tracking cookies, web beacons, or analytics.
  • Functional cookie — a single first-party cookie named preferred-language may be set on your device to remember your selected interface language across visits. It does not track you across sites.
  • Form submissions — when you contact a mentor, submit a general enquiry, submit an event, post a job listing, or otherwise use a form on the Service, we receive the information you provide (such as name, email, organisation, and message content). This data is stored securely and used to fulfil your request, including sending magic-link emails for self-service editing where applicable.

3. YouTube API Services

The Service uses YouTube API Services to display community videos about games. By using the Service, you also agree to be bound by the YouTube Terms of Service.

Information collected through YouTube API Services is governed by Google’s privacy practices. Please review the Google Privacy Policy for details.

3.1 What YouTube API Data we access, collect, and store

The Service is a server-to-server YouTube Data API v3 client. We do not request access to your YouTube account, your sign-in identity, your subscriptions, your watch history, your private playlists, your direct messages, or any other authenticated user data. We do not ask you to sign in with Google, and we do not receive any OAuth tokens from you.

The only data the Service retrieves from YouTube API Services is publicly available metadata about videos and channels covering Belgian-developed games:

  • Video metadata — videoId, title, description, publish date, duration, thumbnail URL, channel reference, and aggregate public counters (view count, like count, comment count) for videos identified as covering a game in our catalog.
  • Channel metadata — channelId, channel title, channel handle, country (when public), thumbnail, and aggregate public counters (subscriber count, video count, total view count) for channels that publish videos about Belgian games.

We store this metadata in our database for up to 30 days from the most recent retrieval, after which it is refreshed or removed in accordance with the YouTube API Services Terms (Section III.E.4). We do not retain or display any YouTube API Data beyond that 30-day window.

3.2 How we use YouTube API Data

The retrieved metadata is used solely to:

  • Display recent community videos and channels alongside each game’s editorial page on gameindustry.be, so visitors can discover coverage of Belgian titles.
  • Compute aggregate signals on a per-game basis (number of recent videos, weighted recent view count, view-growth velocity) which contribute to the public “Visibility” and “Activity” dimensions on each game page. Aggregations are bounded to the same 30-day window.
  • Power an editorial monthly report (“Month in Review”) that highlights notable videos published in the last calendar month.

We do not use YouTube API Data for advertising, profiling, behavioural targeting, lead generation, or sale to third parties. We do not combine YouTube API Data with any personally identifying information about visitors. Embedded video playback usesyoutube-nocookie.com and is initiated only after you click play.

You can manage or revoke the Service’s access to your data at any time via Google security settings. Because the Service does not request OAuth scopes, this page will not list us — your revocation rights instead apply if you sign in to embedded YouTube players.

4. Third-Party Embeds and Content

Game pages may embed third-party content, including YouTube videos (loaded via youtube-nocookie.com and only after you click play) and store widgets. When you interact with these embeds, the third party may set cookies, log your IP address, and collect data per its own privacy policy. We do not control these third-party services.

The Service does not display advertisements.

5. Cookies and Local Storage

We do not set tracking, advertising, or analytics cookies. We set a single first-party functional cookie named preferred-language to remember your selected interface language; it has a one-year lifetime and a SameSite=Lax attribute, and contains only the language code you chose.

We also use browser localStorage and sessionStorage for functional purposes only (language preference, navigation state, short-lived caches such as trending scores). Third-party embeds (such as YouTube once you click play) may set their own cookies under their respective domains, governed by their own policies.

6. How We Use and Share Information

We use collected information to operate, secure, and improve the Service. We do not sell your information. We share information only:

  • With service providers that host our infrastructure or send transactional email.
  • With third-party services you choose to interact with (e.g. by playing a YouTube embed).
  • When required by law or to protect our rights, users, or the public.

7. Data Retention

Server logs are retained for up to 31 days. YouTube statistics retrieved via the YouTube API are kept no longer than 30 days, in line with the YouTube API Services Terms of Service. Form-submission data is retained for as long as needed to handle your request and to meet legal obligations.

8. Your Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the EU/EEA, the GDPR grants you rights including access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, and objection. To exercise these rights, email [email protected].

9. Security

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect information. No system is perfectly secure; please contact us if you believe your data has been compromised.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top reflects the current version. Material changes will be communicated where appropriate.

11. Contact

Questions or concerns? Reach us at [email protected].

View our Terms of Service