TruRanking.com ("we", "us", or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting it through this comprehensive policy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and safeguard information from users of our website and services, including TruPool (our NCAA Tournament pool platform).

Last Updated: March 2026

Information We Collect

We collect information to provide better services to our users and improve our basketball analytics platform. The types of information we collect depend on how you use the Service:

Information Collected from All Visitors:

• Anonymous Usage Data: We use Google Analytics to track website traffic, page views, user behavior patterns, and site performance metrics. This data is aggregated and anonymous.
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies to enhance website functionality, remember your preferences, and serve relevant advertising content.
• Device and Browser Information: We automatically collect information about your device, browser type, operating system, and IP address for security and optimization purposes.

Information Collected When You Create a TruPool Account:

TruPool requires account creation to participate in tournament pools. When you create an account, we collect the following information:

• Email Address: Collected during email/password registration, or obtained from your Google profile if you sign in with Google. Used for account identification, pool communications, and daily digest emails.
• Display Name: Your name as entered during registration or obtained from your Google profile. Displayed on pool leaderboards and to other pool participants.
• Firebase User ID: A unique identifier assigned by Firebase Authentication to identify your account. This is not personally identifiable on its own.
• Authentication Method: Whether you signed in via Google or email/password.

Information Generated Through TruPool Usage:

• Bracket Picks: Your tournament bracket selections, including picks for each round, tiebreaker predictions, and submission timestamps.
• Pool Membership: Which pools you have created or joined, your role (creator or member), and associated join codes.
• Scores and Rankings: Points earned, correct picks, leaderboard positions, and AI-generated projections calculated from your bracket entries.
• Email Preferences: Your opt-in/opt-out status for daily pool digest emails.

Information Collected via Newsletter Subscription:

• Email Address: If you subscribe to updates or newsletters (separate from TruPool), we collect your email address for communication purposes.

How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for legitimate business purposes, including:

• Service Delivery: Operating TruPool (pool management, scoring, leaderboards, bracket tracking) and delivering rankings, predictions, and analytics content.
• Pool Communications: Sending daily digest emails with pool standings, scores, and projections to TruPool participants who have not opted out. These emails include an unsubscribe link in every message.
• Service Improvement: Analyzing usage patterns to enhance our basketball rankings, predictions, pool features, and overall user experience.
• General Communication: Sending newsletters, updates about new features, or important site announcements to subscribers who have opted in.
• Advertising Optimization: Serving relevant advertisements through Google AdSense and measuring advertising effectiveness.
• Security and Fraud Prevention: Protecting our services and users from unauthorized access, spam, and malicious activities.
• Legal Compliance: Meeting our legal obligations and responding to lawful requests from authorities.

Google Sign-In and OAuth

TruPool offers Google Sign-In as an authentication option. When you sign in with Google:

• We use Firebase Authentication (a Google service) to verify your identity.
• We receive your email address, display name, and a unique user identifier from Google.
• We do not receive or store your Google password.
• We do not access your Google contacts, calendar, files, or any other Google services beyond basic profile information.
• You can revoke TruRanking.com's access to your Google account at any time through your Google Account permissions settings.

Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties, except in the following circumstances:

• Within TruPool: Your display name, bracket picks, scores, and rankings are visible to other members of pools you have joined. This is necessary for the pool to function and this data becomes part of the permanent shared pool record upon submission. Your email address is not shared with other pool members.
• Service Providers: We share data with trusted third-party services that help us operate the Service (see "Third-Party Services" below). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or government regulation.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user information may be transferred as part of the transaction.
• Consent: We may share information with your explicit consent for specific purposes.

Data Storage and Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information:

• Account Data: TruPool account information (email, display name, user ID) and pool data (brackets, scores, membership) are stored in Google Cloud Firestore, a managed database service hosted in the United States.
• Authentication: User authentication is handled by Firebase Authentication (a Google service), which manages credentials securely. We do not store passwords directly.
• Encryption: All data is transmitted over HTTPS (TLS encryption). Data at rest in Firestore is encrypted by default.
• Access Controls: Access to user data is restricted to authenticated requests and administrative functions.

However, no internet transmission or electronic storage method is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Rights and Choices

You have several rights regarding your personal information:

• Access and Correction: You can request access to or correction of your personal information by contacting us at info@truranking.com.
• Pool Email Unsubscribe: You can opt out of TruPool daily digest emails at any time using the unsubscribe link included in every digest email. Unsubscribing from digest emails does not delete your account or remove you from pools.
• Newsletter Unsubscribe: You can opt out of general marketing communications at any time using the unsubscribe link in those emails.
• Cookie Control: You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.
• Google Account Revocation: If you signed in with Google, you can revoke our access through your Google Account permissions at any time.
• Data Deletion: You can request deletion of your personal information by contacting us at info@truranking.com. Upon request, we will remove your personal identifiers (email address, authentication credentials) from our systems. However, TruPool participation data — including bracket picks, scores, rankings, and leaderboard positions — is part of a shared competitive record that other pool members rely on for pool integrity, scoring accuracy, and leaderboard ordering. Removing this data would disrupt the experience of other participants. Accordingly: (a) pool results, leaderboard entries, scores, and bracket picks are retained as part of the permanent pool record, even after account deletion; (b) your display name associated with pool entries will remain visible to other pool participants; (c) by participating in a pool, you acknowledge that your pool activity becomes part of a shared record that cannot be selectively removed; and (d) we may retain certain additional information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes such as fraud prevention.

Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide the Service and fulfill the purposes described in this policy:

• Active Accounts: Account data is retained for as long as your account is active.
• Pool Data: Bracket picks, scores, leaderboard positions, and pool results are retained permanently as part of the shared competitive record. This data is integral to the functioning of pools and cannot be selectively deleted without compromising the integrity of other participants' pool experience.
• Email Preferences: Unsubscribe records are retained indefinitely to ensure we respect your communication preferences.
• Analytics Data: Aggregated, anonymized analytics data may be retained indefinitely for service improvement purposes.
• Deleted Accounts: Upon account deletion request, personal identifiers (email, authentication data) are removed within 30 days. Pool participation records (bracket picks, scores, rankings, display name) are retained permanently as part of the shared pool record. Additional data may be retained where required by law or necessary for fraud prevention.

Third-Party Services

Our website uses the following third-party services that may collect or process information:

• Firebase Authentication (Google): For user account creation and sign-in, including Google Sign-In (OAuth). Firebase Privacy Policy
• Google Cloud Firestore (Google): For storing TruPool account data, bracket picks, pool membership, and scores. Google Cloud Privacy Notice
• SendGrid (Twilio): For sending TruPool daily digest emails and transactional emails. SendGrid processes recipient email addresses and email content. Twilio Privacy Policy
• Google Analytics: For website analytics and performance monitoring. Google Privacy Policy
• Google AdSense: For serving advertisements. Google Privacy Policy
• Google Tag Manager: For managing tracking codes and analytics.
• Cloudflare: For content delivery, DDoS protection, and web application firewall services. Cloudflare Privacy Policy

These services have their own privacy policies, which we encourage you to review.

Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at info@truranking.com and we will take steps to delete such information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify users of significant changes by posting the updated policy on our website with a new "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, including requests to access, correct, or delete your personal information, please contact us at:

Email: info@truranking.com

We will respond to your inquiry within a reasonable timeframe and work to address any concerns you may have.

Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, United States, without regard to its conflict of law principles.