Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy describes how CountryShape (“we,” “us,” or “our”) handles information when you use the CountryShape website and interactive map at countryshape.com.
1. Overview
CountryShape is a client-side web application. We do not require user accounts, and we do not operate a backend database that stores your map arrangements or personal profiles. Most interaction happens entirely in your browser.
2. Information we do not collect directly
We do not ask you to register, sign in, or submit a user profile. We do not knowingly collect your name, postal address, phone number, or payment information through CountryShape.
Your custom map scenes (shapes, positions, colors, labels, and view settings) are encoded in the URL hash fragment when you use the Share feature, or remain only in your browser session. We do not persist those scenes on our servers.
3. Local browser storage
CountryShape uses your browser’s localStorage for limited preferences only:
- Theme preference — light or dark mode.
- Onboarding state — whether you have dismissed the compass help prompt.
This data stays on your device and is not transmitted to us as account information. You can clear it through your browser settings.
4. Hosting, delivery, and server logs
The site and static assets are delivered through Cloudflare (CDN / Pages). Like most web hosts, Cloudflare and our deployment infrastructure may process standard technical log data for security and delivery, such as IP address, request time, requested URL, referrer, and browser user-agent. We do not use those logs to build personal profiles.
5. Third-party map and data services
When you use CountryShape, your browser requests resources from separate providers:
- Basemap tiles — vector map tiles (Protomaps / OpenStreetMap-based tileset) loaded from our configured tile endpoint.
- CountryShape geometry — outline GeoJSON for countries, subdivisions, historical entities, and related shapes, loaded from our geographic data CDN (
data.countryshape.com). - Flag and font assets — served from the same site origin or bundled assets.
Those providers receive the network requests needed to deliver files to your browser and may maintain their own server logs under their policies. CountryShape geometry sources (OpenStreetMap, OpenHistoricalMap, Wikidata, Wikipedia) are described on our About page and in the in-app Attributions tab; they are separate from the basemap tile provider.
6. Advertising (Google AdSense)
CountryShape may display advertisements provided by Google AdSense when advertising is enabled for a given deployment. In that case:
- Google and its partners may use cookies and similar technologies to serve and measure ads, including the DoubleClick cookie.
- Google may use advertising cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to CountryShape or other websites.
- Google’s use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visit(s) to CountryShape and/or other sites on the Internet.
You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings. Alternatively, you can opt out of third-party vendor use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting aboutads.info.
For more information about how Google uses data from sites that use its services, see How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services and Google’s Advertising Policies / Technologies.
When advertising is disabled in a deployment, the AdSense script is not loaded and third-party advertising cookies from Google are not set by CountryShape.
7. Analytics
CountryShape does not currently integrate a dedicated first-party analytics platform (such as Google Analytics) in the application code. Hosting and advertising providers may collect limited technical or ad-related data as described above.
8. Cookies summary
- Strictly necessary / preference storage — theme and UI preference via
localStorage(not a cookie, but stored locally in your browser). - Advertising cookies (when ads enabled) — set by Google AdSense and its partners as described in Section 6.
9. Children’s privacy
CountryShape is a general-audience educational tool and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, contact us and we will review the concern.
10. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top will change when we do. Continued use of CountryShape after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
11. Contact
Questions about this Privacy Policy: contact@countryshape.com.