Your Privacy Matters: Cipher Chat is designed with your privacy at its core. We are an anonymous, location-based chat application that prioritizes your anonymity and data protection.
1. Introduction
Welcome to Cipher Chat ("we," "our," or "us"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and services (collectively, the "Service").
By using Cipher Chat, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Service.
2. Our Commitment to Anonymity
Cipher Chat is built on the principle of anonymous communication. We do not:
- Require or collect your name, email address, or phone number
- Link your conversations to any personal identifier
- Track your identity across sessions
- Share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes
3. Information We Collect
3.1 Location Data
As a location-based chat application, we collect and process your geographic location to:
- Connect you with other users in your vicinity
- Display nearby conversations
- Provide location-based features
Location data is used solely for app functionality and is not stored permanently in association with your identity.
3.2 Device Information
We may collect certain device information, including:
- Device type and operating system
- Unique device identifiers (for authentication purposes only)
- App version
- Language preferences
3.3 Usage Data
We collect anonymous usage data to improve our Service:
- App crashes and performance data
- Feature usage statistics (anonymized)
- General interaction patterns
3.4 Messages and Content
Your chat messages are:
- Temporarily stored to facilitate message delivery
- Not permanently associated with any personal identifier
- Subject to automatic deletion after a specified period
- Encrypted during transmission
4. How We Use Your Information
We use the collected information for the following purposes:
- Service Delivery: To provide and maintain our location-based chat functionality
- Matching: To connect you with nearby users
- Improvement: To analyze usage patterns and improve our Service
- Security: To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents
- Technical Operations: To diagnose technical problems and maintain service quality
- Compliance: To comply with legal obligations
5. Data Retention
We practice data minimization and retention limits:
- Messages: Automatically deleted after delivery or within a specified timeframe
- Location Data: Used in real-time and not permanently stored with user identifiers
- Usage Data: Aggregated and anonymized data may be retained for analytics
- Device Identifiers: Retained only as long as necessary for authentication
6. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell your personal information. We may share information in the following circumstances:
6.1 Service Providers
We may share data with third-party service providers who assist us in:
- Cloud hosting and storage
- Analytics and performance monitoring
- Push notifications
These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for specified purposes.
6.2 Legal Requirements
We may disclose information if required by law or in response to:
- Valid legal processes (e.g., subpoenas, court orders)
- Governmental requests
- Protection of our rights and safety
- Prevention of fraud or illegal activity
6.3 Business Transfers
If Cipher Chat is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred. We will notify you of any such change.
7. Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data:
- Encryption of data in transit
- Secure server infrastructure
- Regular security assessments
- Access controls and authentication
However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
8. Your Rights and Choices
You have the following rights regarding your information:
- Location Access: You can disable location services through your device settings, though this will limit app functionality
- Account Deletion: You can delete your account and associated data at any time through the app
- Opt-Out: You can opt out of analytics and non-essential data collection
- Access Requests: You may request information about data we hold about you
9. Children's Privacy
Cipher Chat is not intended for users under the age of 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.
10. International Data Transfers
Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. By using our Service, you consent to such transfers.
11. Third-Party Services
Our Service may integrate with third-party services (e.g., Firebase, AWS). These services have their own privacy policies, and we encourage you to review them:
12. Push Notifications
We may send you push notifications for:
- New messages
- Service updates
- Important announcements
You can disable push notifications through your device settings at any time.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by:
- Posting the new Privacy Policy in the app
- Updating the "Last Updated" date
- Sending an in-app notification for material changes
Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
14. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
Cipher Chat
Email: [email protected]
Support: [email protected]
15. Additional Rights for Specific Regions
15.1 California Residents (CCPA)
If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act, including:
- Right to know what personal information is collected
- Right to delete personal information
- Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell your information)
- Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights
15.2 European Users (GDPR)
If you are in the European Economic Area, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation, including:
- Right of access to your personal data
- Right to rectification of inaccurate data
- Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
- Right to restrict processing
- Right to data portability
- Right to object to processing