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Privacy Policy - Local Chat India | Secure Local Chatting Platform

Privacy Policy

Your Privacy Matters to Us

Effective Date: December 25, 2024 | Last Updated: Oct 25, 2025

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1. Introduction

Welcome to Local Chat India ("we," "our," or "us"), a revolutionary platform designed to connect individuals within local communities across India for meaningful, secure, and private interactions. This Privacy Policy outlines our commitment to protecting your personal information and explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your data when you use our services.

By accessing or using Local Chat India, you consent to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please refrain from using our services. We may update this policy periodically, and your continued use constitutes acceptance of any changes.

Key Point: We never sell your personal data to third parties. Your information is used solely to provide and improve our services.

2. Data Collection

We collect various types of information to provide and improve our services:

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

  • Account Information:
    • Full Name (for personalization and verification)
    • Mobile Number (for account verification and security)
    • Birth Year (to ensure compliance with age restrictions)
    • Gender (to provide tailored experiences)
  • Profile Information (Optional):
    • Blood Group (for emergency services and community help features)
    • Profile Picture (to personalize your account)
    • Bio/Description (to help others know you better)
  • Location Data:
    • State, District, Division (to connect you with local users)
    • GPS-based Location (only with your explicit consent, for location-based services)
  • User Content:
    • Messages exchanged on the platform
    • Posts in community forums
    • Job listings and blood donation requests

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

  • Device Information: Device type, OS version, unique device identifiers
  • Usage Data: Features used, time spent, interaction patterns
  • Log Data: IP addresses, access times, app crashes
  • Cookies and Similar Technologies: For analytics and service improvement

2.3 Optional Permissions

For enhanced functionality, we may request the following optional permissions:

  • Contacts Access: To help you quickly connect with people you know. You can always manually enter phone numbers instead.
  • File Storage Access: To send voice messages (MP3 files) and other media. You can choose to type text messages instead.

These permissions are completely optional and not required to use our core messaging features.

Note: We do not collect sensitive financial information as we currently don't process payments. Any future payment processing will use PCI-compliant third-party services.

3. Data Usage and Purpose

We use your information for the following purposes:

Service Provision

To create and maintain your account, provide chat functionality, and enable local connections.

Verification & Security

To verify your identity, prevent fraud, and protect against unauthorized access.

Communication

To send service notifications, updates, and respond to your inquiries.

Improvement

To analyze usage patterns and enhance user experience and app performance.

Compliance

To meet legal obligations and respond to lawful requests from authorities.

Community Features

To facilitate job postings, blood donation requests, and other community services.

Transparency: We process your data only for the purposes for which it was collected and in accordance with this policy.

4. Data Storage and Retention

4.1 Storage Infrastructure

All user data is stored securely on Amazon Web Services (AWS) RDS servers located in the Mumbai region (ap-south-1) of India. We implement the following security measures:

  • Data encryption at rest using AES-256
  • Encryption in transit via TLS 1.2+
  • Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
  • Role-based access controls
  • Network isolation and firewall protection

4.2 Retention Periods

  • Account Data: Retained while your account is active. After deactivation, we retain for 1-2 working days before permanent deletion.
  • Chat Messages: Stored for 0 days after account deactivation or message deletion.
  • Community Posts: Job and blood donation posts remain until manually removed or marked as completed.
  • Log Data: Retained for 5 days for security monitoring.
  • Backups: Encrypted backups are retained for 7 days.

4.3 Data Deletion Process

When you request account deactivation:

  1. Your account is immediately deactivated and inaccessible
  2. Data is marked for deletion in our primary database
  3. Within minutes, all personal data is permanently deleted from production servers
  4. References are removed from search indices

Note: Some anonymized statistical data may be retained indefinitely for analytical purposes.

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We value your privacy and do not sell your personal data to third parties. Data may be shared in limited circumstances:

5.1 Service Providers

We engage trusted third-party vendors to assist with service operations:

Provider Purpose Data Shared Privacy Policy
AWS (Amazon Web Services) Cloud hosting and storage All service data View
Fast2SMS SMS verification Mobile number View
Google Analytics Usage analytics Anonymized usage data View
Firebase App performance monitoring Crash reports, usage metrics View

5.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law, such as:

  • In response to valid legal process (subpoenas, court orders)
  • To comply with applicable laws and regulations
  • To protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property
  • In connection with any merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

5.3 Community Features

Certain information may be visible to other users as part of community features:

  • Profile information (name, profile picture) in chat interactions
  • Job postings and blood donation requests (as configured by you)
  • General location (district/division) for local matching
Important: We implement strict contractual obligations with all third-party providers to ensure your data is protected according to our standards.

6. Your Rights and Choices

Under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 and other applicable laws, you have certain rights regarding your personal data:

Access Rights

You can request:

  • Confirmation whether we process your data
  • Access to your personal data in a structured format
  • Information about processing purposes and categories
Request Data Access
Correction Rights

You can request:

  • Rectification of inaccurate personal data
  • Completion of incomplete personal data
  • Updates to your profile information
Contact to Update Profile
Erasure Rights

You can request:

  • Deletion of your personal data
  • Account deactivation
  • Removal from specific processing activities
Request Deletion
Other Rights

You can also:

  • Withdraw consent for processing
  • Request restriction of processing
  • Lodge complaints with authorities
Exercise Rights

How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights:

  1. Use in-app settings for basic requests (profile updates, account deletion)
  2. Email localchatindia@gmail.com for other requests
  3. Include "Privacy Request" in the subject line
  4. Provide sufficient information to verify your identity
  5. Specify the right(s) you wish to exercise

We respond to all legitimate requests within 5-10 days. Complex requests may require additional time.

7. Age Requirement

Important Age Restriction

You must be at least 18 years old to use Local Chat India. By creating an account, you confirm that you meet this age requirement.

We take age verification seriously and implement the following measures:

  • Require birth year during registration to verify age eligibility
  • Reserve the right to request additional verification if needed
  • Immediately terminate accounts found to be created by underage users
  • Do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18
Parental Notice: If you believe your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us immediately at localchatindia@gmail.com.

8. Account Deactivation

You have full control over your account and can deactivate it at any time through the following methods:

In-App Deactivation

For immediate account deactivation:

  1. Log in to your account
  2. Navigate to Settings > Account
  3. Click on "Deactivate Account"
  4. Confirm your decision

Your account will be immediately deactivated and scheduled for deletion.

Web Form Deactivation

For providing feedback during deactivation:

  1. Click on this De-Activate
  2. Log in with your credentials
  3. Provide your reason for leaving
  4. Share any feedback (optional)
  5. Submit the deactivation request

Your account will be deactivated within 5-7 working days

What Happens After Deactivation?

  • Your account becomes immediately inaccessible
  • Your profile will no longer be visible to other users
  • All your personal data will be permanently deleted within 1-2 working days
  • You will receive a confirmation email once deletion is complete
  • You can create a new account with the same phone number at any point time again
Note: Some anonymized data may be retained for analytical purposes, but it will not be personally identifiable.

9. Content Guidelines and Account Suspension

Zero Tolerance Policy

We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards abusive content, harassment, or any form of inappropriate behavior. Violations may result in immediate account suspension or permanent banning.

9.1 Prohibited Content

Users must not send messages containing:

  • Abusive, threatening, or harassing language
  • Hate speech or discrimination based on race, religion, gender, etc.
  • Sexually explicit content or unsolicited sexual advances
  • Spam, scams, or fraudulent content
  • False information or misinformation
  • Content that violates applicable laws

9.2 Enforcement Process

When violations are reported or detected:

  1. First Offense: Content is removed, and user receives a warning
  2. Second Offense: Temporary account suspension (7-30 days)
  3. Third Offense: Permanent account ban without notice
  4. Severe Violations: Immediate permanent ban for serious offenses

9.3 Reporting Mechanism

Users can report inappropriate content or behavior by:

  • Using the "Report" feature on any message or profile
  • Emailing localchatindia@gmail.com with details
  • Contacting our support team through the app

All reports are reviewed within 24 hours, and appropriate action is taken.

Important: We reserve the right to permanently ban accounts for severe violations without prior warning. Banned users cannot create new accounts using the same phone number.

10. Contact Information

Customer Support

For general inquiries and support:

Data Protection Officer

For privacy-specific concerns:

Response Times

We strive to respond to all inquiries promptly:

  • General Inquiries: Within 24 hours
  • Privacy Requests: Within 5-10 business days
  • Content Reports: Within 24 hours
  • Account Issues: Within 48 hours