Privacy Policy for Chintha
Effective Date: December 2024
1. Introduction
Sayed Salman Ponnani through Alison Tech Lab ("we," "our," or "us") operates the Chintha mobile application (the "Service"). This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data when you use our Service and the choices you have associated with that data.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Personal Information
We may collect the following types of personal information:
- Phone Number: For OTP-based authentication and account verification
- Profile Information: Username, profile name, tagline, bio, and profile picture
- Content Data: Posts, comments, reactions, and other content you create on Chintha
- Social Data: Follow relationships, saved posts, and interaction history
- Communication Data: Messages and notifications within the app
2.2 Non-Personal Information
- Device Information: Device type, operating system, app version
- Usage Data: App usage patterns, feature interactions, and performance metrics
- Technical Data: IP address, device identifiers, and crash reports
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the collected information for the following purposes:
- Provide and maintain the Chintha service
- Authenticate users through OTP verification
- Enable social features like following, reactions, and comments
- Personalize your content feed and recommendations
- Send push notifications about interactions and updates
- Moderate content and ensure community safety
- Improve app performance and user experience
- Provide customer support
- Comply with legal obligations
4. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following circumstances:
- Public Content: Posts, comments, and profile information you choose to make public
- SMS Service: Phone numbers are processed by Twilio for OTP delivery
- Cloud Storage: Profile pictures and post images stored on AWS S3
- Push Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging for app notifications
- Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights
- Business Transfers: In case of merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
5. Data Storage and Security
- Your data is stored securely using industry-standard encryption
- Database hosted on secure PostgreSQL servers with restricted access
- Images stored on AWS S3 with appropriate access controls
- JWT tokens used for secure authentication
- We regularly review and update our security practices
6. Your Rights and Choices
You have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Access: View and download your personal data
- Correction: Update your profile information within the app
- Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data
- Privacy Controls: Set your profile to private or public
- Content Control: Delete your posts and comments
- Blocking: Block other users to prevent interactions
- Notifications: Control push notification preferences
7. Third-Party Services
Chintha integrates with the following third-party services:
- Twilio: For SMS OTP delivery (governed by Twilio's Privacy Policy)
- Firebase: For push notifications and analytics (governed by Google's Privacy Policy)
- AWS S3: For image storage (governed by AWS Privacy Policy)
8. Malayalam Content and Cultural Sensitivity
Chintha is designed specifically for Malayalam content creation and cultural expression. We are committed to:
- Preserving the integrity of Malayalam language and literature
- Respecting cultural values and traditions
- Providing a safe space for Malayalam writers and readers
- Moderating content to maintain quality and appropriateness
9. Children's Privacy
Chintha is intended for users aged 13 and above. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent and believe your child has provided personal information, please contact us.
10. International Data Transfers
Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data during such transfers.
11. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide the service and fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy. Specific retention periods:
- Account Data: Until account deletion
- Posts and Comments: Until manually deleted by user
- OTP Records: 24 hours after generation
- Analytics Data: Up to 2 years for service improvement
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy in the app and updating the "Effective Date" above. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
14. Consent
By using Chintha, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use the app.
This Privacy Policy was last updated on December 2024.