Privacy Policy for ChatDesh

Last Updated: April 04, 2024

Welcome to ChatDesh. We operate the ChatDesh website and chat service located at https://chatdesh.in .

This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you use our Service. Protecting your privacy is important to us.

By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access the service.

Information We Collect

We minimize the personal data we collect. As we do not require user registration, the information we collect is primarily related to your use of the Service:

• Username: You choose a temporary username when you join a chat room. This username is publicly visible to other users in the room you join. We recommend choosing a username that does not personally identify you. This username is associated with your session but is not permanently linked to other personal identifiers unless required for moderation purposes (see below).
• IP Address: We automatically log the Internet Protocol (IP) address of users connecting to our Service. This is standard practice for logging, security monitoring (e.g., detecting abuse, spam, or denial-of-service attacks), diagnostic purposes, rate limiting, and potential IP-based blocking as outlined in our Terms of Service.
• Chat Messages: Messages you send in public rooms and direct messages are processed and stored temporarily on our servers to deliver them to other users and provide recent chat history within the session (e.g., the last 30 minutes for Direct Messages). Messages may be monitored for violations of our Terms of Service.
• Block List Information: If you block another user, we store an association between your temporary user identifier and the identifier of the user you blocked. This information is used solely to enforce the block within the Service.
• Usage Data (Optional but likely): Like most websites, our servers may automatically collect standard log information, which can include your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages visited, and timestamps. This helps us understand how the Service is used and diagnose technical issues.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect solely for the following purposes:

• To operate, maintain, and provide the features and functionality of the Service (delivering messages, showing user lists, enforcing blocks).
• To monitor and analyze usage and trends to improve the Service.
• To monitor for and prevent violations of our Terms of Service, including abuse, harassment, and spam.
• For security purposes, including implementing IP blocks against users violating our terms.
• To diagnose technical problems.
• To comply with legal obligations.

We **do not** use your IP address or message content for profiling, targeted advertising (unless related to third-party ad network policies clearly stated elsewhere), or sharing with marketers.

Data Storage and Retention

We retain collected information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy and comply with our legal obligations.

• **Usernames:** Associated with temporary sessions and not permanently stored unless linked to moderation actions.
• **IP Addresses:** May be kept in server logs for a limited security/diagnostic period (30 days]) before being anonymized or deleted, unless retained longer due to a specific security investigation or legal requirement. IP addresses associated with permanent blocks may be retained indefinitely solely for the purpose of enforcing the block.
• **Chat Messages:** Public messages may be logged temporarily for moderation review. Direct message history is retained for a short period (30 minutes) during the session and is not designed for long-term storage.
• **Block Lists:** Retained as long as necessary to enforce the block, potentially linked to IP address data for persistent blocks.

Disclosure of Your Information

We value your privacy and **do not sell or rent your personal information** (including your IP address or message content) to third parties for marketing purposes.

We may disclose information, including IP addresses and message content, under the following limited circumstances:

• **To Comply With Law:** If required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or government agency).
• **To Protect Rights:** To protect and defend the rights or property of ChatDesh.
• **To Prevent Wrongdoing:** To prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing or abuse in connection with the Service.
• **To Protect Safety:** To protect the personal safety of users of the Service or the public.
• **Third-Party Service Providers :** If we use third-party hosting or infrastructure providers, they may have access to server logs containing IP addresses as part of providing their service, subject to their own security and privacy practices. Like Cloudflare, AWS and Google Ads.

Security of Your Data

We implement reasonable security measures (including HTTPS) to protect your information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. However, no internet transmission or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

ChatDesh currently uses Tokens stored in your browser's `localStorage` for session authentication after you join. We do not use traditional browser cookies or other tracking technologies for user behavior analytics or cross-site tracking at this time.

Children's Privacy

Our Service is not intended for use by anyone under the age of 18 . We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under this age. If you believe we might have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately so we can remove it.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us: [email protected]