Privacy policy
Protecting your private information is our priority. This Privacy Policy applies to Geochat, and governs data collection and usage. By using the Geochat application, you consent to the data practices described in this statement.
User Location Data
Geochat requests permission to access the user's location in the background. This is essential for the app's core functionality of enabling users to find and join nearby chat rooms based on their current location. The app continuously monitors the user's location to detect when they enter or leave the vicinity of active chat rooms and provide relevant notifications.
The location data is solely used for:
Real-time detection of nearby chat rooms within a set radius of the user's location
Sending push notifications when the user enters/exits an active chat room's area
Providing the location-based chat experience core to the app's intended use
User location data is not used for any other purposes, such as advertising or analytics. It is handled securely using modern encryption protocols.
Collection of Other Personal Information
Geochat may also collect the following personal information provided voluntarily by users:
Email address
Phone number
Job title
Billing and payment information is collected if purchasing Geochat products/services.
We may collect non-personal, anonymous demographic data like age and gender.
Use and Sharing of Personal Information Personal information is used only to operate the app, provide requested services, and communicate with users about Geochat offerings. It is never sold or shared for advertising/marketing by third parties.
Geochat may share personal data with trusted partners solely to support app operations (stats, emails, deliveries, customer support), under strict confidentiality requirements.
We may disclose personal data if legally required, to defend rights/property, or protect user safety.
Data Retention and Deletion
User location and other personal data is retained only as long as needed to provide the app's services. Upon account deletion, all associated personal data is permanently deleted, except where required for legal compliance.
If you purchase Geochat's products and services, we collect billing and credit card information. This information is used to complete the purchase transaction.
Geochat may also collect anonymous demographic information, which is not unique to you, such as your:
- Age
- Gender
We do not collect any personal information about you unless you voluntarily provide it to us. However, you may be required to provide certain personal information to us when you elect to use certain products or services. These may include: (a) registering for an account; (b) entering a sweepstakes or contest sponsored by us or one of our partners; (c) signing up for special offers from selected third parties; (d) sending us an email message; (e) submitting your credit card or other payment information when ordering and purchasing products and services. To wit, we will use your information for, but not limited to, communicating with you in relation to services and/or products you have requested from us. We also may gather additional personal or non-personal information in the future.
Use of your Personal Information
Geochat collects and uses your personal information to operate and deliver the services you have requested.
Geochat may also use your personally identifiable information to inform you of other products or services available from Geochat and its affiliates.
Sharing Information with Third Parties
Geochat does not sell, rent or lease its customer lists to third parties.
Geochat may share data with trusted partners to help perform statistical analysis, send you email or postal mail, or provide customer support. All such third parties are prohibited from using your personal information except to provide these services to Geochat, and they are required to maintain the confidentiality of your information.
Geochat may disclose your personal information, without notice, if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on Geochat or the site; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of Geochat; and/or (c) act under exigent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of Geochat, or the public.
Right to Deletion
Subject to certain exceptions set out below, on receipt of a verifiable request from you, we will:
• Delete your personal information from our records; and
• Direct any service providers to delete your personal information from their records.
Please note that we may not be able to comply with requests to delete your personal information if it is necessary to:
• Complete the transaction for which the personal information was collected, fulfill the terms of a written warranty or product recall conducted in accordance with federal law, provide a good or service requested by you, or reasonably anticipated within the context of our ongoing business relationship with you, or otherwise perform a contract between you and us;
• Detect security incidents, protect against malicious, deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal activity; or prosecute those responsible for that activity;
• Debug to identify and repair errors that impair existing intended functionality;
• Exercise free speech, ensure the right of another consumer to exercise his or her right
of free speech, or exercise another right provided for by law;
• Comply with the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act;
• Engage in public or peer-reviewed scientific, historical, or statistical research in the
public interest that adheres to all other applicable ethics and privacy laws, when our deletion of the information is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of such research, provided we have obtained your informed consent;
• Enable solely internal uses that are reasonably aligned with your expectations based on your relationship with us;
• Comply with an existing legal obligation; or
• Otherwise use your personal information, internally, in a lawful manner that is
compatible with the context in which you provided the information.
Children Under Thirteen
Geochat does not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under the age of thirteen. If you are under the age of thirteen, you must ask your parent or guardian for permission to use this application.
E-mail Communications
From time to time, Geochat may contact you via email for the purpose of providing announcements, promotional offers, alerts, confirmations, surveys, and/or other general communication. In order to improve our Services, we may receive a notification when you open an email from Geochat or click on a link therein.
External Data Storage Sites
We may store your data on servers provided by third party hosting vendors with whom we have contracted.
Changes to this Statement
Geochat reserves the right to change this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you about significant changes in the way we treat personal information by sending a notice to the primary email address specified in your account, by placing a prominent notice on our application, and/or by updating any privacy information. Your continued use of the application and/or Services available after such modifications will constitute your: (a) acknowledgment of the modified Privacy Policy; and (b) agreement to abide and be bound by that Policy.
Contact Information
Geochat welcomes your questions or comments regarding this Statement of Privacy. If you believe that Geochat has not adhered to this Statement, please contact Geochat at:
Los Angeles, California 90017
Email Address: support@heygeochat.com
Effective as of January 19, 2024