Privacy Policy — FinChat

Last updated: July 5, 2026

FinChat ("we", "our", "the app") is a mobile messaging application. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, and how it is used and protected. By using FinChat, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Account Information

Phone number — used to create and verify your account via OTP (one-time password).
Name, profile photo, "about" text — optional, set by you.

1.2 Contacts

With your permission, FinChat reads your phone's contact list to help you find friends who already use the app. Contact data is matched against registered phone numbers on our servers and is not shared with any third party or used for advertising.

1.3 Messages and Media

Chat messages, images, videos, voice notes, and documents that you send are stored on our servers (Google Firebase) to deliver them to the intended recipient(s) and to display your chat history across your sessions. Group chat messages are visible to members of that group.

1.4 Camera, Microphone & Media Library

FinChat requests access to your camera and microphone to enable voice calls, video calls, and to let you capture and send photos, videos, and voice messages. Microphone/camera streams for calls are transmitted directly for the duration of the call and are not recorded or stored by us.

1.5 Notifications

We use push notifications (Firebase Cloud Messaging) to alert you of new messages, calls, and group activity. A device notification token is stored to deliver these notifications.

1.6 Automatically Collected Information

Basic device and app diagnostics (crash reports, performance data) via Firebase Crashlytics, to help us fix bugs.
Aggregate, non-identifying usage analytics via Firebase Analytics, to understand feature usage.

1.7 Delegated Access (Optional "Helper" Feature)

An account owner may optionally grant a trusted person ("helper") limited access to send messages or manage calls on their behalf, using a unique Helper ID. The owner controls which actions the helper can perform and can revoke this access at any time. No additional personal information is collected for this feature beyond what is already described in this policy.

2. How We Use Your Information

To create and secure your account and verify your identity.
To deliver messages, calls, and notifications between you and other users.
To help you discover contacts who are already on FinChat.
To provide customer support and investigate abuse reports.
To maintain, debug, and improve the app's stability and performance.
To enforce our Terms of Service, including blocking abusive accounts.

We do not sell your personal data to third parties, and we do not use your messages or contacts for third-party advertising.

3. Data Retention & Deletion

One-to-one chat messages are automatically deleted from our servers after a limited retention window as part of our storage-management policy.
Media files (images/videos/voice notes) associated with deleted messages are removed from storage shortly after the message is deleted.
If you delete your account, your profile, messages, and media are removed from our active systems, except where retention is required to comply with law or resolve disputes.
You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by contacting us (see Section 7).

4. How Your Information Is Shared

Recipient	Purpose
Other users you chat/call with	To deliver your messages, media, and calls to the intended recipient(s)
Google Firebase (Cloud Firestore, Storage, Auth, Cloud Messaging, Crashlytics, Analytics)	Our backend infrastructure provider — stores and processes app data on our behalf
Law enforcement / legal requests	Only where required by applicable law or a valid legal process

We do not share your personal data with data brokers or advertising networks.

5. Permissions Used by the App

Permission	Why it's needed
Contacts	Find friends already using FinChat
Camera	Take photos/videos to send, and for video calls
Microphone	Voice notes and voice/video calls
Photos/Media/Storage	Send existing photos/videos, save received media
Notifications	Alert you to new messages and calls
Bluetooth	Route call audio to Bluetooth headsets/speakers

6. Children's Privacy

FinChat is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can remove it.

7. Your Rights & Contact

You can access, correct, or delete your profile information from within the app's Settings screen at any time. For account deletion, data-access requests, or any privacy questions, contact us:

Email: tyagisekhar9@gmail.com

8. Security

We use industry-standard measures (encrypted storage, access-controlled servers) to protect your information. However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by updating the "Last updated" date above. Continued use of FinChat after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.