Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Talk Shawk ("we", "our", "us") is a random chat application designed for users in South Asia. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use our app and services.

2. Information We Collect

Account Information

• Email address (if you sign up with email)
• Google account name and email (if you sign in with Google)
• Display name (chosen by you, can be anonymous)
• Date of birth (for age verification only — we verify you are 18+)
• City selection

Profile Information

• Avatar selection
• Interests and language preferences
• Bio (optional)

Usage Data

• Chat session metadata (duration, timestamp — NOT message content)
• Number of chats, skips, and reports
• Trust score (calculated from user behavior)
• Device push notification token (if you allow notifications)

Payment Information

• In-app purchases are processed through Google Play Billing
• We do NOT store any credit card or payment method details
• We only store transaction IDs and purchase status for coin/premium delivery

3. What We Do NOT Collect

• Chat messages are NOT stored on our servers. Messages are transmitted in real-time and not persisted.
• We do not collect your real name (unless you choose to share it)
• We do not access your contacts, photos, or files
• We do not track your location (city is self-selected)
• Phone numbers are hashed before storage — we cannot read your actual phone number

4. How We Use Your Information

• To create and manage your account
• To match you with other users based on interests, language, and city
• To process in-app purchases and manage your coin balance
• To enforce our community guidelines and process reports
• To send push notifications (if you opt in)
• To prevent abuse, fraud, and violations of our terms

5. Data Security

• All connections use HTTPS/TLS encryption
• Passwords are managed by Firebase Authentication (we never see your password)
• Phone numbers are stored as one-way hashes
• Our database is hosted on secure, encrypted cloud infrastructure
• Access to user data is restricted to authorized personnel only

6. Data Sharing

We do NOT sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties, except:

• Firebase (Google) — for authentication and push notifications
• Google Play — for payment processing
• Law enforcement — if required by applicable law or court order

7. Data Retention

• Account data is retained while your account is active
• Chat messages are not stored on our servers
• Chat history on your device stores the last 10 sessions locally only
• Reports and moderation records are retained for safety purposes
• When you delete your account, your data is removed after a 7-day grace period

8. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your personal data (via your profile in the app)
• Update your profile information at any time
• Delete your account and all associated data (Settings > Delete Account)
• Opt out of push notifications (via device settings)
• Request a copy of your data by contacting us

9. Age Requirement

Talk Shawk is strictly for users aged 18 and above. We verify age during sign-up. If we discover that a user is under 18, their account will be immediately terminated.

10. Content Moderation

We use automated profanity filters and a user report system to maintain a safe environment. Users who violate our community guidelines may receive warnings, temporary bans, or permanent bans. Reports of self-harm are treated with priority and users are directed to helpline resources.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of significant changes through the app. Continued use of Talk Shawk after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, contact us at:

• Email: dev.shayankhan@gmail.com
• App: Talk Shawk