Privacy Policy for Bandham

Last updated: August 17, 2025

This Privacy Policy describes how Bandham ("we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, and shares information in connection with the Bandham mobile application and related services (the "Service").

If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use the Service. By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Replace the placeholders below (Company/Contact) with your actual details before publishing.

• App name: Bandham
• Package: com.bandham.mobile
• Company/Controller: smewritingagency
• Contact email: smewritingagency@gmail.com
• Contact address: Perungudi, Chennai, India

Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of information:

• Account information: phone/email (from sign in), UID, and basic identifiers from Firebase Authentication.
• Profile information you provide: name, age, gender, community/caste, district/city, languages, and profile photo.
• Content and activity: likes, passes, matches, chat metadata (summary, last message), and chat messages (stored in Firebase Realtime Database).
• Photos and moderation data: profile photos you upload and automated moderation results (e.g., Google Cloud Vision findings such as safe-search labels or face presence).
• Purchase information: non-sensitive purchase tokens/transaction IDs related to Google Play Billing for credit purchases.
• Device/usage data: basic app diagnostics, crash logs, and anonymized analytics or server logs necessary for operation and abuse prevention.

Optional collection (only if enabled in app settings and authorized by you):

• Google People API gender attribute to prefill your profile gender. This is used once during onboarding (if available) and you are informed in-app.

We do not collect precise location unless a feature explicitly requests it and you grant permission. As of this policy version, location is not required for core features.

How We Use Information

• Operate and provide core features (profiles, explore, likes, matches, chat).
• Enforce safety, moderation, and platform integrity (e.g., photo moderation and abuse prevention).
• Provide credits and purchases (Google Play Billing), and optional rewarded-ad credits if ads are enabled.
• Improve reliability, troubleshoot issues, and protect against fraud and abuse.
• Communicate service updates, policy changes, and important notices.

Legal Bases (where applicable)

• Performance of a contract: to provide the Service you request.
• Legitimate interests: to keep the Service safe and reliable.
• Consent: where explicitly required (e.g., optional Google People API gender).
• Legal obligations: to comply with applicable laws and requests.

Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We share information with:

• Service providers used to operate the Service, including:
  • Firebase (Authentication, Firestore, Realtime Database, Cloud Functions, Storage)
  • Google Cloud Vision (photo moderation)
  • Google Play Billing (in-app purchases)
  • Google Mobile Ads (only if ads are enabled)
• Law enforcement or authorities if required by law or to protect rights, safety, or property.
• Other users to the extent necessary (e.g., your profile details shown to potential matches, your messages to matched users).

Links to provider policies:

• Firebase/Google Privacy & Terms
• Firebase Services
• Google Play Billing
• Google Cloud Vision
• Google Mobile Ads

Data Retention

• Account/profile data: retained for your account’s lifetime and deleted or anonymized upon account deletion, subject to legal requirements.
• Messages and chat metadata: retained while your account is active or until you delete your account; we may retain limited logs for fraud/abuse prevention.
• Moderation artifacts: retained as needed for safety/compliance.
• Purchase records: retained as required for accounting, fraud prevention, and platform obligations.

Your Rights and Choices

• Access/update: you can view and edit your profile in the app.
• Deletion: you can request deletion using the in-app “Delete Account” option (or contact us). Deletion removes or anonymizes your personal information, subject to legal retention.
• Consent management: features requiring extra permissions or scopes will ask first; you can revoke in your device or account settings where applicable.

Residents of certain regions (e.g., EEA/UK/California/India) may have additional rights, such as data portability or restriction/objection rights, subject to applicable laws. Contact us to exercise these rights.

Children’s Privacy

The Service is intended for adults (18+). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child provided information, contact us to have it removed.

Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data, including encryption in transit via HTTPS and Firebase security rules. No system is 100% secure; you are responsible for safeguarding your account credentials.

International Transfers

Your information may be processed on servers located outside your state or country (e.g., Firebase regions you select). We take steps to ensure appropriate protections consistent with applicable law.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version will be indicated by an updated “Last updated” date and will be effective when posted.

Contact Us

If you have questions or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, contact us at:

• Email: smewritingagency@gmail.com
• Address: Perungudi, Chennai, India-600096

This document is provided as a template. Ensure it reflects your actual data practices and consult counsel if needed.