permissionlesstech/bitchat-android
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PRIVACY_POLICY.md
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@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@ bitchat is designed with privacy as its foundation. We believe private communica
## Summary ## Summary
**WE DO NOT COLLECT ANY INFORMATION.**
- **No personal data collection** - We don't collect names, emails, or phone numbers - **No personal data collection** - We don't collect names, emails, or phone numbers
- **No location data collection** - Location is accessed only for local processing (BLE/Geohash) and is never collected or sent to us
- **Hybrid Functionality** - bitchat offers two modes of communication: - **Hybrid Functionality** - bitchat offers two modes of communication:
- **Bluetooth Mesh Chat**: This mode is completely offline, using peer-to-peer Bluetooth connections. It does not use any servers or internet connection. - **Bluetooth Mesh Chat**: This mode is completely offline, using peer-to-peer Bluetooth connections. It does not use any servers or internet connection.
- **Geohash Chat**: This mode uses an internet connection to communicate with others in a specific geographic area. It relies on Nostr relays for message transport. - **Geohash Chat**: This mode uses an internet connection to communicate with others in a specific geographic area. It relies on Nostr relays for message transport.
@@ -68,7 +71,8 @@ When you join a password-protected room:
bitchat **never**: bitchat **never**:
- Collects personal information - Collects personal information
- Tracks your location - Collects location history
- Transmits any data to us (the developers)
- Stores data on servers - Stores data on servers
- Shares data with third parties - Shares data with third parties
- Uses analytics or telemetry - Uses analytics or telemetry
@@ -91,13 +95,24 @@ You have complete control:
- **No Account**: Nothing to delete from servers because there are none - **No Account**: Nothing to delete from servers because there are none
- **Portability**: Your data never leaves your device unless you export it - **Portability**: Your data never leaves your device unless you export it
## Bluetooth & Permissions ## Location Data & Permissions
bitchat requires Bluetooth permission to function: To provide the core functionality of bitchat, we access your device's location data. This access is necessary for the following specific purposes:
- Used only for peer-to-peer communication
- No location data is accessed or stored ### 1. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Scanning
- Bluetooth is not used for tracking - **Why we need it:** The Android operating system requires Location permission to scan for nearby Bluetooth LE devices (especially on Android 11 and lower). This is a system-level requirement because Bluetooth scans can theoretically be used to derive location.
- You can revoke this permission at any time in system settings - **How we use it:** We use this permission strictly to discover other bitchat peers nearby for the "Bluetooth Mesh Chat" mode.
- **Privacy protection:** We do not record or store your location during this process. The data is processed instantaneously by the Android system to facilitate the connection.
### 2. Geohash Chat Functionality
- **Why we need it:** The "Geohash Chat" mode allows you to communicate with others in your approximate geographic area.
- **How we use it:** If you enable this mode, we access your location to calculate a "geohash" (a short alphanumeric string representing a geographic region). This geohash is used to find and subscribe to relevant channels on decentralized Nostr relays.
- **Privacy protection:**
- Your precise GPS coordinates are **never** sent to any server or peer.
- Only the coarse geohash (representing an area, not a pinpoint) is shared with the Nostr network.
- You can use the "Bluetooth Mesh Chat" mode without this feature if you prefer.
**We do not collect, store, or share your location history.** Location data is processed locally on your device to enable these specific features.
## Children's Privacy ## Children's Privacy