Privacy Policy

Welcome to Ghatkaiti, operated by Winklogiq Technologies Private Limited. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application.

Ghatkaiti primarily serves the Mithili community and operates in India, USA, Dubai, Nepal, and expanding regions.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information You Provide

When you create an account and use our services, we collect:

• Basic Information: Name, email address, phone number, date of birth, gender
• Profile Information: Height, marital status, education, occupation, income, religion, caste, family details
• Photos: Profile pictures and additional photos you upload
• Partner Preferences: Your preferences for potential matches
• Communication Data: Messages and interactions with other users
• Verification Documents: ID proofs or documents for profile verification (if applicable)

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use our app, we automatically collect:

• Device Information: Device type, operating system, unique device identifiers
• Usage Data: App features used, time spent, profiles viewed
• Log Data: IP address, access times, app crashes, performance data

1.3 Location Information

1.4 Camera and Photos

1.5 Push Notifications

1.6 Third-Party Authentication (Google Sign-In)

When you sign in using Google, we collect:

• Google Account Information: Name, email address, profile picture
• Google ID Token: Used for secure authentication
• Account Linking: We link your Google account to your Ghatkaiti profile

Important: We do NOT access your Gmail, Google Drive, or other Google services. We only use Google Sign-In for authentication purposes.

Google's Privacy Policy: When using Google Sign-In, you're also subject to Google's Privacy Policy.

1.7 Device Identification

We collect unique device identifiers to:

• Device UUID: A unique identifier generated on first app install
• Device Type: Android or iOS platform information
• Device Details: Model, OS version, screen size, language settings

Purpose: Device identification helps us:

• Prevent fraud and multiple account creation
• Provide device-specific support
• Track app installations and usage analytics
• Ensure account security

Storage: Device UUID is stored locally on your device and regenerated only on app reinstall.

1.8 Biodata Documents

1.9 Interaction Data

We collect data about your interactions with other users:

• Shortlisted Profiles: Profiles you've marked as favorites
• Requests Sent/Received: Connection requests and their status
• Profile Views: Profiles you've viewed and who viewed your profile
• Matches: Accepted connections and match history
• Blocked Users: Users you've blocked

Purpose: This data helps us:

• Show you relevant match recommendations
• Track your activity and preferences
• Prevent spam and abuse
• Improve matching algorithms

1.10 Chat and Messaging

When you communicate with other users through our chat feature:

• Message Content: Text messages you send and receive
• Message Metadata: Timestamps, read status, delivery status
• Chat History: Stored conversations with your matches
• Unread Count: Number of unread messages

Important:

• Messages are stored on our servers to enable cross-device access
• We do NOT read your private messages unless required for safety/legal reasons
• Messages may be reviewed if a user reports abuse or harassment
• You can delete individual messages or entire conversations

Retention: Chat history is retained as long as your account is active. Deleted messages are permanently removed from our servers.

1.11 Membership and Payment Information

If you subscribe to premium membership plans (BASIC, PREMIUM):

• Subscription Data: Plan type, plan name, duration (monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, annual), pricing, start date, end date
• Payment Information: Processed by third-party payment gateways (we do NOT store credit card details)
• Transaction History: Purchase records, payment status, transaction IDs, renewal dates, cancellation history
• Usage Limits: Daily/monthly usage tracking for features:
  • Profile views (daily limit based on plan)
  • Connection requests sent (daily limit)
  • Messages sent (daily limit)
  • Contact details unlocked (monthly limit)
  • Profile boosts used
• Coupon Usage: Coupon codes applied, discount amounts, coupon validity
• Payment Gateway Data: Order IDs, merchant transaction IDs, payment method (UPI, card, net banking), payment timestamps

Payment Processors: We use trusted third-party payment processors:

• PhonePe: For UPI and card payments in India
• Razorpay: For card and net banking payments in India
• Google Play Billing: For Android in-app purchases
• Apple Pay: For iOS in-app purchases

These payment processors have their own privacy policies. We receive only transaction confirmation and do NOT store your full payment card details, CVV, or card PIN.

What We Store:

• ✅ Transaction ID and order ID
• ✅ Payment amount and currency
• ✅ Payment status (pending, success, failed, expired)
• ✅ Payment method type (UPI, card, net banking)
• ✅ Last 4 digits of card (if applicable, provided by payment gateway)
• ❌ Full card number
• ❌ CVV or security code
• ❌ Card PIN

Subscription Management: You can view, upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your subscription anytime through app settings.

Payment Recovery: If a payment was successful but membership not activated, we store recovery metadata including recovery timestamp and status check results.

1.11A Contact Details Unlocking

Contact unlocking is a premium feature that allows certain members to view phone numbers and email addresses of other users.

Feature Availability (Effective December 12, 2025):

• FREE Plan: No access to contact unlocking
• BASIC Plan (New Subscribers from Dec 12, 2025): No access to contact unlocking
• BASIC Plan (Grandfathered Users before Dec 12, 2025): 20 contact unlocks per month (legacy benefit)
• PREMIUM Plan: 20 contact unlocks per month

Data We Collect:

When you unlock another user's contact details or when someone unlocks yours:

• Unlock Records: Which contacts you've unlocked, when (timestamp), and from which device
• Monthly Usage: Number of contact unlocks used in current month vs. your plan limit
• Unlocked Data: Phone numbers and email addresses you've accessed
• Visibility Logs: Records of who unlocked your contact details (you can see this in app)
• Grandfathering Status: Whether you have legacy access to contact unlocking (subscribed before Dec 12, 2025)
• Subscription Date: Your BASIC plan subscription date to determine grandfathered status

Purpose:

This tracking ensures:

• Fair usage within plan limits (20 per month for eligible plans)
• Prevention of abuse or spam
• Transparency (you can see who viewed your contact details)
• Billing accuracy for premium features
• Proper enforcement of grandfathering policy
• Monthly reset on 1st of each month

Retention:

Contact unlock records are retained for:

• Duration of your active account
• Plus 3 years after account deletion for audit and legal compliance purposes
• Grandfathering status retained as long as subscription is active

Your Control:

• You can view who unlocked your contact details in app settings
• You can remove your contact information anytime (prevents future unlocks)
• You cannot revoke access once someone has unlocked your contact

1.12 Analytics and Performance Data

We collect analytics data to improve app performance:

• App Usage: Features used, screens visited, time spent
• Performance Metrics: App crashes, load times, errors
• User Behavior: Search patterns, filter preferences, swipe actions
• Device Performance: Battery usage, network speed, storage

Third-Party Analytics: We may use services like Firebase Analytics, Google Analytics for Mobile Apps. These services have their own privacy policies.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

2.10 Profile Completion Tracking

We track your profile completion status to:

• Guide you through the registration process
• Show you which sections are incomplete
• Encourage complete profile creation for better matches
• Track registration steps (Basic Info, Community Info, Photos, etc.)

Data Collected: Registration step number, completion percentage, incomplete sections

3. How We Share Your Information

We respect your privacy and limit data sharing. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

3.1 With Other Users

• Your profile information is visible to other users based on your privacy settings
• Only approved profiles are shown to other users
• You control what information is visible in your profile

3.2 Service Providers

• Cloud storage providers (for data hosting)
• Analytics services (to understand app usage)
• Communication services (for notifications and emails)
• Payment processors (if applicable for premium features)

Note: All service providers are bound by confidentiality agreements and can only use your data to provide services to us.

3.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to:

• Valid legal processes (subpoenas, court orders)
• Government requests
• Protection of our rights and safety
• Investigation of fraud or security issues

3.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the new entity, subject to this Privacy Policy.

3.5 What We DON'T Do

• ❌ We do NOT sell your personal data to third parties
• ❌ We do NOT share your data for marketing purposes without consent
• ❌ We do NOT access your contacts, messages, or other apps
• ❌ We do NOT track your location when the app is closed (unless you enable background location)

4. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: Data transmitted between your device and our servers is encrypted using SSL/TLS
• Secure Storage: Personal data is stored on secure servers with access controls
• Authentication: Account access requires secure authentication
• Regular Audits: We conduct regular security assessments
• Admin Approval: All profiles and photos are reviewed before being made public

Note: While we strive to protect your data, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. Please use strong passwords and keep your login credentials confidential.

4.5 Profile Moderation and Safety

To ensure a safe and authentic community:

• Admin Approval: All new profiles and photos are reviewed by our moderation team before being made public
• Approval Status: Your profile has one of these statuses:
  • PENDING: Under review (typically within 24 hours)
  • APPROVED: Visible to other users
  • REJECTED: Does not meet community guidelines
  • IN REVIEW: Additional verification required
  • NEED CLARIFICATION: Requires your response or updates
• User Reporting: Users can flag profiles for:
  • Fake profile or impersonation
  • Inappropriate content or photos
  • Harassment or abusive behavior
  • Spam or scam attempts
• Investigation: Flagged profiles are reviewed by our team. You'll be notified if action is taken on your profile
• Response: If your profile is flagged, you can respond with clarification or evidence

Moderation Data Collected:

• Approval/rejection reasons and timestamps
• Admin comments and feedback
• Flag history and user reports
• Your responses to moderation actions

5. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

5.1 Access and Update

You can access and update your profile information anytime through the app settings.

5.2 Delete Account

You can request account deletion by contacting us. Upon deletion:

• Your profile will be removed from public view
• Your personal data will be deleted from our active databases
• Some data may be retained for legal or security purposes

5.3 Control Visibility

You can control who sees your profile through privacy settings:

• Hide your profile temporarily
• Control who can contact you
• Block specific users

5.4 Communication Preferences

You can opt-out of promotional communications while still receiving essential service updates.

5.5 Location Settings

You can enable or disable location services through your device settings at any time.

5.6 Data Portability

You can request a copy of your personal data in a portable format (JSON or CSV).

Data Export Includes:

• Profile information (basic, community, education, career, lifestyle)
• Photos and biodata documents
• Match history and connection requests
• Chat messages (your sent and received messages)
• Subscription and payment history
• Contact unlock history
• Account activity logs

Request Process: Email us at winklogiq@gmail.com with your account details. We'll provide your data within 30 days.

5.7 Right to Rectification

You have the right to correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data. You can update most information directly in the app settings.

5.8 Right to Restriction

You can request restriction of processing your data in certain circumstances:

• Hide your profile temporarily (profile remains but is not visible to others)
• Pause notifications and communications
• Restrict data sharing with third-party analytics (opt-out in settings)

5.9 Right to Object

You can object to:

• Promotional emails and marketing communications
• Analytics and tracking (may limit personalization)
• Automated decision-making in certain contexts

5.10 Right to Withdraw Consent

You can withdraw consent for data processing at any time by:

• Revoking app permissions in device settings
• Disabling features in app privacy settings
• Deleting your account

Note: Withdrawing consent may limit or prevent use of certain features.

6. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as:

• Your account is active
• Needed to provide you services
• Required by law or for legitimate business purposes

After account deletion, we may retain certain information for:

• Legal compliance (typically 3-7 years)
• Fraud prevention and security
• Resolving disputes

7. Children's Privacy

Our service is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect information from children. If we discover that a child has provided us with personal information, we will delete it immediately.

8. Third-Party Links

Our app may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

9. International Data Transfers

As Ghatkaiti operates in multiple countries including India, USA, Dubai, and Nepal, your information may be transferred to and processed in these countries. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.

9A. Membership Plan Data and Feature Changes

9A.1 Plan Feature Tracking

We track your membership plan features and usage to provide accurate service:

• Current Plan: Your active membership plan type and tier
• Feature Access: Which premium features you have access to
• Subscription History: Past subscriptions, upgrades, downgrades
• Grandfathered Benefits: Legacy features you may retain from previous plan versions
• Plan Changes: History of plan modifications and feature adjustments

9A.2 Plan Modifications Notice

When plan features change:

• We will notify you at least 30 days in advance via email and in-app notification
• Existing subscribers may be grandfathered into old features until their subscription renewal
• Some features may be moved to higher-tier plans or removed entirely
• New subscribers will receive the updated plan features
• Grandfathered benefits are not guaranteed beyond the current subscription period

Recent Change (December 12, 2025):

• Grandfathered Users: BASIC plan subscribers who joined before December 12, 2025 retain 20 contact unlocks per month
• New Subscribers: BASIC plan subscribers from December 12, 2025 onwards do not have contact unlocking access
• Upgrade Option: BASIC users can upgrade to PREMIUM to access contact unlocking

Data Collection: We track which users have grandfathered benefits and their subscription dates to ensure proper feature access. Specifically:

• Your plan subscription start date
• Whether you subscribed before or after December 12, 2025
• Your current plan type (FREE, BASIC, PREMIUM)
• Whether you have grandfathered contact unlocking access

9A.3 Usage Monitoring

We monitor your usage of premium features to:

• Enforce daily and monthly limits based on your plan
• Prevent abuse or system gaming
• Provide usage statistics in your account dashboard
• Recommend plan upgrades if you frequently hit limits

Data Collected:

• Number of profiles viewed per day
• Number of connection requests sent per day
• Number of messages sent per day
• Number of contact unlocks used per month
• Profile boost usage
• Feature access attempts (successful and blocked)

10. Changes to Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes through:

• In-app notifications
• Email notifications
• Updated "Last Modified" date at the top of this policy
• At least 30 days' advance notice for material changes

Your Acceptance: Your continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Material Changes: Changes affecting how we collect, use, or share your personal data will be highlighted and require your explicit consent.

11. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences
• Understand how you use our app
• Improve app performance
• Provide personalized experiences

You can control cookie settings through your device preferences.

12. Your Consent

By using our app, you consent to:

• Collection and use of information as described in this policy
• Processing of your data for matchmaking purposes
• Display of your profile to other users
• Use of location data for nearby matches (if you grant permission)

13. Automated Decision Making and Matchmaking Algorithm

13.1 How Our Algorithm Works

We use automated systems and algorithms to:

• Recommend potential matches based on your preferences
• Rank profiles in your feed based on compatibility
• Filter profiles based on your search criteria
• Calculate match scores and compatibility percentages
• Determine profile visibility and priority in search results
• Detect and prevent spam, fraud, and fake profiles

13.2 Factors Considered

Matching Factors:

• Partner preferences (age, height, education, location, religion, caste, income, etc.)
• Profile completeness and quality (profiles with photos and complete information rank higher)
• Activity level and responsiveness (active users get better visibility)
• Community and cultural compatibility (Mithili community focus)
• Location proximity (if location services enabled)
• Membership tier (BASIC and PREMIUM members get priority listing)
• User interactions (profiles you view, shortlist, or skip)
• Mutual preferences (both users match each other's criteria)

13.3 Machine Learning and Personalization

Our algorithm learns from your behavior to improve recommendations:

• Interaction Patterns: Profiles you view, shortlist, or send requests to
• Preference Refinement: Adjusting recommendations based on your actual choices vs. stated preferences
• Feedback Loop: Improving match quality based on accepted vs. rejected requests
• Collaborative Filtering: Learning from similar users' successful matches

Data Used for ML: Profile attributes, interaction history, acceptance/rejection patterns, messaging activity, time spent on profiles.

Privacy Protection: ML models use aggregated, anonymized data. Individual user data is not exposed to other users.

13.4 Your Control

You can influence the algorithm by:

• Updating your partner preferences anytime
• Using advanced filters (premium feature)
• Providing feedback through interactions (shortlist, skip, block)
• Completing your profile (better matches for complete profiles)
• Adjusting search radius and location settings

13.5 Right to Human Review

You have the right to:

• Request human review of automated decisions affecting your account
• Contest algorithmic match recommendations
• Appeal profile visibility or ranking decisions

Contact support at winklogiq@gmail.com to request human review.

14. Data Breach Notification

In the unlikely event of a data breach that affects your personal information:

• We will notify you within 72 hours of discovering the breach
• Notification will be sent via email and in-app alert
• We will provide details about what data was affected
• We will inform you of steps we're taking to address the breach
• We will provide guidance on protecting your account
• We will report the breach to relevant authorities as required by law

Your Actions: If notified of a breach, we recommend:

• Change your password immediately
• Enable two-factor authentication if available
• Monitor your account for suspicious activity
• Review your privacy settings

15. Contact Us

16. Summary of Key Points