Introduction

At Panchit, we believe in protecting your privacy and providing a secure digital environment. This Privacy Policy outlines the types of information we collect, how we use it, and the steps we take to protect your data. Panchit is India’s own social media platform, proudly supporting Vocal for Local and AtmaNirbhar Bharat, and our mission is to empower every Indian user with a safe, engaging online experience. By accessing or using Panchit, you agree to the practices described in this comprehensive policy.

1. Information We Collect

To provide a seamless and personalized experience, we collect the following types of information when you interact with our platform:

• Personal Information: Name, email address, mobile number, profile photos, bio, and other account details provided during registration or profile updates. We may also collect verification data if you apply for a verified account.

• Usage Information: IP address, device type, operating system, browser type, page visits, interaction history, and engagement with posts. This includes log data, crash reports, and timestamps of when you log in and log out.

• Content You Share: Posts, photos, videos, comments, private messages, and community participation. We also collect the metadata associated with your content (e.g., the date a photo was taken or the file size).

• Location Data (Optional): If you choose to share your location for tagging or localized content, we may collect GPS coordinates or approximate location derived from your network (like Wi-Fi or cellular towers) to show you hyper-local trends.

• Cookies and Tracking Data: Cookies help us understand preferences, deliver personalized content, and improve performance. We use session cookies (which close when you exit the app) and persistent cookies (which remember your login details for future visits), alongside similar technologies like web beacons and device identifiers.

2. How We Use Your Information

We process your data legally, transparently, and securely. We use your information to:

• Provide and improve our platform, features, and services, ensuring the app runs smoothly on your specific device.

• Customize content based on your preferences and interests, utilizing algorithms to show you relevant posts, creators, and communities.

• Ensure the safety and security of all users on Panchit by detecting spam, fraud, and unauthorized account access.

• Analyze trends, gather insights, and measure engagement to build better features and optimize our user interface.

• Send important updates, notifications regarding policy changes, security alerts, and promotional communications (with your explicit consent).

3. How We Share Information

Protecting your trust is our top priority. Panchit does not sell or rent your personal data to any third party for marketing purposes. We only share information under the following circumstances:

• Trusted Service Providers: We may share limited information with trusted service providers for operational purposes, such as cloud hosting platforms, SMS gateway providers for OTPs, and analytics partners. These partners are bound by strict confidentiality agreements.

• Legal Compliance and Protection: Information may be disclosed if required by law, legal process, or government authorities (such as complying with the Information Technology Act and rules mandated by the Government of India).

• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user information may be transferred, subject to the acquiring entity agreeing to uphold this Privacy Policy.

4. Security Measures and Data Storage

We use robust security technologies to prevent unauthorized access, misuse, loss, or disclosure of user data.

• Technical Safeguards: These include industry-standard encrypted storage (such as SSL/TLS encryption for data in transit), secure servers, and regular security audits to identify and patch vulnerabilities.

• Data Localization: In the spirit of AtmaNirbhar Bharat, we strive to store the majority of our critical user data on secure servers located within the sovereign territory of India.

• Account Protection: We offer features like secure password hashing and monitor accounts for suspicious login activities to protect your digital identity.

5. User Rights and Choices

You retain ownership and control over your personal data. You have the right to:

• Access and Correction: Users may view, download a copy of, or update their personal data directly through their account settings.

• Deletion: You can request the deletion of your account and related data. Upon request, your public profile will be deactivated immediately, and data will be permanently purged from our servers within a standard grace period, except where retention is legally required.

• Opt-out: You may unsubscribe from promotional communications at any time via the "unsubscribe" link in emails or by adjusting in-app notification settings.

• Consent Withdrawal: You can revoke permissions for location access, camera, and microphone at any time through your device settings.

6. Children’s Privacy

Panchit is intended for users aged 13 and above. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information without parental consent, we will take immediate steps to delete that account and the associated data.

7. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Features

To enhance your experience on Panchit, we integrate third-party artificial intelligence services (specifically the OpenAI API) to provide features like the in-app AI Assistant and the comment drafting tool.

• Information Processed: When you choose to use these AI features, only the specific text prompts, questions, or instructions you type are transmitted to the third-party AI provider to generate a response.

• Protection of Personal Data: We do not share your personally identifiable information (PII), account details, or private profile data with the AI service provider. The AI strictly processes the immediate text inputs you provide.

• Third-Party Policies: The processing of your prompts by the AI is also governed by OpenAI's privacy policies. We ensure that our API integration is configured to protect user privacy and restrict the use of your data for the AI provider's model training purposes.

8. Content Moderation and Community Standards

Maintaining a healthy and respectful digital environment is paramount.

"Abusive behavior and objectionable content will not be tolerated. We reserve the right to ban any user and remove any content that violates our community standards within 24 hours of a report."

We utilize a combination of automated flagging systems and human moderators to enforce this rule strictly, ensuring that Panchit remains a safe space for every Indian.

9. Refund and Cancellation Policy

Panchit strives to provide a seamless transaction experience across our platform, including our automated wallet system, premium features, and creator competition ecosystem.

• Transactions and Wallet Top-Ups: Funds added to your Panchit wallet, as well as payments made for digital goods, creator support, or premium features, are considered final and non-refundable. Unused wallet balances cannot be transferred to a bank account or encashed.

• Cancellation of Services: Users may cancel any active subscriptions or recurring premium services at any time through their account settings. Cancellations will take effect at the end of the current billing cycle. No partial refunds will be provided for early cancellations.

• Refund Eligibility: Refunds will only be evaluated and processed in exceptional circumstances, such as proven technical failures (e.g., double debits) or unauthorized transactions. Such issues must be reported within 7 days of the transaction date.

• Requesting a Refund: To request a refund or raise a billing dispute, please email our support team at [email protected] with your registered mobile number, transaction ID, and a detailed explanation of the issue.

10. Policy Updates and Contact Information

• Updates: This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Users are encouraged to review it regularly. We will notify you of significant changes via in-app alerts or email. Your continued use of Panchit constitutes acceptance of any changes.

• Grievance Officer: In compliance with Indian IT Rules, if you have any questions, concerns, or grievances regarding this policy or your data, please contact our Grievance Officer at:

  • Email: [email protected]

  • Address: Office No.430/A, 4th Floor, No.1, Super Mall, Infocity, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382007, India