Privacy Policy for MixCuss

Welcome to MixCuss! We value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect your information. By using MixCuss, you consent to the practices described in this policy. Please note that this policy is governed by the laws and regulations of India, specifically under the Digital Data Protection Act, 2023, which provides comprehensive protection for your personal data.

In short: At MixCuss, we are dedicated to providing a tailored and seamless experience, which necessitates the collection of certain personal data. The information we collect from you is essential for the functionality and enhancement of our services. Here’s a detailed overview of the primary personal data we collect:

We collect approximate geographic location data from your mobile device. This includes information about your location, determined by various means such as GPS, Wi-Fi, and cell tower data. By collecting this data, we can provide you with a more personalised experience, including location-based services, or users in the vicinity. Additionally, this data helps us improve our service delivery and app functionality, ensuring that we cater to your needs more effectively. You have control over your location data through your device settings, and you can disable location services if you choose not to share this information with us. However, please note that disabling location services may affect the app's functionality and the personalised experience we strive to provide.

Your mobile number is collected along with its country code, during the registration process and serves several key purposes. Primarily, we use your mobile number to verify your account, ensuring that you are the rightful owner of the account and that access to our services remains secure. In addition to verification, your mobile number allows us to communicate with you directly. We understand the importance of your privacy, and your mobile number will not be shared with third parties without your explicit consent, except as required by law or as outlined in this Privacy Policy.

We collect your full name to personalise your experience within MixCuss. Your name helps us create a more engaging and customised user interface, addressing you correctly in communications and enhancing social interactions within the app. By knowing your name, we can make our communications with you more personal and relevant, contributing to a user experience that feels uniquely yours. For instance, we might use your name to greet you in messages, personalised recommendations, or facilitate connections with other users. Providing your name helps us build a friendly and welcoming environment where you feel valued and recognized.

As we also require permissions for the following functions on your device for various core functionalities, we inevitably end up collecting any data that is either generated by them, or outputted by them. This data, if stored, will have the same protections as the other data that we collect and as such, we are informing you about them.

We request permission to send you notifications. These notifications may include updates about your account, security alerts, new features, and other important information related to your use of MixCuss. Notifications help us keep you informed and enhance your overall experience with timely and relevant updates.

As mentioned above, we collect your location data to provide location-based services and relevant content. This permission allows us to access and use your geographic information to enhance your interactions within the app.

We request access to your contacts to help you connect with users and other users within MixCuss. This permission enables us to suggest users who are already using the app and facilitate social interactions. Your contact information will not be stored or shared without your explicit consent.

We request access to your device's camera to enable you to capture photos and videos directly within the MixCuss app. This functionality is essential for features such as profile picture updates, video sharing, and other in-app interactions that require the use of your device's camera. Additionally, the camera is used to scan QR codes for various features within the app. The images and videos you capture are processed and stored in accordance with our privacy policy and are used solely for the purposes described.

We request access to your microphone to enable voice-based features within the app. This may include voice messaging, voice search, or other interactive voice functionalities that enhance your user experience. You have control over this permission and can enable or disable microphone access through your device settings.

We request permission to read from and write to your device’s local storage. This allows us to store app-related data, cache content for faster performance, and ensure smooth operation of the app. Access to local storage helps us improve your user experience by efficiently managing app data.

We use your personal data to deliver, maintain, and enhance the services provided by MixCuss. This section details the various ways we utilise the information collected from you:

We use your data to operate and improve MixCuss. This includes using your location data to offer location-based services, such as suggesting nearby events, places of interest, or users who are in the vicinity. Your name and mobile number help personalise your experience, ensuring that interactions within the app feel friendly and tailored to you. We also use your data to troubleshoot issues, analyse performance, and improve the functionality and usability of our services.

Your mobile number is used for account verification to ensure that you are the rightful owner of the account. This process helps us prevent unauthorised access and maintain the security of our platform. Additionally, we use your personal data to detect, investigate, and prevent fraudulent activities, abuse, and security breaches, thus safeguarding the integrity of our services.

We use your mobile number and, where necessary, your email address to communicate with you about important updates, security alerts, and changes to our terms of service or privacy policy. We may also send notifications regarding new features, promotions, and other information relevant to your use of MixCuss. These communications are essential for keeping you informed and ensuring that you are aware of any developments that may affect your use of the app.

Your name, location data, and usage patterns help us personalise the content and features you see within MixCuss. This could include tailoring recommendations, displaying content that is relevant to your geographical area, or customising your interaction with the app based on your preferences and behaviours. By personalising your experience, we aim to make MixCuss more engaging and relevant to you.

Access to your contacts enables us to suggest connections and help you find users who are also using MixCuss. We use this data to enhance your social experience within the app, making it easier for you to connect and interact with people you know. This feature is designed to foster a sense of community and enhance your overall experience on MixCuss.

Access to your microphone allows us to offer voice-based features such as voice messaging and voice search. Similarly, permission to read from and write to your device’s local storage helps us manage app data efficiently, ensuring smooth operation and better performance. These features enhance the functionality and usability of MixCuss, providing you with a more interactive and seamless experience.

We use your data for internal research and analysis to understand how our users interact with MixCuss. This helps us identify trends, usage patterns, and areas for improvement. By analysing this data, we can make informed decisions about new features, enhancements, and overall service improvements. This analytical approach ensures that we are constantly evolving and improving MixCuss to meet your needs.

We may use your personal data to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes. This includes responding to legal requests, such as court orders or subpoenas, and fulfilling regulatory requirements. Ensuring compliance with legal obligations is essential for maintaining the trust and legality of our operations.

We use your data to protect the rights, property, or safety of MixCuss, our users, and the public. This includes enforcing our terms of service, preventing harm, and addressing harmful behaviours. In situations where there is a threat to the safety or security of any individual or the public, we may use and disclose personal data as necessary to mitigate these risks.

With your explicit consent, we may use your data to deliver targeted marketing and advertising. This includes sending promotional materials, personalised offers, and relevant advertisements based on your preferences and behaviours. You have the option to opt-out of marketing communications at any time, and we respect your choices regarding data usage for these purposes.

At MixCuss, we process your personal data using various tools and services to ensure the best possible experience. The processing of your data involves the following packages and services:

We distribute MixCuss via Google Play Services, which collects certain data as part of the app download and update process. This ensures the proper functioning and secure distribution of the app.

To enhance the functionality of our app and provide you with a rich user experience, MixCuss integrates several essential services offered by Firebase:

This service plays a crucial role in ensuring the security of your account by managing user authentication processes effectively. It allows you to securely log in, authenticate your identity, and access personalised features within the app.

Our app leverages Firebase Firestore, a real-time database, to store and retrieve user data seamlessly. This enables us to deliver dynamic content and personalised recommendations based on your interactions with MixCuss, ensuring a tailored experience that meets your needs.

Utilising Firebase Cloud Messaging, we can send timely notifications and messages directly to your device. This feature keeps you informed about important updates, new features, and personalised content relevant to your use of MixCuss, enhancing your overall engagement with the app.

User-generated content such as photos, videos, and other media are securely stored using Firebase Storage. This ensures that your content remains accessible across different devices and platforms, maintaining both reliability and convenience.

We utilise several packages to process location data for providing location-based services:

Used to determine your approximate location to offer location-based services and features.

Converts geographic coordinates into human-readable addresses and vice versa, enhancing the accuracy and relevance of location-based services.

Provides map functionalities and geolocation services within the app.

Supports various geolocation services used in conjunction with Google Maps Flutter for a seamless mapping experience.

We take the confidentiality and privacy of your personal data very seriously. This section explains the circumstances under which we may share your personal data with third parties:

We may share your personal data with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf. These services include, but are not limited to, data storage, data analysis, payment processing, customer support, and marketing assistance. These providers have access to your personal data only to perform these tasks and are obligated to protect it and use it solely for the purposes for which it was disclosed.

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your personal data may be transferred to the acquiring organisation. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or transfer of assets and provide you with the option to opt-out if you do not wish your personal data to be transferred.

We may disclose your personal data to third parties if required to do so by law or if we believe in good faith that such action is necessary to:

1. Comply with a legal obligation, such as a court order or government request.
2. Protect and defend our rights or property.
3. Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with our services.
4. Protect the personal safety of users of MixCuss or the public.
5. Protect against legal liability.

We may share your personal data with our affiliates, which include any subsidiaries, joint venture partners, or other companies that we control or that are under common control with us. These affiliates are required to honour this Privacy Policy and use your personal data only as described herein.

With your explicit consent, we may share your personal data with other third parties. This could include, for example, sharing your data with social media platforms for marketing purposes or with other users of MixCuss for enhanced social interaction. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.

We may aggregate and anonymize your personal data so that it no longer identifies you individually. This aggregated and anonymized data may be used for various purposes, including research, analysis, marketing, and improvement of our services. Since this data is no longer personally identifiable, it is not subject to the same privacy protections as your personal data.

We may share your personal data with trusted third-party partners for the purpose of offering you additional services or functionalities within MixCuss. These partners are carefully selected and are required to adhere to strict data protection standards.

We are committed to maintaining the confidentiality and security of your personal data. Any sharing of your data is conducted with the utmost care and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

We take the security of your personal data very seriously and employ a variety of measures to safeguard it from unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Here’s how we ensure the protection of your information:

We use advanced encryption technologies to protect your personal data both in transit and at rest. This means that any data transferred between your device and our servers, as well as any data stored on our servers, is encrypted to prevent unauthorised access.

We implement strict access controls to ensure that only authorised personnel have access to your personal data. This includes role-based access, multi-factor authentication, and regular access reviews to maintain the integrity of our systems.

Our development team follows secure coding practices to prevent vulnerabilities during the development of our app. We employ techniques such as code reviews, penetration testing, and automated security scanning to identify and mitigate security risks early in the development process.

Where possible, we anonymize your personal data to further protect your privacy. Anonymized data is stripped of identifiable information, making it difficult to link back to you personally, while still allowing us to perform necessary analytics and improvements.

We believe in empowering our users with knowledge about data security. We provide general resources and guidelines on how you can protect your own data, such as using strong passwords and recognizing phishing attempts.

We carefully select third-party service providers who demonstrate a commitment to data security. We review their security practices, require them to comply with our data protection standards, and ensure they have adequate security measures in place to protect your information.

Data security is an ongoing priority for us. We continually monitor the evolving security landscape and adapt our practices to address new threats and vulnerabilities. By staying vigilant and proactive, we strive to maintain the highest level of security for your personal data.

We are dedicated to protecting your personal data and ensuring that it remains secure at all times. If you have any questions or concerns about our data security practices, please contact us.

Under the Digital Data Protection Act, 2023, you are entitled to various rights regarding your personal data. These rights are designed to give you control over your information and ensure transparency in how it is processed. This section outlines your rights and how you can exercise them:

You have the right to request access to the personal data we hold about you. This includes information about the data itself, the purposes for which it is being processed, and with whom it may be shared. To exercise this right, you may contact us at any time as mentioned below, and we will provide you with a copy of your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. However, you are informed that it would take a period of 30 (Thirty) days, during which we will retrieve your data from our storage and structure it accordingly.

If you believe that any of the personal data we hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to request its correction or completion. We will promptly update your data to ensure its accuracy and completeness.

You have the right to request the deletion of your personal data under certain circumstances, such as when the data is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or when you withdraw your consent. Upon receiving your request, we will take reasonable steps to delete your data from our records unless we are required to retain it for legal or regulatory reasons.

You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data in certain situations, such as when you contest the accuracy of the data or when you object to its processing. During the period of restriction, we will continue to store your data but will not process it further without your consent, except for certain exempted purposes such as legal claims or the protection of others' rights.

You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data at any time, particularly if the processing is for direct marketing purposes or based on our legitimate interests. If you object, we will cease processing your data unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing that override your interests, rights, and freedoms, or if the processing is for the establishment, exercise, or defence of legal claims.

If we rely on your consent to process your personal data, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal. Once you withdraw your consent, we will cease processing your data for the purposes for which consent was provided.

You have the right to be informed about how your personal data is collected, used, and shared. This Privacy Policy is part of our commitment to transparency and provides detailed information about our data processing practices.

We are dedicated to protecting your rights and ensuring that you have control over your personal data. If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the provided contact information, and we will respond to your request in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Please note that exercising your rights under clauses 6.3 (Right to Erasure), 6.4 (Right to Restriction of Processing), 6.5 (Right to Object), and 6.6 (Right to Withdraw Consent) may impact the services we provide to you. As we rely on the processing of certain personal data to deliver our services, exercising these rights could lead to the temporary or permanent cessation of some or all functionalities of the MixCuss app. We will inform you of the potential impact on services before implementing any changes based on your request.

By using MixCuss, you consent to:

1. The collection, use, and processing of your personal data as described in this Privacy Policy.
2. Receiving communications from us related to your use of MixCuss.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Effective Date" at the top. Your continued use of MixCuss after the changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at: privacy.mixcuss@gmail.com.