Privacy Policy — Ask Around
Last updated: June 17, 2026
Ask Around ("we", "our", or "the app") is operated by Siddharth Chaula. This policy explains what personal data we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, and your rights under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act).
By using Ask Around you agree to this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the app.
1. Who This Policy Applies To
This policy applies to all users of Ask Around in India. The app is intended for users who are 18 years of age or older. If you are under 18, do not use the app. If we become aware that a user is under 18, we will delete their account and data immediately.
2. What Data We Collect
Account Data (required)
- Full name — entered when you sign up
- Email address — used for login and account identification
- Password — stored in encrypted form by Supabase; we never see it in plain text
- If you sign in with Google, we receive your name and email from Google
Profile Data (optional — you choose what to fill in)
- Age
- Gender
- Instagram username
- LinkedIn profile
- A short bio
Request Data
When you post a request on Ask Around:
- The text of your request
- The category and price you set
- Whether it is an emergency request
- Your name (shown to nearby helpers)
- Your location (latitude and longitude) at the time of posting
Location Data
- We access your device location only when you actively use the app (when posting a request, viewing nearby requests, or choosing to share your location in a chat)
- We do not track your location in the background
Chat Data
- Text messages you send and receive
- Location messages — if you choose to share your location inside a chat
- Contact messages — if you choose to share a contact from your phone inside a chat
- Message timestamps and read receipts (to show unread badges)
Moderation Data
- If your request contains prohibited words, the request text, your name, and email are logged to a private moderation table for review
- If another user reports your request, the reason is stored alongside the request
3. Why We Collect This Data
| Data | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| Name & email | Account creation, identification, login |
| Password | Secure authentication |
| Profile (age, gender, bio, etc.) | Help other users decide whether to trust and assist you |
| Location | Show you nearby requests; show helpers how far away a request is |
| Request text & details | Core functionality — posting and responding to requests |
| Chat messages | Letting requesters and helpers communicate |
| Read receipts | Showing unread message badges |
| Block list | Keeping users safe from unwanted contact |
| Moderation logs | Preventing misuse and prohibited content |
4. Data We Do NOT Collect
- Photos or media files
- Device identifiers (IMEI, MAC address, advertising ID)
- Browsing history or activity outside Ask Around
- Precise background location (location is only accessed when the app is open and you take an action that needs it)
- Your contacts list — we only read a single contact at the moment you choose to share it in a chat, and we do not store your contact list on our servers
5. Third Parties We Share Data With
We do not sell your data. We share data only with the following services that are necessary to run the app:
| Service | What they receive | Why |
|---------|------------------|-----|
| Supabase (supabase.com) | All app data listed above | Our database and authentication provider; data is stored on their servers |
| Google | Email and name (only if you use Google Sign-In) | Authentication via Google OAuth |
| Google Maps | A latitude/longitude coordinate | Only when you tap "Open in Maps" to view a location; this opens the Google Maps app and is not stored by us |
Supabase is our primary data processor. Their privacy policy is at [supabase.com/privacy](https://supabase.com/privacy).
6. International Data Storage
Ask Around is based in India. However, our service provider Supabase may store and process your data on servers located outside India, depending on the region configuration of our project. By using Ask Around, you consent to your personal data being transferred to, stored, and processed in countries outside India, which may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.
7. Data Retention
- Your data is retained for as long as your account exists
- Service requests expire from the visible feed after 12 hours (3 hours for emergency requests) but remain in the database until you delete your account
- When you delete your account, all of the following are permanently deleted:
- Your profile (name, email, age, gender, bio, Instagram, LinkedIn)
- All your requests
- All your chat threads and messages
- Your block list
- Your auth account record
- Account deletion is processed immediately upon your request. All personal data is removed at that time. Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.
8. Legal Disclosures
We may disclose your personal data if required to do so by law, court order, or a request from a governmental or regulatory authority. We will only disclose the minimum information necessary to comply with such a requirement and, where permitted by law, will attempt to notify you before doing so.
9. Data Security
- All communication between the app and our servers uses HTTPS encryption
- Passwords are hashed and never stored in plain text
- Database access is protected by Row-Level Security (RLS) — users can only access their own data and conversations they are part of
- The service role key (which has admin-level database access) is never stored in the app and is only used server-side via a secure Edge Function
10. Your Rights Under the DPDP Act, 2023
As a user in India you have the right to:
- Access — request a summary of the personal data we hold about you
- Correction — update incorrect data via the Profile section in the app
- Erasure — delete your account and all associated data at any time via Profile → Account Settings → Delete Account
- Withdraw consent — stop using the app and delete your account at any time
- Grievance redressal — raise a concern with our Grievance Officer (details below)
To exercise any of these rights, contact our Grievance Officer at the email below.
11. Grievance Officer
In accordance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and applicable rules, the details of the Grievance Officer are provided below:
Name: Siddharth Chaula
Email: siddusiddharth630@gmail.com
We aim to acknowledge your grievance within 72 hours and resolve it within 30 days of receipt.
12. Children's Privacy
Ask Around is strictly for users aged 18 and above. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 18. If you believe a user under 18 has created an account, please contact our Grievance Officer and we will delete the account and all associated data immediately.
13. Changes to This Policy
If we make significant changes to this policy, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top. Continued use of the app after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
14. Contact Us
For any privacy questions, data requests, or concerns, please contact our Grievance Officer:
Siddharth Chaula
Email: siddusiddharth630@gmail.com