Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy for NearIts

Last updated: 11 June 2026

This Privacy Policy describes how NearIts ("we," "us," "our," or the "App"), operated by [Your Name / Company Name], collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects your information when you use the NearIts mobile application and its companion web client.

By creating an account or using NearIts, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.

1. Who We Are

NearIts is a location-aware social messaging application that lets you chat one-to-one and in groups, share photos, videos, audio and documents, discover and connect with nearby users on a live map, and access your chats from a computer through a QR-based web login.

Contact: [akashgawale027@gmail.com] (change if needed)

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information you provide

Phone number — used to create your account and verify it via a one-time password (OTP).

Profile information — your name, email address, username, bio, and profile photo.

Optional social links — Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, GitHub, and personal website handles you choose to add.

Content you create — chat messages, group messages, posts, and any photos, videos, audio, and documents you send or upload.

2.2 Information collected automatically

Location data (precise and approximate) — used to show your position on the map and to find nearby users. With your separate permission, the App may also access your location in the background to keep nearby/live-map features updated while the App is not in the foreground (see Section 4).

Device & technical data — basic information needed to operate the service, such as connection status and your authentication session token.

2.3 Information collected with your permission

Contacts — if you grant permission, we access your phone contacts to help you find friends who use NearIts.

Camera & microphone — to capture photos, videos, and audio you choose to share.

Photos, media & files — to let you select, send, save, and receive media and documents, including files shared into NearIts from other apps.

We collect the camera, microphone, contacts, and storage data only when you actively use the related feature.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

Create, verify, and secure your account;

Deliver core features: messaging, group chats, posts, media sharing, and the nearby/live map;

Show you nearby users and your location on the map;

Sync your chats to the NearIts web client when you scan the QR code to link a device;

Send and store your messages and media so they can be delivered and re-displayed;

Maintain the safety, integrity, and reliability of the service.

We do not sell your personal information. We do not use third-party advertising or analytics/tracking SDKs in the App.

4. Background Location

NearIts may request background location access to keep the live map and "nearby users" features up to date even when the App is not open.

This permission is optional and is requested separately from foreground location.

You can deny or revoke it at any time in your device settings; core messaging will continue to work.

Background location is used only to power the nearby/live-map experience and is never sold or used for advertising.

5. How We Share Information

Your information may be shared in the following limited ways:

With other users — your profile (name, username, photo, bio, social links), your messages/media (with chat or group recipients), and, when you use the map, your approximate location/presence with nearby users in line with the App's privacy settings.

Service providers / infrastructure:

Hosting & backend — our application servers and database are hosted on Render (nearits-database.onrender.com), where your account data, messages, and uploaded media are stored.

Google Maps Platform (Google LLC) — to render maps and location features. Your use of maps is also subject to Google's Privacy Policy.

Giphy — when you search for GIFs or stickers, your search query is sent to Giphy to return results.

Deep links to other apps — when you choose to start a payment or open a contact, NearIts may open external apps such as UPI apps (e.g., PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, BHIM) or WhatsApp. NearIts does not collect or process your payment credentials; those transactions happen entirely within the external app.

Legal reasons — if required by law, regulation, legal process, or to protect the rights, safety, and security of users or the public.

6. Data Retention

We retain your account information, messages, and media for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the service. When you delete your account, we delete or anonymize your personal data within a reasonable period, except where we must retain it to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, or enforce our agreements.

7. Data Deletion

You can request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by:

Using the in-app account deletion option (if available), or

Emailing us at [akashgawale027@gmail.com] with the subject "Delete my account."

We will process verified deletion requests within a reasonable timeframe.

8. Data Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data, including encrypted (HTTPS) connections between the App and our servers and token-based authentication. However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Children's Privacy

NearIts is not intended for children under 13 (or the minimum age required in your country). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us personal data, contact us and we will delete it.

10. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to access, correct, update, or delete your personal data, withdraw consent, or object to certain processing. You can exercise these rights through in-app settings or by contacting us at [akashgawale027@gmail.com]. You can also manage permissions (location, contacts, camera, microphone, storage) directly in your device settings.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information may be stored and processed on servers located outside your country (e.g., on our hosting provider's infrastructure). By using NearIts, you consent to such transfer where permitted by law.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will update the "Last updated" date above and, where appropriate, notify you within the App. Continued use of NearIts after changes means you accept the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, contact us at:

Akash Gawale / Nearits

Email: [akashgawale027@gmail.com]

[Optional: Nashik / website]