1. Overview

Village Chat ("Service", "we", "us") operates the real-time location-based community service at www.village-chat.com. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights. By using the Service, you agree to this policy.

2. Information We Collect

Information you provide:

• Nickname and profile photo (avatar)
• Gender and nationality — user-selected display attributes only, not verified identifiers
• Self-introduction (bio, up to 80 characters)
• Chat messages (group and 1:1 private)
• Reputation votes (Boom Up / Down) given to other users

You may delete all of the above at any time via the "Delete Profile" button in the app.

Automatically collected:

• Approximate location (lat/lng → district name only — exact coordinates are not stored)
• Device ID (random, browser local storage only — duplicate-vote prevention)
• Language preference
• Usage logs (Google Analytics — page views, session duration)

3. How We Use Your Information

• Providing chat rooms and location/language-based matching
• Anti-spam enforcement and community moderation
• Displaying reputation scores and profiles to other users
• Service improvement and analytics (Google Analytics)
• Displaying relevant advertisements (Google AdSense)

4. Third-Party Service Providers

• Google Firebase (Firestore) — profiles, messages, and votes
• Google Analytics — usage analytics
• Google AdSense — advertising platform
• OpenStreetMap Nominatim — reverse geocoding (no personal data transmitted)
• flagcdn.com — flag icons (country code only)

5. Data Retention and Deletion

• Profile data is retained until you delete it via the app
• Group chat messages may be retained for service continuity
• 1:1 messages are inaccessible after both parties leave the room
• Inactive profiles (30 days) may be automatically deleted
• Chat rooms are deleted once all participants have left
• Rooms inactive for 30 days are automatically deleted with all messages
• Spam ban records are retained for up to 7 days
• Device IDs are stored in browser local storage only — never transmitted to servers

6. Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use browser local storage (not traditional cookies) to save your profile, language preference, and device ID. Google Analytics and AdSense may use cookies. You can opt out of personalized ads via Google Ad Settings.

7. Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed to children under 14. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 14. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us and we will promptly delete it.

8. Your Rights

You may access, correct, or delete your personal information at any time via the "Delete Profile" button in the app. For additional help, contact us below.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be announced within the Service. Continued use constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

10. Contact