🔐 PALTAN PRIVACY POLICY

Version 2.0
Effective Date: Jan 2026
Last Updated: Sep 2026

1. INTRODUCTION

Paltan (“we”, “our”, “us”) is an independently developed mobile application.

By using the App, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the App.

2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

A. Information You Provide

Full name
Email address
Phone number
Profile photo
Bio information
Emergency contact name and phone number (optional — see Section 4A for exactly when and to whom this becomes visible)
Trip chat messages, including edits and deletions (a deleted message's text is cleared, but its existence and timestamp are retained so conversation history stays coherent for other members)
Expense entries and settlement records
Trip photos ("Memories") you upload
Receipt/bill photos attached to expenses

You are solely responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide.

B. Location Data (If Enabled)

Real-time GPS location may be collected
Location, and the approximate distance/relative position computed from it, is visible only to current members of the same trip
Can be turned off anytime
Not tracked outside active sessions — Paltan does not store a historical trail of your movements, only your most recent position while a trip is active

By enabling location sharing, you acknowledge:

GPS may be inaccurate
Connectivity interruptions may occur
Depends on third-party infrastructure
We are not liable for inaccurate or delayed location data

C. Pre-Trip Checklist (Not Collected)

The optional pre-trip packing checklist is stored only in local storage on your own device. It is never transmitted to, or stored by, Paltan or any trip member.

D. Subscription & Payment Data

Paltan is currently free to use, with no paid subscription offered. This subsection applies only if and when paid features are introduced in the future.

Subscription status
Transaction identifiers
Billing confirmations

Payments would be processed by Google Play Store or Apple App Store. We do not store credit/debit card details.

E. Automatically Collected Data

Device information
IP address
Log data
Usage statistics
Crash reports
Diagnostic analytics

3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

Create and manage your account
Enable trip features
Calculate expenses
Enable chat, location sharing, and the SOS alert feature
Show recognition badges based on your completed trip count
Improve performance
Detect fraud
Provide support
Manage subscriptions
Comply with legal obligations

We do not sell personal data.

4. DATA SHARING

We may share data with:

Firebase (authentication, storage, database)
Payment processors (Google / Apple)
Analytics providers
Cloud infrastructure providers
Legal authorities (when required)

Within the App, your profile and trip data are visible to trip participants. Trip photos ("Memories") and receipt photos you upload are visible to current and past members of that trip. By joining a trip, you consent to this visibility.

4A. SOS Alerts & Emergency Contact Visibility

When you send an SOS alert, the following becomes visible to, and directly callable by, every other current member of that trip for as long as the alert remains active:

Your live location at the time you sent the alert
Your phone number
If saved on your profile, your emergency contact's name and phone number

By saving an emergency contact to your profile, you confirm you have that person's consent to share their details with your trip group in this circumstance, and to being contacted by trip members during an SOS. Do not save an emergency contact's details without their permission. See our Terms & Conditions, Section 5, for the full disclaimer on the SOS feature's limitations.

5. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Paltan is not liable for:

Travel accidents, injury, or death
User disputes, or the acts or omissions of other users
Financial disagreements
GPS inaccuracies
Failure, delay, or non-delivery of any notification or alert, including SOS alerts
Reliance on the SOS feature or any emergency-related feature
Data errors
Third-party service issues

You use the App at your own risk.

6. ASSUMPTION OF RISK

Paltan is a digital coordination tool only.

We do NOT:

Provide transportation services
Guarantee safety
Verify identities
Vet, screen, or verify who joins a trip via a shared trip code
Monitor real-world interactions

A trip code can be shared with, and used to join a trip by, anyone who receives it. You are solely responsible for who you share a trip code with. All real-world travel, in-person meetings, and financial decisions are made at your sole discretion and risk.

7. INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to use the App responsibly. We are not responsible for misuse, disputes between users, or in-person interactions between users.

8. DATA SECURITY

We use industry-standard security practices.

No system is completely secure
Data transmission risks exist
You must safeguard your credentials

9. DATA RETENTION

We retain data while accounts remain active.

Trip photos ("Memories") are automatically deleted 15 days after upload
Receipt photos attached to an expense are retained for as long as that expense record exists
SOS alerts remain visible to trip members until resolved by the sender, and expire automatically from active display after a bounded window regardless
Profile data may be removed upon deletion
Trip data may remain for integrity
Legal retention may apply

10. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS

Your data may be processed outside your country. By using the App, you consent to this.

11. DISPUTE RESOLUTION & GOVERNING LAW

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of India. Any dispute arising from this Policy shall first be attempted to be resolved informally via support@paltan.app, and if unresolved, shall be subject to the arbitration and jurisdiction provisions in our Terms & Conditions.

12. POLICY UPDATES

We may update this policy anytime. Continued use means acceptance.

13. CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

This App is strictly for users 18+. Accounts violating this may be removed and associated data deleted.

14. ACCOUNT DELETION

You may request deletion by:

Emailing: support@paltan.app

15. CONTACT

For privacy inquiries:
support@paltan.app