Privacy Policy

When you register for Knotchat, we collect:

• Email address (for account recovery and security notifications only)
• Username (randomly generated or chosen by you)
• Hashed password (we never store plain text passwords)
• Account creation timestamp

To protect your anonymity, we explicitly do NOT collect:

• Real names or personal identification
• Phone numbers
• Physical addresses
• Chat conversation content
• Voice or video recordings
• Browsing history on other sites
• Social media profiles

For security and service functionality, we automatically collect:

• IP address (for geographic matching and security only)
• Browser type and version
• Device type (mobile/desktop)
• Time zone setting
• Connection quality metrics

• Enable account creation and management
• Match you with other users based on preferences
• Provide customer support when requested
• Process Premium subscriptions
• Send important service updates

• Detect and prevent fraud, spam, and abuse
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Respond to legal requests when required
• Protect users from harmful content (with elevated priority for Minor Users)
• Maintain platform stability and performance

• Analyze aggregate usage patterns
• Improve matching algorithms
• Optimize platform performance
• Develop new features based on user needs

We do NOT store any chat conversations, messages, or call recordings.

All communications happen in real-time through peer-to-peer connections. Once a chat session ends, no record of the conversation exists on our servers.

We implement industry-standard security measures including:

• 256-bit SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmission
• Bcrypt hashing for password storage
• Regular security audits and penetration testing
• Secure data centers with physical access controls
• Employee access restrictions and training
• Automated threat detection systems

Account information is retained as long as your account is active. You may request deletion at any time. Technical logs are automatically deleted after 30 days. For Minor User accounts, additional data-minimization and retention limits apply as described in Section 9.

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Correction: Update or correct your information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and data
• Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Objection: Object to certain uses of your data
• Restriction: Request limited processing of your data

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at support@knot.chat. We will respond to your request within 30 days. We may ask for verification to ensure account security. For Minor Users, requests must be made or confirmed by a parent or legal guardian (see Section 9.2).

We use only essential cookies required for the Service to function:

• Session cookies for authentication
• Security cookies to prevent fraud
• Preference cookies for language and settings

We do NOT use:

• Google Analytics or similar tracking services
• Facebook Pixel or social media trackers
• Advertising cookies or retargeting
• Cross-site tracking technologies

We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We never sell or share data of Minor Users for cross-context behavioral advertising.

We may share information only in these limited circumstances:

• Legal Requirements: When required by law or valid legal process
• Safety: To protect users from harm or illegal activities
• Service Providers: With trusted partners who help operate our Service (under strict confidentiality agreements)
• Business Transfers: In case of merger or acquisition (with continued privacy protection)

For Minor User accounts, we collect only the data strictly necessary to provide the Service, fulfill legal obligations, and safeguard the user. For Minor Users we do NOT collect or process:

• Biometric identifiers or facial recognition vectors
• Precise geolocation data
• Advertising identifiers or cross-app tracking IDs
• Behavioral profiling, interest graphs, or psychometric signals
• Third-party data enrichment about the Minor User

Parents or legal guardians of a Minor User may, upon verification of their relationship to the Minor User, exercise the following rights on the Minor User's behalf:

• Access: Request a copy of all personal data we hold about the Minor User
• Correction: Correct or update personal data of the Minor User
• Deletion: Delete the Minor User's account and associated personal data
• Restriction: Restrict or object to specific data processing activities
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent previously granted, in which case we will deactivate the account

We respond to verified guardian requests within 30 days and free of charge.

We do not use Minor Users' data for behavioral advertising, ad measurement based on user profiles, retargeting, or automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects on the Minor User.

Minor User personal data is retained only as long as the Minor User account is active. Upon deletion request from the Minor User or their guardian, we delete personal data within 30 days, except where law requires retention (for example, for fraud investigation or legal hold).

To exercise the rights above, raise safety concerns, or report suspected unauthorized use of a Minor User account, contact support@knot.chat. We may ask for verification of your guardian relationship.