Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

• Account Information: Name, email, profile details.
• Location Data: Collected continuously via a foreground service, even when the app is not actively in use.
• Chat Messages: Texts exchanged within the app (not end-to-end encrypted).
• Posts & Media: Content you share such as text, images, or videos.
• Device Information: Device model, OS version, app usage statistics, crash logs.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to:

• Provide and improve Echo’s features.
• Enable chat, posting, and location-based discovery.
• Moderate content to prevent abuse, harassment, and illegal activity.
• Communicate updates, support, and security alerts.
• Comply with legal obligations.

3. Sharing of Information

• We do not sell your personal data.
• We may share limited data with service providers such as Google Firebase for storage, hosting, and analytics.
• We may disclose information if required by law, to protect user safety, or enforce our Terms.

4. Location Data

Echo collects and processes your location in the background using a foreground service. Location data is used to provide features like nearby discovery and contextual recommendations. You can disable location access in your device settings, but this may limit app functionality.

5. Chat Messages

Chat messages are not end-to-end encrypted. They may be reviewed or processed by moderation systems to detect abusive or harmful behavior. Do not share sensitive personal data in chat.

6. Posts & User Content

Posts you share (such as images, captions, or videos) are stored on Firebase and may be visible to other users according to your app settings. We may remove content that violates our Terms.

7. Cookies & Analytics

Echo may use Firebase Analytics or similar tools to understand app usage, improve features, and detect issues. These tools may collect anonymized information such as device type, OS, and app interactions.

8. Data Security

We implement technical and organizational safeguards to protect your data. However, no system is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute protection against unauthorized access.

9. Data Retention

We retain your information as long as your account is active or as necessary to provide services, comply with legal obligations, or resolve disputes. You may request deletion of your account and data by contacting us.

10. Your Rights

• Access, update, or delete your personal data.
• Withdraw consent for location collection.
• Request a copy of your stored data.

To exercise your rights, please contact us at echosocialconnect@gmail.com.

11. Children’s Privacy

Echo is not directed to children under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from children. If we learn we have collected data from a child without consent, we will delete it.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted within the app or on our website. Continued use of Echo after changes means you accept the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, contact us at:

Email: echosocialconnect@gmail.com