Welcome to IncogTalk ("we," "our," or "us"), an independent project operated by Saurav Jangid. We are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our anonymous chat service through the Instagram bot @incogtalk (the "Service").

1. Information We Collect

To provide our Service, we collect a limited amount of information. We have designed our system to collect only what is necessary to facilitate anonymous conversations and ensure safety.

Information You Provide to Us:

• Instagram User Scoped ID (IGSID) and Username: To manage your conversations and settings, Instagram provides us with a unique numeric ID (IGSID) and your username for your account. Your username is used for identification within our system and is never shared with other users you chat with.
• Profile Information: During onboarding, you provide a nickname, interests, language, country, and gender. This information is used to connect you with other users. And is completely optional.
• Follower Status: We check if you follow our Instagram account (@incogtalk) to manage daily conversation limits. This status (isFollower) is stored in our database.
• Conversation Data: We store your conversation pairings and the messages you send. Both Conversation & Messages are automatically deleted after 7 days.

Information Collected Automatically:

• Usage Analytics: We collect internal analytics data, such as the duration of conversations, to monitor and improve the service.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To Provide and Maintain the Service: To match you with other users based on your profile and to relay messages between you and your chat partner.
• To Maintain Safety and Security: To enforce our policies, prevent spam and abuse, and handle user reports. We store conversation data for 7 days for moderation purposes.
• To Improve the Service: We use aggregated and anonymized data, such as popular interests or languages, to analyze usage trends and improve the functionality and user experience.
• To Communicate With You: To send you system messages related to the Service, such as confirming the start or end of a chat or notifying you of policy changes.

3. Data Retention

We believe in data minimization and retain your data only as long as necessary.

• Chat History & Messages: Messages and conversation transcripts are stored for a maximum of 7 days for moderation and reporting purposes, after which they are permanently deleted from our databases.
• Reported Data: When a report is filed, the relevant conversation transcript and the IGSIDs of both users involved are retained for review for a maximum of 7 days.
• Profile Data: Your profile data (IGSID, username, nickname, interests, etc.) is stored as long as you use the service. Data is only deleted upon a valid user deletion request.
• Bans & Abuse Prevention: In cases where a user has violated our Terms of Service (e.g., harassment, spam, abuse), we may retain a minimal record of their Instagram Scoped ID (IGSID) solely for the purpose of enforcing bans and preventing repeat abuse. This data is stored in a hashed format (sha256) and is not used for any other purpose.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

Your anonymity is paramount. We do not sell or rent your data. We do not share your information except in the limited circumstances described below.

• With Other Users: We never share your Instagram username or IGSID with other users you chat with. All interactions are anonymized through your chosen nickname.
• Third-Party Service Providers: We use third-party services to host our servers and database. Your data is processed by these services solely for the purpose of operating IncogTalk. Our providers are:
  • Render: Server hosting.
  • Aiven: Database hosting.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a legal obligation or a request from a legal authority.

Important Notice Regarding the Instagram Platform

Our service operates entirely within the Instagram Direct Messaging (DM) platform. By using IncogTalk, you understand and agree that Instagram (Meta Platforms, Inc.) also has access to your messages and the information you provide, subject to their own Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. We have no control over the data collection practices of Meta.

5. Your Data Rights and Choices

You have control over your information.

• Ending Chats: You can end a conversation at any time using the /end or /leave commands.
• Data Deletion: You can request the permanent deletion of all your stored data (including IGSID, profile, and any associated information) by sending a /delete command to the @incogtalk bot.
  
  Please note: If you request deletion of your data, we will delete your profile, conversations, and all other stored information. However, we may retain your Instagram Scoped ID (IGSID) in a hashed format (sha256) if necessary to enforce permanent bans or prevent future abuse. This retention is limited to abuse-prevention purposes only.
• Data Access: Currently, we do not offer an automated way for users to request a copy of their stored profile information. This feature may be considered for future development.

6. Children's Privacy

Our service is intended for users who are 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18. If you are under 18, you are not permitted to use this service, even with parental permission.

7. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Significant changes will be communicated by sending a message via the IncogTalk bot on Instagram (if not limited by instagram api) and by posting the revised Privacy Policy on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We also reserve the right to make updates at our discretion without prior notice, and we encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we handle your information. Your continued use of the Service after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Privacy Policy.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us. We're happy to help.

• Email: incogtalk.info@gmail.com
• Instagram: @_saurav.0x1
• Telegram: @notsarv