Privacy Policy

Last modified: June 13, 2025

We at Softmeet, (together with our affiliates, "Softmeet", "we", "our" or "us") respect your privacy and are strongly committed to keeping secure any information we obtain from you or about you. This Privacy Policy describes our practices with respect to Personal Information we collect from or about you when you access Softmeet and its affiliates' websites (collectively, the "Site"), or use Softmeet and its affiliates' products and services, including application programming interfaces, associated software, tools, developer services, data and documentation (collectively, the "Services").

IMPORTANT: DATA USAGE AND STORAGE NOTICE

Softmeet operates a hybrid data model to provide both free and premium services:

Data-Free Services (Stored on Softmeet Servers)

The following services are provided data-free where applicable network agreements exist:

• Text messaging and chat - Stored in our South African servers
• Basic profile information (text-based)
• Website navigation and browsing
• User authentication and login

Data-Required Services (Third-Party Cloud Storage)

The following services require active data connection and are stored with third-party cloud providers:

• Image uploads and viewing - Stored on DigitalOcean Spaces
• Video uploads and viewing - Stored on DigitalOcean Spaces
• Voice note recording and playback - Stored on DigitalOcean Spaces
• File sharing and downloads - Stored on DigitalOcean Spaces
• Video and voice calls - Processed through Agora.io services
• Profile pictures and cover photos - Stored on DigitalOcean Spaces

By using media features, you acknowledge that these services require active data connection and will consume your data allowance.

1. COLLECTION OF YOUR INFORMATION

We may collect information about you in a variety of ways. We automatically collect certain information about persons from their smartphone or other device when they use, access, or interact with our Services.

Personal Data

Demographic and other personally identifiable information (such as your Name, Profile Picture and Phone Number) that you voluntarily give to us when choosing to participate in various activities related to the Application, such as chat, posting messages, sending feedback, and responding to surveys.

Storage Locations:

• Text-based personal data: Stored on Softmeet servers in South Africa
• Profile pictures and media: Stored on DigitalOcean Spaces (requires data to access)

Personal Information Provided Directly

• Full name
• Password (encrypted and stored locally)
• Email address
• Phone number
• Organization name
• Text messages (stored on Softmeet servers - data-free access)
• Contact list (local device only, never uploaded)
• Files, Audio, Video & Gallery (stored on DigitalOcean Spaces - requires data)

Third-Party Cloud Storage (DigitalOcean)

Media files including images, videos, audio recordings, and documents are stored with DigitalOcean Spaces, a third-party cloud storage provider located in Bangalore, India. This storage:

• Requires active internet connection to access
• Uses your data allowance when uploading or viewing
• Is subject to DigitalOcean's terms of service and privacy policy
• Provides enhanced performance and global accessibility

Contact List Permissions

Softmeet requests permission to sync with your device Contact List to allow you to select contacts to start chats with. Your Contact List is never uploaded to our servers or third-party services. Individual contacts are checked against our database locally to see if they're registered users, but the full contact list remains on your device only.

Audio & Video Recording Permissions

Required for voice/video calling through Agora.io services and voice message recording. These services require active data connection and will consume your data allowance.

Phone Number

Only collected for OTP authentication. Transmitted securely to OTP generation systems using encryption protocols.

Geo-Location Information

Collected only when you choose to share your location in chat messages. Location sharing requires active data connection.

2. USE OF YOUR INFORMATION

We use collected information for:

• Text-based communication services (data-free where applicable)
• Media storage and delivery through DigitalOcean Spaces (requires data)
• Real-time communication through Agora.io (requires data)
• Account management and security
• Service improvement and analytics
• Legal compliance and fraud prevention

3. DATA STORAGE AND PROCESSING LOCATIONS

Softmeet Servers (South Africa)

• Text messages and chat history
• User account information (non-media)
• Application logic and databases
• Authentication data

DigitalOcean Spaces (Bangalore, India)

• All uploaded media files (images, videos, audio)
• Profile pictures and cover photos
• Shared files and documents
• Access requires active internet connection and consumes user data

Agora.io Services (Global)

• Real-time video and voice call processing
• Requires active internet connection and consumes user data

4. DISCLOSURE OF YOUR INFORMATION

Third-Party Service Providers

We share information with:

DigitalOcean Spaces:

• Media files for storage and global delivery
• Subject to DigitalOcean's privacy policy and terms
• Located in Bangalore, India data centers

Agora.io:

• Real-time communication data for voice/video calls
• Subject to Agora's privacy policy and terms
• Global service with servers worldwide

Other Service Providers:

• Payment processing, email delivery, analytics, and customer service providers

User Interactions

• Text conversations: Visible only to conversation participants
• Media sharing: Delivered through DigitalOcean infrastructure
• Profile information: Basic details visible to other users

5. DATA USAGE TRANSPARENCY

What Consumes Your Data:

• Uploading or viewing images, videos, files
• Voice note recording and playback
• Video/voice calls
• Downloading shared files
• Loading profile pictures

What Doesn't Consume Your Data (where data-free agreements exist):

• Text messaging and chat
• Basic profile browsing (text only)
• Website navigation
• Account management

6. YOUR DATA RIGHTS

Account Management

You may review, update, or delete your account information by:

• Logging into account settings
• Contacting support@softmeet.co.za

Data Deletion

Upon account termination:

• Text data: Removed from Softmeet servers
• Media files: Removed from DigitalOcean Spaces
• Some information may be retained for legal compliance, fraud prevention, and investigation assistance

Opting Out

• Media services: You can choose not to upload or view media (text communication remains available)
• Marketing: Opt out through account settings or contact us
• Push notifications: Disable in device settings

7. SECURITY

We implement technical, administrative, and organizational security measures:

• Softmeet servers: Encrypted transmission and secure storage
• DigitalOcean: Enterprise-level cloud security
• Agora.io: End-to-end encrypted communication
• No security system is 100% secure - use services at your own risk

8. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS

Your data may be transferred internationally:

• Text data: Stored in South Africa
• Media data: Stored in India (DigitalOcean Bangalore)
• Call data: Processed globally (Agora.io)

By using our services, you consent to these international transfers.

9. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you become aware of any data collected from children under 13, contact us immediately at support@softmeet.co.za.

10. CHANGES TO PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy. Changes will be posted here with updated date. Continued use of services after changes constitutes acceptance of revised policy.

11. LIABILITY AND DATA USAGE COSTS

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS:

Data Usage Responsibility

• You are responsible for all data costs associated with media uploads, downloads, and viewing
• Softmeet is not liable for data charges incurred through use of DigitalOcean or Agora.io services
• Data-free access applies only to text-based features where network agreements exist

Third-Party Service Limitations

• DigitalOcean and Agora.io services are subject to their respective terms and privacy policies
• Service availability depends on third-party infrastructure
• Softmeet is not responsible for third-party service outages or data costs

Network Agreement Dependencies

• Data-free access depends on agreements between Softmeet and network providers
• Not all networks may offer data-free access to text services
• Users should verify data-free status with their network provider

CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions about this Privacy Policy, contact:

Softmeet
Email: support@softmeet.co.za
Website: https://softmeet.co.za

This Privacy Policy is effective as of June 13, 2025, and supersedes all previous versions.