AlignMates Privacy Policy

AlignMates is an independently developed social platform operated by Asim Nasar Siddiqui, an individual developer based in India (referred to in this Privacy Policy as "AlignMates," "we," "us," or "our").

This Privacy Policy explains how information is collected, used, stored, disclosed, and otherwise processed when you access or use the AlignMates mobile application, website, communities, communication features, or other services that link to this Privacy Policy (collectively, the "Services").

AlignMates is designed around privacy-conscious and pseudonymous participation. You are not required to publicly identify yourself using your real name, real photograph, or traditional public social-media identity in order to participate.

However, anonymous or pseudonymous participation does not mean that no information is processed. Certain information is necessary to operate, secure, moderate, maintain, and improve AlignMates.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with it, you should not use the Services.

For privacy questions, contact: alignmates@gmail.com

1. Information We Collect

The information we process depends on how you use AlignMates.

1.1 Account and Profile Information

We may process information associated with your AlignMates account, including:

• your username;
• MoodMoji or other profile representation;
• profile information you choose to provide;
• interests;
• account preferences;
• privacy and notification settings;
• Friends and friend requests;
• communities you create or join;
• account and activity information.

AlignMates does not require you to publicly use your legal name or real profile photograph as your AlignMates identity.

You should not interpret this to mean that AlignMates can never possess information capable of identifying a user. Technical, security, support, legal, or other information may in some circumstances be capable of being associated with an account or device.

2. Posts and User-Generated Content

When you create, upload, share, or interact with content, we process the information necessary to provide those features.

This may include:

• text posts;
• post titles and descriptions;
• Audio Posts;
• images;
• videos;
• polls and poll responses;
• comments;
• likes;
• mentions;
• links;
• community posts;
• post themes and formatting;
• saved-post activity;
• captions;
• other content that you voluntarily submit.

Content may also have associated information such as timestamps, account identifiers, moderation status, interaction counts, or community information.

Sensitive information you voluntarily share

AlignMates does not require you to publicly disclose sensitive personal information.

However, because AlignMates is designed to allow people to speak openly, users may voluntarily disclose sensitive or highly personal information in posts, communities, comments, or conversations.

For example, a user may voluntarily discuss health, relationships, employment, finances, religion, political opinions, personal experiences, sexuality, or other sensitive matters.

You are responsible for deciding what information you choose to disclose.

Do not publish information that you would not want other people to see, save, copy, screenshot, or share.

3. Public Content

Content you publish publicly, including posts, comments, usernames, MoodMojis, and public community activity, may be visible to other AlignMates users.

Depending on the feature, other users may be able to:

• view it;
• copy it;
• quote it;
• share it;
• save it;
• screenshot it;
• screen-record it;
• discuss it elsewhere.

Deleting content from AlignMates does not guarantee that copies independently created or retained by other users will also be deleted.

We cannot control information after another person has independently obtained it outside systems controlled by AlignMates.

4. Private Messages and Communications

AlignMates provides private communication features.

Depending on the features you use, we may process:

• text messages;
• message edits;
• timestamps;
• delivery status;
• read receipts;
• voice notes;
• images;
• videos;
• captions;
• media attachments;
• offline message queues;
• message synchronization information;
• conversation history;
• information required to provide message search.

Messages and associated information may be stored or otherwise processed as necessary to provide message delivery, history, synchronization, offline support, editing, search, safety, and related functionality.

Private does not mean impossible to copy

Private messages are intended for the participants in the conversation.

However, AlignMates cannot prevent another participant from independently:

• taking screenshots;
• recording their screen;
• copying messages;
• saving media;
• using another device to record content;
• reproducing information elsewhere.

You should communicate accordingly.

View Once and Listen Once

Certain AlignMates features may limit normal in-app access to content, including features such as View Once videos or Listen Once voice notes.

These features are intended to reduce continued access through the normal AlignMates interface.

They cannot guarantee that a recipient will not capture, record, photograph, reproduce, or otherwise retain the content using another device, operating-system functionality, modified software, or another method outside our control.

5. Audio, Camera, Microphone and Media Permissions

AlignMates may request permission to access device features when necessary for functionality you choose to use.

Microphone

Microphone access may be used when you choose to:

• create an Audio Post;
• record a voice note;
• record video containing audio;
• participate in a voice call;
• participate in a video call;
• use another feature requiring audio input.

Camera

Camera access may be used when you choose to:

• capture an image;
• record a video;
• participate in a video call;
• use another camera-related feature.

Photos and Media

Photo or media-library access may be used when you choose to select media for:

• posts;
• private messages;
• communities;
• profiles;
• other media-sharing features.

Permissions are controlled through your device operating system and may generally be changed through your device settings.

6. Voice and Video Calls

AlignMates processes information necessary to establish and transmit voice and video calls between users.

As part of ordinary calling functionality, AlignMates does not intentionally record and permanently store the contents of live voice or video calls unless a specific recording feature is expressly provided and disclosed to users.

Technical information necessary to connect, maintain, secure, or troubleshoot calls may nevertheless be processed by AlignMates and infrastructure providers involved in providing the calling functionality.

No internet-based communication system can guarantee absolute confidentiality or security.

7. Device, Network, Usage and Diagnostic Information

When you use AlignMates, certain technical information may be processed automatically.

Depending on our infrastructure and the way you use the Services, this may include:

• device identifiers;
• device type;
• operating system;
• app version;
• IP address;
• timestamps;
• network information;
• session information;
• crash information;
• diagnostic information;
• security events;
• application-performance information;
• feature usage information.

We may use this information to:

• operate AlignMates;
• maintain security;
• diagnose bugs;
• improve reliability;
• prevent spam;
• detect fraud;
• prevent abuse;
• enforce account restrictions;
• identify ban evasion;
• protect users;
• perform internal analytics;
• improve features and user experience.

8. Reports, Blocking, Moderation and Safety

AlignMates provides tools for reporting posts, reporting users, blocking accounts, and moderating communities.

When a report is submitted or content is reviewed, we may process information such as:

• the reported content;
• the reporting account;
• the reported account;
• relevant usernames;
• post or message identifiers;
• relevant conversation or content context;
• timestamps;
• community information;
• reports and supporting information;
• moderation decisions;
• enforcement history;
• device or security information relevant to abuse prevention.

We may use this information to:

• investigate reports;
• enforce our Terms or Community Guidelines;
• detect repeated abuse;
• prevent harassment;
• prevent fraud;
• prevent ban evasion;
• protect users;
• maintain platform integrity;
• respond to lawful requests;
• preserve evidence where reasonably necessary.

Anonymous reporting

Where AlignMates describes reporting as anonymous, this generally means that the identity of the reporting user will not be disclosed to the user being reported through the normal reporting process.

It does not necessarily mean the report is technically anonymous to AlignMates itself, because we may need to know which account submitted a report for security, abuse prevention, investigation, or legal purposes.

9. Community Moderation

Community owners and administrators may receive moderation tools allowing them to manage content within communities they control.

Depending on the feature, moderators may be able to access information necessary to:

• review reported community posts;
• take moderation action;
• manage community participation;
• enforce community rules.

Community moderators are independent users of AlignMates. You should not provide them with sensitive information merely because they hold a moderator or administrator role.

AlignMates may separately review community activity where necessary to enforce platform-wide rules.

10. How We Use Information

We may process information to:

Provide AlignMates

Including to:

• maintain accounts;
• publish posts;
• operate communities;
• provide discovery feeds;
• provide search;
• provide Connect functionality;
• manage friendships;
• deliver private messages;
• synchronize offline messages;
• send notifications;
• provide voice notes;
• provide media;
• provide voice and video calls.

Protect AlignMates and its users

Including to:

• investigate reports;
• enforce rules;
• prevent fraud;
• prevent spam;
• detect harmful or malicious activity;
• prevent ban evasion;
• protect accounts;
• maintain platform security.

Improve the Services

Including to:

• diagnose errors;
• fix bugs;
• understand how features perform;
• improve reliability;
• improve usability;
• develop and test new functionality;
• conduct internal analytics.

Communicate with users

Including to:

• respond to support requests;
• provide important account notices;
• provide security notices;
• communicate moderation decisions;
• communicate material service updates.

Comply with law

Including where reasonably necessary to:

• comply with applicable legal obligations;
• respond to valid legal process;
• protect our legal rights;
• investigate unlawful conduct;
• prevent serious harm.

11. Service Providers

AlignMates may rely on third-party infrastructure and service providers to operate portions of the Services.

Depending on our technical infrastructure, these providers may perform functions such as:

• cloud hosting;
• database services;
• file or media storage;
• authentication;
• content delivery;
• push notifications;
• voice/video communications;
• security;
• crash diagnostics;
• analytics;
• email;
• customer support.

These providers may process information on our behalf where necessary to provide their services.

We do not authorize service providers to use information for unrelated purposes merely because they provide infrastructure to AlignMates.

We may update this Privacy Policy if our use of material service providers meaningfully changes.

12. When We May Disclose Information

We do not sell or rent your personal information for money.

We may disclose information in limited circumstances including:

To other users

Where you choose to publish content or communicate with another user.

To service providers

Where necessary to operate AlignMates.

For legal compliance

Where we reasonably believe disclosure or preservation is required to:

• comply with applicable law;
• comply with a valid court order;
• respond to a legally authorized government request;
• cooperate with lawful investigations;
• comply with binding legal process.

Where legally permitted and reasonably appropriate, we may seek clarification, narrowing, or appropriate legal process before disclosing user information.

Safety and emergencies

Where permitted by law, we may disclose information if reasonably necessary to prevent or respond to a serious and imminent threat to a person's safety.

Transfer of AlignMates

If ownership or operation of AlignMates, its assets, or its Services is transferred, sold, reorganized, or acquired in the future, information may be transferred as part of that transaction subject to applicable law.

13. Data Retention

We retain information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and why it is processed.

We may retain information for purposes including:

• operating your account;
• providing content and conversations;
• security;
• abuse prevention;
• moderation;
• fraud prevention;
• resolving disputes;
• enforcing restrictions;
• preventing ban evasion;
• complying with legal requirements.

Account deletion

You may delete your AlignMates account through available account settings or contact us for assistance.

Deletion does not necessarily cause every copy of information to disappear immediately.

After deletion:

• information may require time to be removed from active systems;
• information may temporarily remain in backups;
• other users may retain messages or content they received;
• screenshots or copies made by other users remain outside our control;
• security or abuse-prevention records may be retained where reasonably necessary;
• moderation records may be retained where reasonably necessary;
• information may be preserved where required by law or valid legal process.

Where applicable law requires deletion, we will comply subject to lawful exceptions.

14. Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures intended to protect information processed through AlignMates.

However:

no application, server, database, network, communication system, or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

We therefore cannot guarantee:

• absolute security;
• that unauthorized access will never occur;
• that software will never contain vulnerabilities;
• that another user will never misuse information received from you.

You are responsible for protecting access to your device and account.

If you believe your AlignMates account or information has been compromised, contact us promptly at alignmates@gmail.com.

15. Anonymous and Pseudonymous Use

AlignMates is designed to allow users to interact without creating a traditional public real-world identity.

However, AlignMates does not promise absolute, technical, legal, or untraceable anonymity.

Your account or activity may in some circumstances be associated with technical information such as device identifiers, IP addresses, security records, reports, or information provided through lawful process.

You should therefore understand "anonymous" on AlignMates primarily as not being required to publicly reveal your offline identity to other users, rather than as a guarantee that no technical information exists.

16. Users Under 18

AlignMates is intended for users who are 18 years of age or older.

We do not knowingly permit children under 18 to maintain AlignMates accounts.

If we become aware that a person under 18 is using AlignMates, we may:

• suspend the account;
• restrict access;
• request information reasonably necessary to determine eligibility where permitted by law;
• delete the account and associated information;
• retain limited information where reasonably required for safety, abuse prevention, or legal compliance.

If you believe a person under 18 is using AlignMates, contact:

alignmates@gmail.com

17. Your Privacy Choices and Rights

Depending on applicable law and your location, you may have rights concerning information relating to you.

These may include rights or options to:

• request information about our processing;
• access certain information;
• correct inaccurate information;
• delete content;
• delete your account;
• withdraw certain permissions or consent;
• object to certain processing where applicable;
• submit a privacy complaint.

Some rights may be subject to legal exceptions.

We may take reasonable steps to verify that a request relates to the appropriate account before acting on it.

We may also refuse or limit a request where permitted by law, including where necessary to:

• protect another person's rights;
• prevent fraud;
• maintain platform security;
• preserve evidence;
• comply with legal obligations;
• enforce valid restrictions;
• defend legal claims.

Requests may be sent to:

alignmates@gmail.com

18. International Processing

The internet infrastructure and service providers used to operate AlignMates may process or store information in countries other than India or your country of residence.

Where applicable law imposes requirements on international transfers or processing, we will take reasonable steps to comply with those requirements.

19. Third-Party Links

Users may share links to websites or services that are not controlled by AlignMates.

AlignMates is not responsible for the:

• content;
• privacy practices;
• security;
• availability;
• conduct

of third-party websites or services.

A link appearing on AlignMates does not mean that AlignMates endorses that third party.

You should review the applicable privacy policy before providing information to another service.

20. Changes to This Privacy Policy

AlignMates may update this Privacy Policy when necessary to reflect:

• new features;
• product changes;
• changes in our data practices;
• changes in service providers;
• security changes;
• legal or regulatory requirements.

When we update this Privacy Policy, we will update the Last Updated date.

Where a change is material or applicable law requires additional notice, we may provide notice through:

• the application;
• the website;
• a notification;
• another reasonable method.

We will obtain consent to material changes where applicable law specifically requires consent.

21. Grievance Redressal

AlignMates provides a mechanism for users or affected persons to submit complaints concerning the Services, content, accounts, privacy, safety, or other matters.

Grievance Officer

Name: Asim Nasar Siddiqui
Role: Founder, Operator & Grievance Officer — AlignMates
Country: India
Email: alignmates@gmail.com

Please include sufficient information to help us understand and investigate your complaint, such as:

• your AlignMates username, where applicable;
• the relevant username or community;
• a post, message, or content reference;
• screenshots where useful;
• a clear description of the issue.

We may request additional information reasonably necessary to investigate the complaint or verify that the request relates to you.

For grievances to which India's intermediary rules apply, AlignMates will endeavor to acknowledge complaints within the applicable statutory period and resolve them within the applicable period, including shorter periods where the law requires expedited action. The current general rule requires acknowledgment within 24 hours and resolution within seven days.

22. Contact Us

For questions, privacy requests, reports, complaints, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy:

AlignMates
Independent service operated by Asim Nasar Siddiqui
India
Email: alignmates@gmail.com