1. Introduction

Next Chat ("we", "our", or "us") operates a real-time messaging platform accessible at this website. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our service. By creating an account or using Next Chat, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

Account Information

When you register, we collect your username, email address, password (stored as a bcrypt hash — we never store plaintext passwords), display name, gender, date of birth, country, and state/region if provided.

Messages and Content

We store the messages you send, including text content, images, audio recordings, and files. Messages are stored in our database to deliver them to recipients and to allow you to view message history.

Usage Data

We collect your last seen timestamp, online/offline status, and which channels or rooms you are a member of.

Uploaded Files

Images, voice messages, and other files you upload are stored on our file hosting service. These files are accessible via URL to anyone you share the chat room with.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

Deliver messages and notifications to you and other users in real time
Authenticate your identity and maintain your session securely
Display your profile, avatar, and online status to other users
Maintain message history so you can view past conversations
Investigate and prevent abuse, spam, or violations of our Terms of Service
Send important service-related communications (e.g. security notices)

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We do not serve advertisements.

4. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored on MongoDB Atlas (cloud database) hosted in the United States. Uploaded files are stored on servers. We implement the following security measures:

Passwords are hashed using bcrypt with a salt rounds factor — never stored in plaintext
All API requests require a signed JWT token for authentication
All connections between your browser and our servers use HTTPS/TLS encryption
Database access is restricted by IP allowlist and requires authentication

Despite these measures, no system is 100% secure. We encourage you to use a strong, unique password for your Next Chat account.

5. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account exists. Messages and uploaded files are retained indefinitely unless you delete them or delete your account. When you permanently delete your account, your profile information is removed from our database. Messages you sent may remain visible to other participants in those conversations.

6. Information Shared With Others

By using Next Chat, you understand that:

Messages you send in public channels are visible to all members of that channel
Direct messages are visible only to you and the recipient
Your username, avatar, and online status are visible to all users on the platform
Your profile information (bio, display name) is visible to other users

7. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services to operate Next Chat:

MongoDB Atlas — database hosting (MongoDB Inc., USA)
Railway / Render — backend server hosting
Vercel — frontend hosting

Each of these services has their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review them.

8. Your Rights

You have the right to:

Access the personal data we hold about you by contacting us
Correct inaccurate information by editing your profile in Settings
Delete your account permanently via the Settings page — this removes your profile data from our systems
Request a copy of your data by contacting us directly

9. Children's Privacy

Next Chat is not intended for users under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you believe a child under 18 has created an account, please contact us so we can remove the account and associated data.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of Next Chat after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, please contact us through the Next Chat platform or raise an issue on our GitHub repository.