Privacy Policy

Last updated: 22 May 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how the HomeForge / ForgeChat Android app collects, uses, stores, and protects user data.

Developer

Developer: [Pieter]
Contact: [p.ieternicolaas@gmail.com]

Data We Collect

Depending on the features you use, the app may collect and process:

• Account information, such as username, display name, profile image, and login/session data.
• Chat content, including text messages, images, files, voice notes, reactions, delivery/read receipts, and message metadata.
• Notification data, including notification channels, notification messages, priorities, and media attachments.
• Device and app information, such as device ID generated by the app, Firebase Cloud Messaging token, platform, app version, connection state, and last seen time.
• Location data only when you choose to send a location message.
• Camera, photo, microphone, and media data only when you choose to capture, upload, or send that content.
• Game data, such as scores, ranked results, daily leaderboard entries, and game session metadata.
• Security and diagnostic data, such as IP address, authentication logs, blocked access attempts, bug reports, and server error logs.

How We Use Data

We use data to:

• Provide chat, media sharing, voice note, notification, and game features.
• Deliver push notifications to your devices.
• Sync messages, receipts, unread counts, and app state across devices.
• Secure accounts, detect abuse, prevent unauthorized access, and maintain service reliability.
• Process bug reports and fix technical issues.
• Maintain leaderboards and validate ranked game scores.

Permissions

The app may request these Android permissions:

• Camera: used only when you choose to take a photo.
• Microphone: used only when you record a voice note.
• Location: used only when you choose to send your location.
• Notifications: used to show chat and channel notifications.
• Network access: required to connect to the HomeForge / ForgeChat server.
• Wake lock / audio settings: used for reliable notifications and private voice note playback.

Sharing

We do not sell personal or sensitive user data.

Data is shared only as needed to provide the service, for example:

• Messages and media are shared with the users or groups you send them to.
• Push notification data may be sent through Firebase Cloud Messaging to deliver notifications.
• Data may be disclosed if required by law or to protect the service from abuse.

Security

We use reasonable technical measures to protect user data, including encrypted transport where supported, authenticated API access, access controls, and server-side validation for protected features.

Retention

Data is kept for as long as needed to provide the service, maintain security, comply with legal obligations, or support configured retention settings. Some chats or notification channels may have retention rules that automatically delete older content.

Account and Data Deletion

You may request account or data deletion by contacting: [p.ieternicolaas@gmail.com].

When an account is deleted, associated personal data will be deleted unless retention is required for security, abuse prevention, legal compliance, or backup recovery.

Children

The app is not intended for children under 13 and is not directed to children.

Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version will be posted at this same URL with a new “Last updated” date.