Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

We collect information to facilitate connections and improve our service. This data falls into two categories:

A. Information Collected by Default

• Technical Data: We may collect standard server logs, including IP addresses, browser types, device information, and operating systems, for security, diagnostics, and abuse prevention.
• Connection Metadata: To facilitate peer-to-peer (P2P) connections, our signaling servers transiently process signaling data (such as ICE candidates and SDP offers/answers). This data is used to establish the connection and is not permanently stored.
• Cookies & Local Storage: We use essential cookies or local storage solely for functional purposes, such as remembering your preferences or session state.

B. Information You Choose to Provide

Certain features may require or allow you to provide additional information:

• Profile Information: If you choose to create a profile (e.g., username, bio, links to GitHub/LinkedIn), this information will be stored and may be visible to other users you connect with.
• Verification Data: Future features may allow for optional identity verification. If you opt in, we (or a third-party partner) may process identification documents.
• Payment Information: If you purchase paid features, payment details are processed by secure third-party payment processors (e.g., Stripe). We do not directly store full credit card numbers.
• Communications with Us: Information you provide when contacting support or reporting issues.

2. Information We Do Not Intentionally Collect

Omnars facilitates peer-to-peer communication.

• Stream Content: We do not intentionally record, store, or monitor the content of video or audio streams between users. Bandwidth generally flows directly between peers (P2P).
• Message Content: While text messages may be routed through our infrastructure to reach your partner, we do not permanently store chat logs after the session ends, unless required by law or for specific safety tools (e.g., automated spam detection).

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the data we collect where necessary to provide our services, including:

• Service Provision: Establishing and maintaining WebRTC connections between peers.
• Safety & Security: Detecting and creating safeguards against abuse, spam, and illegal activity (e.g., checking IPs against ban lists).
• Platform Improvement: analyzing aggregated, non-personally identifiable usage trends to optimize performance and infrastructure.
• Communication: Responding to your support requests or inquiries.
• Legal Compliance: Complying with applicable laws, regulations, or legal requests.

4. Data Retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes set out in this policy.

• Transient Data: Signaling data is processed in real-time and explicitly discarded after connections are established or failed.
• Account Data: If you create an account, we retain your profile information until you delete your account or request deletion.
• Logs: Server and security logs are retained for a limited period to ensure platform stability and security, after which they are deleted or anonymized.

5. Third-Party Services

We may utilize third-party infrastructure to operate the platform. These providers are selected carefully to align with our privacy standards.

• Infrastructure & Hosting: We use cloud providers (e.g., AWS, Vercel, Railway) to host our application and databases.
• WebRTC Services: We may use TURN/STUN servers (e.g., Twilio, Xirsys, or self-hosted) to facilitate connections when direct P2P fails. Traffic through these servers is encrypted.
• Analytics: We may use privacy-focused analytics to understand traffic patterns without tracking individual user identities across the web.

6. User Responsibilities & Risks

While we strive to protect your privacy, the nature of real-time communication carries inherent risks which you acknowledge by using the service:

• Peer Interaction: You are connecting with others. Information, video, or audio you share is visible to them. We cannot prevent other users from using screen recording tools or external cameras to capture your interactions.
• Self-Disclosure: You are responsible for any personal information you choose to reveal during a session. We advise caution against sharing sensitive details like your address, phone number, or financial information.
• User-Generated Content: You are strictly prohibited from sharing illegal, harmful, or violative content.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have specific rights regarding your data:

• Access & Correction: You may request to see or correct personal data we hold about you (e.g., your profile).
• Deletion: You may request the deletion of your account and associated persistent data. Note that we cannot delete data that was transient and is no longer on our servers.
• Withdrawal of Consent: Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time, though this may limit your ability to use certain features.

8. Age Eligibility

Omnars is not intended for users under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18. If we become aware that we have collected such data, we will take steps to delete it.

9. International Users

Our services are operated globally. By using the platform, you acknowledge that your data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own, including the United States, where data protection laws may differ. We implement appropriate safeguards to protect your data during such transfers.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Continued use of the service constitutes acceptance of the new terms.