Chatlay Privacy Policy
Last Updated: 11 February 2026
At Chatlay, privacy is an important part of how we run our platform. People use Chatlay to message, share stories, join communities, and keep in touch with others, and we understand that comes with a responsibility to handle personal information carefully and transparently. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, when we share it, how long we keep it, and the choices you have over your information. We aim to keep this policy clear and direct so you can understand what happens to your data when you use Chatlay. This Privacy Policy applies to our app, website, and any related services we provide, including profiles, stories, messages, channels, groups, subscriptions, support, and any future features we may introduce. By using Chatlay, creating an account, or continuing to use our services, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
Information We Collect
We collect information in a few different ways. Some information is provided directly by you, some is generated when you use Chatlay, and some is collected automatically to keep the platform working properly. Information you provide may include your name, username, email address, profile photo, bio, account settings, subscription details, and anything you send to our support team. We also collect the content you choose to create, upload, send, or share through Chatlay. This may include messages, stories, images, videos, voice notes, profile content, reactions, links, and other material shared across the platform. In addition, we collect technical information such as device type, operating system version, app version, language settings, IP address, log data, crash reports, and usage information. We use this to keep the service secure, improve performance, and fix problems when they arise.
How We Use Information
We use the information we collect to provide and maintain Chatlay, manage accounts, deliver messages and media, support stories and community features, process subscriptions, and respond to support requests. We also use information to keep the platform secure, detect abuse, prevent fraud, enforce our Community Guidelines, and protect users from harmful or unlawful activity. We may use information for internal analytics so we can understand how Chatlay is used, improve features, fix bugs, and make the service more reliable. Where required, we may also use information to comply with legal obligations and to handle disputes or requests from lawful authorities.
Legal Basis for Using Your Information
Under UK data protection law, we must have a valid reason to use personal information. Depending on the situation, we may rely on one or more of the following: performance of a contract, our legitimate interests, your consent, or compliance with a legal obligation. We use contract where the information is needed to provide Chatlay and its features to you. We use legitimate interests where it is reasonable for us to do so, such as keeping the platform secure, improving our services, and preventing misuse. We rely on consent where we ask for it, and we may rely on legal obligation where the law requires us to do so.
Storage and Security
We take security seriously and use appropriate technical and organisational measures to help protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, or disclosure. Our platform uses MongoDB for database storage and Google Cloud for storing photos, profile pictures, and other media. We also use our own internal systems to support analytics and service monitoring. Passwords are not stored in plain text. They are protected using secure one-way hashing and other standard security measures designed to reduce the risk of unauthorised access. No system can be completely secure, but we work to maintain a safe environment and we regularly review our security practices.
How We Share Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share information with trusted service providers who help us run Chatlay, such as infrastructure, storage, analytics, security, and support providers. These providers only receive the information they need to do the work we ask them to do. For premium subscriptions, purchases are processed through Apple’s StoreKit system. Apple handles the payment process, and we only receive the information needed to confirm subscription status and provide access to premium features. We may also share information where required by law, where we need to protect the safety of users, where we need to investigate abuse or fraud, or where disclosure is necessary to enforce our rights or respond to lawful requests.
Premium Subscriptions
Chatlay Premium is processed through Apple’s StoreKit platform. Apple is responsible for handling the payment transaction, and any payment information is subject to Apple’s own policies and terms. We may receive confirmation that a purchase was successful, along with subscription status and related information needed to unlock premium features. We do not receive your full payment card details from App Store purchases.
Data Retention
We keep personal information only for as long as we need it for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. How long we keep information depends on the type of information involved, how it is used, whether your account remains active, and whether we have a legal reason to keep it for longer. When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to delete it or make it anonymous where appropriate.
Your Rights and Choices
Depending on where you live and which laws apply, you may have rights over your personal information. These may include the right to access your data, correct inaccurate information, delete your information, restrict or object to certain processing, and request a copy of your data in a usable format. You may also have the right to withdraw consent where we rely on consent, and to raise concerns with us if you believe something is wrong. If you are unhappy with the way we handle your personal information, you may also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Children’s Privacy
Chatlay is not intended for children below the minimum age required to use the service in their country. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children who are not allowed to use the platform. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child who should not be using Chatlay, we may remove the account and take steps to delete the relevant information.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or how we handle information. When we make changes, we will update the date shown at the top of this page. If the changes are important, we may also provide additional notice where appropriate. By continuing to use Chatlay after changes take effect, you agree to the updated Privacy Policy.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us through our support channels. We want Chatlay to be a place people can trust, and that includes being open about how we handle data and careful with the information people share with us.
