Privacy Policy — Vibe Radar
Effective date: March 1, 2026
1. Introduction
Vibe Radar is developed and operated by Nikota Co. Ltd., Thailand.
Vibe Radar ("we", "our", or "us") is a location-based communication app that connects people nearby through local chat, group channels, and direct messaging.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding that information. By using Vibe Radar, you agree to the practices described in this policy.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Account Information
- Email address — received from your Google or Apple account during sign-in
- Display name — chosen by you, visible to nearby users
- Profile photo (avatar) — optional, uploaded by you
- Status text — optional short bio visible to other users
2.2 Location Data
- Precise GPS location — collected while the app is in use (foreground) and in the background
- Location is converted into a geographic cell identifier (geohash) and used to connect you with users in the same area
- Background location is used to deliver push notifications when new messages appear near your location and to keep your group invites updated as you move
- We do not store raw GPS coordinates — only approximate geographic cell identifiers (≈150 meter precision) are stored
2.3 User-Generated Content
- Messages sent in local chat, group chats, and direct messages
- Messages in local chat are visible to all users within the same geographic area
- Messages in group chats and direct messages are visible only to participants
2.4 Device & Technical Data
- Push notification token (Firebase Cloud Messaging) — used to deliver notifications
- Device security state — the app locally checks for developer mode, rooted status, and emulator use to prevent GPS spoofing and abuse; this information is processed on-device only and is not transmitted to our servers
- App version — used to ensure compatibility and enforce required updates
2.5 Usage Data
- Presence information — whether you are currently active in a chat (used to suppress redundant notifications)
- Last seen timestamps per geographic area — used to determine whether push notifications should be sent
2.6 Reports
- If you report a message, we record that a report was submitted for that message
- Report records are automatically deleted when the message is removed or at the beginning of each calendar month
3. How We Use Your Information
| Purpose | Data used |
|---|---|
| Show nearby messages and groups | Location (geohash) |
| Connect you with users in your area | Location, profile |
| Deliver push notifications | Push token, location, presence |
| Authenticate your identity | Google / Apple account |
| Display your profile to other users | Display name, avatar, status |
| Update group invites when you travel | Background location |
| Prevent GPS spoofing and abuse | Device security checks (local only) |
| Enforce minimum supported app version | App version |
| Content moderation | Reports, message content |
We do not use your data for advertising, profiling, or selling personal information.
4. Data Sharing
We do not sell or rent personal data. Data is shared only with the following service providers required to operate the app.
Google Firebase (Google LLC)
- Firebase Authentication — account authentication
- Firebase Realtime Database — storage of chat and user data
- Firebase Cloud Messaging — push notifications
- Firebase Storage — avatar image hosting
- Firebase App Check — abuse prevention
- Firebase Cloud Functions — server-side logic
Firebase services are governed by Google's Privacy Policy. Firebase data is processed in the asia-southeast1 region (Singapore).
Google Maps Platform (Google LLC)
Used to display the activity map. Governed by the Google Maps Platform Terms.
Google ML Kit
Used on-device only to detect the language of messages. No message content is transmitted to Google servers for this feature.
5. Data Retention
| Data type | Retention |
|---|---|
| Account data | Until account deletion |
| Profile information | Until account deletion |
| Local chat messages | Automatically deleted when a cell exceeds 150 messages (oldest removed first) |
| Group / direct messages | Until chat deletion or user leaves |
| Location (geohash) | Overwritten when location changes; not stored historically |
| Push tokens | Until sign-out or token refresh |
| Presence data | Cleared on sign-out |
| Report records | Cleared monthly or after message removal |
6. Location Data — Additional Disclosure
Vibe Radar requests background location permission to:
1. Notify you when new messages appear near your location after you leave the area 2. Automatically update the location of a group you created when you move
Location is processed only as an approximate geographic cell identifier. We do not track your precise movement or build a location history.
You may disable background location access in your device settings at any time. The app will continue to function with foreground location only; location-triggered push notifications will not be available without background access.
7. Children's Privacy
Vibe Radar is not intended for users under the age of 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your country). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If we discover that such data has been provided, we will delete it promptly.
8. Security
We use Firebase security rules and server-side validation to protect your data. All data access is controlled through cryptographically verified user identity (Firebase Authentication UID). Clients cannot read or modify data they are not authorized to access.
No transmission method or storage system is completely secure. Users should avoid sharing sensitive personal information in public chats.
9. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights:
- Access — request a copy of your personal data
- Correction — update your profile information at any time within the app
- Deletion — request deletion of your account and associated data
- Portability — request your data in a portable format
- Objection — object to certain processing activities
To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the information in Section 12.
GDPR (EEA/UK users): The legal basis for processing your data is your consent (given at account creation) and our legitimate interest in operating a safe and functional service.
CCPA (California users): We do not sell your personal information. You have the right to know what data we collect and to request its deletion.
10. Third-Party Links
The application may allow you to open external services such as navigation apps or app store links. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those third-party services.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. When updates occur, the "Last updated" date at the top of this page will be revised. Significant changes may be communicated via an in-app notice or update prompt. Continued use of the application after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
12. Contact
For privacy inquiries, data requests, or complaints:
App: Vibe Radar Developer: Nikota Co. Ltd. Address: 122/96 Moo 1 Baan Irawadi Kat-Ho Building G Kathu, Phuket 83120 Thailand
Email: info@nikota.net
*This Privacy Policy is intended to comply with the Google Play Developer Program Policies, Apple App Store Review Guidelines, GDPR (EU Regulation 2016/679), and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).*