Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 2nd, 2021

Matrix Chat will be referenced in the later context as "the app". "We", "us" and similar terms refer to the Matrix Chat developer team.

Understand how your data is used

The Matrix protocol is designed with your privacy and data sovereignty in mind. Because it is a decentralised, federated service with cryptographically-validated message integrity, there are a few important things to know before you use the Service.

This app can communicate with any matrix homeserver which supports the matrix specification by the homeserver. The user is free to choose the homeserver and has to accept the privacy policy of this homeserver before using it.

Federation

Services using the Matrix protocol rely on Matrix homeservers which share user data with the wider ecosystem over federation.

• When you send messages or files in a room, a copy of the data is sent to all participants in the room. If these participants are registered on remote homeservers, your username, display name, messages and files may be replicated across each participating homeserver.

• The developer of this app collects no personal (or other) information by means of this app.

• Please refer to the privacy policy of your homeserver operator for details if you wish to request a removal of your data.

• The app allows users to select the matrix.org homeserver, or register/log-in to any other available homeserver. Before choosing the matrix.org homeserver, please review their privacy policy and code of condcuct. If you choose a different homeserver, please review their respective privacy policy and applicable terms before use.

• Federated homeservers can be located anywhere in the world, and are subject to local laws and regulations.

Bridging

Some Matrix rooms are bridged to third-party services, such as IRC networks, twitter or email. When a room has been bridged, your messages and media may be copied onto the bridged service.

• It may not be technically possible to support your management of your data once it has been copied onto a bridged service.

• Bridged services can be located anywhere in the world, and are subject to local laws and regulations.

Integration Services (Bots and Widgets)

The homeserver the user is using may provide a range of integrations in the form of Widgets (web applications accessed as part of the Matrix Client webapp) and Bots (automated participants in rooms). Bots and Widgets have access to the messages and files in rooms in which they participate.

Firebase Cloud Messaging

The app contains Firebase Cloud Messaging services.

In-app bug reporting (sometimes also called "rageshake") and feature requests

The app allows you to share bug reports with us and suggest app changes to us. Both of these actions require user interaction. When sending us a bug report or suggestion, you agree to share personal information with us that help us understand your issue. In particular, when invoking a bug report or sending a suggestion, the app reports following information to us:

• Your Matrix ID and information about your homeserver
• Information about the app version that you are using
• Information about your setup, including (but not limited to) the device model, the Android version, your language settings, and your theme settings
• Crash reports can additionally contain technical information such as (but not limited to) used and free application memory, and the application call stack

Furthermore, you can choose to additionally send us following information:

• A screenshot of the current app screen
• Application logs

It is possible for screenshots and application logs to contain further personal information, such as (but not limited to) timestamps of usage, joined rooms, communication partners, and partial message content.

Forgetting your Data

The app developer has no control over the data stored on your homeserver. You may wish to request your homeserver operator to forget your data if you deactivate your account. Each user in a Matrix conversation receives their own copy of all messages and files in that conversation (similar to email), so the homeserver operator might ensure data is forgotten by ensuring that your data is not shared further and is not visible to future users – please refer to the privacy policy of your homeserver for details. In case you use the matrix.org homeserver, you can find their privacy policy here.

If you remove (redact) a message, the message content will no longer be accessible to users. Redactions only remove message content, your display name and avatar – your username will still be visible. Federated homeservers and some matrix clients may not honour the redaction request.

Commitment to Children's Privacy

We never knowingly collect or maintain information in the app, through any of the Services provided, from those we know are under 16, and no part of the app is structured to attract anyone under 16. If you are under 16, please do not use the Service.

Contact list

If you want to allow us to fetch your contacts we can map your emails to Matrix IDs, this feature is not necessary and please feel free to not allow the app to fetch your contact list. We do not save your contacts on our end in any way!