Privacy Policy

Welcome to Chatroulette. We value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy outlines our practices regarding the collection, use, processing, and disclosure of your information when you use the Chatroulette website, mobile applications, and associated services (collectively, the "Services").

By accessing or using our Services, you signify your understanding of this Privacy Policy. Due to the unique nature of our platform—which facilitates random, anonymous, peer-to-peer video connections with strangers worldwide—we have implemented specific data handling procedures designed to balance user anonymity with strict trust and safety requirements.

1. Information We Collect

To provide, improve, and secure our Services, we collect several different types of information from and about our users.

A. Information You Provide to Us

Because Chatroulette is primarily an anonymous platform, we require very little direct personal information to use the core video chat functionality. However, we may collect:

• Communication Data: If you contact our customer support team, report a bug, or submit an inquiry, we collect your email address, the contents of your message, and any attachments you provide.
• Payment Information: If you choose to purchase "Quids" (our in-app currency), your payment details are processed by secure, third-party payment gateways (such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Stripe). Chatroulette does not store your full credit card numbers or financial data.

B. Automatically Collected Information

When you access our Services, we automatically collect certain technical information about your device and interaction with the platform. This helps us ensure the platform operates smoothly and allows us to enforce bans against users who violate our Terms of Use.

• Log and Usage Data: We collect details about your interactions with the Services, including IP addresses, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, timestamps of visits, and the duration of your sessions.
• Device Information: We may collect information about the device you are using, including hardware models, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information.
• Location Data: We derive your approximate geographic location (at the city or country level) based on your IP address. This is strictly used to facilitate the "Country Filter" feature, ensuring you match with users in your desired geographic regions.

C. Video, Audio, and Text Chat Data

The core functionality of Chatroulette is real-time video and text communication. It is crucial to understand how this data is handled:

• Peer-to-Peer Transmission (WebRTC): Video and audio streams are primarily transmitted directly between you and the user you are matched with using WebRTC technology. These streams are not persistently recorded or stored on our servers for general archival purposes.
• AI Moderation and Screenshots: To maintain a safe environment and enforce our zero-tolerance policy against nudity and illegal content, Chatroulette utilizes automated Artificial Intelligence (AI) screening. By using the camera function, you explicitly consent to our system taking temporary, automated, and encrypted screenshots of your video feed. These images are analyzed in real-time by our AI to detect policy violations.
• Text Chats: Text messages exchanged during a session are processed by our servers to facilitate the delivery to your chat partner. These messages are temporary and are generally deleted shortly after the chat session ends, unless flagged for policy violations.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for a variety of critical business and safety purposes:

• To Provide the Service: We use your IP address, browser data, and device information to establish WebRTC connections, optimize routing, and ensure stable, low-latency video feeds between you and other users.
• To Enforce Trust and Safety: This is our highest priority. We use the automated screenshots and AI analysis to detect and instantly interrupt broadcasts of sexually explicit material, violence, or other prohibited content. If a violation is detected, your IP address and device identifier will be used to ban you from the platform.
• To Improve Our Algorithms: We analyze usage data, connection lengths, and the rate at which users skip ("Next") each other to refine our matching algorithms, ensuring users are paired with engaging partners.
• To Manage the Quids Economy: We track your session behavior (such as being skipped or maintaining long conversations) to automatically distribute or deduct Quids according to our virtual economy rules.

3. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for targeted advertising purposes. We only share information under the following strict circumstances:

A. With Other Users

When you use the video chat feature, your video, audio, and any text messages you send are streamed in real-time to your randomly matched partner. Your approximate location (Country) may also be visible to them if they are using the country filter.

B. With Service Providers

We may share your data with trusted third-party vendors who assist us in operating our platform, such as cloud hosting providers (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud), payment processors, and AI infrastructure partners. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and only use it for the services they provide to us.

C. For Legal and Safety Reasons (Law Enforcement)

Chatroulette has a zero-tolerance policy regarding illegal activities, particularly the exploitation of minors. We actively cooperate with international law enforcement. We will disclose your information (including IP addresses, chat logs, and moderation screenshots) if we believe in good faith that it is necessary to:

• Comply with a valid legal process, subpoena, or court order.
• Report suspected Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or INHOPE.
• Protect the rights, property, or physical safety of Chatroulette, our users, or the general public.
• Investigate and defend ourselves against third-party claims or allegations.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on our Services and hold certain information. Cookies are files with a small amount of data which may include an anonymous unique identifier. We use cookies primarily for:

• Session Management: To keep track of your state within the app (e.g., your current Quids balance, your selected country filters).
• Analytics: To understand how users navigate the site, allowing us to improve UI/UX design and site performance.

You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, certain features of Chatroulette (like filter preferences) may not function properly.

5. Data Security and Retention

We implement commercially reasonable technical, administrative, and physical security measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. All data transmitted to our servers is encrypted using standard Transport Layer Security (TLS).

Retention: Because Chatroulette is an ephemeral platform, we retain data for the shortest time necessary. Video and text streams are generally not stored after a session concludes. However, if a session is flagged by our AI or reported by another user for a policy violation, the encrypted screenshots and associated IP/device data will be retained for a longer period to facilitate human review, enforce a ban, or report the incident to law enforcement. Once the legal or safety requirement is fulfilled, the data is permanently deleted.

6. International Data Transfers

Chatroulette operates globally. By using the Services, you acknowledge that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including the United States. These countries may have data protection laws that are different from the laws of your country. We utilize standard contractual clauses and other legal mechanisms to ensure your data remains protected across borders.

7. Your Privacy Rights (GDPR & CCPA)

Depending on your jurisdiction (such as the European Economic Area under the GDPR, or California under the CCPA), you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

• The Right to Access: You can request copies of your personal data.
• The Right to Erasure/Deletion: You have the right to request that we erase your personal data, under certain conditions. Please note that because Chatroulette does not require user accounts, identifying your specific data based solely on an IP address can be technically challenging and is subject to verification.
• The Right to Restrict Processing: You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer using the contact information provided at the bottom of this policy. We will respond to your request within the timeframe required by applicable law.

8. Children's Privacy

Chatroulette is strictly for adults aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 18. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your child has provided us with personal information or has been accessing the platform, please contact us immediately. If we discover that a minor is using the service, we take immediate steps to terminate the connection, ban the IP address, and delete any associated data.

9. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Effective Date" at the top. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data handling practices, please do not hesitate to contact our privacy team:

Email: [Contact Email]
Subject Line: Privacy Policy Inquiry
Mailing Address: [Insert Corporate Address if applicable]