SANKA ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and the controls you have over it. By using the SANKA app, you agree to this policy.
1. Information We Collect
We collect the following categories of information when you use SANKA:
- Account information — name, email address, phone number, and profile photo provided during registration.
- Location data — GPS coordinates when you actively share your location in a chat, respond to a SANKA ping, or trigger an SOS alert. Location is never collected passively in the background unless an active SOS is in progress.
- Messages and media — text messages, images, and files exchanged in chats. Messages are stored on Firebase servers to enable sync across devices.
- Phone contacts — phone numbers from your device contacts (with your permission) used only to notify you when a contact joins SANKA. We store a list of normalized phone number strings, never names or other contact metadata.
- Usage data — app events (message sent, SOS triggered, etc.) used for improving the app. This data is aggregated and not linked to identifiable individuals.
- Device tokens — Firebase Cloud Messaging tokens for delivering push notifications.
2. How We Use Your Information
- Operate the messaging features of SANKA.
- Deliver location data to friends you have explicitly chosen to share with.
- Send SOS alerts and live location updates to your designated emergency contacts.
- Notify you when a phone contact joins SANKA (one-time alert per contact).
- Send scheduled messages you create at the time you specify.
- Improve and debug the app using anonymized usage analytics.
- Enforce our Terms of Service and respond to reports of abuse.
3. Location Data
Location sharing in SANKA is always opt-in and user-initiated:
- SANKA Ping responses — your location is shared only when you respond to a ping in a group chat. You can disable this at any time in Settings.
- Live Location — when you start a Live Location session, your coordinates are updated every 30 seconds for up to one hour. You can stop sharing at any time.
- SOS alerts — when an SOS is triggered (manually or by crash detection), your location is broadcast continuously to your designated SOS contacts until you cancel the alert.
You can hide your location from specific friends using the Privacy controls in the app. Contacts you hide from will see "Location not available" instead of your coordinates.
4. Sharing of Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We share data only in these limited circumstances:
- With other SANKA users — according to your privacy settings (friends only, group members, or SOS contacts).
- Service providers — Firebase (Google) for database, authentication, storage, and push notifications. These providers process data on our behalf under strict data processing agreements.
- Advertising partners — Google (AdMob and AdSense) to serve and measure ads, as described in the Advertising section below.
- Legal obligations — if required by law, court order, or to protect the safety of any person.
5. Data Retention
- Chat messages are retained until you delete them or delete your account.
- Location data from completed sessions and resolved SOS events is retained for 30 days, then permanently deleted.
- Contact phone number lists are deleted immediately when you revoke contacts permission or delete your account.
- Scheduled messages are deleted after they have been sent.
6. Your Rights and Controls
Depending on your country of residence, you may have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you.
- Correct inaccurate data.
- Delete your account and associated data.
- Withdraw consent for location access or contact scanning at any time via your device settings.
- Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@sanka.world.
7. Children's Privacy
SANKA is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
The Guardian Mode feature is designed for families where parents and children both consent to location sharing. Children can view and adjust their own privacy settings at all times.
8. Security
We use industry-standard measures including TLS encryption in transit, Firebase Security Rules for access control, and App Check to prevent unauthorized API access. No system is perfectly secure; if you discover a vulnerability, please report it to security@sanka.world.
9. Third-Party Services
SANKA integrates the following third-party services, each governed by their own privacy policies:
- Google Firebase — firebase.google.com/support/privacy
- Google Maps — policies.google.com/privacy
- Google AdMob & AdSense — policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites
10. Advertising
SANKA is free to use and supported by advertising. The SANKA app displays ads served by Google AdMob, and this website displays ads served by Google AdSense.
- Google may collect device identifiers (such as the advertising ID), IP address, and usage data to serve and measure ads. You can learn how Google uses this data at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.
- Ads shown in SANKA are limited to family-appropriate (G-rated) content.
- For users we know to be children (accounts with guardians), ads are served in child-directed mode without personalization, in accordance with COPPA.
- You can opt out of personalized ads at any time in your device settings (iOS: Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising / Tracking; Android: Settings → Google → Ads).
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes through the app or by email. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.
12. Contact Us
For privacy-related questions or requests:
- Email: privacy@sanka.world
- General: hello@sanka.world