Privacy Policy
Last updated: May 28th, 2023
SchildiChat will be referenced in the later context as "the app".
"We", "us" and similar terms refer to the SchildiChat developer team.
"You", "the user" and similar terms refer to anybody using SchildiChat.
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, there are a few important things to know before you use the Service.
The kind and amount of data shared with us or third parties highly depends on user's interaction with the app. This app can communicate with any matrix homeserver which supports the matrix specifications. The user is free to choose their homeserver and has to accept the privacy policy of this homeserver before using it. Furthermore, the user may participate in federated chat rooms, which include more than one homeserver. In this case, the privacy policies by all participating homeservers need to be regarded.
The main functionality of this app lies in communication with other users (including users of other Matrix clients than SchildiChat). Thus, the user has the ability to share data with other users such as (but not limited to):
- Text messages
- Images
- Videos
- Audio files
- Contacts
- Other files
- The user's location, e.g. determined using GPS:
- Static location: the user can send their current location at the time of choosing to send it
- Live location: the user has the possibility to continuously send their location to other users, even while not interacting with the app
Such messages and attachments are only sent upon user action, indicating the user's wish to share this data with other users.
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.
- 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.
Identity server
The user may wish to use an identity server, which allows to look up Matrix contacts from other personal identifiers such as email addresses or phone numbers. In order to provide this service, the app has the possibility to access the users contacts stored on their device. No contacts are accessed without user action indicating their wish to do so.
For the privacy policy of the identity server, please ask the provider of your identity server. The identity server in use can be influenced by the homeserver's configuration and the user's own preference. For the matrix.org identity server, please refer to their privacy policy here.
Integration Services (Bots and Widgets)
The homeserver the user is using, and other homeservers that the user's homeserver is federating with, 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. Please refer to the privacy policies provided by the operators of these services for further details.
TURN (Voice and Video Calls)
For voice and video calls, SchildiChat may connect to a so-called TURN server for routing during the call. The app will prefer the TURN server suggested by your homeserver. If your homeserver does not configure any preferred TURN server, the app may decide to fall back to one operated by matrix.org, of which you can find the privacy policy here. For federated rooms, a TURN server suggested by one of the other chat participants may be used. Please refer to the privacy policy provided by the operator of the appropriate TURN server for further details.
Jitsi (Multi-user Voice and Video Calls)
In rooms with more than two users, SchildiChat implements multi-user calls using a Jitsi widget, which connects the app to a dedicated Jitsi-server during the call. The app will prefer the Jitsi server suggested by your homeserver. If your homeserver does not configure any preferred Jitsi server, the app may decide to fall back to one hosted for Element by New Vector Ltd, of which you can find the privacy policy here. For federated rooms, a Jitsi server suggested by one of the other chat participants may be used. Please refer to the privacy policy provided by the operator of the appropriate Jitsi server for further details.
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.