Vets Net Call Privacy Policy

Effective Date: June 15, 2026

At Vets Net Call (operated by [Company Name]), we take your privacy and the security of your data very seriously. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your data.

1. Information We Collect

To provide you with secure communication tools, we collect the following types of information:

• Account Information: Your email address and a secure password.
• Public Profile Data: Your chosen Call Sign, military branch, service years, role (e.g., Veteran), and network status. Your real name and email are not displayed publicly.
• Verification Data: During signup, we ask for your first name, last name, date of birth, and address to verify your Veteran status with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or ID.me. To protect your privacy while preventing duplicate accounts and fraud, we immediately convert this information into a one-way cryptographic fingerprint (which looks like a long string of random letters and numbers, e.g., 8f43b7e9a1d...). We also store a highly encrypted version of this verification data. We do not store your raw verification details in plain text, and this encrypted data is used solely for identity verification and fraud prevention.
• Device Permissions and Data:
  • Microphone: To allow you to make live calls and record voice notes.
  • Location: If you choose to use features like "buddies near me," we will request access to your device's geolocation data to connect you with nearby Veterans.
  • Photo Library: To allow you to select photos to upload to your Media Archives.
  • Biometrics (FaceID/TouchID): To allow you to securely unlock the app locally on your device. We do not transmit or store your biometric data on our servers.
  Note: You can revoke any of these device permissions at any time through your device settings.
• Communication Data: We collect metadata about your calls, such as the call type (e.g., buddy check), priority, and time.
• Messages and Audio: We process your text messages and voice notes. These are protected with End-to-End Encryption (E2EE). We cannot read your messages or listen to your voice notes.
• Media Archives: Any photos or images you choose to upload. We automatically strip all EXIF and GPS location metadata from your photos before they leave your device.
• Safety and Moderation Data: We collect data when you block another user or submit a user report regarding abusive behavior.
• Network Information: We collect IP addresses temporarily for security and rate-limiting purposes. We only store a cryptographic hash of your IP address, not the raw address itself.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect solely to provide, secure, and improve the Vets Net Call service. Specifically, we use your data to:

• Create and manage your account.
• Verify your Veteran status to ensure a trusted community.
• Enable secure peer-to-peer calls, text messaging, and voice notes.
• Allow you to build a friends list, manage connections, and share media archives.
• Provide local app security via biometric authentication.
• Maintain the safety and security of the app by reviewing user reports, enforcing blocks, monitoring for abuse, and applying rate limits.

3. Data Sharing and Third Parties

Your trust is our priority. We have strict rules regarding your data:

• No Sale of Data: We do not sell your personal data, profile information, or communication history for profit or any other monetary transaction.
• No Targeted Advertising: We do not use your data for targeted advertising, nor do we share it with marketers.
• Third-Party Sharing: We do not share your data with third-party partners or entities, except for the explicit purpose of verifying your Veteran status (e.g., securely passing data to the VA API during signup).
• Strict Prohibitions: Any third-party use or disclosure of user information (including de-identified, anonymized, or pseudonymized data) is strictly prohibited for any reason without your explicit, prior consent.
• Vendor Commitments: Any contractors or vendors that help us operate our infrastructure are legally bound to these exact same commitments regarding the use and disclosure of your data.
• Impact of Sharing: Because our app facilitates connections between Veterans, sharing your location or call status impacts what your friends see. You have full control over these sharing preferences in your profile settings.

4. Data Retention and Deletion

You have complete control over your data.

• Dormant Accounts: If your account is inactive for a period of 24 months, we will consider it dormant. We will notify you by email. If there is no response within 30 days, we will automatically schedule your account for permanent deletion.
• How to Request Deletion: You can request the permanent deletion of your data at any time. To do this, open the Vets Net Call app, navigate to Settings > Account, and tap Delete Account. Alternatively, you can email us at [Contact Email] with the subject line "Data Deletion Request."
• Deletion Guarantee: Upon your request, we will permanently delete 100% of your data, including all profile data, call history, uploaded archives, and any non-VA data you have shared with us.
• Timeline: Your data deletion will be fully completed within 45 days of your request.

5. Security and Data Breaches

We use industry-standard security measures, including End-to-End Encryption for messages, to protect your data. However, no system is completely flawless.

If we experience a data breach that compromises your personal information, we will notify you via the email address on your account within 72 hours of discovering the breach. Our notification will include details of what data was affected and clear instructions for any actions you may need to take to protect yourself.

6. Transfer of Ownership

If [Company Name] is ever involved in a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or ends its business, we will notify you via email before any transfer of your data occurs. If such an event happens, you will be guaranteed at least one of the following options:

• The ability to securely dispose of, transmit, or download your information.
• A guarantee that the new owner's policies are completely consistent with this Privacy Policy.
• The ability to permanently close and delete your account before the transfer takes effect.

7. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you directly through the app or by email before the changes take effect.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

[Company Name]
Email: [Contact Email]