Terms of Use
By using LoChat, you agree to these terms. They define what you can do, what we expect from you, and how we keep the platform safe for everyone.
User Agreement: These Terms of Use constitute a legally binding agreement between you and LoChat. By creating an account or accessing the Service, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, including our Privacy Policy.
Section 01
Acceptance of Terms
These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the LoChat messaging application and related services (collectively, the "Service") provided by LoChat ("we," "us," or "our").
By downloading, installing, accessing, or using the Service in any way, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to all of these Terms, you must not use the Service.
Your continued use of the Service following any changes to these Terms constitutes acceptance of those changes.
Section 02
Eligibility
To use LoChat, you must be at least 16 years of age, or the minimum age of digital consent in your country or jurisdiction if higher. If you are under 18, you confirm that you have obtained consent from a parent or legal guardian.
By using the Service, you represent and warrant that you meet the above eligibility requirements and that the information you provide is accurate and complete.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 16. If you believe a child has created an account without parental consent, please contact us immediately at [email protected].
Section 03
User-Generated Content
LoChat is a messaging platform. You and other users may send messages, share media, upload files, set profile information, and participate in group conversations. All such content is considered "User-Generated Content" (UGC).
Your Responsibilities
- You are solely responsible for all content you submit, share, or transmit through the Service.
- You represent that you own or have the necessary rights and permissions to share any content you upload.
- You agree that your content complies with these Terms and all applicable laws.
- You acknowledge that we cannot verify or pre-screen end-to-end encrypted content due to the zero-knowledge architecture of our Service.
Zero tolerance: There is absolutely no tolerance for objectionable content or abusive behavior on LoChat. Violations will result in immediate account suspension or permanent termination.
Section 04
Prohibited Content & Conduct
You agree that you will NOT use the Service to send, share, upload, store, or otherwise transmit any content or engage in any conduct that:
Strictly Prohibited Categories
Also Prohibited
- Impersonating any person, company, or entity, including LoChat staff.
- Attempting to gain unauthorized access to other users' accounts or our systems.
- Using automated bots or scrapers to access the Service without authorization.
- Reverse engineering, decompiling, or disassembling any part of the Service.
- Interfering with or disrupting the integrity or performance of the Service.
- Violating any applicable local, national, or international laws or regulations.
Section 05
Reporting & Blocking
We provide mechanisms for users to protect themselves and report harmful content or abusive users. These tools are a core part of our commitment to platform safety.
How to Report
- Flag a message: Long-press any message → tap "Report" → select a reason. The report is sent immediately to our Trust & Safety team.
- Report a user: Open a user's profile → tap "Report User" → describe the issue. We will review and take action.
- Email report: Contact us directly at [email protected] for urgent or complex cases.
How to Block a User
- Block: Open a conversation or user profile → tap "Block User". The blocked user is immediately removed from your feed and can no longer contact you.
- Notification: Block actions automatically notify our Trust & Safety team so we can monitor for repeated abusive behavior.
- Unblock: You may unblock a user at any time through Settings → Privacy → Blocked Users.
All reports are reviewed by our Trust & Safety team. We do not share reporter identity with the reported user. Submitting false or malicious reports is itself a violation of these Terms.
Section 06
Enforcement & Response Time
We take platform safety seriously and have committed to a clear response process for all reports of prohibited content or abusive behavior.
What We Do
- All reports are reviewed by our Trust & Safety team within 24 hours of receipt.
- Confirmed violations result in immediate removal of the offending content.
- Users who post offending content are suspended or permanently removed from the Service.
- Serious violations (e.g., CSAM, terrorism) are reported to appropriate law enforcement authorities.
- We may notify the reporting user of the outcome, where legally permissible.
Appeals
If you believe your account was suspended or content removed in error, you may appeal by emailing [email protected]. We will review your appeal within 5 business days. We cannot guarantee reinstatement.
Section 07
End-to-End Encryption
LoChat uses end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default for all private messages, group chats, voice messages, file transfers, and calls. This means:
- Messages are encrypted on your device and can only be decrypted on the recipient's device.
- LoChat servers store and relay only ciphertext — we cannot read your messages.
- Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) ensures session keys rotate with every message.
- Even under a valid legal order, we cannot provide message content because we do not have access to it.
Important: The use of strong encryption technology may be subject to import/export restrictions or regulations in certain jurisdictions. You are solely responsible for ensuring your use of the Service complies with the laws of your country or region.
The E2EE architecture means we cannot proactively scan the content of encrypted messages. Our moderation capabilities are therefore focused on: user reports, profile and metadata filtering, block mechanics, and proactive scanning of unencrypted layers such as display names and room names.
Section 08
Account Security
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account.
- Do not share your account credentials with any third party.
- Enable local passcode (PIN, Face ID, or Touch ID) to prevent unauthorized device access.
- Notify us immediately at [email protected] if you suspect unauthorized access.
- We may require re-authentication for security-sensitive actions.
Section 09
Intellectual Property
You retain ownership of any content you create and share through the Service. By submitting content, you grant LoChat a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to store, relay, and deliver that content solely for the purpose of operating the Service.
We do not claim ownership over your messages, files, or media. We do not use your content for advertising, training, or any purpose beyond operating the Service.
All LoChat software, trademarks, logos, and Service elements are the exclusive property of LoChat and are protected by applicable intellectual property law. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without our express written consent.
Section 10
Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights regarding your personal data. Contact us at [email protected] to exercise any of the following. We respond within 30 days.
| Right | What it means |
|---|---|
| Access | Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you. |
| Correction | Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data. |
| Deletion | Request deletion of your account and all associated data. |
| Portability | Request a machine-readable export of your data. |
| Objection | Object to specific types of data processing. |
| Withdraw consent | Withdraw consent at any time where processing is consent-based. |
Section 11
Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability
The Service is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, express or implied. We do not guarantee that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free from harmful components.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, LoChat shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of or inability to use the Service, including but not limited to loss of data, loss of profits, or damages resulting from third-party content or conduct.
We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or legality of any user-generated content. Users interact with each other at their own risk.
Section 12
Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable law. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in the applicable jurisdiction, unless otherwise required by local law where you reside.
These Terms do not affect any consumer protection rights you may have under the laws of your country of residence.
Section 13
Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or applicable legal requirements. We will notify you of material changes through the app, via email (if provided), or by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.
We will provide at least 14 days' notice before material changes take effect. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any change constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.
Section 14
Contact Us
If you have questions about these Terms, want to exercise your rights, or need to report a violation, please reach out:
- General: [email protected]
- Abuse / Safety: [email protected]
- Security: [email protected]
- Privacy: [email protected]
- Appeals: [email protected]