Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Chatroulette ("we," "our," or "us"). This Privacy Policy governs your use of our website located at https://en-us-chatroulette.com/, including all subdomains, mobile-optimized pages, and related services (collectively, the "Platform"). By accessing or using Chatroulette, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

Chatroulette has been operating since 2009 and serves millions of users across 190+ countries. Over this time, we have developed a robust privacy framework that balances the interactive nature of live video chat with the strongest possible protections for our users' personal information. This policy is written in plain language because we believe privacy should be understandable, not buried in legal jargon.

If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access or use Chatroulette. Your continued use of the Platform after any changes to this policy constitutes your acceptance of those changes.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you create a Chatroulette account, sign up for newsletters, or contact our support team, you may voluntarily provide us with the following information:

• Account Information: Your display name, email address, password (stored as a secure hash), and optionally your date of birth for age verification purposes.
• Profile Information: Preferences such as language, gender filter, and geographic region. These are used solely to improve your match quality on Chatroulette live.
• Communications: Any messages you send to our support team, including email correspondence and in-platform reports.
• Payment Information: If you purchase premium features, payment is processed by third-party PCI-DSS compliant providers. We never store full credit card numbers on our servers.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use Chatroulette, our servers automatically record certain information about your device and usage patterns. This includes:

• Device Information: Browser type and version, operating system, device type (desktop, mobile, tablet), and screen resolution.
• Log Data: IP address (anonymized after 30 days), access times, pages viewed, and the referring URL.
• Usage Data: Features used, session duration, chat partner count, and interaction patterns on Chatroulette chat.
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: Session identifiers, preference cookies, and analytics tokens. See Section 6 for full details.

2.3 Information We Do NOT Collect

To be absolutely clear about our practices, Chatroulette does not:

• Record, store, or archive your video or audio chat sessions. All video streams are peer-to-peer encrypted and ephemeral.
• Collect biometric data such as facial recognition templates or voice prints.
• Sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third-party data brokers.
• Track your activity across other websites for advertising purposes.
• Require you to provide your real name, phone number, or physical address to use the core Chatroulette live experience.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following legitimate purposes:

• Service Delivery: To operate, maintain, and provide the core features of Chatroulette, including matching you with other users for live video chat.
• Personalization: To remember your preferences and deliver a more relevant experience on future visits to Chatroulette online.
• Safety and Moderation: To detect, prevent, and respond to fraud, abuse, security incidents, and violations of our Community Guidelines. Our AI moderation system uses anonymized data streams to identify inappropriate content.
• Communication: To send you service-related notices, respond to your inquiries, and (with your consent) deliver promotional messages about new features.
• Analytics and Improvement: To understand how users interact with our Platform so we can improve performance, fix bugs, and develop new features.
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or enforceable governmental requests.

We process your personal data on the legal bases of contract performance (to provide the service you requested), legitimate interests (to improve and secure our Platform), and consent (for marketing communications, which you may withdraw at any time).

4. How We Share Your Information

Chatroulette does not sell your personal information. We may share your data only in the following limited circumstances:

4.1 Service Providers

We engage trusted third-party companies to perform functions on our behalf, such as cloud hosting (AWS), content delivery networks (Cloudflare), email delivery, and payment processing. These providers are contractually bound to use your data only for the purposes we specify and to maintain confidentiality.

4.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a legal obligation, protect the rights or property of Chatroulette, prevent a crime, or protect the personal safety of our users or the public.

4.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, your personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email and/or a prominent notice on our website of any change in ownership or use of your personal information.

4.4 Aggregated Data

We may share aggregated, non-personally identifiable statistics about our user base (such as total active users or country distribution) with partners, advertisers, and the public. This data cannot be used to identify any individual.

5. Data Retention and Security

5.1 Retention Periods

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy:

• Account data is retained while your account is active and for 90 days after deletion to allow for account recovery.
• Support correspondence is retained for 2 years to help resolve follow-up inquiries.
• Anonymized analytics data is retained indefinitely for statistical purposes.
• IP addresses are anonymized after 30 days and fully deleted after 12 months.

5.2 Security Measures

We implement industry-standard technical and organizational measures to protect your data, including:

• TLS 1.3 encryption for all data in transit.
• AES-256 encryption for data at rest.
• Bcrypt password hashing with per-user salts.
• Regular third-party security audits and penetration testing.
• Role-based access controls and mandatory two-factor authentication for all Chatroulette employees.
• Real-time intrusion detection and 24/7 security monitoring.

While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we are committed to responding swiftly to any breach. In the event of a data breach affecting your rights, we will notify you within 72 hours as required by applicable law.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Chatroulette uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience. Cookies are small data files stored on your device. We use the following categories:

• Strictly Necessary Cookies: Required for the Platform to function, such as session authentication and load balancing. These cannot be disabled.
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings, such as language and match filters, so you don't have to re-enter them each visit.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with Chatroulette. We use privacy-respecting analytics that do not track you across other websites.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may impair the functionality of Chatroulette live. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal retention requirements.
• Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your data in certain circumstances.
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Right to Object: Opt out of processing based on legitimate interests, including direct marketing.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer at [email protected]. We will respond to your request within 30 days. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

7.1 California Residents (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to request deletion, and the right to opt out of the "sale" of personal information. Chatroulette does not sell personal information as defined by the CCPA. To exercise your CCPA rights, email [email protected].

7.2 European Users (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Chatroulette acts as a data controller for the purposes described in this policy. Our legal bases for processing are set out in Section 3. International transfers of EEA data are protected by Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission.

8. Children's Privacy

Chatroulette is strictly intended for users aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we become aware that a minor has provided us with personal information, we will delete it immediately and terminate the associated account. If you believe a minor is using Chatroulette, please report it to us at [email protected].

9. International Data Transfers

Chatroulette operates globally, and your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including the United States. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your jurisdiction. When we transfer data internationally, we implement appropriate safeguards, such as Standard Contractual Clauses or reliance on adequacy decisions, to ensure your data remains protected.

10. Third-Party Links

Our Platform may contain links to third-party websites, including app stores, social media platforms, and partner sites. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those external sites, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will notify you by email (if you have an account) and by posting a prominent notice on our homepage. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised. Your continued use of Chatroulette after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Data Protection Officer: [email protected]
• Mail: Chatroulette Privacy Team, 1234 Video Lane, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States

We take all privacy inquiries seriously and aim to resolve them within 30 days. If you are unsatisfied with our response, you may contact your local data protection authority or, in the United States, the Federal Trade Commission.

Thank you for trusting Chatroulette with your video chat experience. We are committed to protecting your privacy and providing a safe, enjoyable platform for connecting with people around the world.