Privacy & Content Policy

Introduction Age Eligibility Data We Collect How We Use Data Data Storage Your Rights Content Policy Contact

1. Introduction

BeelzeChat ("we", "us", "our") operates beelzechat.co.za — a South African social media and messaging platform designed for adults and business professionals. This Privacy & Content Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), South Africa.

By creating an account on BeelzeChat, you confirm that you are at least 20 years of age and consent to the collection and processing of your personal information as described in this policy.

2. Age Eligibility — Adults Only (20+)

BeelzeChat is a platform built exclusively for adults aged 20 years and older. Our services are intended for grown individuals, business owners, and professionals who use the platform for networking, communication, and digital services.

Strictly 20+ only. We do not knowingly allow, register, or collect personal information from anyone under the age of 20. By using BeelzeChat, you confirm that you are at least 20 years old.

If we discover that a user under the age of 20 has created an account or provided personal information, we will immediately terminate the account and permanently delete all associated data from our servers.

Because our platform is restricted to adults aged 20 and above, this policy does not include any provisions for minors, parental consent, or child-oriented data handling — those scenarios do not apply to BeelzeChat.

3. Personal Information We Collect

We collect only the personal information necessary to provide our services:

Data Type	Example	Why Collected
Full name	"John Doe"	Account identification
Email or phone	john@email.com	Login & communication
Password	(encrypted)	Account security
Profile picture	Image file	User identification
Bio / About	"Business owner"	User profile
Messages	Text, images, video	Chat service
Posts	Text, images, video	Social feed
Payment reference	PayFast ref #	Subscriptions & ads
Push notification ID	OneSignal ID	Sending notifications
Device info	Browser, OS	Security & analytics

Note: We do NOT collect or store credit card numbers, CVV codes, or banking details. All payment data is handled exclusively by PayFast (PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant).

4. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

Provide the service — messaging, posts, groups, marketplace
Create and manage your account
Send push notifications for messages, likes, and comments
Process payments for subscriptions (R50/month) and banner ads (R1,000)
Improve our services and fix technical issues
Prevent fraud, spam, and abuse
Comply with legal obligations (SARS — keep payment records for 5 years)

5. Where Data Is Stored & Protected

User Data & Messages — Firebase Firestore

Stored in Firebase Firestore (Google Cloud), encrypted in transit (HTTPS/SSL) and at rest. Only authorized BeelzeChat administrators can access. Firebase is POPIA and GDPR compliant.

Images & Videos — Cloud Storage

Stored in encrypted cloud storage (Cloudinary / Supabase). Files are only accessible via secure URLs. Backed up automatically.

Payment Data — PayFast

All payments processed through PayFast (PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant). BeelzeChat stores only the payment reference number — never credit card or banking details.

Push Notifications — OneSignal

Stores device notification IDs for sending push notifications. Does not store message content. Users can opt out anytime.

Security Measures

HTTPS/SSL encryption on all data transmission
Password hashing — passwords are never stored as plain text
Firebase Security Rules — restrict database access to authorized users
Access control — only the CEO/admin can access user data
Regular automated backups by Firebase

6. Data Retention

We keep your data only as long as necessary:

Active accounts: Data kept as long as the account is active
Deleted accounts: All data permanently deleted within 30 days
Messages: Kept until user deletes the conversation
Posts: Kept for 3 months (unless subscribed to permanent storage)
Payment records: Kept for 5 years (SARS legal requirement)
Analytics data: Kept for 13 months

7. Your Rights Under POPIA

As a BeelzeChat user, you have the right to:

Access your personal data — view what we have about you
Correct inaccurate data — edit your profile anytime
Delete your account and all associated data — via Delete Account button
Object to certain data processing
Withdraw consent at any time
Complain to the Information Regulator of South Africa

To exercise any of these rights, email our Information Officer at ceo@beelzechat.co.za.

8. Third-Party Services

We use the following POPIA/GDPR-compliant third-party services:

Service	Purpose	Compliance
Firebase (Google Cloud)	Data storage	POPIA + GDPR
PayFast	Payment processing	PCI-DSS Level 1
OneSignal	Push notifications	GDPR compliant
Google Analytics	Usage analytics	Anonymized data

We do NOT sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party.

9. Data Breach Procedure

In the event of a data breach, we will:

Notify affected users within 72 hours
Report the breach to the Information Regulator of South Africa
Take immediate steps to secure the data
Provide guidance on how to protect yourself

10. Content Policy (Community Guidelines)

This section explains what content is allowed and not allowed on BeelzeChat.

✅ Allowed Content

You CAN post:

Business discussions and professional networking
Friendly conversations and social interaction
Photos and videos you own or have permission to share
Buying and selling legal items in the marketplace
Educational, entertainment, music, and lifestyle content
Breaking news (from reputable sources)
Respectful opinions and discussions

❌ Not Allowed Content

You CANNOT post:

Hate speech or discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or sexuality
Harassment, bullying, or threats of violence
Adult or pornographic content
Illegal goods (drugs, weapons, stolen items)
Spam, scams, or fraudulent content
Copyright infringement (posting others' content without permission)
Impersonation (pretending to be someone else)
Malware, viruses, or harmful links
Content that promotes self-harm or suicide

Consequences of Violations

1st offense: Warning + content removal
2nd offense: Temporary suspension (7 days)
3rd offense: Permanent account ban
Illegal content: Reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS)

11. Reporting Content

If you see content that violates this policy, you can report it by:

Emailing support@beelzechat.co.za with a screenshot and details
Using the in-app report button on posts
Contacting our team via the app's profile section

Our team reviews all reports within 24-48 hours and takes appropriate action.

12. Information Officer (POPIA)

Our designated Information Officer for data protection matters:

Name: CEO, BeelzeChat
Email: ceo@beelzechat.co.za
Support: support@beelzechat.co.za
Advertising: ads@beelzechat.co.za
Website: beelzechat.co.za

To lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator:

Website: inforegulator.org.za
Email: complaints@inforegulator.org.za
Phone: 012 406 7923

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy & Content Policy from time to time. We will notify users of significant changes via the app or email. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised.

Questions?

If you have any questions about this Privacy & Content Policy, or your personal data, please contact us:

ceo@beelzechat.co.za support@beelzechat.co.za ads@beelzechat.co.za beelzechat.co.za