Data Deletion Policy

1. Overview

We respect your right to data privacy and deletion under Indian law (IT Act 2000, DPDP Act 2023).

You can delete your Kaamkaaz account and request removal of all your personal data anytime. This page explains the process and what happens when you delete your account.

Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. Before deleting, download any important information you need.

2. How to Delete Your Account (In-App)

For Workers:

1. Open the Kaamkaaz app
2. Tap on Profile (bottom menu)
3. Tap Edit Profile
4. Scroll to bottom and tap Delete My Account
5. Read the warning about permanent deletion
6. Enter your password to confirm
7. Tap Yes, Delete Permanently
8. Your account will be deleted within 24-48 hours

For Recruiters:

1. Open the Kaamkaaz app
2. Tap on Profile (bottom menu)
3. Tap Settings or Edit Profile
4. Scroll to bottom and tap Delete Account
5. Read the warning about permanent deletion
6. Enter your password to confirm
7. Tap Yes, Delete Permanently
8. Your account will be deleted within 24-48 hours

Important Notes:

• Deletion requests are irreversible
• All your data will be permanently erased
• You will lose access to past job listings, applications, and messages
• After deletion, you cannot use your phone number to create a new account for 30 days

3. Email-Based Deletion Request

If You Cannot Delete Via App:

If you prefer to request deletion via email, follow these steps:

Step 1: Compose Email

Send an email to:

ankityo9079@gmail.com

Step 2: Email Subject Line

Use the subject line:

Data Deletion Request - [Your Registered Phone Number]

Example: Data Deletion Request - 9876543210

Step 3: Email Body

Include the following information:

• Your full name (as registered on Kaamkaaz)
• Your registered phone number
• Your registered email address
• User type: Worker or Recruiter
• Statement: "I request permanent deletion of my Kaamkaaz account and all associated data."

Example Email:

Step 4: Verification

We will verify your identity by sending an OTP (One-Time Password) to your registered phone number. You must reply with the OTP to confirm the deletion request.

Step 5: Processing

After verification, we will process your deletion request within 30 days.

4. What Gets Deleted

When you delete your account, the following data is permanently erased:

For Workers:

• Profile information (name, phone, email, address, date of birth)
• Profile photo and personal photos
• KYC documents (Aadhaar scan, selfie, Driving License)
• Work portfolio (photos and videos of your work)
• Job applications and application status
• All chat messages with recruiters
• Call and WhatsApp contact history (within app)
• Ratings and reviews given to recruiters
• Job search history and saved jobs
• Account settings and preferences
• Refer and Earn referral data and rewards
• All account activity logs

For Recruiters:

• Company/organization information
• Company logo and profile photo
• All job postings and listings
• Job applications received and applicant reviews
• All chat messages with workers
• Call and WhatsApp contact history (within app)
• Ratings and reviews received from workers
• Job analytics and posting history
• Account settings and preferences
• Refer and Earn referral data and rewards
• All account activity logs

Data Deleted from Third Parties:

• Cloudinary: All photos, videos, and documents stored in cloud
• MongoDB: All database records linked to your account
• Firebase: Push notification tokens and preferences
• Socket.io: Chat history and message data

Important: Backup Deletion

We maintain backups for security and disaster recovery. Your data will be removed from backups within 90 days of deletion.

5. What May Be Retained

Kaamkaaz may retain the following data for legal and security reasons:

Legal Compliance (Required by Indian Law):

• Transaction Records: If you received or made payments, payment records may be retained for 7 years (per taxation laws)
• Dispute Logs: Records of disputes between workers and recruiters (anonymized where possible)
• Compliance Records: Documents required by IT Act 2000 and DPDP Act 2023
• Tax Records: If applicable, tax-related information may be retained as required by law

Fraud Prevention & Security:

• Fraud Data: If your account was involved in fraud, anonymized data may be retained for fraud prevention
• Abuse Records: Records of harassment or Terms violations (anonymized)
• IP Logs: Historical IP addresses (for security analysis, anonymized)

Aggregated & Anonymized Data:

• Statistical Data: Anonymous usage statistics that cannot identify you
• Analytics: Aggregated data about app usage patterns
• Research Data: Anonymized data for platform improvement (no personal identifiers)

Important:

Retained data will NOT include any information that can identify you personally. All personal identifiers (name, phone, email, KYC data) will be completely removed.

6. Deletion Timeline

Immediate Actions (0-24 hours):

• Your account is deactivated and inaccessible
• Profile removed from search and job listings
• Push notifications disabled
• Chat access removed
• Phone number becomes unavailable for login

Phase 1 - Primary Data Deletion (1-7 days):

• All personal data deleted from MongoDB database
• Profile and personal photos deleted from Cloudinary
• KYC documents deleted from Cloudinary
• Work portfolio deleted from cloud storage
• Chat messages deleted from Socket.io servers
• Firebase tokens removed

Phase 2 - Backup Deletion (7-90 days):

• Automated backups purged according to retention schedule
• Encrypted backup copies deleted
• Archive systems updated

Complete Deletion (30 days):

• Final verification that all data is removed
• Confirmation email sent to registered email address
• Data deletion request closed

Timeline Summary:

• Email Request: 30 days from verification
• In-App Request: 24-48 hours from confirmation
• Complete Removal: 90 days (including backups)
• Can Create New Account: After 30 days using the same phone number

7. Confirmation & Verification

After In-App Deletion:

• You will see a "Account Deletion Initiated" confirmation screen
• A confirmation email will be sent to your registered email within 1 hour
• Your account will be fully deleted within 48 hours
• You can monitor progress in the email

After Email-Based Deletion:

• We will send an OTP to your registered phone number for verification
• Reply with the OTP to confirm deletion
• Once verified, you will receive email confirmation
• Deletion will be processed within 30 days
• Final confirmation email sent when complete

What Confirmation Email Contains:

• Account deletion date
• Data deletion timeline
• Reference number for your deletion request
• Contact info if you have questions
• Notification of when backup deletion will complete

If You Did NOT Request Deletion:

If someone deleted your account without authorization:

• Email us immediately at ankityo9079@gmail.com
• Include subject: "Unauthorized Account Deletion"
• Include your phone number and any details
• If deletion hasn't fully processed (within 30 days), we may be able to restore it
• We will investigate and take appropriate action

8. Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is account deletion permanent?

Yes, deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. Once deleted, you cannot recover your account, profile, messages, or data. If you're unsure, consider deactivating your account instead (if available).

❓ Can I restore my account after deletion?

No. If deletion is already processed (typically after 30 days), your account cannot be restored. If deletion is very recent (within 24-48 hours), contact us immediately at ankityo9079@gmail.com to request restoration.

❓ What about my job applications?

For Workers: All applications are deleted. Recruiters will no longer see your application, but the job listing itself is not affected.

For Recruiters: All job postings and applications are deleted. Workers cannot view your deleted jobs.

❓ Will my data be shared after deletion?

No. After deletion, your personal data will not be shared with anyone. Only anonymized, aggregated data may be retained for legal compliance or fraud prevention.

❓ Can I delete just some data, not my account?

You can delete specific content:

• Delete portfolio photos individually in Profile
• Clear chat conversations in Messages
• Remove job applications by contacting recruiters

But to delete all your data, you must delete your entire account.

❓ What if I used someone else's Aadhaar for KYC?

This is fraud and illegal. When you delete your account, false KYC documents will be investigated. Fraudulent KYC can result in legal action.

❓ Do you keep my payment information?

If you made payments to Kaamkaaz:

• Payment records are kept for 7 years (taxation and accounting law)
• These records do not include passwords or sensitive payment details
• Records are encrypted and access-restricted

❓ How long do backups take to delete?

Automated backups are deleted according to our backup schedule, typically within 90 days of account deletion. Some backup copies may persist longer due to systems redundancy.

❓ Can I use my phone number for a new account after deletion?

Yes, but you must wait at least 30 days after deletion. This prevents account abuse and fraud. After 30 days, you can sign up with the same phone number.

❓ What if there's a dispute with a recruiter/worker?

If you delete your account while a dispute is ongoing:

• Your profile will be removed from the platform
• Your data will be deleted within 30 days
• Legal disputes are not affected by account deletion
• You may still be liable for legal claims (wage disputes, harassment, etc.)
• Deletion does not void your legal responsibilities

❓ Is there a charge for data deletion?

No, data deletion is completely free. You don't pay anything to delete your account or request data removal.

❓ Can I request deletion on behalf of someone else?

Generally, no. Each user must request their own deletion. However:

• Parents/guardians can request deletion for minors (under 18)
• Provide proof of guardianship
• Contact: ankityo9079@gmail.com

❓ What about DPDP Act and my data rights?

Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, you have the right to delete your data. Kaamkaaz complies with all DPDP requirements for data deletion and privacy.

9. Contact Us

Data Deletion Support

If you have questions about data deletion or need assistance:

What to Include in Your Email:

• Your registered phone number
• Your registered email address
• Your full name
• User type (Worker or Recruiter)
• Your question or issue regarding deletion

Deletion Request Status

To check the status of your deletion request:

• Email us with your phone number and reference ID (if provided)
• We will provide an update on deletion progress
• Expected timeline for completion

Complaints About Data Not Being Deleted

If you believe your data was not properly deleted:

• Email: ankityo9079@gmail.com with subject "Data Deletion Complaint"
• Include your phone number and deletion date
• Describe what data you believe was not deleted
• We will investigate within 30 days

Escalation & Grievance

If you're not satisfied with our response:

• You can file a complaint with the National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC)
• You can contact your state's Data Protection Authority (when established)
• You have the right to legal remedies under Indian law