Plain and clear

Legal, privacy & safety

SquareChat is a free, ad-free and non-commercial hobby project based in the Netherlands. This page explains in plain language which information is needed, how it is handled and which rules apply.

In brief: SquareChat does not sell personal data, does not use cookies and does not create advertising profiles. Live video and audio are not normally recorded or stored by SquareChat.

1. Who operates SquareChat?

SquareChat is operated as a private hobby project by Kevin van der Vlies from the Netherlands. For privacy questions, data requests, complaints and other legal questions, email support@squarechat.nl .

2. Which information is used?

Depending on how you use SquareChat, the following information may be processed:

  • account information such as username, email address, date of birth or age, gender, language and settings;
  • login and activity timestamps, session tokens and technical security information;
  • IP address and technical connection information for security, abuse prevention, rate limiting and bans;
  • reports, moderation actions, account notes and limited audit data;
  • push token, device and app details when using the mobile app and push notifications;
  • limited crash and video diagnostics when a technical problem is reported;
  • newsletter preference when you choose that option.

SquareChat does not request GPS location, contact lists, IMEI, advertising IDs or similar intrusive identifiers.

3. Camera, microphone and messages

Video and audio are used to chat directly with other participants. SquareChat has no standard feature that records conversations or stores them as video or audio files.

Anything you share may still be seen, heard, copied or recorded outside SquareChat by another participant. Never share information you would not give to a stranger.

4. Why is information processed?

Information is only used for purposes such as:

  • creating and managing accounts;
  • logging in and entering the correct environment;
  • maintaining the separation between ages 12–17 and 18+;
  • providing video chat, text chat and push functions;
  • preventing abuse, threats, spam and security incidents;
  • handling reports and enforcing the house rules;
  • investigating technical errors and maintaining SquareChat;
  • sending optional communications you have chosen.

Depending on the purpose, processing is necessary to provide the service, based on the legitimate interest in keeping SquareChat safe and operational, or based on a voluntary choice for an optional feature.

5. Retention periods

Information is not kept indefinitely. The main retention periods are:

Account information While the account exists. After deletion, an encrypted recovery backup may remain for up to 30 days.
Presence information Up to 90 days.
Mobile installation register Up to 180 days after the last app activity.
Crash and video diagnostics Up to 30 days.
Reports Open reports remain until they are handled. Handled reports are deleted after no more than 365 days.
User and audit log Usually up to 365 days. A limited number of accountability actions may be retained for up to 730 days.
Email verification codes Up to 15 minutes.
Password reset codes Up to 30 minutes.
Session tokens Up to 30 days after the most recent valid use.
Bans Temporary bans until their expiry time. Permanent bans until revoked or no longer required.
Push registrations While required to deliver push notifications. Invalid tokens and links belonging to deleted accounts are cleaned up.

6. External technical services

SquareChat uses technical providers for hosting, email delivery and push notifications. They only receive information needed to perform their part of the service.

Mobile push notifications use services including Google Firebase Cloud Messaging. Some technical providers may process information outside the European Economic Area under the safeguards applying to their services.

Personal data is not sold or provided for personalised advertising.

7. Your privacy rights

You may ask for:

  • access to your personal information;
  • correction of incorrect information;
  • deletion of your account and information;
  • restriction of or objection to certain processing;
  • data portability where that right applies.

Send your request to support@squarechat.nl . SquareChat may first verify that the request genuinely comes from the account owner.

You may also file a complaint with the Dutch Data Protection Authority .

8. House rules and moderation

SquareChat is intended for normal, respectful conversation. Threats, hate, harassment, illegal content, sexual approaches towards minors and explicit sexual content are not allowed.

Moderators may remove messages, remove participants from a room, restrict accounts and impose temporary or permanent bans when needed for safety, order or enforcement of the house rules.

The teen environment for ages 12–17 and the adult environment are kept strictly separate.

9. Use at your own risk

SquareChat is provided free of charge on an “as is” and “as available” basis. Use of SquareChat and contact with other users is at your own risk.

SquareChat cannot guarantee that the service will always be error-free, uninterrupted or entirely free from unwanted behaviour. Users are responsible for what they share, how they interact with others and for securing their account.

To the extent permitted by law, SquareChat and its operator are not liable for indirect loss, consequential loss, data loss, temporary unavailability, technical failures or damage caused by the content or conduct of other users.

Nothing on this page excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under mandatory applicable law.

10. Copyright and user content

The SquareChat name, design, original texts, logos and software components are protected unless stated otherwise. They may not be copied or offered as another product without permission.

Users retain any rights they may have in content they share. By sending content through SquareChat, you only grant the technical permission needed to transmit or display it to the intended participants within the service.

11. Applicable law and changes

SquareChat is operated from the Netherlands. Dutch law applies to the extent legally permitted. Mandatory rights provided by applicable law remain unaffected.

This page may be updated when SquareChat changes or clarification is needed. Important changes will be communicated appropriately.

Last updated: 24 July 2026.

12. Contact

Questions about privacy, safety, account deletion, moderation or this page:

support@squarechat.nl

SquareChat is free, ad-free and non-commercial.