zkChat – Terms & Privacy Policy

About the Service

zkChat is communication software that enables end-to-end encrypted messaging, file sharing, and related functionality. The Service is operated by OpenZK LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company ("OpenZK," "we," "us," or "our"). zkChat provides software tools and infrastructure that facilitate private communication between users. We do not host, store, curate, or moderate the content of private communications.

Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years of age to use zkChat. By using the Service, you represent that you meet this age requirement. If you are under the age of majority in your jurisdiction, you represent that your parent or legal guardian has reviewed and agrees to these Terms on your behalf.

Nature of the Software

zkChat is provided as a tool for private communication. We make no guarantees regarding the performance, reliability, availability, or suitability of the software for any particular purpose. The software is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Cryptographic software is complex, and while we employ industry-standard encryption practices, no software can guarantee absolute security.

User Responsibilities

You are solely responsible for your use of zkChat. This includes:

• All content you create, transmit, or share using the Service
• Maintaining the security of your devices and encryption keys
• Ensuring your use complies with all applicable laws in your jurisdiction
• Any consequences arising from your use or misuse of the Service

You agree not to use zkChat for any unlawful purpose or in any manner that could damage, disable, or impair the Service. We reserve the right to terminate access to infrastructure services for users who violate these Terms.

Open Source & Licensing

Portions of zkChat are released under open-source licenses. The source code for these components is available at github.com/zkChatOrg. Use of open-source components is governed by their respective license terms. Certain components, infrastructure, and services may be proprietary. OpenZK may offer commercial licenses, API access, or enterprise services under separate agreements.

Availability & Jurisdictional Restrictions

The Service may be restricted, unavailable, or prohibited in certain jurisdictions. We do not represent that zkChat is appropriate or available for use in all locations. Users who access or use the Service do so on their own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local laws and regulations. If your use of zkChat would violate any applicable law, you are not authorized to use the Service.

No Professional Advice

zkChat is a communication tool. Nothing transmitted through or provided by the Service constitutes legal, financial, medical, or other professional advice. You should consult appropriate professionals for advice specific to your situation.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, OpenZK LLC, its officers, directors, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses resulting from (a) your use or inability to use the Service; (b) any unauthorized access to or use of our infrastructure; (c) any interruption or cessation of the Service; (d) any content or conduct of any third party using the Service; or (e) any content transmitted using the Service. In no event shall our total liability exceed one hundred U.S. dollars ($100.00).

Termination

You may stop using zkChat at any time. We may suspend or terminate access to infrastructure services at our discretion, with or without notice, for conduct that we believe violates these Terms or is harmful to other users, us, or third parties. Due to the decentralized nature of the software, termination of infrastructure access does not prevent use of the open-source software components independently.

Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Wyoming, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Wyoming, United States.

Privacy by Design

zkChat is architected around the principle that we should not have access to your private communications. This is not a policy choice—it is a technical reality. Messages are encrypted on your device before transmission using keys that we never possess. We cannot read your messages, and we cannot provide them to anyone else.

Data Minimization

We collect and retain as little information as technically necessary to operate the Service. Our infrastructure is designed to minimize data retention and avoid creating records that could be subject to disclosure.

What We Do NOT Collect

• Message content (we cannot decrypt it)
• Encryption keys
• Contact lists or address books
• User accounts or profiles (no registration required)
• Location data
• Browsing history
• Device identifiers for tracking purposes

What MAY Be Processed

In the course of operating infrastructure services, certain technical metadata may be transiently processed. This may include:

• IP addresses (for connection routing; not logged persistently)
• Timestamps of connections (for rate limiting and abuse prevention)
• Encrypted message blobs (transiently, for relay purposes only)
• Aggregate, anonymized usage statistics (e.g., total messages relayed)

We do not correlate this information to identify individual users or their communications. Technical data is not retained longer than necessary for operational purposes.

No Sale or Monetization of Data

We do not sell, rent, or monetize user data. We do not serve advertisements. We do not build profiles for marketing purposes. Privacy is our product, not a feature we trade away.

International Users

OpenZK LLC is based in Wyoming, United States. We do not have an establishment in the European Union or other jurisdictions. If you access the Service from outside the United States, you understand that any technical data processed in connection with the Service may be transferred to and processed in the United States. By using the Service, you consent to this transfer.

User Rights

Because we do not collect personal data or maintain user accounts, traditional data subject rights (access, correction, deletion) have limited applicability. We cannot provide data we do not have. We cannot delete messages we cannot access. If you have questions about any technical data that may have been processed in connection with your use of the Service, you may contact us at privacy@zkchat.org.

Data Retention

Encrypted message content is not retained after delivery or expiration. Technical metadata necessary for service operation is retained only as long as operationally necessary, typically measured in hours or days, not weeks or months. We do not maintain long-term archives of operational data.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Your continued use of the Service after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.