Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Cattlox (“we”, “our”, or “us”) operates a technology platform that connects buyers and sellers of livestock in India. We are a technology platform only — we do not broker, buy, or sell livestock ourselves. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data when you use our mobile application and services. We comply with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) and other applicable Indian laws. Our platform is strictly for users who are 18 years of age or older.

2. Information We Collect

We collect only what is necessary to provide and improve our services:

• Account data: Phone number (for OTP login), full name, state and district (e.g. Tamil Nadu), and language preference.
• Location data: When you post a listing, we collect GPS location. Exact coordinates are stored privately and used only for legitimate platform purposes; public listings show only an approximate (blurred) location to protect seller privacy.
• Listing data: Animal type, age range, sex, breed, price, negotiability, photos you upload, and the approximate location of the listing.
• Support data: If you report a problem or contact support, we store your message, category, optional screenshot, and (if you report a specific listing) the listing reference.
• Technical data: Device and app usage information (e.g. IP address, browser type) as needed for security and service operation.

3. How We Use Information

We use your data to: operate the platform (e.g. display listings, match buyers and sellers); verify your identity via phone OTP; enforce our terms and prevent misuse; respond to support requests; improve our services; and comply with legal obligations. We do not sell your personal data to third parties.

4. Location Data & GPS Usage

When you create a listing, we ask for your location to show buyers where the animal is located. Your exact location is stored privately and is not shared with other users. On the map and in listing cards, we show only an approximate location (e.g. snapped to a coarse grid) to protect your privacy. We may also use location to suggest your district during profile setup. You can deny location access, but posting a listing requires location permission for accuracy and trust.

5. Photos & User Content

Photos you upload (e.g. for listings) are stored on our infrastructure and may be processed to display, resize, or secure them. By uploading content, you grant us a licence to use it to operate the platform. Do not upload content that infringes others' rights or that is illegal. We may remove content that violates our policies or the law.

6. Data Sharing

We share data only as follows: (1) With third-party service providers (e.g. cloud hosting, authentication, database, and storage services) who help us run the platform under strict confidentiality and data protection terms; (2) When required by law or lawful requests from courts, government authorities, or law enforcement in India, including under the DPDP Act and other applicable legislation; (3) To protect our rights, users' safety, or to investigate fraud or abuse. We do not sell or rent your personal data to advertisers or data brokers.

7. Data Retention

We retain your account and profile data for as long as your account is active. Listing data is retained as needed to operate the platform and for legitimate business and legal purposes. Support tickets are kept for resolving issues and for compliance. When you request deletion of your data (see Section 9), we will delete or anonymise it within the timeframes required by law, except where we must retain it for legal or regulatory reasons.

8. Data Security

We use industry-standard technical and organisational measures to protect your data, including encryption in transit and at rest, access controls, and secure authentication. While we strive to protect your personal data, no system can be completely secure; we ask you to keep your account details and phone access secure.

9. Your Rights Under Indian Law

Under the DPDP Act and our practices, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction of inaccurate or incomplete data (e.g. name, district) through the app or by contacting us.
• Deletion of your data, subject to legal and legitimate retention needs.
• Grievance redressal by contacting our Grievance Officer (below).

To exercise these rights, use the in-app “Edit profile” options or contact us at the email below. We will respond within the timeframes prescribed under applicable law.

10. Age Restriction (18+)

Our platform is intended only for users who are at least 18 years old. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has provided us data, please contact us and we will take steps to delete it.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the revised policy in the app and update the “Effective Date” and version number. For material changes, we may notify you via the app or by email. Continued use of the platform after the updated policy is published constitutes acceptance of the changes, to the extent permitted by law.