Permissions & Rights

Last Updated: July 22, 2025

Effective Date: July 22, 2025

Introduction

This document explains the permissions that BitChat APK requires to function properly, why these permissions are necessary, and your rights regarding app permissions and data access. We believe in complete transparency about what our application needs and why.

BitChat APK is designed to minimize permission requirements while providing full functionality. We only request permissions that are absolutely necessary for the app to work as intended.

Required Permissions

Bluetooth Permissions

Permission: BLUETOOTH, BLUETOOTH_ADMIN, BLUETOOTH_CONNECT, BLUETOOTH_SCAN

Why Required: BitChat APK uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to create mesh networks for peer-to-peer communication. Without Bluetooth access, the app cannot function.

What We Do:

  • Scan for nearby BitChat APK users
  • Establish connections with other devices
  • Transmit encrypted messages through the mesh network
  • Manage Bluetooth connections efficiently

What We Don't Do:

  • Access other Bluetooth devices or services
  • Connect to devices without your explicit action
  • Use Bluetooth for any purpose other than BitChat communication

Location Permissions

Permission: ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION, ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION

Why Required: Android requires location permission for Bluetooth scanning. This is a system requirement, not a choice we made.

What We Do:

  • Use location permission only to enable Bluetooth scanning
  • Respect your location privacy settings

What We Don't Do:

  • Track your actual location
  • Store or transmit location data
  • Use location for any purpose other than enabling Bluetooth
  • Access GPS or other location services

Notification Permissions

Permission: POST_NOTIFICATIONS

Why Required: To alert you when new messages arrive, especially when the app is in the background.

What We Do:

  • Show notifications for new messages
  • Display sender information in notifications
  • Allow you to respond directly from notifications

What We Don't Do:

  • Send promotional or advertising notifications
  • Access notification content from other apps
  • Use notifications for any purpose other than message alerts

Optional Permissions

Storage Permissions

Permission: READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

Why Optional: Only needed if you want to save message logs or export conversations.

What We Do (if granted):

  • Save message logs to your device storage
  • Export conversations in text format
  • Backup your message history

Default Behavior: Messages are stored only in the app's internal storage and are deleted when the app is uninstalled.

Camera Permissions

Permission: CAMERA

Why Optional: Only needed for scanning QR codes to quickly connect with other users.

What We Do (if granted):

  • Scan QR codes to establish connections
  • Generate QR codes for easy sharing

Alternative: You can manually enter connection codes without camera access.

Permission Management

Granting Permissions

When you first install BitChat APK, you will be prompted to grant the required permissions:

  1. Installation: Grant "Install from unknown sources" permission
  2. First Launch: Grant Bluetooth and Location permissions
  3. Optional: Grant notification and storage permissions as needed

Revoking Permissions

You can revoke permissions at any time through your device settings:

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > BitChat APK
  2. Tap "Permissions"
  3. Toggle off any permissions you want to revoke

Note: Revoking required permissions (Bluetooth, Location) will prevent the app from functioning properly.

Permission Status

The app will show you the status of all permissions in the settings menu. You can see which permissions are granted, denied, or optional.

Your Rights Regarding Permissions

Right to Information

You have the right to know:

  • What permissions the app requires
  • Why each permission is necessary
  • How your data is used
  • What happens if you deny permissions

Right to Control

You have the right to:

  • Grant or deny any permission
  • Revoke permissions at any time
  • Use the app with limited functionality if you deny optional permissions
  • Uninstall the app if you disagree with permission requirements

Right to Transparency

We commit to:

  • Clearly explain why each permission is needed
  • Not request unnecessary permissions
  • Be transparent about data usage
  • Respect your privacy choices

Data Access and Privacy

What We Can Access

With the granted permissions, BitChat APK can access:

  • Bluetooth: Nearby Bluetooth devices running BitChat APK
  • Location: Only to enable Bluetooth scanning (no actual location tracking)
  • Notifications: Only BitChat APK notifications
  • Storage: Only if you grant permission, and only for message logs

What We Cannot Access

BitChat APK cannot access:

  • Your contacts or address book
  • Your call history or phone logs
  • Your SMS messages
  • Your email or other messaging apps
  • Your photos or media files (unless you explicitly share them)
  • Your browsing history or web activity
  • Your device's microphone or camera (except for QR scanning)

Data Transmission

All data transmitted through BitChat APK:

  • Is encrypted end-to-end
  • Travels only through the local mesh network
  • Is not stored on any servers
  • Cannot be intercepted by us or third parties

Security and Permissions

Permission Security

We implement several security measures regarding permissions:

  • Minimal Permissions: We only request permissions absolutely necessary for functionality
  • Secure Implementation: Permissions are implemented following Android security best practices
  • No Permission Abuse: We never use permissions for purposes other than stated
  • Regular Audits: Our permission usage is regularly reviewed and audited

Third-Party Access

We do not:

  • Share permission access with third parties
  • Use permissions to collect data for advertising
  • Grant third-party services access to your device
  • Use permissions for any commercial purposes

Troubleshooting Permission Issues

Common Permission Problems

Bluetooth Permission Denied

Symptoms: App cannot find nearby users or establish connections

Solution:

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > BitChat APK > Permissions
  2. Enable Bluetooth permissions
  3. Ensure Bluetooth is turned on in device settings

Location Permission Denied

Symptoms: Bluetooth scanning fails or app shows location error

Solution:

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > BitChat APK > Permissions
  2. Enable Location permissions
  3. Choose "Allow while using app" for better privacy

Notification Permission Denied

Symptoms: No alerts when new messages arrive

Solution:

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > BitChat APK > Permissions
  2. Enable Notification permissions
  3. Check device notification settings

Permission Changes and Updates

Future Permission Requirements

If we need to add new permissions in future versions, we will:

  • Clearly explain why the new permission is necessary
  • Provide advance notice before requiring new permissions
  • Allow you to continue using the current version without new permissions
  • Update this document to reflect any changes

Permission Removal

We may remove permission requirements if:

  • Android system changes make permissions unnecessary
  • We find alternative ways to provide functionality
  • User feedback indicates permission concerns
  • Security improvements allow reduced permission usage

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Android Permission Guidelines

Our permission usage complies with:

  • Google Play Store permission guidelines
  • Android security best practices
  • Privacy protection regulations
  • Open-source software standards

International Compliance

We ensure compliance with:

  • GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
  • CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act)
  • Local privacy laws in your jurisdiction
  • Industry best practices for app permissions

Contact and Support

Permission Questions

If you have questions about permissions or rights, please contact us:

Reporting Permission Issues

If you experience problems with permissions:

  1. Check the troubleshooting section above
  2. Review your device's permission settings
  3. Contact us with specific details about the issue
  4. Include your device model and Android version

Feedback and Suggestions

We welcome feedback about our permission practices. If you have suggestions for improving our permission handling or documentation, please let us know.