Privacy Policy
Last updated: 4 October 2026
BiteCircle is preparing to launch a community for honest, dish-level food reviews, starting in Bangalore. Right now we run a waitlist: you can learn about BiteCircle on this website and join through WhatsApp. This policy explains what information we collect during this waitlist stage, why we collect it, and the choices you have. It is written to meet India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
This policy covers only the website and the WhatsApp waitlist. When the BiteCircle community launches, we'll publish an updated policy and tell waitlist members on WhatsApp before anything changes.
In short
- We collect what you tell us on WhatsApp and basic information about how this website is used
- We use it to run the waitlist, invite you to the beta and understand what to build
- We never sell your information or use it for advertising
- Reply STOP on WhatsApp anytime, or email us to see or delete your information
1. Information we collect
| When | What we collect | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| You visit this website | Pages and sections you view, buttons you tap, time spent on the page, device and browser type, approximate location (city level, from your IP address), the link or campaign that brought you here, and recordings of how the page is used (taps, clicks and scrolling) | Collected automatically |
| You send the join message on WhatsApp | Your phone number, your WhatsApp profile name, and a short code in the message that tells us which link or button you used | Needed to join |
| You answer our waitlist questions | Your name, city, locality and how often you order food | Needed to join |
| You answer the optional questions | Your last food order (what you ordered, how you chose it, how long it took and how it turned out) and a dish you'd recommend, as text or voice notes | Optional |
| You send a screenshot of an order | The screenshot you choose to send, so we can mark your dish recommendation as verified. Order screenshots can show details like your address, so please crop anything you don't want to share | Optional |
| You share your referral link | A random referral code, so we can count how many people joined through your link and tell you when a friend joins. We share only your friend's first name from their WhatsApp profile with you, never their number | Automatic |
We don't ask for your exact address, GPS location, payment details, passwords or contacts, and we can't see your other WhatsApp chats. Please don't share other people's personal details in your answers or voice notes.
2. How we use it
| Purpose | Information used |
|---|---|
| Add you to the waitlist and invite you when the beta opens in your locality | Phone number, name, city, locality |
| Send you occasional BiteCircle updates on WhatsApp | Phone number, name, locality |
| Understand how people choose food and what to build first | Your answers, including optional ones |
| See which links and pages bring people to BiteCircle and improve the website | Website usage information and link codes |
| Count referrals, move you into an earlier invite wave, and decide which localities to open first | Referral codes, locality |
| Mark your dish recommendation as verified | The order screenshot you sent |
| Work out launch perks for top contributors (for example, food delivery vouchers) | Referrals and dish recommendations |
| Feature a dish you recommended on our website or social media, only if you agree, and never with your name or number | Your dish recommendation |
We do not sell your information, share it with restaurants or delivery apps, or use it for third-party advertising.
3. Who we share it with
We only share information with service providers who help us run the website and waitlist, and only what they need:
- WhatsApp (Meta), which carries our messages
- A messaging service provider that connects our WhatsApp account to the waitlist conversation
- A website analytics provider that measures how the website is used
- Hosting and secure data storage providers that run this website and store waitlist information
These providers act on our instructions and are not allowed to use your information for their own purposes. We may also disclose information if the law requires it.
4. Where your information is processed
Some of our service providers process information outside India. This is permitted under the DPDP Act, and we only use providers that protect information to a high standard.
5. How long we keep it
| Information | Kept for |
|---|---|
| Waitlist information and answers | Until you ask us to delete it, or 12 months after the BiteCircle beta ends, whichever comes first |
| Order screenshots | Until we've checked them against your recommendation, then deleted. We keep only whether the recommendation was verified |
| Website usage information | Up to 12 months |
| If you reply STOP | We stop messaging you straight away and keep only your number and the opt-out, so we don't contact you again |
6. Your rights and choices
| You can | How |
|---|---|
| Stop WhatsApp messages | Reply STOP in the chat at any time; reply START to rejoin |
| Skip the optional questions | Tap "Maybe later", or just don't answer |
| See what we hold about you, correct it, or have it deleted | Email us (section 9); we'll respond within 30 days |
| Withdraw your consent | Email us or reply STOP; it doesn't affect anything we did before |
| Nominate someone to exercise these rights if you die or become unable to | Email us with their details |
| Make a complaint | Email us first; if you're not satisfied with our response, you can complain to the Data Protection Board of India |
7. Age
The BiteCircle waitlist is for people aged 18 and over. If you're under 18, please don't join. If we learn we hold information about someone under 18, we'll delete it.
8. Security
We limit who can access waitlist information, keep your phone number out of our website analytics, and use reputable providers. No system is perfectly secure; if a breach affects your information, we'll let you and the Data Protection Board of India know as the law requires.
9. Contact us
For questions, requests or complaints about your information, email bitecircle@gmail.com. We'll reply within 30 days.
10. Changes to this policy
If we change this policy, we'll update the date at the top. For significant changes, including when the community launches, we'll tell waitlist members on WhatsApp before the changes take effect.