Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Map-Charts.com (“Map-Charts,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). We respect your privacy and aim to handle personal information responsibly, transparently, and securely.

By accessing or using this website, you acknowledge that you have read this Privacy Policy. Where consent is required by applicable law, we will request it separately.

2. Information we collect

Information you provide

You may browse publicly available maps without providing personal information. If you register, log in, contact us, or use certain account features, we may collect:

• Your name;
• Your email address;
• Your date of birth or age;
• Your postal address;
• Your ethnicity, where you voluntarily provide it;
• Your username and account details; and
• Information included in messages sent to us.

We will only request information that is reasonably necessary for the relevant service or purpose. Fields that are optional should be clearly identified as optional.

Information collected automatically

When you access the website, our systems or service providers may automatically collect technical information, including:

• Your Internet Protocol (IP) address;
• Browser type and version;
• Device type and operating system;
• Pages visited and features used;
• Date and time of access;
• Referring website or page; and
• Cookie or session identifiers, where applicable.

IP addresses and related technical logs may be used for security, fraud prevention, service operation, troubleshooting, and aggregated website analytics.

3. Sensitive personal information

Information about ethnicity may be treated as sensitive or special-category personal data under applicable law. We will only collect or use this information where there is a clear purpose and an appropriate legal basis, such as your explicit consent.

Providing ethnicity information should be voluntary. You may withdraw your consent to its future use by contacting us, although withdrawal will not affect processing that was lawful before consent was withdrawn.

4. How we use information

We may use personal information to:

• Create, authenticate, and manage user accounts;
• Provide maps, map charts, and website features;
• Personalise account settings or saved preferences;
• Respond to questions, requests, and support messages;
• Maintain website security and prevent misuse or fraud;
• Diagnose technical problems and improve performance;
• Understand general website usage through analytics;
• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements; and
• Establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.

We will not use personal information for a materially different purpose without providing appropriate notice and, where required, obtaining consent.

5. Legal Basis for Processing

As Map-Charts.com is operated from India, we process personal data in accordance with applicable Indian laws, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act), where applicable.

We may collect and process your personal information for the following purposes:

• To create and manage your account;
• To provide and improve our map and map-chart services;
• To authenticate users and maintain account security;
• To respond to your enquiries and provide customer support;
• To detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, abuse, or unauthorized access;
• To comply with applicable legal or regulatory obligations;
• With your consent where required by applicable law; and
• For other legitimate business purposes permitted under applicable Indian law.

6. Cookies and similar technologies

We may use essential cookies or similar technologies to keep users signed in, remember settings, maintain security, and ensure that the website operates correctly.

We may also use optional analytics cookies where permitted. Where applicable, non-essential cookies will not be placed until you have made a valid cookie choice.

You can manage cookies through your browser settings. Blocking essential cookies may prevent some account or website features from functioning correctly.

7. When we share information

We do not sell personal information. We may share limited information with:

• Hosting, security, email, analytics, and technical service providers;
• Professional advisers, such as lawyers or accountants;
• Authorities or regulators when required by law;
• Parties involved in preventing fraud, abuse, or security threats; and
• A successor organisation in connection with a merger, acquisition, or transfer of the website.

Service providers may only process information on our instructions and for the services they provide to us, subject to appropriate contractual and security requirements.

8. Data retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including account administration, security, legal compliance, dispute resolution, and enforcement of our terms.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information, the reason it was collected, and applicable legal obligations. Data may be deleted or anonymised when it is no longer required.

9. Data security

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.

Passwords should be stored using a strong one-way password hashing method and must not be stored in readable plain text. However, no internet transmission or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

10. Your privacy rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

• Request access to your personal information;
• Correct inaccurate or incomplete information;
• Request deletion of your information;
• Restrict or object to certain processing;
• Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent;
• Request a portable copy of eligible information; and
• Complain to an appropriate data-protection authority.

We may need to verify your identity before completing a privacy request. Some rights are subject to legal limitations or exceptions.

11. Children’s privacy

The website is not intended for children who are unable to provide valid consent under applicable law. We do not knowingly collect children’s personal information unlawfully.

If you believe a child has provided personal information without appropriate permission, please contact us so that we can investigate and take suitable action.

12. International data transfers

Some service providers may process information outside your country. Where required, we will use recognised safeguards for international transfers, such as adequacy regulations, approved contractual clauses, or another lawful transfer mechanism.

13. Third-party websites and services

The website may contain links to third-party websites, map data sources, or other external services. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies, and we are not responsible for their content or privacy practices.

14. Map and boundary accuracy

Maps, labels, geographic features, political boundaries, and administrative boundaries displayed on Map-Charts.com are provided for general informational and visualisation purposes.

Boundary lines, place names, and territorial labels do not necessarily represent a legal determination, an official government position, or Map-Charts.com’s view regarding the status of any country, territory, region, or disputed area.

The maps must not be relied upon for legal boundaries, land ownership, cadastral work, surveying, construction, engineering, emergency response, navigation, military use, or any other purpose requiring precise geographic information. Users should verify important information with an authorised government body, qualified surveyor, or other appropriate professional source.

15. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes to our services, data practices, or legal obligations. The updated policy will be published on this page with a revised “Last updated” date.

Where a change materially affects your rights, we may provide additional notice where required by law.

16. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or would like to contact us regarding your personal information, please contact us through our Contact page.