Privacy

Privacy Policy

Learn how Askobo collects, uses, and protects your data.

Effective Date: 26 December 2025 • Last updated: 26 December 2025

SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS

  • We collect personal data you provide (e.g., name, email, profile details), information generated during your use of Askobo (usage, logs, session IDs), limited payment metadata via Razorpay, and content created in sessions, chats, and (where enabled) recordings.
  • We use data to operate and improve Askobo, facilitate bookings and video calls (Daily.co), analyze engagement, ensure safety, process payments, and meet legal obligations.
  • We share data with service providers (e.g., Razorpay, Daily.co, Sentry, hosting, email), only as needed to provide the Services. We do not sell personal data.
  • You can request access, correction, deletion, and other rights as your laws allow by emailing hi@askobo.com.
  • Security: passwords are hashed (e.g., bcrypt), transport is encrypted (HTTPS), access is role-based. No method is 100% secure.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. What information do we collect?

We collect information you provide directly, information collected automatically when you use Askobo, and limited payment metadata from third parties.

a) Information you provide

  • Account & profile: name, email, hashed password, profile and cover images, bios, expertise, pricing, availability.
  • Communications & support: messages you send us (including attachments), support tickets, and related metadata.
  • Sessions & content: chats, attachments, notes, and (if enabled) recordings in meetings or calls.
  • Quizzes & forms: quiz answers and responses to forms or assessments within Askobo.
  • Reports & reviews: reports you submit (e.g., for policy violations) and your reviews/comments; we intentionally limit what reviewer details are shown publicly.
  • Newsletter: when you subscribe, we collect email, first/last name, status, source, country, language, referrer, user agent, IP address, and related metadata.

b) Information collected automatically

  • Usage & logs: pages viewed, features used, timestamps, referrers, and interactions.
  • Device & technical: IP address, browser/OS, device identifiers (where applicable), and performance/error data.
  • Blog view tracking: userId (if logged in), sessionId, IP address, user agent; for anonymous users we rely on sessionId, IP, and user agent.
  • Video call telemetry: session/room IDs, participant IDs, and event data (e.g., join/leave/media changes).
  • Analytics: search terms, categories, filters, result counts, pages viewed, time on page, device type, browser, platform, session ID, time of day, day of week, expert profiles viewed, booking IDs, conversion events/values, clicked results, refined searches, exits/bounces.
  • Cookies & tokens: cookies (including JWT-based auth) and similar technologies for session management, security, and analytics.

c) Payments (Razorpay)

We use Razorpay to process payments. All payments from Seekers are collected by Askobo through Razorpay. A platform fee of 2.5% is charged to cover payment processing costs. Card/bank details are collected and processed by Razorpay and are not stored on Askobo servers. Refunds (where applicable) are initiated according to the Cancellation & Refund Policy and the Expert's individual policy.

d) Expert Bank Details & Payouts

For Experts receiving payouts, we collect bank account details (account number, IFSC code, account holder name) to process manual payouts. Askobo team may access Expert bank details solely for the purpose of processing payouts. All bank details are stored securely with industry-standard encryption methods. We do not share bank details with third parties except as required for payment processing. Payouts are released manually after booking completion and upon Expert payout request, typically within 24-48 hours.

2. How do we use your information?

  • Provide, operate, and improve Askobo, including authentication, profiles, sessions, video calls, bookings, invoicing, and customer support.
  • Process payments, commissions, and applicable taxes; send transactional emails (verification, resets, receipts, notices).
  • Monitor and enforce safety, security, and policy compliance; detect, prevent, and investigate fraud or abuse.
  • Analyze usage to understand performance, engagement, conversion, and feature quality; generate aggregated reports and insights.
  • Communicate service updates and (with consent where required) marketing messages; manage newsletter subscriptions.
  • Comply with laws, respond to lawful requests, and enforce our terms, including dispute handling.

3. Our legal bases for processing

Depending on your jurisdiction, we rely on one or more of the following: contract necessity (to provide the Services you request), legitimate interests (e.g., safety, fraud prevention, product improvement), consent (e.g., marketing cookies/emails where required), and legal compliance. Where consent is required, you may withdraw it at any time.

4. When & with whom we share personal information

  • Service providers: hosting, infrastructure, security and monitoring (e.g., Sentry), email/SMS delivery, analytics, and customer support tools. Access is limited to what’s necessary.
  • Payment processor: Razorpay for transaction processing and payouts (we receive limited metadata; Razorpay handles card/bank details).
  • Video calls: Daily.co for room creation, tokens, and call telemetry (e.g., join/leave events).
  • Fonts & assets: where applicable, Google Fonts and similar services may receive your IP request to deliver assets.
  • Legal & safety: if required by law or to protect rights, property, or safety.
  • Business transfers: in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets.

Some providers may process data in countries outside your own. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards (e.g., contractual protections) for cross-border transfers.

5. Cookies & similar technologies

We use cookies, local storage, and similar technologies to remember your session (including JWT-based authentication), keep you signed in, secure your account, personalize experience, and measure usage. You can control cookies via your browser settings; disabling some may impact functionality.

6. Analytics, AI/ML & safety systems

To improve relevance, quality, fraud detection, and safety, we analyze usage and may use aggregated or pseudonymized data, session metadata, and feedback signals. If AI-powered features (e.g., matching, insights, moderation aids) are enabled, we do not use your payment instrument details for model training.

7. Social logins

If you sign in with a social provider, we receive profile information permitted by that provider (e.g., name, email). You control what is shared in your provider account settings.

8. Data retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes described here, including providing the Services, resolving disputes, enforcing agreements, and meeting legal, tax, or accounting requirements. Certain logs and backups may persist for a limited period for security and continuity.

9. Data security

We use administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards, including encryption in transit (HTTPS), password hashing (e.g., bcrypt), access controls, monitoring, and secure email/SMTP where applicable. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure.

10. Children’s privacy

Experts must be 18+. Seekers under 18 should use Askobo only with parental/guardian consent and supervision where permitted by law. If we learn we have collected personal data from a child contrary to law, we will take reasonable steps to delete it.

11. Your privacy rights

  • Access the personal data we hold about you.
  • Request correction or deletion (subject to legal/contractual limits).
  • Object to or restrict certain processing where permitted by law.
  • Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
  • Request data portability where applicable.
  • Exercise rights by emailing hi@askobo.com. We’ll verify your identity and respond per applicable law.

12. Do-Not-Track

Some browsers offer Do-Not-Track (DNT). There is no industry consensus on how to respond. We may not respond to DNT signals today and will update this Policy if standards emerge.

13. US-specific disclosures

If Askobo is offered to US residents, we will honor applicable federal and state requirements (e.g., California privacy rights under the CCPA/CPRA). We do not sell personal information. To exercise US-specific rights, contact hi@askobo.com.

14. Other region-specific rights (EU/UK, India)

EU/UK (GDPR): You may have rights to access, rectify, erase, restrict or object to processing, and data portability. We rely on appropriate legal bases and, where relevant, safeguards for international transfers (e.g., contractual protections).

India (DPDPA 2023): You may request access, correction, deletion, and grievance redressal. Contact us at hi@askobo.com. We will provide additional jurisdiction-specific details upon request.

15. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Policy as our Services and legal requirements evolve. If we make material changes, we will post the updated Policy here with a new “Last updated” date and, where required, provide additional notice.

16. Contact us

Data Controller: ASKOBO TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED. Email: hi@askobo.com.

ASKOBO TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED

Sf.No.456/1, Site.No.147, Breeze Garden,
Athipalayam, Coimbatore-641110
State: Tamil Nadu, India

17. Review, update, or delete your data

To submit a request, email hi@askobo.com. We will verify your identity and respond in line with applicable law. If we cannot honor a request due to legal or contractual reasons, we’ll explain why.