MergeChat is built to be used without creating an account. This page explains what information the app handles, why, and how long it sticks around.
No sign-up, no personal account
MergeChat does not ask for your name, email, or phone number to use the app. On your first visit, your browser is assigned an anonymous device identifier automatically. This identifier is not tied to your real identity and is used only to keep your car marker, profile, and reports consistent across sessions on that device.
What we collect while you use the app
Live location. Used to place your marker on a room's map, show you rooms and people nearby, and show hazards near you. Your location is only shared with the app while the tab is open and stops immediately when you close it.
Voice audio. Transmitted live to the other people in a room, only after you tap into that room. Voice is locked while you're moving above 10 mph. Calls are not recorded or stored by MergeChat.
Room messages and pins. Messages you post to a room's message board, and pins you drop on a room's map, are visible to anyone who opens that room and stay there until they're removed. For rooms run by a community partner (such as a neighborhood association), that partner's moderators can review and remove messages in their rooms.
Alerts (optional). If you turn on Alerts, we store a notification token for your browser along with your general area, so we can send hazard and traffic alerts near you. Turn Alerts off in your browser settings at any time and the token stops being used.
Usage analytics. We use Google Analytics for Firebase to count things like rooms joined and links shared, so we can tell what's working. These events aren't tied to your name.
Optional profile info. A display name, short bio, car color/type, and profile photo, if you choose to add them. All optional.
Hazard reports. Accident, speed trap, or "need help" pins you drop, including their location and timestamp. Reports automatically expire and are deleted after 30 minutes.
What we don't do
We don't sell your data.
We don't share your personal information with advertisers. MergeChat does show clearly labeled "Sponsored" messages from local businesses, picked by general area — sponsors only ever see total view and click counts, never who you are.
We don't require an account, email, or password.
Third-party services we rely on
MergeChat is built on a small set of infrastructure providers to function:
Firebase (Google) — stores profile info, hazard reports, room messages, and live location data while the app is in use, and delivers push alerts and usage analytics.
Agora — powers the live voice rooms.
Mapbox — provides the map, search, and routing.
Each of these providers processes data only as needed to deliver their part of the app, under their own respective privacy policies.
Your choices
Location, microphone, and photo access are all requested through your browser's normal permission prompts — you can deny or revoke any of them at any time in your browser settings.
You can reset your profile at any time from the account menu, which clears your name, photo, and car info and starts fresh with a new anonymous identity.
To request deletion of any data tied to your device, reach out using the contact info below.
Children's privacy
MergeChat is not directed at children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect information from them.
Changes to this policy
If this policy changes, the "Last updated" date at the top of this page will be revised.
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