Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how Katoro (“Katoro”, “we”, “us”, “our”), operating out of Vadodara, Gujarat, India, collects, uses, stores, shares and protects personal data when you:
- visit or use katoro.in (this website);
- use the Katoro customer app to build and order noodle bowls (“Customer App”); or
- use the Katoro Partner app as a delivery/onboarding staff member (“Partner App”).
This policy applies across all three surfaces. Where a section applies to only one of them, it says so explicitly. By using any of the above, you agree to the collection and use of information as described here.
1. Information we collect
1.1 Website visitors
- Name, phone number, delivery area and dietary preference — only if you submit the waitlist / interest form.
- Basic technical data (browser type, device type, pages visited) via standard server logs. We do not currently run third-party analytics or advertising trackers on this site.
1.2 Customer App users
- Account: name, phone number (verified by OTP), and app language preference.
- Order data: delivery address, precise location (to route your order and estimate delivery time), items ordered, allergen/dietary tags you select, payment mode (cash-on-delivery or prepaid) and order history.
- Communications: ratings, complaints, or support messages you send us.
- Device data: push-notification token (to notify you about order status), app diagnostics and crash logs.
We do not store your card or UPI credentials — prepaid payments are processed by our payment partner and Katoro never sees your card/UPI PIN.
1.3 Partner App users (delivery/onboarding staff)
- Identity & KYC: name, phone number, profile photo, Aadhaar, driving licence and vehicle RC (registration certificate) images, submitted during onboarding for verification purposes.
- Vehicle details: vehicle type and registration number.
- Location: precise (foreground) location whenever the app is open, and background location only while you are on duty / online — this is required to match you with nearby orders, calculate accurate delivery routes, and share your live position with the customer for the duration of an active delivery. Background location stops being collected the moment you go offline.
- Camera & photo library: used only to capture/upload your profile photo and the KYC documents above.
- Payout details: UPI ID or bank details used to pay your earnings, plus cash-collection and cash-deposit records for orders paid cash-on-delivery.
- Operational data: trip history, earnings, ratings, shift preferences and zone preferences.
2. How we use your information
- To create and manage your account and verify your identity (OTP, and KYC for partners).
- To take, prepare, dispatch, route and deliver orders, and to match live orders to the nearest available delivery partner.
- To show live order tracking to customers and live navigation to partners during an active trip.
- To process cash reconciliation and pay out partner earnings.
- To send order, offer and account notifications (push notifications, and OTPs over SMS/WhatsApp).
- To provide customer support, investigate complaints/disputes, and prevent fraud or abuse.
- To meet legal, tax, and regulatory obligations (e.g. FSSAI, consumer-protection and payout/KYC record-keeping requirements).
- To improve our app, website and service quality.
We do not sell your personal data to anyone, and we do not use it for third-party advertising.
3. Who we share data with
We share the minimum data necessary with the following categories of service providers, who are contractually restricted from using it for anything other than providing their service to us:
- Google Firebase — real-time live-location sharing during an active delivery, and push notifications.
- Google Maps Platform — address geocoding, route calculation and map display.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS S3) — secure, access-controlled storage of KYC documents and photos.
- Flowsell — delivery of OTP and order-update messages over SMS/WhatsApp.
- Payment processors / UPI rails — for prepaid orders and partner payouts. Katoro never receives or stores your card, UPI PIN, or net-banking credentials.
- A customer's name, delivery address, phone number and order details are shared with the assigned delivery partner solely to complete that delivery, and a customer can see the assigned partner's name, photo and live location for the same reason.
- Government or regulatory authorities, only where required by applicable law, a valid legal process, or to protect the rights, safety or property of Katoro, our users, or the public.
4. Data retention
We retain personal data for as long as your account is active and as needed to provide the service, resolve disputes, and meet our legal/tax/accounting record-keeping obligations (typically up to 8 years for financial and payout-related records, in line with Indian tax law). KYC documents are retained for as long as required for partner verification and compliance, and are deleted or anonymised on request once no longer legally required. You may request deletion of your account and associated personal data at any time — see Section 8.
5. Data security
We use industry-standard safeguards: encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/TLS), access-controlled cloud storage, authenticated API access, and role-based access to sensitive records such as KYC documents and payout details. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, but we work to protect your data using commercially reasonable measures appropriate to its sensitivity.
6. Your rights
Subject to applicable law — including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (India) — you (as a “Data Principal”) have the right to:
- access a summary of the personal data we hold about you;
- correct or update inaccurate or incomplete data;
- withdraw consent and request erasure of your data (subject to our legal retention obligations under Section 4);
- nominate another individual to exercise these rights on your behalf in the event of death or incapacity; and
- register a complaint with us, and if unresolved, with the Data Protection Board of India.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details in Section 10.
7. Children's privacy
The Customer App and website are not directed at children under 18, and the Partner App is restricted to individuals who meet the minimum legal age and licensing requirements to operate a delivery vehicle in India. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us data, contact us and we will delete it.
8. Account & data deletion
Partner App users can delete their account instantly from Profile → Delete account inside the app. Anyone — with or without the app installed — can also request deletion at katoro.in/delete-account, or by emailing hello@katoro.in with the phone number linked to their account. Web/email requests are actioned within 7 days, except for data we are legally required to retain (e.g. financial/payout records, or an active/disputed order).
9. Cookies
katoro.in uses only essential, functional cookies/local storage needed for the site and waitlist form to work. We do not currently use third-party advertising or cross-site tracking cookies. If this changes, this policy will be updated.
10. Contact us / Grievance Officer
For any privacy questions, data access/deletion requests, or grievances regarding how your personal data is handled, contact our Grievance Officer:
- Katoro — Vadodara, Gujarat, India
- Email: hello@katoro.in
- Phone: +91 90000 00000
11. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will post the revised policy on this page with an updated effective date, and for material changes we will provide additional notice in-app or by email where appropriate.