Who We Are
CastelMeet is developed and operated by Castel Code Ltd, a software company based in Lusaka, Zambia, specialising in mobile applications, AI/ML solutions, web development, and communication technology.
Legal Entity & Contact Details
- Company: Castel Code Ltd
- Trading Name: Castel Code — Centre of App and Software
- Location: Lusaka, Zambia
- Website: castelcode.tech
- Email: castelcode.tech@gmail.com
- WhatsApp: +260 706 951 176
- Google Play Account: Castel Code
By installing or using CastelMeet you agree to the terms described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please uninstall the application.
Information We Collect
CastelMeet collects only the data strictly necessary to provide secure, reliable video conferencing. The table below lists every category of data we process.
| Data Type | Details | Required | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display Name | Name you enter when joining a meeting | Required | Identifying you to other participants |
| Audio Stream | Microphone audio captured during active calls | Required for calls | Voice communication in meetings |
| Video Stream | Camera video captured during active calls | Optional | Video communication in meetings |
| Screen Share Stream | Screen content shared by you during a meeting | Optional | Presentation and collaboration |
| Meeting Room ID | Unique identifier for the meeting room you create or join | Required | Routing participants to correct meeting |
| Anonymous User ID | Firebase-generated anonymous UID on first launch | Required | Session management and signalling |
| Connection Metadata | IP address region, connection quality, timestamp | Automatic | Diagnosing call quality issues |
| Device Information | Android version, device model — via Firebase only | Automatic | Crash reporting, compatibility |
| FCM Token | Firebase Cloud Messaging token | Optional | Meeting invite notifications |
🔒 We do NOT collect: your contacts, call logs, SMS, personal files, photos outside of meetings, payment information, or any data from your device outside of active meeting sessions. We do not read your messages sent to other apps.
How We Use Your Information
Core Meeting Functions
- Establishing and maintaining real-time audio and video connections between participants
- Routing media streams between meeting participants securely
- Displaying participant names and connection status in the meeting room
- Managing meeting room creation, joining, and termination
- Enabling raise-hand, mute, and participant management features
Service Quality & Reliability
- Diagnosing and resolving connection quality issues
- Monitoring and improving call performance
- Crash reporting and error logging via Firebase
- Aggregate, anonymised usage analytics for feature development
Notifications
- Meeting invite alerts sent via Firebase Cloud Messaging
- Meeting start reminders if scheduled in advance
We do not use your data for advertising profiling, sell data to third parties, build behavioral profiles, or share data with any government authority unless required by Zambian law.
Audio & Video Data
Audio and video are the core of CastelMeet. Here is exactly how your media is handled:
🔒 Media is transmitted in real-time only. Audio and video streams are transmitted directly between participants to enable live communication. Streams are not stored, recorded, or retained by Castel Code unless you explicitly enable the Recording feature (see Section 8).
Audio
- Microphone is accessed only when you are in an active meeting and not muted
- Audio stream is transmitted to other participants in real time
- Audio is not processed for speech recognition, transcription, or AI analysis
- Microphone access stops immediately when you leave a meeting or mute yourself
Video
- Camera is accessed only when you enable your video in a meeting
- Video stream is transmitted to other participants in real time
- Video is not analysed, stored, or processed by Castel Code servers beyond routing
- Camera access stops immediately when you turn off your video or leave the meeting
⚠️ Important: While Castel Code does not record or store your audio or video, other meeting participants may use third-party screen recording tools on their own devices. Castel Code has no control over recordings made by other participants on their own devices.
Meeting Rooms & Participants
CastelMeet uses a room-based meeting system. When you create or join a meeting room:
What Is Stored in a Meeting Room
- Room ID: A unique identifier for the meeting session
- Participant list: Display names of current participants (visible to all in the room)
- Room status: Active or ended, creation timestamp
- Raise-hand status: Whether a participant has their hand raised
What Happens When a Meeting Ends
- The meeting room record is marked as ended in our database
- Participant list data is cleared from active memory
- No audio or video is retained after the meeting ends
- Room metadata (room ID, timestamps) may be retained for up to 30 days for debugging purposes, then deleted
Your display name is visible to all participants inside the meeting room. We recommend not using sensitive personal information as your display name.
Real-Time Communications Technology
CastelMeet uses industry-standard real-time communication technology to establish secure peer connections between participants. Our implementation is built on proven open standards used globally for video conferencing.
How Connections Work
- A secure signalling channel is used to coordinate connection setup between participants
- Once connected, media streams flow directly between participants over encrypted channels
- All connections use end-to-end encryption for audio and video streams
- Our signalling infrastructure is hosted on Google Cloud via Firebase
Connection Data Collected
- Approximate IP region (country/city level) — used for connection routing optimisation
- Connection quality metrics (packet loss, latency) — used for debugging only
- Session duration — used for service monitoring
We do not disclose the specific technical architecture or implementation details of our real-time communication system as this constitutes proprietary intellectual property of Castel Code Ltd.
Screen Sharing
CastelMeet allows participants to share their screen during meetings. When you use screen sharing:
Screen Share Data Handling
- Screen content is captured only while you have screen sharing actively enabled
- The captured content is transmitted in real-time to other meeting participants only
- Castel Code does not store, analyse, or process screen share content
- Screen sharing stops immediately when you end the share or leave the meeting
- Android will display a system notification while screen sharing is active
⚠️ Your responsibility: You are responsible for what content you share on your screen. Do not share sensitive personal information, passwords, banking details, or confidential documents unless you fully trust all meeting participants.
Meeting Recordings
Current Recording Policy
CastelMeet does not currently offer server-side meeting recording. Castel Code does not record, store, or retain any audio or video from meetings on our servers.
Future Recording Features
If recording functionality is added in future versions of CastelMeet, we will:
- Clearly notify all meeting participants that recording is in progress via an in-meeting indicator
- Update this Privacy Policy before releasing the feature
- Require explicit consent from the meeting host before any recording begins
- Provide clear controls for participants to leave if they do not consent
Any recording done by individual participants using their own device's screen recording functionality is outside the control of Castel Code and is governed by that participant's own actions and responsibilities.
Camera & Microphone Permissions
CastelMeet requests the following Android runtime permissions:
| Permission | When Requested | How Used | Can Be Revoked |
|---|---|---|---|
CAMERA | First time you enable video in a meeting | Capturing video stream for meeting participants | Yes — via Android Settings |
RECORD_AUDIO | First time you join a meeting | Capturing microphone audio for meeting participants | Yes — via Android Settings |
INTERNET | App install | Establishing meeting connections and signalling | No — required for app function |
POST_NOTIFICATIONS | First launch (Android 13+) | Meeting invite and reminder notifications | Yes — via Android Settings |
FOREGROUND_SERVICE | App install | Keeping meeting connection alive when screen is off | No — required for calls |
Revoking camera or microphone permission means you will not be able to send audio or video in meetings, but you can still join and receive other participants' streams. You can revoke any permission at any time via Android Settings → Apps → CastelMeet → Permissions.
Third-Party Services
CastelMeet integrates the following third-party services. Each service's own privacy policy governs the data they process on their platforms.
| Service | Provider | Purpose | Data Shared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firebase Realtime Database / Firestore | Google LLC | Meeting room management and signalling coordination | Room IDs, participant names, connection metadata |
| Firebase Authentication | Google LLC | Anonymous user identity for session management | Anonymous UID only |
| Firebase Analytics | Google LLC | Aggregate app usage analytics | Anonymised usage events |
| Firebase Cloud Messaging | Google LLC | Meeting invite push notifications | FCM device token |
| Google Cloud Infrastructure | Google LLC | Hosting backend signalling services | Connection metadata, region data |
Google Privacy Policy: policies.google.com/privacy
Firebase Privacy: firebase.google.com/support/privacy
Proprietary Technology Disclosure
CastelMeet's core real-time communication engine, signalling architecture, and media routing implementation are proprietary technologies developed by Castel Code Ltd. The specific implementation details, algorithms, and system design are protected as intellectual property and trade secrets of Castel Code Ltd and are not disclosed in this policy.
Data Retention & Deletion
Retention Periods
- Audio & Video streams: Never stored — deleted from memory immediately after transmission
- Meeting room records: Retained for up to 30 days after meeting ends, then permanently deleted
- Anonymous user account: Retained while app is installed or until deletion is requested
- Connection metadata: Retained for up to 14 days for debugging, then deleted
- Analytics data: Aggregated and anonymised — retained for 14 months per Google Analytics defaults
- Screen share content: Never stored — transmitted in real-time only
- Push notification tokens: Retained until app is uninstalled or token refreshed
How to Delete Your Data
To request deletion of all your data, email us at castelcode.tech@gmail.com with the subject line "CastelMeet Data Deletion Request". We will delete your anonymous account record and all associated meeting metadata within 30 days.
Uninstalling CastelMeet removes all locally stored data from your device immediately. Server-side data requires a deletion request as above.
Data Security
Castel Code implements multiple layers of technical and organisational security to protect your data and communications:
Technical Security Measures
- Encrypted Media Streams: All audio and video is transmitted over encrypted real-time communication channels — conversations cannot be intercepted in transit
- Encrypted Signalling: All connection coordination data is transmitted over TLS-encrypted HTTPS channels
- Firebase Security Rules: Database access is restricted by authenticated session rules — participants can only access rooms they have joined
- R8 Code Obfuscation: Release builds are obfuscated to protect our proprietary implementation from reverse engineering
- Anonymous Authentication: No personally identifiable credentials are stored or transmitted — identity is managed via anonymous session tokens
- No Persistent Media Storage: Audio and video are never written to disk or retained on any server
While we implement industry-standard security practices, no system is completely risk-free. We recommend keeping your Android OS and CastelMeet updated to the latest version and only sharing meeting room IDs with trusted participants.
Children's Privacy
CastelMeet is a general-purpose video conferencing application intended for users aged 13 years and above. The app is rated for general audiences on Google Play.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has used CastelMeet and provided personal data, please contact us at castelcode.tech@gmail.com and we will take appropriate action within 30 days including deletion of any associated data.
Your Rights
As a CastelMeet user you have the following rights regarding your data:
Your Data Rights
- Right to Access: Request a summary of data we hold linked to your anonymous session ID
- Right to Deletion: Request deletion of all data — see Section 11 for the process
- Right to Withdraw Consent: Revoke camera, microphone or notification permissions at any time via Android Settings without deleting the app
- Right to Opt Out of Analytics: Disable Firebase Analytics via Android Settings → Privacy → Ads
- Right to Data Portability: Request a copy of any stored data linked to your session in a readable format
- Right to Object: Object to any specific data processing by contacting us at the address below
To exercise any right, email castelcode.tech@gmail.com. We respond within 30 days.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as CastelMeet gains new features, as legal requirements change, or as our data practices evolve. When significant changes occur we will:
How You Will Be Notified
- Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
- Display an in-app notice on the next app launch after a significant change
- Update the Privacy Policy link on the Google Play Store listing
- For material changes affecting your rights, provide at least 14 days notice before the change takes effect
Continued use of CastelMeet after a policy update constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. Previous versions of this policy are available on request.
Contact Us
For any privacy questions, data requests, or concerns about CastelMeet, reach Castel Code through any of the channels below:
CASTEL CODE LTD
Centre of App and Software
📍 Lusaka, Zambia
Response time: within 30 days for data requests · within 5 business days for general enquiries.