Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 2026  ·  Effective: July 2026

1. Information We Collect

Account Information: When you register, we collect your name, email address, phone number, and a password. You may optionally provide a profile photo and bio.

Location Data: To deliver hyper-local news, we collect your precise GPS location when you use the app. Location access is requested at runtime and can be revoked at any time through your device settings. We do not collect location data in the background.

User-Generated Content: Text posts, photographs, and videos you submit through the app, along with associated metadata such as timestamp and location tag.

Device & Usage Data: Device type, operating system, app version, push notification tokens, IP address, and in-app interaction events (screens visited, articles read) collected to improve app performance and deliver notifications.

Payment Information: If you purchase advertising services, payment is processed by Razorpay. We do not store full card or bank account numbers; only a transaction reference ID is retained.

2. How We Use Your Information

• To create and manage your account and authenticate you securely.
• To personalise your news feed based on your location radius and preferences.
• To review, moderate, and publish community posts submitted by you.
• To send push notifications about breaking news, replies, and updates on stories you follow.
• To process ad campaign payments and deliver ads to targeted local audiences.
• To conduct AI-assisted content moderation using OpenAI and image analysis via AWS Rekognition.
• To improve, debug, and develop new features for the Services.
• To comply with legal obligations under Indian law.

3. Information We Share

We do not sell your personal data. We share data only with the following categories of service providers who are bound by confidentiality obligations:

• Supabase (PostgreSQL hosting) — stores user accounts and content data.
• OpenAI — processes article text for AI summarisation and category tagging.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS Rekognition) — analyses images in community posts for prohibited content.
• Expo / Firebase Cloud Messaging — delivers push notifications to your device.
• Razorpay — processes advertising payments. Subject to Razorpay's own Privacy Policy.
• Cloudflare — provides CDN and DDoS protection for our website.
• Railway — cloud infrastructure provider for backend services.

We may disclose your information to law enforcement or government authorities if required by a court order or applicable Indian law, including under the IT Act, 2000 and its rules.

4. Your Rights Under the DPDP Act, 2023

As a Data Principal under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, you have the following rights:

• Right to Access: Request a summary of personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal retention requirements.
• Right to Grievance Redressal: Lodge a complaint with our Grievance Officer (details below).
• Right to Nominate: Nominate another individual to exercise your rights in the event of death or incapacity.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at info@theradiusnews.com. We will respond within 30 days.

5. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. Published community posts are retained until you request deletion or your account is terminated. Push notification tokens are refreshed with each app session. Server logs are retained for up to 90 days for debugging purposes.

6. Children's Privacy

The Radius is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 13. If you believe a child has provided us their data, please contact us immediately and we will delete it.

7. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures including HTTPS/TLS encryption in transit, hashed passwords, and role-based access controls. Despite our efforts, no system is entirely secure; we encourage you to use a strong, unique password.

8. Grievance Officer

In accordance with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the details of our Grievance Officer are:

Name: Grievance Officer, Merge Innovation Private Limited
Email: info@theradiusnews.com
Response time: Acknowledgement within 24 hours; resolution within 15 days.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be notified via in-app notification or email. Continued use of the Services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

For questions, contact us at info@theradiusnews.com.

Terms of Service

Last updated: July 2026  ·  Effective: July 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, installing, or using The Radius, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Services.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years of age to use The Radius. If you are between 13 and 18, you confirm that you have obtained the consent of a parent or legal guardian. By using the Services, you represent that you meet these eligibility requirements and that all information you provide is accurate and complete.

3. Account Registration

You must create an account to access most features. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. Notify us immediately at support@theradiusnews.com if you suspect unauthorised access. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that we determine, in our sole discretion, violate these Terms.

4. User Content

You retain ownership of content (text, photos, videos) you submit ("User Content"). By submitting User Content, you grant Merge Innovation Private Limited a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, sub-licensable licence to host, display, reproduce, distribute, and promote your User Content within the Services for as long as you maintain an account.

You represent and warrant that your User Content does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights, is not defamatory, and complies with all applicable Indian laws including the IT Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

5. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

• Post content that is false, misleading, or deliberately deceptive (fake news).
• Post content that is obscene, pornographic, hateful, or incites violence or communal discord.
• Harass, bully, stalk, or threaten any other user.
• Impersonate any person, journalist, or organisation.
• Scrape, crawl, or use automated tools to access the Services without our written permission.
• Attempt to reverse-engineer, decompile, or tamper with any part of the platform.
• Use the Services to transmit spam, malware, or unsolicited commercial messages.
• Violate any applicable local, state, or central government law or regulation.

6. Intellectual Property

All technology, branding, design, software, and editorial content created by Merge Innovation Private Limited (excluding User Content) is owned by us and protected under Indian copyright, trademark, and intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce or use any of our proprietary content without prior written consent.

Portal news articles are sourced from third-party RSS feeds. Their original copyright belongs to the respective publishers. We display AI-generated summaries under fair use; all original articles link back to the source.

7. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Services are provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy of news content, or uninterrupted availability. We do not guarantee the accuracy of AI-generated summaries or community-submitted reports.

8. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Merge Innovation Private Limited, its directors, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Services, including but not limited to loss of data, revenue, or reputation. Our total aggregate liability to you shall not exceed INR 1,000 (One Thousand Rupees) or the amount paid by you to us in the preceding three months, whichever is greater.

9. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time for violation of these Terms, prolonged inactivity, or for any reason at our discretion with notice where practicable. Upon termination, your licence to use the Services ends immediately. Provisions relating to intellectual property, disclaimers, limitation of liability, and governing law survive termination.

10. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of India. Any dispute arising from these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Before initiating legal proceedings, both parties agree to attempt resolution through good-faith negotiation for a period of 30 days.

11. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes via in-app notification or email at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use of the Services after the effective date constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

Contact us at info@theradiusnews.com for any questions.

Cookie Policy

Last updated: July 2026

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They help websites remember your preferences, stay logged in, and understand how you interact with the site. Cookies do not contain personally identifiable information on their own but may be combined with other data.

2. Cookies We Use

Strictly Necessary Cookies: These cookies are essential for the website to function correctly. They include session authentication tokens and security cookies (CSRF protection). You cannot opt out of these cookies while continuing to use the site.

Performance & Analytics Cookies: We may use anonymised analytics tools to understand how visitors navigate theradiusnews.com — for example, which pages are most visited and how long users spend on them. This data is aggregated and does not identify individuals.

Functional Cookies: These remember your preferences such as language selection and notification settings so you do not need to re-enter them on each visit.

Third-Party Embeds: Our website may load fonts from Google Fonts (fonts.googleapis.com). Google may set cookies or use local storage. Please refer to Google's Privacy Policy for details.

3. Mobile App Storage

The Radius mobile app uses device-local storage (React Native AsyncStorage) to store your authentication token, location preferences, and notification settings locally on your device. This data does not leave your device except as described in our Privacy Policy.

4. Managing Cookies

You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block third-party cookies or clear existing cookies. Disabling strictly necessary cookies may prevent certain features of the website from working. For guidance, visit aboutcookies.org.

5. Contact

For questions about this Cookie Policy, contact us at info@theradiusnews.com.

Community Guidelines

Last updated: July 2026

1. Be Truthful & Accurate

Only report events you have directly witnessed or have reliable firsthand knowledge of. Do not fabricate, exaggerate, or manipulate facts. If you are unsure about a detail, say so clearly in your post. Deliberately false or misleading reports (misinformation) are strictly prohibited and may be referred to appropriate authorities.

Do not recycle old images or videos and present them as current. Do not alter photographs or videos to misrepresent events.

2. Respect All People

Treat every person in your reports — and every member of the community — with dignity and respect. Content that contains hate speech based on religion, caste, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or language is prohibited and may violate the Indian Penal Code and IT Act, 2000.

Do not publish content that threatens, harasses, bullies, or doxxes any individual. Do not post content designed to incite communal violence or unrest.

3. Permitted Content

You may post about:

• Local incidents, accidents, civic issues (road damage, power cuts, flooding).
• Community events, cultural programmes, and local achievements.
• Public safety alerts and weather events affecting your area.
• Local business news, market activity, and infrastructure developments.
• Sports events, school activities, and neighbourhood stories.
• Constructive commentary on matters of genuine public interest.

4. Prohibited Content

The following content is strictly prohibited on The Radius:

• Misinformation & Fake News: False reports, fabricated quotes, or manipulated media.
• Hate Speech: Content targeting individuals or groups based on caste, religion, ethnicity, gender, or other protected characteristics.
• Obscene or Adult Content: Sexually explicit material, nudity, or graphic violence. India's POCSO Act applies in full — any content involving minors in a sexual context will be immediately reported to law enforcement.
• Defamation: False statements of fact presented as true that damage a person's or organisation's reputation.
• Personal & Private Information: Sharing Aadhaar numbers, phone numbers, addresses, or other private data of individuals without consent (doxxing).
• Spam & Commercial Solicitation: Repeated promotional posts, chain messages, or unsolicited advertisements outside the Ads platform.
• Copyright Infringement: Uploading photos, videos, or text that you do not own or have rights to use.
• Impersonation: Pretending to be a journalist, official, or public figure you are not.

5. Moderation Process

All community posts are reviewed before publication. Our AI-assisted pipeline (powered by OpenAI and AWS Rekognition) screens submissions for prohibited content. A human editorial team performs a secondary review for borderline content. We aim to review posts within 2 hours during operating hours.

If your post is rejected, you will receive a notification with the reason. You may appeal moderation decisions by emailing info@theradiusnews.com within 7 days.

6. Reporting Violations

If you see content that violates these guidelines, tap the report button on any post. Our team will review reported content within 24 hours. For urgent matters involving threats of violence or child safety, contact us immediately at info@theradiusnews.com.

7. Consequences

Violations of these guidelines may result in: content removal, a warning, temporary suspension (3–30 days), or permanent account termination — depending on the severity and frequency of violations. Serious violations involving illegal content will be reported to relevant Indian law enforcement authorities without prior notice to the user.

Advertiser Policy

Last updated: July 2026

1. Who Can Advertise

Advertising is open to any registered individual, sole proprietor, partnership, LLP, or incorporated company based in India. Advertisers must have a valid Indian business address, a verified email address, and an active payment method through Razorpay. We do not accept advertising from entities based outside India at this time.

By creating a campaign, you warrant that you have the legal authority to advertise the product or service, and that all claims made in the ad are truthful and verifiable.

2. Permitted Advertisements

We welcome ads from local businesses, events, and service providers, including:

• Retail shops, restaurants, cafés, and local service providers.
• Community events, cultural programmes, and festivals.
• Educational institutions and coaching centres.
• Real estate listings (residential and commercial).
• Healthcare practitioners and clinics (subject to Medical Council guidelines).
• Local job postings and recruitment drives.

3. Prohibited Advertising Content

The following categories of advertisements are not permitted on The Radius:

• Illegal products or services: Drugs, weapons, counterfeit goods, or any product/service prohibited under Indian law.
• Tobacco, alcohol, and gambling: Advertisements for tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, or gambling services (including fantasy sports with real-money prizes) are not accepted.
• Adult content: Sexually suggestive or explicit material of any kind.
• Political advertising: Paid promotion of political parties, candidates, or ideological campaigns during any election period, in compliance with the Model Code of Conduct.
• Misleading claims: Ads containing false, unsubstantiated, or deceptive claims about products, services, or pricing.
• Get-rich-quick schemes: Multi-level marketing (MLM), Ponzi schemes, unsolicited investment advice, or cryptocurrency promotions.
• Personal attacks: Ads that disparage competitors, individuals, or groups.

4. Ad Review Process

All submitted campaigns are reviewed by our editorial team before going live. We typically review campaigns within 1 business day. We reserve the right to reject any ad that does not comply with this policy, without obligation to provide a detailed reason. Repeated policy violations may result in permanent suspension of your advertiser account.

To appeal a rejected campaign, email info@theradiusnews.com with your campaign ID and a brief explanation within 5 business days.

5. Geo-Targeting & Reach

Campaigns are delivered to users whose location radius overlaps the geographic area you select during campaign creation. You are charged based on the estimated reach of your selected radius. Actual impressions may vary depending on active user counts in the target area at the time of delivery.

6. Payment, Billing & Refunds

All payments are processed securely through Razorpay in Indian Rupees (INR). GST will be applied at the prevailing rate as per Indian tax regulations. A tax invoice will be issued for every transaction.

Campaigns are prepaid. Refunds are available only if your campaign was approved but not delivered due to a technical error on our part, or if it was rejected after payment was collected. Refund requests must be submitted within 7 days of the campaign end date to info@theradiusnews.com.

7. Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to modify this Advertiser Policy at any time. Active campaigns will not be affected by policy changes mid-flight. New campaigns submitted after the effective date of any change will be subject to the updated policy.

For advertising enquiries, contact info@theradiusnews.com.