End-User Data Handling Policy

This page is for people who message a business on WhatsApp that uses ChatYug (a product of Sonawala Integrated Circuit Industries Private Limited / SICIPL). It explains, in plain language, what data may be seen or stored, who controls the conversation, and how to opt out or escalate a privacy concern.

Last updated: August 3, 2026

1. Who controls your conversation

The business you are chatting with decides why it messages you, what it says, and how it uses your information. Under Indian law (the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023), that business is typically the Data Fiduciary for your chat data. ChatYug / SICIPL provides the software platform and acts as a Data Processor: we process your data on the business’s instructions to deliver WhatsApp messaging features, not to market our own products to you using your chat history.

Meta / WhatsApp also processes messages under Meta’s and WhatsApp’s own terms when you use WhatsApp.

2. What data may be stored

When you message a ChatYug-powered business, the platform may store or process:

  • Your WhatsApp phone number and profile name;
  • The text of messages you send and receive;
  • Media you or the business send (images, video, audio, documents);
  • Delivery and read status events (for example whether a message was delivered or read), received via webhooks and stored on ChatYug’s systems so the business can operate its inbox and automations.

ChatYug does not sell your personal data. The business—not ChatYug—controls marketing to you and how long it keeps conversation history in its account (subject to its own policies and the law).

3. Why it is processed

Data is processed so the business can:

  • Reply to your questions and provide customer service;
  • Send order, shipping, or other service updates you requested;
  • Run catalogs, orders, or other commerce features if you interact with them;
  • Operate chatbots or flows the business configured;
  • Comply with WhatsApp / Meta rules and applicable law.

4. Service window vs marketing messages

Under WhatsApp Business rules, when you message a business, the business can typically reply freely for a limited customer-service window (commonly 24 hours from your last message). Outside that window, businesses usually must use pre-approved template messages. Marketing messages generally require your prior opt-in. Those rules are set by Meta / WhatsApp and enforced through the business’s WhatsApp Business Account; ChatYug provides tooling but does not decide the business’s marketing strategy.

5. Chatbots and automated replies

Some businesses use ChatYug chatbot builders, keyword flows, or AI-assisted tooling. Replies may be generated or selected automatically. The business remains responsible for the content and outcomes of those automated messages. If an automated reply is wrong or unwanted, contact the business and use the opt-out steps below.

6. Media and files

Images, video, audio, and documents sent in the conversation may be stored and transmitted so the business can receive and send them through WhatsApp. Treat sensitive documents carefully. Retention follows the business’s account settings and ChatYug’s retention practices described in the Privacy Policy (including deletion when a business subscription lapses under the Terms).

7. How to opt out

  • Reply STOP (or the opt-out instruction the business provides, such as UNSUBSCRIBE) to stop marketing or further unwanted messages from that business, where supported.
  • You can also block or report the business number in WhatsApp.
  • Ask the business directly to delete your data or stop contacting you—they are usually the right first contact for Data Principal requests about your chat.

8. If the business does not respond

If the business is unresponsive about a privacy or data request relating to ChatYug processing, you may escalate to SICIPL’s Grievance Officer:

Grievance Officer: Nishant Sonawala, Director
Company: Sonawala Integrated Circuit Industries Private Limited (ChatYug)
Email: nishant@sicitechnologies.com (subject: “End-User Privacy Escalation”)
Phone: +91 70167 93529
Address: B 20, Tulshi Dham Society, Zadeshwar Road, Bharuch, Gujarat, India – 392011

We will acknowledge grievances promptly and endeavour to resolve them within timelines under the DPDP Act and applicable rules, within the limits of our role as processor (we may need to involve the business that holds the account).

9. Where data is processed

ChatYug is self-hosted by SICIPL on its own cloud infrastructure located in India. Email is sent from SICIPL’s own mail servers. ChatYug is an official product of sicitechnologies.com. No third-party hosting or email provider is used. Messages also pass through Meta / WhatsApp infrastructure under Meta’s terms.

10. More detailed policies