This policy explains the cookies and local storage used on the Linga Chat website (lingachat.com) and the software development kits (SDKs) used in our mobile application. We keep cookie usage on the web to a strict minimum.
Advertising on the Web (Google AdSense)
We do not show ads on the lingachat.com website; ads appear inside the Linga Chat app after you sign in, and a Plus, Gold or Premium subscription switches those in-app ads off. The Google AdSense script still runs on our web pages, so the advertising cookies listed below may be set. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to our site and/or other sites on the Internet.
Advertising cookies are written only after you allow the "Marketing" category in our cookie banner: until then Google Consent Mode v2 keeps ad storage denied and only non-personalised ads may be shown. You can opt out of personalised advertising at any time in Google Ads Settings, or opt out of third-party vendors' cookies at aboutads.info and youronlinechoices.eu. Details: how Google uses cookies in advertising.
Cookies and Local Storage We Use (Web)
The following table lists every cookie and browser-storage item used across the promotional site and the web application, together with its purpose, category, and lifetime.
| Name | Purpose | Category | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
lc_cc | Cookie-consent record — stores your category preferences (which optional categories you allowed). | Necessary | 1 year |
promo-theme | Remembers your light/dark theme choice. | Functional | Persistent (localStorage) |
promo-lang, promo-lang-user | Remembers your selected interface language and whether you set it manually. | Functional | Persistent (localStorage) |
promo-country | Remembers your detected/selected country for region-specific legal notices. | Functional | Persistent (localStorage) |
accessibility_settings, accessibility_widget_visible | Stores your accessibility preferences (e.g. font size, contrast) and widget visibility. | Functional | Persistent (localStorage) |
theme, app_lang | Web application theme and language preferences. | Functional | Persistent (localStorage) |
app_i18n_v1_*, app_languages_v1 | Local cache of translation strings and available languages, so the app loads faster. | Functional | Persistent (localStorage) |
app_config_cache_v1 | Local cache of brand and contact configuration. | Functional | Persistent (localStorage) |
access_token | Keeps you signed in to the web application (session). | Necessary | Session / until sign-out |
__gads, __gpi | Google AdSense — serving ads, frequency capping and ad measurement. | Marketing | 13 months |
IDE, test_cookie | Google ad server (doubleclick.net) — measuring ad performance and personalising ads. | Marketing | 13 months / Session |
__eoi | Google — limiting how often you see the same ad. | Marketing | 6 months |
Consent Categories
Our consent engine groups storage into four categories: Necessary (always active — required for the site and sign-in to work), Functional (remembers your preferences such as theme, language, country and accessibility), Analytics, and Marketing. Marketing covers the Google AdSense cookies listed above and is off by default: ads are loaded with Google Consent Mode v2 set to "denied", and personalised advertising cookies are written only after you accept the Marketing category. Analytics is not currently used on the web; should we introduce it, it will be strictly opt-in.
Managing Your Preferences
You can review, change, or reset your cookie choices at any time via the “Cookie preferences” link in the cookie banner and in the site footer. Your selection is stored in the lc_cc record, and Necessary items cannot be disabled because the site cannot function without them.
Mobile Application SDKs
The following software development kits are used inside the Linga Chat mobile application (they do not apply to the website):
- Apple StoreKit — processing in-app purchases and subscriptions on iOS.
- Google AdMob — displaying ads on the free tier.
- Firebase — analytics and push notifications (Firebase Cloud Messaging / FCM).
- Apple Push Notification service (APNs) — delivering push notifications on iOS.
- WebRTC / coturn — real-time voice and video communication.
- Spotify — optional account linking to share music.
- TMDB — film and trailer metadata.
- iyzico / Stripe — payment processing (only the transaction reference is retained).
Biometric Data
When you enable quick sign-in with Face ID or Touch ID, your biometric data is processed within Apple's secure hardware area (Secure Enclave). It is technically impossible for Linga Chat to access your biometric data or store it on our servers.
Last Update: 2026-07-06