Indiatimes
- The documents do not say whether your data trains AI.
- Your data is used for personalized ads, including by third-party ad companies.
- Data is shared with partners and affiliates; you can opt out.
- The documents do not say who can read your content.
A 2018 EU-only policy: they collect location, ads IDs and posts, take a license, and can close you anytime.
Agent Trust Hub uses AI and may make mistakes. Review reports and confirm their contents before relying on them.
Collected
Name, birthday, address, gender, phone, email, location to 300 meters, device and ad IDs, and more.
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Privacy policy
“When you download our mobile application we may collect, including but not limited to, the below information from you-Location/IP address for geo-locating accurate up to 300 meters”
Training
They use it to run the site, personalize content, research users, and show relevant ads.
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Privacy policy
“We use information to provide, analyze, administer, enhance and personalize our service and marketing efforts, to process your registration, to provide you services, and to communicate with you”
Sharing
Group companies, service providers, Times Points, and advertisers only with extra consent for your name.
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Privacy policy
“We do not provide any personally identifiable information to third party websites / advertisers / ad-servers without your explicit consent.”
Kept
They keep it while you have an account; deletion is by request and some copies can linger.
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Privacy policy
“Normally we will retain the information as long as you maintain an account with us and till the time you continue to access and use TOI Services.”
Controls
EU users can download or delete via a form or email; they ignore Do Not Track.
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Privacy policy
“You can request for deletion of your information by using the delete functionality through https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gdprform.cms.”
Fine print
Posted content is theirs forever; they can close you without notice; India courts; as-is, you .
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Terms of service
“you understand that all Content / Images posted by you becomes the property of TIL and you agree to grant/assign to TIL and its affiliates, a non-exclusive, , , and sub-licenseable right”
Expand “Read the exact line” to see the source alongside the explanation.
What you can turn off
The controls and opt-outs their own documents describe, and where they say to find them.
of TOI-held data
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gdprform.cms
Download a copy of your data
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gdprform.cms
Object to marketing emails
Email support / DPO at sanwli.sirohi@timesinternet.in
Cancel auto-renew before the term ends
Cancel in the subscription flow or contact support email
If a switch is not where they say, the deletion request above still applies.
Line by line
The lines that matter most, worst first.
If you are not in the EU, this privacy policy does not cover you.
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Privacy policy
“This Policy shall not apply if you access or use Website or TIL Services outside of the European Union (“EU”).”
For example, a reader in India or the US may not get these deletion and access rights.
Anything you post is treated as theirs, and they can reuse it forever even after you leave.
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Terms of service
“you understand that all Content / Images posted by you becomes the property of TIL and you agree to grant/assign to TIL and its affiliates, a non-exclusive, , , and sub-licenseable right”
For example, a movie review you wrote could be reused or licensed without paying you.
They can shut your account at any time, with or without a reason or warning.
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Terms of service
“TIL reserves its right to refuse service, restrict, suspend,terminate your account; (Terminate this Agreement; Terminate or suspend your access to the TIL’s Web Sites”
For example, they could lock you out of a paid login without telling you first.
The app can take fairly precise location, device IDs used for ads, and photo-gallery access.
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Privacy policy
“When you download our mobile application we may collect, including but not limited to, the below information from you-Location/IP address for geo-locating accurate up to 300 meters”
For example, opening the app could let them know roughly which street you are on.
Outside ad and analytics companies watch how you use the site to help show ads.
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Privacy policy
“We use various third party analytics service providers, among others, to track the user behavior on our website. They are used to support display advertising”
For example, reading cricket stories could feed profiles used to show you sports ads elsewhere.
Your reading activity can be sent to a related rewards program and stored there.
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Privacy policy
“We may share your activity on our Sites both for processing and for calculation of reward points of your profile with Times Points. This information may be stored by them.”
For example, articles you click could be stored in a Times Points profile.
If someone sues them over something you posted, you may have to cover their costs.
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Terms of service
“You will and TIL against all third party claims, demands and actions brought against TIL which arises from or relates to the material submitted by you.”
For example, if a comment you left sparks a lawsuit, they can ask you to pay their lawyers.
Paid plans can keep charging until you cancel before the term ends.
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Privacy policy
“The subscriptions or paid Services may be on auto renewal mode unless cancelled.”
For example, a news subscription could bill again next year unless you cancel first.
They say they use encryption, firewalls, and limited password access, but no system is perfect.
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Privacy policy
“We take appropriate security measures to protect against unauthorized access to or unauthorized alteration, disclosure or destruction of data.”
For example, your account data is stored behind a firewall, but they still warn it could be breached.
They say the service is not for under-18s, but it is based on what you declare, not a hard ID check.
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Privacy policy
“TIL does not knowingly permit any person who is under 18 years of age to register with the services or to provide any other personally identifying information.”
For example, a 16-year-old could still sign up if they type that they are 18.
Words to know
Legal words from the lines above, in plain English.
- personal data
- Any information that is about you or can be linked to you, from your name to your phone's ID. For example, your email, your IP address and the list of apps on your phone are all personal data.
- third parties
- Any company or person other than you and the app, such as advertisers, partners or analytics firms. For example, an analytics company that receives a record of every screen you tap is a third party.
- consent
- Your clear agreement to something, given by an action like ticking a box or tapping Accept. For example, a pop-up asking if the app may use your location is asking for consent.
- retention
- How long a company keeps your data before deleting it. For example, a policy might keep your messages for 30 days after you delete them, or for as long as it likes.
- affiliates
- Other companies owned by or connected to the same parent company. For example, if you use one app, its sister apps under the same owner may also get your data.
- royalty-free
- The company can use your content without ever paying you for it. For example, your photo can appear in the app's ads and you get nothing.
- perpetual
- Lasting forever, with no end date. For example, a perpetual licence means the company can keep using your video years after you leave.
- irrevocable
- Cannot be taken back or cancelled once given, even if you change your mind or delete your account. For example, an irrevocable licence to your photos means you cannot withdraw it later.
- service providers
- Outside companies that handle your data on the app's instructions, such as a cloud host or an email sender. For example, the company that stores the app's files in the cloud sees your data but only does what the app tells it.
- indemnify
- You promise to pay the company's legal costs and losses if your use of the service gets it sued. For example, if you post a song you do not own and the label sues the app, you owe the app's lawyer bills.
- auto-renewal
- Your subscription keeps charging you at the end of each period until you cancel it. For example, a free trial turns into a paid monthly plan unless you cancel before it ends.
How we got here · grade F · score 33/100 · 15 of 15 policy answers backed by a verified quote · 3 not stated
What does the app collect beyond what it needs to work?
They collect account details plus location to about 300 meters, device and advertiser IDs, SMS, gallery access, and data from other companies.
Does it record your voice, face or body, and what happens to that?
Not stated in the documents.
Are your chats and uploads used to train AI models, and is that off by default?
Not stated in the documents.
Can employees or contractors read your conversations, and when?
Not stated in the documents.
Are you profiled or tracked for advertising?
Third-party analytics are used to track behavior and support display ads; they do not honor Do Not Track.
Do they sell or share your data, and can you opt out?
They share with group companies and Times Points, and say they need extra consent before giving advertisers your name.
What rights do they take over what you type and what the AI makes?
Posted content becomes their property under a perpetual, irrevocable, sublicensable license.
How long do they keep your data after you delete it, and can you delete it in the app?
You delete by a GDPR form or email; they keep data while you have an account and may archive some for legal reasons.
Does it build a lasting memory or profile of you, and can you see, edit or turn it off?
They track interests and behavior for research and ads, but do not describe a memory you can edit or turn off.
Do they commit to basic security, and have they leaked data?
They describe encryption, firewalls, password-limited servers, and internal reviews, but no independent audit.
Is there a real age gate, and are teens protected?
They say users must be 18 and under-18s need a parent account, with no real age check described.
Will they tell you when the rules change, and is the policy specific?
The privacy policy is dated May 25, 2018; they may change it and make it effective by posting, and you should keep checking.
Can they close your account without warning, and can you get your data out first?
They can refuse, suspend, or terminate your account at any time with or without cause or prior notice.
If something goes wrong, who pays?
The site is as-is with broad damage disclaimers, and you must indemnify them for material you submit.
Do subscriptions renew on their own, and can you get a refund?
Paid services may auto-renew unless you cancel; they say they will give reasonable prior notice before charging fees.
The privacy policy is 9,531 words at a professional or legal expert level (Flesch reading ease 0.8); the terms are 5,226 words at a college graduate level.
