IndianFamilyTree.com — User Consent & Authorization Policy

2.Legal Framework

IndianFamilyTree.com follows applicable Indian laws and regulations relating to digital information protection, including:

• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act)
• Information Technology Act, 2000
• Applicable rules and regulations governing digital services

Under the DPDP Act, IndianFamilyTree.com acts as a Data Fiduciary responsible for processing personal data in accordance with applicable requirements.

3.Acceptance of Consent

By registering an account, using IndianFamilyTree.com, or submitting family information, users acknowledge that they have read and accepted the Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Family Tree Data Ownership & Accuracy Policy, and this User Consent & Authorization Policy. Consent may be obtained through:

• Account registration
• Checkbox acceptance
• Digital confirmation
• Email verification
• Mobile OTP verification
• Other legally acceptable electronic methods

4.Types of Consent

IndianFamilyTree.com may obtain different types of consent depending on the service being used. A. Account Consent — when creating an account, users consent to account creation, identity verification, service communication, and platform operation. B. Family Tree Contribution Consent — users may add names, relationships, dates, locations, and historical details, confirming they have a legitimate family or historical connection or a reasonable basis for contributing the information. C. Consent for Living Persons — before adding detailed information about a living person, users should obtain appropriate permission where required. Users should respect the wishes of individuals who do not want their information displayed.

5.Authorization to Create Family Trees

The person who creates a family tree becomes the initial Family Tree Creator / Administrator. The administrator may invite relatives, manage access, approve contributors, edit information, and manage privacy settings. The administrator does not become the owner of other family members' personal information. Family history represents shared relationships among multiple people.

6.Authorization to Add Another Person's Information

Before adding another person's information, users confirm that they have a family relationship, permission, or a legitimate genealogy purpose. Users should not add information for:

• Harassment
• Personal disputes
• Commercial misuse
• False representation

7.Consent for Photographs and Media

Users uploading family photographs, videos, audio recordings, documents, or letters confirm that they own the material or have permission to share it. Users should consider consent before uploading photographs containing living relatives, children, private family events, or sensitive situations.

8.Consent for Memorial Pages and Obituaries

IndianFamilyTree.com allows users to create memorials for deceased persons. The memorial creator confirms that they have a relationship with the deceased or a legitimate reason for creating the memorial. Memorial creators may add obituaries, photographs, life stories, family relationships, and funeral information. However, they should respect family wishes, religious customs, and the privacy concerns of surviving relatives.

9.Consent for Minors' Information

Children's information requires special care. Parents or lawful guardians may create or manage profiles for minors. Users should avoid publishing unnecessary information about children, including:

• School details
• Location information
• Contact details
• Personal schedules

IndianFamilyTree.com may apply additional privacy protections for minors.

10.Consent Withdrawal

Users may withdraw consent where applicable. Withdrawal requests may include removing personal information, restricting visibility, deleting account information, and removing uploaded content. Withdrawal of consent may affect certain services that depend on the information.

11.Correction and Update Requests

Individuals may request correction of inaccurate information. Requests may include:

• Incorrect names
• Wrong relationships
• Incorrect dates
• Incorrect photographs
• Incorrect personal details

IndianFamilyTree.com may request reasonable verification before making changes.

12.Consent for Public Family Records

Some users may choose to make information publicly available for historical research, genealogy discovery, community heritage, and family connections. Before making information public, users should understand that publicly available information may be viewed, shared, or indexed by search engines.

13.Privacy Settings and Access Control

Users may choose visibility options such as Private (only the account owner can view), Family Only (approved relatives can access), Invitation Only (specific individuals can access), and Public (available to broader audiences). Users are responsible for selecting appropriate privacy settings.

14.Consent for AI Features

IndianFamilyTree.com may use AI tools for organizing family information, creating family summaries, generating timelines, translating family stories, and suggesting possible relationships. Users authorize processing necessary for these features. AI-generated information should always be reviewed before publication.

15.Third-Party Contributors

Organizations such as genealogy researchers, historical societies, religious institutions, and community organizations may contribute records only when they have appropriate authorization. They must comply with copyright requirements, privacy obligations, and applicable laws.

16.Family Disputes Regarding Consent

Family members may disagree about whether information should be published, who can edit a family tree, ownership of photographs, or accuracy of relationships. IndianFamilyTree.com may:

• Temporarily restrict changes
• Review complaints
• Preserve previous versions
• Request supporting documentation

We encourage families to resolve personal disputes respectfully.

17.Evidence of Consent

IndianFamilyTree.com may maintain records of registration consent, privacy selections, content submissions, access permissions, and account activity. Such records help demonstrate compliance and protect users.

18.Data Protection and Security

Consent information is protected using reasonable security practices including access controls, authentication systems, secure storage, and monitoring procedures.

19.User Responsibility

Users are responsible for respecting relatives' privacy, obtaining permissions where appropriate, providing accurate information, and using the platform responsibly. Users should not assume that family relationships automatically provide unlimited permission to publish personal information.

20.Grievance and Support

For concerns regarding consent, authorization, or privacy, please reach out to us at:

• IndianFamilyTree.com Privacy Support
• Email: support@indianfamilytree.com
• Grievance Officer: Thomas Vellaringattu
• Address: 15166 SE Aston Loop, Portland, Oregon 97236, USA

21.Our Commitment

Family history belongs to generations. Preserving it requires trust, respect, and responsibility. IndianFamilyTree.com is committed to helping families document their heritage while protecting the dignity, privacy, and choices of every individual whose story becomes part of our shared human history. Preserve the past. Respect the present. Inspire future generations.