Terms of Service

Last updated: April 13, 2026

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Mishkat mobile application and related services (collectively, "Mishkat" or the "Service"). By downloading, installing, or using Mishkat, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. About the Service

Mishkat is an end-to-end encrypted messaging application that allows you to send text messages, share images, and make voice and video calls. The Service is provided by Alaa Zarifa ("we", "us", "our").

Mishkat does not require an account, phone number, or email to use. Your identity is a cryptographic key pair generated locally on your device.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years old to use Mishkat. If you are under 18, you must have permission from a parent or legal guardian. By using the Service, you represent that you meet these requirements.

3. Your Responsibilities

You agree to use Mishkat lawfully and responsibly. Specifically, you agree not to:

Use the Service for any illegal purpose or in violation of any applicable law or regulation
Send spam, unsolicited messages, or bulk automated messages
Distribute malware, viruses, or other harmful content
Harass, threaten, defame, or abuse other users
Distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or exploit minors in any way
Attempt to interfere with, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to our relay server or other users' devices
Reverse-engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract the source code of the application beyond what is permitted by applicable law
Impersonate another person or entity
Use the Service in any way that could damage, disable, or impair the relay server infrastructure

4. Your Data & Privacy

Your privacy is fundamental to Mishkat. Please read our Privacy Policy to understand how we handle your data. Key points:

Messages are end-to-end encrypted — we cannot read them
We do not collect your name, phone number, email, or any personal identifiers
Our relay server forwards encrypted data it cannot decrypt
You can delete all your data at any time from Settings → Clear All Data

5. Cryptographic Identity

Mishkat generates a unique cryptographic key pair on your device during onboarding. This key pair is your identity within the Service.

You are solely responsible for your device's security. If someone gains access to your unlocked device, they may be able to access your messages.
Key loss is permanent. If you lose your device or clear your data, your private key and all associated messages are gone. We cannot recover them.
We recommend using the PIN lock and/or biometric authentication features to protect your data.

6. Content You Send

You retain ownership of all content you create and send through Mishkat. Since messages are end-to-end encrypted, we have no access to your content and make no claim over it.

You are solely responsible for the content you send. End-to-end encryption protects privacy but does not exempt you from applicable laws. You must not use Mishkat to transmit content that is illegal in your jurisdiction.

7. Reporting & Abuse

If you receive abusive, harassing, or illegal content through Mishkat, you can:

Block the sender within the app (tap the contact → Block)
Report abuse — Contact Us with screenshots or other evidence

Because we cannot read message content, abuse reports should include screenshots or other evidence that you choose to share with us. We may take action such as blocking known-abusive public keys from our relay server.

8. Service Availability

We aim to keep Mishkat available at all times, but we do not guarantee uninterrupted service. The relay server may experience downtime due to maintenance, updates, or circumstances beyond our control.

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Service (or any part of it) at any time, with or without notice.

9. Intellectual Property

The Mishkat name, logo, and application code are owned by Alaa Zarifa and protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not use our trademarks without prior written permission.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

Mishkat is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

We do not warrant that:

The Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free
Any defects will be corrected
The Service will meet your specific requirements

11. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall Alaa Zarifa or Mishkat be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of data, profits, or goodwill, arising out of or related to your use of, or inability to use, the Service.

Our total liability for any claim arising out of these Terms shall not exceed the amount you paid for the Service in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim (which is zero if you use the free version).

12. Termination

You may stop using Mishkat at any time by deleting the app and/or clearing your data from Settings → Clear All Data.

We reserve the right to block or restrict access for users who violate these Terms, including blocking specific public keys from our relay server.

13. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top. Your continued use of Mishkat after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

14. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable law, without regard to conflict of law principles.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms, reach out and we'll get back to you.