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Section 1 of 10
Overview & Our Promise
DateEmber ("we", "our", "us") is a dating application operated in India. This Privacy Policy applies to our Android app, website, and all related services.
We collect and process your personal data to provide a safe and genuine dating experience. We comply with India's Information Technology Act 2000, IT (Amendment) Act 2008, IT Rules 2011, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 (DPDPA).
💡 This policy is written in plain language. If anything is unclear, email support@dateember.com and we will explain it personally.
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Section 2 of 10
Information We Collect
We collect only what is necessary to run DateEmber safely and effectively.
Account & Profile Information
- Name, date of birth, and gender
- Email address and/or mobile number — used for Google Sign-In and OTP verification via Firebase Authentication
- Profile photos you choose to upload (stored via Firebase Storage)
- Bio, interests, hobbies, and relationship goals
- Optional fields: height, education, profession, religion, mother tongue
Location Data
- Precise location (latitude and longitude) — collected only when you grant the ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION permission
- Location is used solely for finding nearby matches and is never shown to other users as exact coordinates
- You can revoke location permission at any time in Android Settings
- The app is fully usable without location permission — nearby discovery will be limited
Camera & Photo Data
- The camera permission (android.permission.CAMERA) is used for two optional purposes: taking a profile photo and completing the optional selfie verification step
- Camera access is not mandatory — you can upload a photo from your gallery instead, and the app works fully without camera access
- The camera is never activated in the background — it is only used when you tap the camera button yourself
- Photos taken through the camera are stored in Firebase Storage under your account and are not shared with any third party
- You can revoke camera permission at any time in Android Settings → Apps → DateEmber → Permissions
📸 Why we declare camera permission: Google Play requires apps to disclose any permission listed in the app manifest, even if optional. DateEmber declares CAMERA to allow users who want to take a photo directly in-app. If you prefer, simply deny the permission and upload from your gallery — all features remain available.
Communication Data
- Messages between matched users — stored securely in Firebase Firestore / Realtime Database
- All messages are encrypted in transit (HTTPS/TLS) and at rest via Firebase's security standards
⚠️ Note: DateEmber uses Firebase (Google Cloud) for message storage. Firebase is not end-to-end encrypted — messages are encrypted in transit and at rest, but our team can access them in limited circumstances such as safety investigations. We do not read your messages unless required for a safety or legal matter.
Usage & Activity Data
- App activity: likes, matches, swipes, profile views
- Features you use and time spent in the app
- App crash logs and performance data (via Firebase Crashlytics)
Device & Technical Data
- Device model, Android version, and app version
- IP address — used for fraud detection only
- Push notification token (Firebase Cloud Messaging) for alerts you opt into
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Section 3 of 10
How We Use Your Information
We never use your data for anything not listed here.
Core App Functionality
- Create and manage your account via Firebase Authentication
- Power our matching algorithm to suggest compatible profiles
- Enable discovery of nearby users using your location (if permission granted)
- Enable real-time messaging between matches
- Personalise your discovery feed based on your preferences
Safety & Fraud Prevention
- Verify that profiles belong to real adult users
- Detect and remove fake accounts, bots, and scammers
- Investigate reports of abuse, harassment, or policy violations
- Prevent underage users from accessing the platform
Product Improvement
- Analyse anonymised, aggregated usage patterns to improve features
- Fix bugs using Firebase Crashlytics crash reports
Communications
- Match and message alerts via Firebase Cloud Messaging (opt-in)
- Account emails: OTPs, password resets, early access invites
- Optional product updates — one-click unsubscribe always available
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Section 4 of 10
Technologies & Firebase Services
DateEmber is built on Google Firebase. The following services are used and process your data:
All Firebase services are operated by Google LLC. Data is stored on Google Cloud servers. Google is certified under ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II.
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Section 5 of 10
Data Sharing & Third Parties
We do not sell your personal data. We share limited data only with the following service providers, under strict contractual agreements:
⚠️ Advertising: DateEmber does not display advertisements and does not share your data with any advertising networks. If we ever introduce advertising in the future, we will notify you at least 30 days in advance and update this policy with full details.
Legal Disclosures
- We may disclose data to Indian law enforcement when required by a valid court order under the IT Act 2000 or DPDPA 2023
- We will notify you of such disclosures where we are legally permitted to do so
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Section 6 of 10
App Permissions (Android)
DateEmber requests the following Android permissions. All permissions marked Optional can be denied — the app remains fully functional with reduced features.
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OPTIONAL
Camera
android.permission.CAMERA
Used to let you take a profile photo directly in-app or to complete the optional selfie verification step. Not mandatory — you can upload a photo from your gallery instead. The camera is never accessed in the background. You can deny or revoke this permission at any time with no loss of core features.
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OPTIONAL
Precise Location
ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
Used to show you profiles of people nearby. Only active while you are using the app — not collected in the background. You can use DateEmber without this permission; nearby discovery will be unavailable.
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OPTIONAL
Storage / Media
READ_MEDIA_IMAGES
(Android 13+) or READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
Allows you to select existing photos from your gallery to upload as your profile photo. Only accessed when you tap the gallery button.
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OPTIONAL
Notifications
POST_NOTIFICATIONS (Android 13+)
Used to send match alerts and message notifications. You can manage or disable these at any time in Android notification settings.
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REQUIRED
Internet
INTERNET / ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
Required to connect to Firebase servers for all core app functionality. Standard permission for any online application.
You can review and revoke any permission at any time in Android Settings → Apps → DateEmber → Permissions.
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Section 7 of 10
Security — How We Protect You
Technical Safeguards
- All data is encrypted in transit using HTTPS/TLS between your device and Firebase servers
- Data stored at rest in Firebase is encrypted using Google's AES-256 encryption standards
- Firebase Security Rules restrict database access so users can only read/write their own authorised data
Operational Security
- Access to production Firebase data is restricted to authorised team members only
- Two-factor authentication is mandatory for all DateEmber admin accounts
- Regular security reviews of Firebase rules and access controls
In-App Safety Features
- One-tap block: blocked users cannot find, view, or contact you
- One-tap report: our safety team reviews all reports promptly
- Monitoring for serious incidents including CSAM and threats of violence
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Section 8 of 10
Your Rights & Controls
Under Indian law (IT Act 2000, DPDPA 2023), you have the following rights. Email support@dateember.com to exercise any of them.
Access & Portability
- Request a complete copy of all your DateEmber data
- View all active sessions and devices logged into your account
Correction
- Correct any inaccurate information directly in your profile settings at any time
Opt-Out Controls
- Toggle location sharing on or off at any time in Android Settings
- Deny or revoke camera permission at any time without losing core app features
- Disable push notifications, SMS, or email alerts individually
- Control who can see your profile: everyone, matches only, or completely private
- Hide your online status and last-seen timestamp
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Section 9 of 10
Account Deletion
Google Play requires all apps that allow account creation to provide a clear way for users to delete their account and data. DateEmber fully supports this.
✅ How to delete your account:
Option 1 — In the app: Open DateEmber → Tap your Profile → Settings → Account → Delete Account → Confirm.
Option 2 — By email: Send a deletion request to support@dateember.com with the subject line "Account Deletion Request" from your registered email. We will process it within 7 business days.
What Happens When You Delete Your Account
- Your profile, photos, and personal information are permanently deleted from Firebase within 30 days
- Your messages are deleted within 7 days
- Your Firebase Authentication account (login) is deleted immediately
- Anonymised, non-identifiable aggregated data may be retained for product research
- Safety and ban records (if your account was removed for abuse) are retained for 5 years to protect other users
Account deletion is permanent and irreversible. You will lose all your matches, messages, and profile data immediately.
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Section 10 of 10
Children & Minors Policy
DateEmber is strictly for users aged 18 and above.
- All users must confirm they are 18+ during registration
- Accounts confirmed to belong to minors are immediately and permanently terminated
- We do not knowingly collect any personal data from users under 18
- If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has an account, email support@dateember.com immediately — we act within 24 hours
- DateEmber is rated 18+ on the Google Play Store
- We will notify you in-app at least 30 days before material changes take effect
- We will send an email to your registered address for changes that significantly affect your rights
- If you disagree with any update, you may delete your account before the changes take effect
- Continued use of DateEmber after changes are posted means you accept the updated policy
