Privacy Policy

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

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

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

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

Subscription Plans

• Prices may vary by country, taxes, promotions, or Google Play pricing
• Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled before the end of the current billing period
• You may cancel anytime through the Google Play Store; premium benefits remain available until the end of the paid period

One-Time Purchases

DateEmber also offers optional consumable digital products through Google Play Billing:

Payment Processing

All purchases are securely processed by Google Play Billing. DateEmber never receives or stores credit card numbers, debit card numbers, UPI PINs, bank account information, Google Pay credentials, or payment passwords. Payment information is processed solely by Google in accordance with Google's Privacy Policy and Google Play Billing policies.

Purchase Verification

After a successful purchase, DateEmber verifies the purchase with Google Play to unlock premium features, activate subscriptions, restore eligible purchases, prevent fraud, and detect invalid or refunded purchases. Verification may include:

• Google Play purchase token and product identifier
• Subscription status and transaction information
• Purchase time and expiry date

This information is used only for providing purchased services and preventing abuse.

Automatic Renewal, Management & Refunds

• Subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each billing cycle unless cancelled through Google Play before renewal — Google Play will charge your selected payment method accordingly
• Subscriptions can be managed, upgraded, downgraded, or cancelled through your Google Play account at any time
• Cancelling a subscription prevents future renewals but does not refund the current billing period
• Refunds are handled by Google Play in accordance with Google Play's refund policies and applicable consumer protection laws — DateEmber cannot directly issue refunds for purchases made through Google Play
• You may request refunds through your Google Play purchase history where eligible

Restoring Purchases

Eligible purchases linked to the same Google account may be restored automatically after reinstalling the application or signing in again. Consumable purchases such as Boosts, Swipe Packs, and Super Likes cannot be restored once they have been consumed.

Data We Store About Purchases

To provide premium services, DateEmber may store:

• Purchase status and subscription status, including subscription expiry date
• Active premium plan and full purchase history
• Consumable balances and premium feature entitlement
• Google Play purchase token (for verification only)

Free Features

The free version of DateEmber currently includes up to 10 free swipes per day, standard profile creation, matching, messaging after a mutual match, and basic discovery features. Premium purchases are optional enhancements and are not required to create or maintain an account.

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

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

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

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