Privacy Policy

Overview

GyDate("we", "us", "our") operates a dating platform for gay men aged 18+ through our website (gydate.com) and Android mobile application. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal information when you use our services.

By creating an account or using GyDate, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our services.

Information we collect

Account & authentication

• Google Sign-In:When you choose "Continue with Google", we receive your Google account ID, display name, email address, and profile photo URL as permitted by Google's OAuth consent screen. We use this solely to create, authenticate, and manage your GyDate account.
• Firebase user ID: A unique identifier assigned when your account is created.

Profile information

• Name, age, gender, and optional bio you provide during signup or in your profile
• Location data: country, state, and city (not precise GPS unless you choose to share it)
• Profile photos you upload
• Premium subscription status and expiry date

Messages & media

• Text messages, images, and timestamps in one-to-one chats
• Read receipts and delivery status
• Chat metadata (participant IDs, chat creation date)

Audio calls

• Call IDs, participant user IDs, call status, and timestamps
• Audio streams are transmitted in real time via Agora. We do not record or store call audio on our servers.

Usage & device data

• Online status and last active timestamp
• Device type, operating system, browser type, and app version
• IP address (for security, fraud prevention, and approximate location)
• Push notification tokens (FCM) if you enable notifications
• Crash logs and performance data to improve app stability

Payment information

• Premium subscriptions are processed by Stripe. We receive confirmation of payment status, plan type, and subscription period — not your full card number.

Information we do not collect

• We do not require government ID unless legally required
• We do not read your Google emails, contacts, or calendar
• We do not track you across unrelated third-party websites for advertising

How we use your information

• Create and manage your account and profile
• Enable discovery, matching, chat, and audio calling features
• Process premium subscriptions and prevent payment fraud
• Send push notifications for messages and calls (when enabled)
• Enforce community guidelines — block, report, and moderation
• Improve app performance, fix bugs, and develop new features
• Comply with legal obligations and respond to lawful requests
• Protect the safety and security of our users and platform

We process your data based on: (1) your consent when you sign up and use features; (2) our legitimate interest in operating a safe dating platform; and (3) legal obligations where applicable.

Google API Services User Data Policy

GyDate's use of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements. Specifically:

• We only use Google user data to provide GyDate features you request
• We do not use Google data for advertising or sell it to data brokers
• We do not transfer Google data to third parties except as needed to operate the service (Firebase)
• Human access to Google data is limited to support, security, and legal compliance

Sharing with third parties

We share data only with service providers necessary to operate GyDate:

• Google / Firebase: Authentication, Firestore database, Cloud Messaging (push notifications), and hosting
• Agora: Real-time audio communication infrastructure
• Stripe: Payment processing for premium subscriptions
• Cloudinary: Image hosting and optimization for profile and chat photos

These providers process data on our behalf under contractual obligations. We may also disclose information if required by law, to protect user safety, or to enforce our Terms of Service.

We do not sell your personal information. We do not share your data with advertisers or unrelated third parties for their marketing purposes.

Security

We implement industry-standard safeguards including encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS), Firebase security rules, and access controls. No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure — while we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

If you believe your account has been compromised, contact us immediately at support@gydate.com.

Data retention & deletion

We retain your personal data while your account is active. If you delete your account or request deletion:

• Your profile, photos, and messages are deleted within 30 days
• Some data may be retained longer if required by law or for legitimate safety purposes
• Anonymized analytics data may be retained indefinitely

To request account deletion, email support@gydate.com from the email associated with your account, or use the delete option in the app profile settings when available.

Your rights

Depending on your location (including India's DPDP Act and EU GDPR where applicable), you may have the right to:

• Access — request a copy of your personal data
• Correction — update inaccurate profile information
• Deletion — request erasure of your account and data
• Portability — receive your data in a machine-readable format
• Withdraw consent — stop using the service and revoke permissions
• Object — object to certain processing where applicable

To exercise any of these rights, contact support@gydate.com. We will respond within 30 days.

Minors & age requirement

GyDate is strictly for adults aged 18+. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we learn that a minor has created an account, we will delete it promptly. Report underage users or CSAE concerns to support@gydate.com or see our Child Safety Standards.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. Continued use of GyDate after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact us

For privacy questions, data requests, or concerns about how your information is handled:

• Email: support@gydate.com
• Subject line: "Privacy Request — [your GyDate email]"