Privacy Policy

We collect information you provide directly, information generated by your use of the Service, and in some cases, information from third parties. Here is a full breakdown:

Sensitive Data: We may collect certain sensitive data (such as sexual orientation) only with your explicit, opt-in consent. You are never required to provide this information. You can update or remove sensitive data from your profile at any time.

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Account Creation & Management: To register your account, verify your identity via OTP, and manage your profile.
• Matching Algorithm: To show you potential matches based on location, preferences, age, and compatibility factors.
• Messaging: To facilitate secure communication between matched users.
• Personalization: To improve your feed and recommendations based on your interactions.
• Safety & Security: To detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, abuse, illegal activity, and Terms of Service violations.
• Customer Support: To respond to your requests, reports, and complaints.
• Subscription Processing: To manage premium plans and verify payment status.
• Product Improvement: To analyze aggregate, anonymized usage data to improve LoveBug's features and performance.
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and valid legal orders or requests from authorities.
• Communications: To send you important service notifications, OTPs, and (with your consent) promotional messages.

We are committed to keeping your data within our ecosystem. We share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

With Other Users (Limited): Your public profile (photos, name, age, bio, approximate location) is visible to other LoveBug users for matching purposes. Your phone number, exact location, or any private information is never shared with other users.

With Service Providers: We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating the Service:

All service providers are contractually bound to process your data only as instructed by us and to maintain appropriate security standards.

For Legal Reasons: We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government/law enforcement request, including under the Information Technology Act, 2000, Code of Criminal Procedure, or any other applicable statute. We will disclose only the minimum data necessary.

Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user data may be transferred as part of that transaction. You will be notified via email or app notification before any such transfer.

Location data is essential for LoveBug's core matching functionality — helping you find people nearby.

• What We Collect: Approximate GPS coordinates from your device when the app is in use.
• What We Show Others: Only an approximate distance (e.g., "2 km away"). Your exact coordinates are never shared with other users.
• When We Access It: Only when the app is actively in use (foreground). We do not run background location tracking.
• How to Disable: You can revoke location permissions at any time through your device settings. This will limit or disable proximity-based matching.

We retain your data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service, and as required by applicable law. Here is our retention schedule:

You have meaningful rights over your data. Here's how you can exercise them:

• Access: Request a copy of all personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: Update incorrect or incomplete information directly in the app or by contacting us.
• Deletion: Permanently delete your account and all associated data via Settings → Delete Account. Data is purged within 30 days.
• Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Object / Restrict Processing: Object to or request restriction of processing for specific purposes, subject to legal requirements.
• Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on consent (e.g., marketing notifications), you may withdraw consent at any time.
• Opt Out of Marketing: You can opt out of promotional communications via app notification settings.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at contact@lovebugdating.app. We will respond to all requests within 30 days.

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction:

• Encryption in Transit: All data transmitted between your device and our servers uses HTTPS / TLS encryption.
• Encryption at Rest: Data stored in Firebase is encrypted at rest using AES-256.
• OTP Authentication: Your account is secured with one-time password (OTP) verification — no passwords to lose.
• Access Controls: Strict internal access controls ensure only authorized personnel can access user data on a need-to-know basis.
• Security Monitoring: We monitor our systems for intrusions and suspicious activity.
• Vulnerability Management: We regularly review and update our security practices.

LoveBug is strictly for adults aged 18 and above. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18 years of age.

If we discover that a person under 18 has registered for the Service, we will immediately:

1. Terminate and permanently delete the account.
2. Delete all associated data.
3. Take appropriate action as required by the POCSO Act and other applicable laws if any minor was exposed to harmful content.

LoveBug (web version) uses browser local storage and session storage to provide a better experience. These are not tracking cookies.

We do not use third-party advertising cookies that track you across other websites. Any ads shown in the app are non-personalized.

The Service may contain links to third-party websites or services. These are governed by their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for their practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you interact with.

Our key third-party service partners and their privacy policies:

• Google Firebase: firebase.google.com/support/privacy
• Google Play: policies.google.com/privacy

We process your personal data on the following legal bases as applicable under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA), the Information Technology Act, 2000, and other applicable regulations:

• Consent: For optional data (e.g., sexual orientation, location, marketing communications).
• Contractual Necessity: To provide the Service (matching, messaging, account management).
• Legitimate Interests: For security, fraud prevention, product improvement, and analytics.
• Legal Obligation: To comply with court orders, regulatory requirements, law enforcement requests, and applicable laws.
• Vital Interests: In emergency situations where disclosure is necessary to protect life or safety.

For users in the European Economic Area (EEA): processing is based on Article 6 of GDPR. You have additional rights under GDPR and may contact our representative for GDPR-related inquiries.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we make material changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.
• Notify you through the app (push notification or in-app banner).
• For significant changes, seek your renewed consent where required by law.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically. The most current version will always be accessible at lovebugdating.app/pages/privacy.

Continued use of the Service after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

• Email: contact@lovebugdating.app
• Company: Tretaion Technology
• Website: lovebugdating.app

Grievance Officer (as required under IT Act & DPDPA):
In accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, any complaints or grievances regarding our data processing activities may be directed to our Grievance Officer:

• Name: Grievance Officer, Tretaion Technology
• Email: contact@lovebugdating.app (Subject: "Privacy Grievance")
• Response Time: Within 30 days of receipt

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may escalate your complaint to the Data Protection Board of India (once established under DPDPA) or the appropriate regulatory authority in your jurisdiction.