Privacy Policy

Map Dating Inc. ("Map Dating," "we," "us," or "our") operates the Map Dating platform, a map-based social platform for the lifestyle and ethical non-monogamy (ENM) community. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect your personal information when you use our website, mobile applications, and related services (collectively, the "Service").

We understand the deeply personal nature of this community and have designed Map Dating with discretion and privacy as foundational principles. We encourage you to read this policy carefully.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

• Phone Number. Required for account creation and OTP verification. Your phone number is never displayed to other users.
• Profile Data. Display name, age, bio, relationship type, gender identity, interests, preferences, and availability status.
• Photos. Profile photos and any images shared through the messaging system.
• Messages. Content of messages sent and received through the in-app messaging system.
• Payment Information. When you subscribe to a premium plan, payment details are collected and processed directly by Stripe. We do not store your full credit card number on our servers.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Location Data. Real-time GPS coordinates when you use the Service, used to display your position on the map and show nearby users, events, and venues.
• Usage Data. Pages visited, features used, interactions (profile views, map interactions, search queries), timestamps, and session duration.
• Device Information. Device type, operating system, browser type, screen resolution, unique device identifiers, and IP address.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Matching & Discovery. To display your profile to nearby users and to show you relevant profiles based on your location, preferences, and filters.
• Map Display. To place your approximate location on the map for other users to discover. Your exact coordinates are never shared — we use a randomized offset to protect your precise location.
• Messaging. To deliver messages between users and to detect spam or abusive content.
• Analytics & Improvement. To understand how users interact with the Service, identify bugs, and improve features.
• Safety & Moderation. To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, harassment, and violations of our Terms of Service.
• Notifications. To send you discreet push notifications about messages, matches, and events (sender names are displayed as initials only).
• Payments. To process subscriptions, manage billing, and handle refund requests.

3. Location Data

Location is fundamental to how Map Dating works. Here is exactly how we handle your location data:

• Real-Time GPS. When you open the app, we request your device's GPS coordinates to center the map and show you nearby users.
• Map Display. Your location is displayed as an approximate pin on the map. We apply a randomized offset so your exact address is never revealed.
• Proximity Calculations. We calculate distances between users to power the "nearby" feature and distance filters.
• User Control. You can disable location services at any time through your device settings. You can also set your status to invisible to hide your pin from the map. When location is disabled, you will not appear on the map and nearby features will be unavailable.
• Storage. We store your last known location to show an approximate position when you are offline. Location history beyond your last known position is not retained.

4. Photo Storage & Handling

• Storage. Profile photos are stored on secure cloud servers with encryption at rest.
• Visibility. Your public profile photos are visible to all users who can see your pin on the map. Private photos, if implemented, are only visible to users you explicitly grant access to.
• Verification Scanning. We may use automated scanning to detect prohibited content (e.g., images depicting minors or non-consensual content). This scanning is performed by automated systems and human review is only triggered when a potential violation is detected.
• Deletion. When you delete a photo or your account, the photo is permanently removed from our servers within 30 days.

5. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal data. We do not rent, trade, or otherwise monetize your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

We share information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Other Users. Your profile information (display name, photos, bio, preferences, approximate location) is visible to other users of the Service as part of normal platform operation.
• Stripe. Payment processing for subscriptions and one-time purchases (e.g., profile boosts). Stripe's privacy policy governs their handling of your payment data.
• Twilio. Delivery of one-time password (OTP) codes for phone verification. Twilio receives your phone number solely for this purpose.
• MapLibre / Map Tile Providers. Map rendering. Map tile requests may include your general viewport area but do not include personal information.
• Law Enforcement. We may disclose information if required by law, subpoena, or court order, or if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect safety, prevent fraud, or respond to a government request.
• Safety Reports. If we detect content involving minors, we are legally obligated to report it to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and may share relevant information with law enforcement.

6. Data Retention

• Account Data. Your profile information, photos, and preferences are retained for as long as your account remains active.
• Conversations. Messages in conversations that have been inactive for 60 days are automatically and permanently deleted. This is a privacy feature, not a bug.
• Account Deletion. When you delete your account, all associated data — including your profile, photos, messages, and preferences — is permanently deleted from our servers within 30 days. Certain anonymized, aggregated data may be retained for analytics purposes.
• Payment Records. Transaction records are retained as required by applicable tax and financial regulations, typically for 7 years.

7. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access. You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction. You may update or correct your profile information at any time through your account settings.
• Deletion. You may request deletion of your account and all associated data at any time.
• Data Export. You may request an export of your data in a commonly used, machine-readable format.
• Opt-Out. You may opt out of non-essential communications (marketing emails, promotional notifications) at any time. Transactional notifications (e.g., OTP codes, payment confirmations) cannot be disabled while your account is active.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@mapdating.co. We will respond to verified requests within 30 days.

8. Security

We take the security of your personal information seriously and employ industry-standard measures to protect it:

• Encryption. All data in transit is encrypted using TLS 1.3. Data at rest is encrypted using AES-256 encryption.
• Secure Storage. User data is stored on secure cloud infrastructure with geographic redundancy and regular backups.
• Access Controls. Access to user data is restricted to authorized personnel on a need-to-know basis. All access is logged and audited.
• Phone Verification. OTP-based authentication helps prevent unauthorized account access.

While we implement robust security measures, no system is 100% secure. If you become aware of any security breach affecting your account, please contact us immediately at security@mapdating.co.

9. Children's Privacy

Map Dating is strictly for adults aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 18. If we become aware that a user is under 18, we will immediately terminate their account and delete all associated data. If you believe a minor is using the Service, please report it immediately to safety@mapdating.co.

10. Cookies & Local Storage

Map Dating uses cookies and browser local storage for the following purposes:

• Session Tokens. To keep you logged in and authenticate your requests. These are essential for the Service to function.
• Preferences. To remember your filter settings, map position, and display preferences.
• Analytics. To collect anonymous usage statistics that help us improve the Service.

We do not use third-party advertising cookies. You can clear cookies and local storage through your browser settings, but this will log you out and reset your preferences.

11. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to Know. You may request that we disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you, the categories of sources from which it was collected, the business purpose for collection, and the categories of third parties with whom it is shared.
• Right to Delete. You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions.
• Right to Opt-Out of Sale. We do not sell personal information. However, if this changes, we will provide a "Do Not Sell My Personal Information" link on our website.
• Non-Discrimination. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.

To submit a CCPA request, email privacy@mapdating.co with the subject line "CCPA Request." We will verify your identity before processing the request and respond within 45 days.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes, we will notify you by posting the updated policy on the Service, updating the "Effective Date" at the top, and, where required by law, sending you a notification. Your continued use of the Service after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

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