Privacy built in.

Effective Date: April 1, 2026
Last Updated: October 9, 2026

What changed on October 9, 2026:

• New in Section 11.1: when a message reads as a threat to share someone's private photos or messages, we save the text of that chat for a person to review. An automated system may read it first. We keep that text for 2 years (Section 6).

What changed on October 4, 2026:

• When you delete your account, we now delete your IRL data too (check-ins, map position, pings and the rest) within 30 days. See Sections 5.1 and 6.
• New Section 2.4 explains IRL: what we collect, who sees what, and how long we keep it.
• New Section 10.3 explains the Verified Selfie. We compare your selfie with your profile photos using outside AI services. This uses features of your face, which some laws treat as biometric information.
• This policy now covers Android and the web app as well as iOS. Payments go through Apple, Google Play or, on the web, Stripe.
• New sections explain partner profiles (2.5), the Testing & Prevention health tools (2.6) and what we collect from website visitors (2.7). The AI help chat is now listed in Section 4.2.
• Text messages: we text sign-in and verification codes. If you opt in, we also text updates and announcements. You can opt out at any time (Section 5.5).
• You can make a privacy request at gaydarapp.com/privacy-request. We answer within 30 days, or 45 days for California residents (Section 9.1).
• No ad has been shown in Gaydar so far. The Free tier may show ads in the future, and Pro removes them (Section 4.3).

Gaydar ("Gaydar," "we," "us," or "our") is an LGBTQ+ dating and social networking mobile and web application operated by Gaydar Inc., a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 421 8th Avenue, #9227, New York, NY 10116, United States.

Contact Information:

• Privacy inquiries: privacy@gaydarapp.com
• Trust & Safety: trust@gaydarapp.com
• Legal / law enforcement: legal@gaydarapp.com
• Mailing address: Gaydar Inc., 421 8th Avenue, #9227, New York, NY 10116, United States

This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect when you use Gaydar, how we use and share it, the choices you have, and the rights you may exercise under applicable law. It applies to the Gaydar apps for iOS and Android, the Gaydar web app (grid.gaydarapp.com), our website (gaydarapp.com), and any related websites or services that link to it.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, do not use or visit the Service. By using or visiting the Service, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

2.1 Information You Provide to Us

When you create an account and use Gaydar, you voluntarily provide us with:

Account & Identity Information:

• Phone number (used for account verification via SMS)
• Email address (optional)
• Date of birth (to verify you are 18 or older)
• Display name and profile information

Profile Data:

• Photos and videos
• Bio/description
• Physical characteristics (height, body type)
• Relationship status and what you're looking for
• Languages spoken
• Pronouns
• Partner links, if you link your profile with a partner (see Section 2.5)

Sensitive Personal Information:

• Sexual orientation (inherent to the product)
• Gender identity and trans status
• HIV status and last-tested date (optional field)
• Relationship style (polyamorous, open, monogamous, etc.)
• PrEP use (optional)
• Testing & Prevention information (only if you use the Testing & Prevention area, see Section 2.6): your HIV status, last test date, prevention methods and test reminders. Insurance and PrEP-interest answers are saved only if you agree
• Verified Selfie (if you take one, see Section 10.3): a live selfie, and the result of comparing it with your approved profile photos. The comparison uses features of your face, which some laws treat as biometric information
• Government photo ID (collected only if your account is locked for age verification, see Section 10.1, or if you apply to become a Verified Creator, see Section 10.2). For a locked account we also keep the date of birth shown on the ID. For a Verified Creator application we read the date of birth only to confirm you are 18 or older; we do not keep it.
• Creator information (only if you apply to become a Verified Creator): your application and its status, the result of your ID check, the creator accounts you link and whether each was confirmed (and, when our automatic check could not confirm one, a short reason such as that the site could not be read), your collaboration settings (whether you are open to collabs and the kinds of projects you choose), and the introduction requests you send or receive
• Creator-promotion blocks (only if you name or promote a paid-content or creator account, or ask people to subscribe to one, when you are not a Verified Creator, or as a Verified Creator name an account you have not verified): the date, whether it was your bio or a message, which platforms were named, and a short fingerprint of the text so that a repeat is counted once. We do not keep the text you wrote, because the bio is not saved and the message is not sent
• Your "comfortable doing content creation" preference (optional, off unless you turn it on, and available only with a current verified selfie), and the introduction requests you receive because of it

Location & Communication Data:

• GPS coordinates (foreground only, via your device) used to calculate distance and populate radar/discover features
• Virtual location ("Discover"): You may drop a pin on a different city or place to browse profiles in that area. This changes only what you see. Your profile stays in your real location, and other users do not see the place you are browsing.
• Location-in-chat: You may voluntarily share a point-in-time location with another user inside a chat (for example, a meetup pin). The recipient sees the coordinates you chose to send, and the shared location is stored with the chat message until deleted.
• IRL data (only if you use IRL, see Section 2.4): check-ins, "going tonight" RSVPs, your approximate map position if you show yourself on the map, your Quiet Zone point, pings, Warmer sessions, and the places you recommend, edit or claim
• Chat messages, voice notes, reactions, and shared media
• Messages you send in our help chat, which is answered by an AI assistant (see Section 4.2)

Payment Information:

• Subscription tier and status
• Purchase receipts
• Important: We do not receive or store your credit card, bank account, or other payment card information. Payments are processed by Apple through the App Store, by Google through Google Play, and, on the web, by Stripe.

2.2 Information We Collect Automatically

When you use Gaydar, we automatically collect:

Device and Technical Data:

• Device model and manufacturer
• Operating system version
• App version
• IP address
• Push notification tokens
• Device identifiers (Expo install ID)
• Locale and language settings

Usage and Behavioral Data:

• Screens viewed and features used
• Likes, passes, matches, blocks, and reports
• Session timing and duration
• Feature usage patterns
• Search queries and filters used

Diagnostic Data:

• Crash reports and error logs
• Performance data
• Breadcrumbs (steps leading to errors)

2.3 Information From Third Parties

We may receive information from:

• Apple App Store and Google Play: Purchase receipts, subscription status, and refund information
• Stripe (web payments): Your subscription plan and status, whether your payments went through, and when your plan renews or ends
• AppsFlyer (mobile measurement and attribution): When you tap a Gaydar marketing link in another app or on the web, AppsFlyer may share attribution data (the campaign that referred you, your IDFA if you grant App Tracking Transparency permission, and the install or open timestamp) with our backend so we can credit the correct marketing channel.
• Google AdMob (including DoubleClick): When an advertisement is shown to you in the Free tier, AdMob may share advertising-related identifiers and ad-delivery telemetry with our backend.

The App Tracking Transparency (ATT) consent flow described in Section 5.3 controls whether AppsFlyer and AdMob can access your Apple Advertising Identifier (IDFA).

2.4 IRL (Places, Check-ins and Nearby)

IRL is a tab in Gaydar. It shows a map of LGBTQ+ spaces (bars, clubs, cafes, parks, shops and beaches) and which ones are busy now. If you choose, you can also check in at a place, show yourself on the map, get pings, and use Warmer to find a match nearby. This section explains what IRL collects, who sees what, and how long we keep it.

Your location. IRL uses your location only while the app is open. We do not track your location in the background.

What we collect, and who sees it:

• Check-ins. You can check in at a place for 1 to 4 hours. A check-in ends on its own, or you can end it with one tap. We use your location to confirm you are at the place. We keep the place, who can see the check-in, and when it started and ended. You choose who sees it: everyone on IRL (your photo shows on the place's page), your matches only, or no one (you are only counted). Earlier versions of IRL also let you leave a short note at a place, called a beacon.
• "Going tonight" RSVPs. A place shows how many people are going and the names of your matches who are going. You choose who can see your own RSVP, in the same three ways as a check-in.
• Your position on the map. Showing yourself on the people layer of the map is off until you turn it on. When it is on, the members you allow see your profile photo and name, and your mood and status line if you set them, at an approximate position. They never see your exact spot. You choose how approximate it is: within about 500 m, 1 km or 1.5 km of your real spot. Your map position is turned into an area of that size when it reaches our server, and we do not save your exact coordinates from the map. Distance and Radar use your device location separately, as described in Section 2.1. You also choose who can see you: everyone on IRL, or your matches only. Members see you only while your last update is less than 4 hours old.
• Stealth Mode. Stealth Mode lets you browse the map without appearing on it.
• Quiet Zone. You can set a center point (usually your home) and a radius. While you are inside it, you are not shown on the map. We store the center point so we can tell when you are inside, and we use it only for that. Other members never see it, or see that you set one. You can clear it at any time, and we then delete the stored point.
• Pings. Pings are off until you turn them on. Gaydar then tells you when a good match is nearby, without saying who. If you both wave, you both see each other's name. You can also wave at someone who has checked in at a place. They are told that someone at that place waved, and they see your name only if they wave back. We keep a record of each ping: the approximate area, how well you match, what you have in common, and whether either of you waved.
• Warmer. Warmer helps two members find each other when they are close. It works only between members who are already connected (a match, or a ping you both waved at), and only when both of you agree. It uses Bluetooth and, on iPhone, Apple's Nearby Interaction (ultra wideband), with tokens that rotate. It works only while the Warmer screen is open. We keep a record of each session: the two members, the short-lived tokens, and when it started and ended.
• Recommended places, edits and claims. You can recommend a space we do not list and suggest an edit to a listing. A business owner can claim a place by sending evidence such as a business email, a website, an Instagram account, a note or a photo. Our team reviews each one before it changes a listing, and automated checks may help with the review. If we approve a claim, your account is linked to the place as its owner.

Our safety team. Our Trust & Safety team can see the approximate map positions of members who show themselves on the map, including members using Stealth Mode, to keep people safe.

Where IRL is off. IRL is switched off in countries that criminalize same-sex relationships. There, you do not appear to other people or see them, and pings and Warmer do not work. The map of places still works.

How long we keep it. A check-in is shown only while it is active. We keep your check-ins, including ones that have ended, until you delete your account. We use past check-ins, without names, to show when a place is usually busy. Section 6 lists how long we keep each kind of IRL record. When you delete your account, we purge all of your IRL data within 30 days.

2.5 Partner Profiles

You can link your profile with a partner if your relationship status allows it. To find a partner, you enter their phone number. We use the number to look for a Gaydar account. If we find an account that can be linked, you see that member's name and photo and can send a request. They are notified and choose whether to accept. If no account matches the number, we do not contact that person. A request that is not accepted expires after 30 days.

Once you are linked, your partner shows on your profile, and you show on theirs. Either of you can remove the link at any time.

You can also turn on "Share my location with my partner". It is off by default. When it is on and you are showing yourself on the IRL map, your linked partner can see you there even when other members cannot. It does not show you while you are in Stealth Mode or inside your Quiet Zone (see Section 2.4).

2.6 Testing & Prevention (Health Tools)

Testing & Prevention is an optional area of the app. If you use it, you can save your HIV status, your last test date and your prevention methods, and set test reminders. If you choose to answer questions about insurance or your interest in PrEP, we save those answers only with your consent. Your Testing & Prevention check-ins and reminders are deleted with your account. The "Get PrEP" link opens the website of one of our partners with campaign tags. We send that website no member data.

2.7 Visitors to Our Websites

This section covers what we collect when you visit gaydarapp.com.

Forms. Each form collects what it asks for:

• Newsletter: your email address
• Contact and support: your name, email address and message
• Privacy requests: your contact details, your request, and a verification code we send to your phone
• Feature requests and the Android beta signup: the details those forms ask for

Help chat. The help chat on our website stores an anonymous ID in your browser. An AI assistant answers it (see Section 4.2).

Records of your choices. We keep a log of your cookie choices and of the consent you give to text messages.

Analytics, ads and error monitoring. Our Google Analytics and Google Ads tags load in Google's consent mode. Until you accept, they are not allowed to store cookies or other data on your device. They still send Google cookieless pings, which tell Google that a page was loaded. If you accept, the tags can store cookies. The site also loads the Meta Pixel script. We use a traffic and speed measurement tool that sets no cookies, and error monitoring (see Section 4.2). Our Cookie Policy at gaydarapp.com/cookies lists the cookies we use.

We use your information for the following purposes:

Verified Creator program. If you apply, we use your verified selfie, your government ID, your profile photos and the creator accounts you link to check that your ID looks genuine and current, that you are 18 or older, that the photo on your ID matches your profile photos, and that you control those accounts. We use the results to decide your application, to show the Verified Creator badge and your Creator links, to run the Verified Creators filter, and to apply our moderation rules to you as a Verified Creator (see Section 8A of our Community Guidelines). To confirm an account you link, we read that account's public bio and look for your one-time code. To apply Sections 8 and 8A of our Community Guidelines to everyone, our systems check bios and messages for the names of paid-content platforms and for requests to subscribe: a Verified Creator's own verified accounts are allowed, and anyone else is blocked, asked to upgrade, and suspended if they keep trying. We use the "comfortable doing content creation" preference only to show it to Verified Creators, to let them find you with their filter, and to let them send you introduction requests. We do not use creator information or that preference for advertising.

4.1 Other Users

Your profile information is visible to other Gaydar users based on your privacy settings:

• Public profile: Your photos, display name, age, bio, and other profile fields you choose to share
• Distance: By default, other users can see your approximate distance. You can hide or obfuscate this in settings.
• Online status: Other users may see when you were last active
• Discover: When you use Discover to browse another place, other users do not see the place you chose. Your profile stays in your real location
• Verified Selfie: If you have a current verified selfie, your profile shows a badge, and other users can open your selfie from the selfie icon on your profile
• IRL: If you check in, say you are going tonight or show yourself on the map, other users see what you chose to share, as described in Section 2.4

Important: Do not include information in your profile that you want to keep private.

Verified Creators. If you are a Verified Creator, your badge is visible on your profile and on your photo in the grid, unless you choose to hide it. Your Creator links are hidden by default: they are shown only to members who have turned on creator links on their account page on gaydarapp.com, and only for the accounts you choose to show. Members who have not turned creator links on may see a note that you have linked accounts. If you are open to collabs, your collaboration settings are shown to other Verified Creators and to members who have turned on "comfortable doing content creation".

"Comfortable doing content creation." If you turn this on, only Verified Creators can see it. It is never shown on your public profile or to other members. When a Verified Creator sends you an introduction request, they see whether it is still waiting or closed; they are not told whether you declined it.

Partner profiles. If you link your profile with a partner, your partner shows on your profile and you show on theirs. If you turn on "Share my location with my partner", your linked partner can see you on the IRL map even when other members cannot. See Section 2.5.

4.2 Service Providers and Partners

We share information with third-party service providers who perform functions on our behalf:

4.3 Advertising and Cross-App Tracking

Gaydar's iOS build includes two third-party SDKs that relate to advertising and attribution:

• Google AdMob (operated by Google LLC, including the DoubleClick ad-serving network) — used to serve advertisements within the Free tier of the app.
• AppsFlyer — used to measure install attribution, deep-link routing, and uninstall events so we can understand which marketing channels deliver new users.

App Tracking Transparency (ATT). Because these SDKs can access cross-app and cross-website identifiers (the Apple Advertising Identifier, IDFA), the iOS build sets NSPrivacyTracking: true and presents Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) prompt before any tracking call is made. You can decline the ATT prompt at any time, and you can change your decision later under iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking → Gaydar. If you decline, the SDKs are still loaded inside the app but they cannot access your IDFA and cannot perform cross-app tracking.

What we never share with advertising or attribution partners. Regardless of your ATT choice, Gaydar does not share with advertising or attribution partners: your sexual orientation, gender identity, trans status, HIV status, the contents of your messages, your voice notes, your profile photos, or your precise GPS coordinates.

v1.0 launch behavior. Both SDKs are loaded and gated behind server-controlled feature flags and Apple's App Tracking Transparency consent. At the v1.0 launch, AppsFlyer mobile-measurement and attribution is enabled: it initializes only after the ATT prompt and emits the install, attribution, deep-link, and app-open events described above, and it accesses your Apple Advertising Identifier (IDFA) only if you grant ATT permission. Google AdMob was disabled at the v1.0 launch and emitted no events. As of October 4, 2026, no ad has been shown in Gaydar. The Free tier may show ads in the future, and Pro removes ads. We will update this Privacy Policy and the "Last Updated" date if these feature-flag states change.

Declared tracking domains. The following domains are declared in the iOS privacy manifest as tracking domains: app.appsflyer.com, appsflyer.com, googleads.g.doubleclick.net, googlesyndication.com, pagead2.googlesyndication.com.

Privacy controls. You can manage advertising and tracking-related controls in the app under the Account tab, then Privacy & Security, and under iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking → Gaydar. EU/UK users can request a re-presentation of consent prompts; Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals are honored on any Gaydar web property; California residents have an in-app "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" toggle.

4.4 Legal and Safety Disclosures

We may disclose your information:

• To comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government requests
• To protect the safety of our users or the public
• To enforce our Terms of Service
• To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, or illegal activity
• To report CSAM to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) as required by law

4.5 Business Transfers

If Gaydar is involved in a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or bankruptcy, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

5.1 In-App Controls

You can control your privacy through Gaydar settings:

• Profile visibility: Control what information appears on your profile
• Distance visibility: Hide or obfuscate your distance from other users
• Discover: Drop a pin to browse a different place, or clear the pin to return to your real location
• IRL controls: In IRL settings, show yourself on the map (off by default), choose how approximate your position is and who can see you, turn on Stealth Mode, set a Quiet Zone, and turn pings on or off (off by default). When you check in or say you are going tonight, you choose who can see it
• Creator links: Choose whether you see Verified Creators' links, on your account page on gaydarapp.com (off by default)
• "Comfortable doing content creation": Turn on or off in Settings (off by default)
• Location permissions: Grant or revoke GPS access in your device settings
• Push notifications: Enable or disable in your device settings
• Account deletion: Request permanent deletion of your account and data in the app (Account tab, then Account Details, then "Delete Account or Take a Break") or at gaydarapp.com/delete-account. Your account is hidden at once, and your data is purged within 30 days (see Section 6)

5.2 Device Permissions

You can manage permissions in your device settings. On iPhone:

• Location: iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Gaydar
• Photos: iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Photos → Gaydar
• Camera: iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera → Gaydar
• Microphone: iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone → Gaydar
• Bluetooth: iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Bluetooth → Gaydar
• Nearby Interaction (iPhone only): iOS Settings → Gaydar
• Notifications: iOS Settings → Notifications → Gaydar
• Tracking: iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking → Gaydar

On Android, open your device's Settings, then Apps, then Gaydar, then Permissions (the steps vary by device). Gaydar can ask for Location, Photos and videos, Camera, Microphone, Notifications, Bluetooth (scan, advertise and connect) and ultra wideband.

What each permission is for. Location shows nearby profiles and powers IRL. Photos lets you upload profile photos, share photos in chat and add media to your vault. Camera takes profile photos and your verified selfie. Microphone records voice messages. Bluetooth, Nearby Interaction and ultra wideband are used only for Warmer. Tracking applies to the advertising and measurement tools described in Section 4.3.

5.3 Advertising and Tracking Controls

Gaydar's iOS build includes Google AdMob (advertising) and AppsFlyer (mobile measurement and attribution) SDKs. Both can access the Apple Advertising Identifier (IDFA) only with your explicit consent through Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework.

Your options today:

• App Tracking Transparency (ATT) opt-out: When the app launches, iOS presents the ATT prompt asking whether you allow Gaydar to use the IDFA. You can decline, and you can change your decision later under iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking → Gaydar. Declining prevents cross-app tracking.
• CCPA/CPRA opt-out: In the app, Account tab, then Privacy & Security, then "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information", for California residents
• Global Privacy Control (GPC): We honor GPC signals on any Gaydar web property
• Marketing email: Use the unsubscribe link in any marketing email or toggle off marketing-email consent under Account → Marketing preferences
• EU/UK consent: Users in the EEA / UK are presented with a re-openable consent banner before any tracking event is sent

What we will not share with advertising or attribution partners, regardless of your ATT choice: your sexual orientation, gender identity, trans status, HIV status, the contents of your messages, your voice notes, your profile photos, or your precise GPS coordinates.

5.4 Communication Preferences

• Email: You can opt out of promotional emails by following the unsubscribe link. We will still send service-related emails.
• Push notifications: Disable in your device settings
• Text messages: Reply STOP, or turn off updates in Marketing Preferences (see Section 5.5)

5.5 SMS and Text Messaging

Gaydar sends two kinds of text messages:

• Verification codes. We text you a one-time code when you sign up, log in, or verify your phone number for a request (for example, a privacy request on our website), so we can confirm you own the phone number. You need these codes to use your account.
• Updates and announcements (optional). If you choose to receive them, we text you launch updates, announcements and community news. We ask in Gaydar on your phone and in the web app's onboarding. You never have to say yes to use Gaydar.

For both kinds of text:

• Consent: You consent to verification codes when you enter your phone number on the verification screen during sign-up or login. You consent to updates and announcements separately, by choosing to receive them. We do not send updates and announcements by text unless you do.
• Frequency: You receive a verification text only when you request a code. Message frequency for codes depends on how often you log in. How often we send updates varies.
• Cost: Message and data rates may apply, depending on your mobile carrier and plan.
• Opt-out and help: Reply STOP to any message to opt out of further texts, or HELP for assistance. You can also turn off updates in Marketing Preferences (Account tab, then Account Details), which does not affect verification codes. Because verification codes are required to access your account, replying STOP may mean you are unable to log in.
• No sharing for marketing: We do not share or sell your mobile phone number, SMS opt-in, or consent to any third party or affiliate for their own marketing or promotional purposes. Your phone number is shared only with the SMS delivery providers listed in Section 4.2, strictly to send you the texts described in this section.

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide the Service and fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy:

When you delete your account. We hide your account at once and purge your data from live systems within 30 days. This includes all of your IRL data: your map position and Quiet Zone point, check-ins and beacons, "going tonight" RSVPs, pings, Warmer sessions, and the places you recommended, the edits you suggested and the claims you made. A place you claimed stays listed, but it is no longer linked to you. The exceptions in the table above still apply, including help chat conversations, which you can ask us to delete through a privacy request.

We take administrative, technical, and physical measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: All data is encrypted in transit (TLS 1.3) and at rest (AES-256)
• Access controls: Limited employee access on a need-to-know basis
• Security monitoring: Continuous monitoring for suspicious activity
• Regular audits: Security assessments and penetration testing

Important: No security measure is perfect. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.

Gaydar is based in the United States. Your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States and other countries where our service providers operate.

When we transfer personal data outside your jurisdiction:

• From the EEA/UK: We use Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and UK International Data Transfer Agreements (IDTAs) to ensure adequate protection
• From other jurisdictions: We implement appropriate safeguards as required by applicable law

By using Gaydar, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information.

9.1 General Rights (All Users)

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request that we correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and personal information
• Portability: Request your data in a portable format

How to make a request. The main way is the form at gaydarapp.com/privacy-request. It covers access, deletion, correction, opting out of sale or sharing, and limiting the use of sensitive information. We answer within 30 days, or within 45 days for California residents. For a request the form does not list, such as restricting how we process your data or asking for a person to review an automated decision, email privacy@gaydarapp.com.

What the in-app data export covers. The data export in the app covers your profile, photos, messages, matches, likes, blocks and reports. Other data we hold about you is available through a privacy request.

9.2 GDPR Rights (EEA, UK, Switzerland)

If you are in the European Economic Area, UK, or Switzerland, you have the following rights under the GDPR:

• Right to be informed about how we use your personal data
• Right of access to your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate personal data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten") in certain circumstances
• Right to restrict processing of your personal data
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing
• Right not to be subject to automated decision-making including profiling

Sensitive Data: Sexual orientation, gender identity, and HIV status are "special category" data under GDPR. We process this data only with your explicit consent, which you provide when creating your profile. You can withdraw consent at any time by deleting the relevant information from your profile or deleting your account.

If you apply to become a Verified Creator, we ask for your explicit consent before your ID check starts. If you turn on "comfortable doing content creation", we ask for it before the preference is turned on. You can withdraw it by leaving the program or turning the preference off.

To exercise your GDPR rights: Use the form at gaydarapp.com/privacy-request, email privacy@gaydarapp.com, or submit a request through the app. To restrict processing, or to ask for a person to review an automated decision, email privacy@gaydarapp.com.

Complaints: You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.

9.3 CCPA/CPRA Rights (California Residents)

If you are a California resident, you have the following rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):

• Know what personal and sensitive personal information we collect, use, disclose, and share
• Delete personal information we hold about you
• Correct inaccurate personal information
• Opt out of sale or sharing — Although we do not sell your personal information for money, our advertising partners may constitute "sharing" for cross-context behavioral advertising under California law. You may opt out at any time via Account tab, then Privacy & Security, then "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information", at gaydarapp.com/privacy-request, or by emailing privacy@gaydarapp.com. We honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals.
• Limit use and disclosure of Sensitive Personal Information to that necessary to provide the Service. We already restrict the use of orientation, gender identity, HIV status, and similar sensitive attributes to service delivery; they are never shared with advertisers. Government ID images collected for age verification (Section 10.1) are used only for that safety check and are never shared with advertisers. Government ID images collected for a Verified Creator application (Section 10.2) are used only for that check and are never shared with advertisers.
• Non-discrimination for exercising these rights
• Designate an authorized agent to make a request on your behalf

Categories of Personal Information Collected: See Section 2 above.

Categories of Personal Information Disclosed for Business Purposes: See Section 4 above.

To exercise your CCPA/CPRA rights: Use the form at gaydarapp.com/privacy-request, email privacy@gaydarapp.com with the subject line "CCPA Request", or use the in-app controls. We answer California requests within 45 days.

9.4 Other State Privacy Rights

Residents of Virginia (VCDPA), Colorado (CPA), Connecticut (CTDPA), Utah (UCPA), and other states with comprehensive privacy laws may have similar rights to know, access, delete, correct, and opt out of the sale or sharing of their personal information. Use the form at gaydarapp.com/privacy-request or contact privacy@gaydarapp.com to exercise these rights.

Gaydar is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will delete that information immediately.

If you believe a child under 18 has created an account, please contact us at trust@gaydarapp.com.

10.1 Age Verification

Gaydar is for adults 18 and over. If your account is reported as possibly belonging to someone under 18, we lock it immediately while we confirm your age. To restore a locked account, we ask you to photograph a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID that shows your date of birth.

What we collect. The ID photo you submit, the date of birth shown on it, and the result of the check.

How we check it. Automated systems read the ID to confirm it appears authentic and to extract the date of birth. If the automated check is not confident, a member of our trust and safety team reviews it. If the check confirms you are 18 or older, your account is restored.

How long we keep it. We keep the ID image and the result of the check for as long as your account exists and for up to five years afterward, so we can respond to legal claims, law enforcement requests, and disputes about the decision. We do not use your ID for anything else: not for advertising, not for profile features, and we never show it to other members.

Who can see it. Only trust and safety operators with elevated access. ID images are stored encrypted in a private bucket, separate from your profile photos, and every access is logged.

Your choices. If you do not want to verify your age, you can decline and your account stays locked. You can request account deletion instead; deletion follows Section 6, though the ID record may be retained on the legal-dispute schedule above where the law allows. Accounts confirmed to belong to people under 18 are removed, and their personal information is deleted per this section.

10.2 Verified Creator ID Check

The Verified Creator program is optional. If you apply, we check that you are an adult, that your ID matches the person in your profile photos, and that you control the creator accounts you list. Every application is then decided by a person on our team.

What we collect. Your current verified selfie (a prerequisite: you need one before the ID step), one photograph of a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID, the creator accounts you link, and the result of each check.

How we check your ID. Our automated systems read your ID to confirm it looks genuine, is current and shows you are 18 or older, and compare the photo on your ID with your profile photos. Our AI service providers process the ID image and your profile photos to do this. The comparison uses features of your face, which some laws treat as biometric information. We ask for your consent before the check starts, and you can decline.

When a person reviews your ID. A person on our team reviews your ID when the automated check is not confident, when it could not confirm the face on your ID, or when the ID reads as under 18. The reviewer may also compare your ID with your verified selfie. If your ID reads as under 18, you are told your ID is in review, and Section 10 applies.

What we keep. We do not store your ID image when the automated check passes or asks you for another photo. When a person must review it, we hold it privately until they decide and then delete it, and we never keep it longer than 14 days. ID images are never copied to our backups. We keep the result of the check (passed, failed or in review), the date, and the facts behind it described in Section 6. We do not keep your name, date of birth or ID number, and we never add them to your profile or show them to other members.

Who can see it. Team members who review creator applications see the result of your check. Only team members with elevated access can open your ID image, only while a decision is pending, and every view is logged. Reviewers confirming a linked account see the handle you entered, the one-time code we gave you, the public page of that account, and, when our automatic check could not confirm it, why.

How we confirm your accounts. For each creator account you link, we give you a one-time code to place in that account's bio. Where the site lets us read your public bio, our systems fetch that public page, directly from the site or through a public lookup service, and look for the code. If it is there, the account is confirmed straight away. We send only the platform and the handle you entered, and we do not keep the page's text. Where a site cannot be read this way, or the read fails, a person on our team opens the account's public page and checks for the code. Once the account is confirmed, you can remove the code.

What we never do. We do not sell this information, use it for advertising, or use it to build a profile of you for any purpose other than the Verified Creator program, safety, and legal compliance.

Your choices. You can stop at any step before submitting. You can leave the program at any time in Creator Profile on your Account tab: your badge, Creator links and collaboration settings are removed, any stored ID image is deleted, and the retention periods in Section 6 apply. We may remove your Verified Creator status at any time, as described in our Terms of Use. You can ask us to delete your data under Section 9.

10.3 Verified Selfie

Any member can take a verified selfie. It is a live photo taken in the app. You also need a current one to apply to the Verified Creator program (Section 10.2).

What we collect. Your live selfie and the result of the check.

How we check it. Outside AI vision services compare your selfie with your approved profile photos to confirm it is the same, live person. The comparison uses features of your face, which some laws treat as biometric information. We also run an automated check on profile photos to see whether a face is hidden.

Who can see it. If your selfie is current, your profile shows a verified badge, and other members can open your selfie from the selfie icon on your profile.

What we keep. We keep your selfie while your verification is active. After 365 days you need to take a new one. We delete it within 30 days of account deletion.

Your choices. You can retake your selfie at any time, which restarts the 365 days. You can ask us to delete your data under Section 9.

11.1 Automated Moderation

All uploaded images, videos, and voice notes are automatically scanned, and chat messages are automatically screened when they are sent, for:

• Child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
• Nudity and sexual content
• Violence and gore
• Hate symbols

This scanning occurs before content is made visible to other users or, for chat messages, at the time they are sent.

Automated screening of conversations is limited to detecting illegal activity, abusive behavior, and threats to the safety of minors. Chat messages are encrypted in transit and at rest; they are not end-to-end encrypted, which is what makes this safety screening possible. Content flagged by automated systems may be reviewed by our Trust & Safety team, and confirmed violations are handled as described in Section 11.3 and our Terms of Use.

Threats and extortion. If a message reads as a threat to share someone's private photos, videos or messages unless they pay or send more, or a member reports a threat, we save a private copy of the text of that chat so a person on our Trust & Safety team can review it. We never copy photos or videos into it. An automated system may first read the flagged message and up to 20 earlier messages in that chat to judge whether the threat is real. A person decides every case. The saved text is encrypted and kept for 2 years, then deleted, unless the law requires us to keep it longer (Section 6).

11.2 CSAM Reporting

We report all detected CSAM to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) as required by U.S. law. We cooperate fully with law enforcement investigations.

11.3 User Reports

Users can report inappropriate content or behavior through the app. Reports are reviewed by our Trust & Safety team and may result in content removal, warnings, or account termination.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes:

• We will notify you through the app or via email
• We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Your continued use of Gaydar after the changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

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

Privacy inquiries: privacy@gaydarapp.com
Trust & Safety: trust@gaydarapp.com
Legal / law enforcement: legal@gaydarapp.com

Mailing address:
Gaydar Inc.
421 8th Avenue, #9227
New York, NY 10116
United States

14.1 Nevada Residents

Under Nevada law, Nevada residents may opt out of the sale of certain personal information. While we do not sell personal information as defined by Nevada law, you may submit an opt-out request to privacy@gaydarapp.com with the subject line "Nevada Opt-Out."

14.2 Canada

If you are in Canada, you have rights under PIPEDA and provincial privacy laws. Contact privacy@gaydarapp.com to exercise your rights.

14.3 Australia

If you are in Australia, you have rights under the Privacy Act 1988. Contact privacy@gaydarapp.com to exercise your rights.