CHIQ Privacy Policy.

CHIQ is a social connection and dating application that helps people meet and build meaningful relationships. Because we handle personal, sensitive, and potentially intimate information, we hold ourselves to the highest standards of data protection.

This Privacy Policy applies to the CHIQ mobile application available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. By using CHIQ, you consent to the data practices described herein. If you do not agree with any aspect of this policy, please do not use CHIQ.

We will never sell your personal information, your messages, or your photos to any third party for advertising or any other purpose.

Profile Information

When you create a CHIQ account and build your profile, we collect:

• Name (first name required; last name optional)
• Date of birth (used to calculate and display your age)
• Gender identity and the genders you are open to connecting with
• Profile photographs and any other images you upload
• Profile biography and self-description
• Interests, hobbies, and lifestyle preferences you share
• Height, relationship goals, and other optional profile attributes
• Sexual orientation (optional, shared only according to your privacy settings)

Certain categories of data you may provide — such as gender identity and sexual orientation — are considered sensitive personal information under applicable privacy laws. We handle this data with heightened care and do not share it beyond what is necessary to operate the matching and connection features you have enabled.

Account Verification and Security

• Email address (required for account creation and recovery)
• Phone number (used for optional SMS verification)
• Government ID type and verification status (for optional identity verification features; we do not store ID images long-term)
• Selfie photos used for liveness/identity checks (processed by our verification partner; deleted after verification)
• Account creation date, last active status, and device sign-in history

Messages and Interactions

• Messages you exchange with other CHIQ users through our in-app messaging system. These messages are encrypted in transit and stored securely on our servers.
• Likes, matches, and connection requests you send or receive
• Users you have blocked or reported
• Timestamps of message delivery and read receipts (when enabled)

CHIQ does not provide end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) messaging by default. Messages are accessible to our moderation team for safety enforcement purposes as described in our community guidelines. We do not sell or share message content with third parties for any commercial purpose.

Photos and Media

• Profile photos and any additional photos you upload to your profile or share in messages
• Video content, if applicable to features you use

Photos you upload are stored on our secure cloud infrastructure. Your profile photos are displayed to other users according to your privacy settings. You retain ownership of your photos; by uploading them you grant us a license to store and display them as described in our Terms of Service.

Location Information

• Approximate Location: With your permission, we collect your approximate location (city/region level) to show you potential matches in your area and to display an approximate distance between you and other users. We do not show your exact address or precise GPS coordinates to other users.
• IP-Based Location: We may infer a general location from your IP address for fraud prevention and compliance purposes.

Location access is requested at app launch. You can revoke location permissions at any time through your device settings. Revoking location may limit your ability to see nearby matches.

Subscription and Payment Information

• Your subscription tier and status (free or premium)
• Subscription start date, renewal date, and history
• Payment transactions are processed by Google Play or Apple App Store. RS Digital Labs does not receive or store your full payment card number or CVV.

Usage Data and Analytics

• Session duration and frequency of app usage
• Features and screens accessed within the app
• Swipe behavior and engagement patterns (aggregated and anonymized)
• App performance metrics, error reports, and crash logs
• Device type, operating system version, and app version
• Advertising identifier (e.g., Google Advertising ID) if applicable

We use your information to:

• Facilitate Connections: Display your profile to potential matches, power our matching algorithm, and enable in-app messaging.
• Location-Based Matching: Show you users in your selected geographic area and display approximate distances.
• Account Management: Create, authenticate, and manage your account and subscription.
• Safety and Moderation: Review reports, enforce our community guidelines, detect fraud and abusive behavior, and maintain the safety of our platform.
• Verification: Verify account identity where you opt in to verification features, to build trust between users.
• Notifications: Send you push notifications about new matches, messages, and app activity.
• Service Improvement: Analyze anonymized usage data to improve features, fix bugs, and enhance user experience.
• Legal Compliance: Comply with applicable laws, respond to lawful requests, and protect the rights and safety of our users and the public.
• Customer Support: Respond to your inquiries and resolve technical or account issues.

Matching Algorithm: We use profile attributes, location, stated preferences, and interaction patterns to suggest potential connections. We do not make fully automated decisions that produce significant legal or similarly significant effects on users.

Your privacy is fundamental to CHIQ. We do not sell your personal information, your messages, or your photos.

Profile Visibility

Your profile information — including your name, age, photos, bio, and interests — is visible to other CHIQ users in accordance with your privacy settings. You can control which users see your profile and hide your profile at any time from within the app settings.

Third-Party Service Providers

We share limited data with service providers who assist us in operating CHIQ:

• Cloud hosting and database providers (for data storage and sync)
• Identity verification services (only when you opt in to verification)
• Payment processors (Google Play / Apple App Store)
• Analytics and crash reporting services
• Push notification delivery services
• Fraud detection and security services

All service providers are contractually bound to use your data solely to provide services on our behalf and to maintain appropriate security measures.

Legal Requirements and Safety

We may disclose your information when required by law, subpoena, or court order. We may also disclose information to law enforcement or relevant authorities if we have a good-faith belief that disclosure is necessary to protect the safety of any person, prevent illegal activity, or respond to emergencies.

Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will notify you in advance and provide an opportunity to delete your account before such transfer occurs.

Location is central to CHIQ's matching features. Here is exactly what we do with it:

• What we collect: Approximate location (city or region), not your precise street-level address.
• What we show other users: Only an approximate distance (e.g., "3 miles away"), never your exact location.
• Permission: We request "while using the app" location access and do not access your location in the background.
• Control: You can revoke location permission at any time through your device settings. You can also manually set or hide your location within the app.
• Retention: Location data is updated each time you open the app and is not stored historically beyond what is needed for current matching.

Photos are an essential part of the CHIQ experience. Here is how we handle them:

• Storage: Photos you upload are stored on encrypted cloud servers.
• Display: Profile photos are displayed to other users according to your privacy settings. Photos shared in messages are visible only to the recipient.
• Moderation: Our team and/or automated systems may review photos to enforce our community guidelines and detect prohibited content such as child sexual abuse material (CSAM), hate symbols, or graphic violence. We use hash matching technology in compliance with applicable laws.
• Deletion: When you delete a photo or your account, your photos are removed from our servers within 30 days. Copies may persist in backup storage for a short additional period before being purged.
• No sale or distribution: We do not license, sell, or otherwise distribute your photos to any third party for any commercial purpose.

CHIQ offers free and premium subscription tiers. Subscriptions are processed through the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

• What we receive: We receive a transaction confirmation from the app store, your subscription status, and renewal information. We do not receive your full payment card details.
• Auto-Renewal: Subscriptions auto-renew at the end of each billing period. You may cancel at any time through your Google Play or Apple App Store subscription settings.
• Refunds: Refund requests must be directed to the app store through which you made your purchase. We will cooperate with any refund investigation as required.
• Premium Features: Your subscription status is used only to unlock in-app features and is not shared with other users beyond any "verified" or premium badge you choose to display.

User safety is our highest priority. We implement the following safety measures:

• Reporting: All users can report inappropriate profiles, messages, or behavior. Reports are reviewed by our safety team.
• Blocking: You can block any user at any time to prevent them from viewing your profile or contacting you.
• Profile Review: New profiles may be reviewed before becoming publicly visible to detect fake or fraudulent accounts.
• Message Monitoring: We use automated systems to detect and remove prohibited content, including spam, scams, and CSAM. Our moderation team may review flagged messages.
• Identity Verification: We offer optional photo-verification features that allow users to demonstrate they are genuine.

While we work hard to maintain a safe platform, CHIQ cannot guarantee the conduct of its users. Please exercise appropriate caution when interacting with new connections. Never share financial information with people you meet online.

CHIQ uses the following categories of third-party services:

• Cloud Infrastructure (Firebase / Google Cloud): Profile data, messages, and photos are stored on Google Cloud infrastructure using Firebase services.
• Authentication (Firebase Auth): We use Firebase Authentication for email/password login, Google Sign-In, and phone number verification.
• Analytics (Firebase Analytics): We collect anonymized, aggregated usage data. Individual behavior is not linked to your identity for advertising purposes.
• Crash Reporting (Firebase Crashlytics): Technical crash reports help us fix bugs. Crash reports do not include message content or photos.
• Push Notifications (Firebase Cloud Messaging): Used to deliver match notifications and messages. Notification content is delivered securely.
• Payment Processing (Google Play / Apple App Store): All financial transactions are handled by the relevant app store. We do not process payments directly.
• Identity Verification (Third-Party Provider): If you opt into verification, a third-party service may process your verification selfie. We will disclose the specific provider in the app at the time of verification.

• Active Accounts: Your profile, messages, and photos are retained while your account is active.
• Account Deletion: Upon account deletion, your profile and photos are removed from public view immediately. Data is permanently deleted from our servers within 30 days, except as required by law.
• Messages: Messages in active conversations are retained until you or the other party deletes the conversation or deactivates their account.
• Reports and Safety Records: Records related to reported content, bans, or safety incidents may be retained longer (up to 5 years) to prevent re-registration and protect other users.
• Payment Records: Transaction history is retained for 7 years for legal and accounting compliance.
• Verification Data: Identity verification images are deleted immediately after the verification check is completed; only the verification status is retained.

Given the sensitive nature of CHIQ's data, we implement strong security measures:

• All data is encrypted in transit using TLS 1.2 or higher
• Profile data, messages, and photos are encrypted at rest
• Passwords are stored using strong one-way hashing (bcrypt or equivalent)
• Firebase Security Rules ensure that each user can only access their own data and the profiles of matched or permitted users
• Access controls limit employee access to user data on a need-to-know basis
• Multi-factor authentication is required for all administrative access
• Regular security audits and penetration testing
• Automated monitoring for unusual access patterns and potential breaches

If you discover a security vulnerability in CHIQ, please disclose it responsibly to support@rsdigitallabs.com. We take all vulnerability reports seriously.

CHIQ is strictly for users aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect information from or about minors. If you are under 18 years of age, you are not permitted to use CHIQ and must not create an account or provide any personal information.

We implement age gate mechanisms during registration to restrict access to minors. If we learn or have reason to believe that a user is under 18, we will immediately suspend their account and delete their data.

If you believe a minor has created an account on CHIQ, please contact us immediately at support@rsdigitallabs.com.

You have the following rights regarding your data in CHIQ:

• Access: View all information in your profile within the app at any time. Request a full export of your data by contacting support@rsdigitallabs.com.
• Correction: Update your profile information at any time from within the app.
• Deletion: Delete individual photos, messages, or your entire account from within the app's settings.
• Restrict Processing: Hide your profile to pause participation in matching without deleting your account.
• Location Revocation: Revoke location permission at any time via your device settings.
• Withdraw Consent: For processing activities based on consent (such as optional verification or marketing communications), you may withdraw consent at any time without affecting prior processing.
• Data Portability: Request a machine-readable copy of your data by contacting us.
• Lodge a Complaint: If you believe we have violated your privacy rights, you may lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

In accordance with Google Play Store policies, we make the following disclosures for the Data Safety section:

• Data Collected: Name, email, date of birth, photos, gender, sexual orientation (optional), location (approximate), messages, usage data, and device identifiers.
• Data Shared with Third Parties: Anonymized analytics shared with Firebase/Google. Payment data shared with Google Play. Verification data shared with our identity verification partner only when you opt in.
• Data Not Sold: We do not sell your personal information, messages, or photos.
• Security: Data encrypted in transit and at rest. Users can request deletion. Account deletion removes data within 30 days.
• Age: CHIQ is for users 18+. We implement age gates and actively remove underage accounts.
• Sensitive Data: Gender identity and sexual orientation are optional fields handled with heightened protection. This data is not processed for advertising.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. For material changes, we will notify you by posting a notice within the CHIQ app, sending an email to your registered address, and updating the "Last Updated" date in this document.

If changes are significant, we may require you to affirmatively acknowledge the updated policy before continuing to use CHIQ. Your continued use of CHIQ after the effective date of any change constitutes your acceptance.

For all privacy-related questions, data requests, or safety concerns regarding CHIQ:

We take all privacy and safety reports seriously and will respond within 30 days. For urgent safety issues (e.g., reports of criminal activity, CSAM), we will respond within 24 hours.