Privacy Policy

Last updated: February 2026

NearbyLove ("we," "us," or "our") operates the NearbyLove mobile application (the "App"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our App.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

  • Account Information: When you sign up using Google or Apple Sign-In, we receive your name, email address, and profile photo from the authentication provider.
  • Profile Information: Name, age, gender, bio, body type, height, hair color, smoking status, drinking habits, children status, education level, and relationship goals.
  • Photos: Profile photos you upload (up to 6 photos).
  • Voice Recordings: Optional voice introductions you record (up to 20 seconds each).
  • Messages: Text messages, voice messages, and photos shared through the messaging features.
  • Preferences: Your matching preferences including preferred age range, gender, and maximum distance.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

  • Location Data: With your permission, we collect your device's GPS coordinates to enable location-based features such as Radar Discovery, Spark Mode, and Safe Date. Important: We never store or share your exact location. A random privacy offset of 100-250 meters is applied to all stored coordinates.
  • Device Information: Device type, operating system version, unique device identifiers, and push notification tokens.
  • Usage Data: App interaction data, feature usage, and session information.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Create and maintain your account.
  • Display your profile to other users based on mutual preferences and proximity.
  • Enable matching, messaging, and social features.
  • Provide location-based services (Radar, Spark Mode, Safe Date).
  • Send push notifications about matches, messages, and safety alerts.
  • Ensure the safety and security of our users.
  • Improve and optimize the App's performance and features.
  • Comply with legal obligations.

3. How We Share Your Information

We share your information only in the following circumstances:

  • With Other Users: Your profile information (excluding exact location) is visible to other users based on your privacy settings and mutual preferences. Messages are shared only with intended recipients.
  • Safe Date Guardians: When you activate Safe Date, your real-time location (with reduced privacy offset) is shared with your designated guardian for safety purposes.
  • Service Providers: We use third-party services to operate the App:
    • Firebase Cloud Messaging (Google) for push notifications
    • Google Sign-In and Apple Sign-In for authentication
    • Pusher for real-time messaging infrastructure
  • Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request.
  • Safety: We may share information to protect the safety of our users or the public.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

4. Location Privacy

We take your location privacy seriously:

  • A random offset of 250 meters (default) is applied to all stored location coordinates.
  • Users can optionally reduce this offset to 100 meters for closer matching.
  • Your exact GPS coordinates are never shared with other users.
  • Other users see only approximate distances (e.g., "500m away").
  • You can deactivate Radar at any time to stop location sharing.
  • Location data is updated only when Radar or Safe Date features are active.

Background Location

When you start a radar session and keep the "background search" toggle on (it is on by default and you can turn it off at any time), the App periodically collects your device's location in the background, approximately every 5 minutes, and sends it to our servers. This keeps you visible to nearby users for the duration of your session, even while the App is not on screen.

  • Only during an active session: Background location is collected only during a time-limited radar session that you start yourself. When the session timer ends or you turn the toggle off, background collection stops.
  • Persistent notification: A system notification is always visible while background location collection is running, so you always know when it is active.
  • Privacy offset: Your exact position is never shown to other users. A randomized offset of at least 250 meters is applied to the location shown to others.
  • Secure and never sold: Background location data is transmitted over encrypted connections (HTTPS) and is not sold or shared with third parties.
  • Your controls: You can turn the background search toggle off at any time, stop the radar session, or revoke the location permission in your device's system settings.
  • Retention: Session location data is kept only for the duration of the session. The last reported location remains visible to nearby users only until the session expires, and it is replaced by the data from your next session.

Spark Mode

Spark Mode is an optional feature, turned off by default, that notifies you when another compatible user who also enabled Spark Mode passes near you during an active radar session.

  • Opt-in only: Spark detection runs only while you have an active radar session and have turned Spark Mode on. Stopping the radar automatically turns Spark Mode off.
  • Momentary use of precise location: To detect short-distance encounters accurately, your device sends your actual coordinates for the proximity calculation. They are used only to compute the distance in real time and are not stored. The location saved on our servers and shown to other users remains the privacy-offset one.
  • What the other person receives: When a spark occurs, both users are notified. The other user sees your partially hidden nickname (first two characters only), age, gender, an approximate distance rounded to 10 meters, and your main photo unless you chose to hide it for the session. Your exact location is never shared.
  • Spark records: We keep a record of spark events (the two users, approximate distance and time) to power your spark history and to limit alerts to at most one per person within 24 hours.
  • Your controls: You can turn Spark Mode off at any time on the radar screen, and it never activates on its own.

5. Data Retention

  • Account Data: Retained for as long as your account is active.
  • Messages: Stored on our servers and synced to your device. Deleted when you delete the conversation or your account.
  • Location Data: Location data from Radar sessions is deleted when the session ends.
  • Voice Recordings: Retained for as long as your profile is active, or until you delete them.
  • Voice Dating Intros: Remain active until deleted by user.
  • Account Deletion: When you delete your account, all associated data is permanently removed from our servers within 30 days.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your data:

  • All communications use HTTPS/TLS encryption.
  • Authentication tokens (JWT) expire after 24 hours with secure refresh mechanisms.
  • Sensitive data on your device is stored using platform-specific secure storage.
  • Biometric authentication (fingerprint, Face ID) is available for additional security.
  • Rate limiting and brute-force protection on all API endpoints.
  • SQL injection prevention through parameterized queries.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

  • Access: Request a copy of your personal data.
  • Correction: Update or correct inaccurate data through your profile settings.
  • Deletion: Delete your account and all associated data at any time.
  • Portability: Request your data in a portable format.
  • Withdrawal of Consent: Revoke location permissions or other consents at any time through your device settings.
  • Objection: Object to certain processing of your data.

For EU/EEA Residents (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Union or European Economic Area, you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Our legal basis for processing your data includes consent, performance of contract, and legitimate interests. You may contact your local data protection authority if you have concerns about our data practices.

For California Residents (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to know what personal information we collect, request deletion, and opt out of the sale of personal information. We do not sell personal information.

8. Children's Privacy

NearbyLove is not intended for users under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we discover that we have collected data from a user under 18, we will promptly delete their account and all associated data. If you believe a minor is using our App, please contact us immediately. support@nearbylove.app.

9. Third-Party Services

Our App uses the following third-party services, each with their own privacy policies:

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes through the App or via email. Your continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

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