Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to Make Your Match. Your privacy is important to us, and we are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our dating app and related services (collectively, the “App”).

This Policy applies to all users worldwide, including residents of South Africa and other countries. It complies with South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (“POPIA”) and other applicable data protection laws.

By accessing or using Make Your Match, you agree to the collection and use of your information as described here.

1. Definitions

Personal Information / Data: Any information relating to an identifiable, living natural person, including, but not limited to, information such as race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, nationality, ethnic or social origin, age, physical or mental health, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language, birth, education, medical, financial, criminal or employment history, biometric information, personal opinions, views or preferences, correspondence sent by the user that is implicitly or explicitly of a private or confidential nature or further correspondence that would reveal the contents of the original correspondence, the views or opinions of another individual about the user, and the name, contact details or other identifying particulars of the user.
Processing: Any operation or set of operations performed on personal information, whether or not by automated means. This includes the collection, receipt, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, updating, modification, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure, or destruction of personal data. Essentially, processing encompasses all activities that can be done to personal information from the moment it is obtained, throughout its lifecycle, until it is finally deleted or anonymized.
Sensitive Personal Information: This refers to certain categories of personal information that are given special protection due to their sensitive nature. It includes information about an individual’s race or ethnic origin, religious or philosophical beliefs, sexual orientation or practices, political opinions, and membership of a trade union. It also covers health-related information, such as physical or mental health status, medical history, genetic information, biometric data, and any criminal behaviour, including allegations, proceedings, or convictions.

2. Information We Collect

We collect a variety of information from users to effectively provide, maintain, and enhance the functionality and experience of the App. This includes:

Account and Profile Data: Account and profile data that you voluntarily provide when creating and using your profile. Such information comprises your full name, chosen username, date of birth, gender, sexual orientation, and photographs that help personalise your presence on the platform. Additionally, we gather profile details such as your biography, interests, preferences, and lifestyle information to enable meaningful connections and tailored recommendations. Collecting this data allows us to create a richer, more engaging user experience while ensuring that the services we offer are relevant to your needs and interests. User Verification and Unique Account Creation
To ensure the integrity and security of our platform, all users are required to verify their identity during the registration process. Upon entering your mobile number or email address, we will send a one-time password (OTP) to your device for verification purposes. Successful OTP verification is mandatory to complete account creation. Each mobile number and email address can only be associated with a single user profile, and duplicate accounts using the same credentials are strictly prohibited. This process helps confirm that you are a unique user and enables us to maintain a trustworthy community. Any attempts to bypass this verification mechanism or create multiple profiles using the same identifying information may result in account suspension or removal, at our discretion.
Communications: We collect and process all communications and interactions you engage in with other users through the App. This includes the content of messages exchanged, chat history, and any media such as images, shared within the platform. We may also use this data to monitor and enforce compliance with our Terms and Conditions, to detect and prevent fraudulent or harmful behaviour, and to resolve disputes. All such communication data is handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws and stored securely to protect your privacy.
Payment and Subscription Information: We collect and process payment and subscription information when you purchase premium services or any other paid features within the App. This includes your billing details such as credit or debit card information, bank account details where applicable, and transaction history. We take appropriate measures to ensure that all financial information is transmitted and stored securely, in compliance with applicable financial regulations and industry standards. Your payment details are never stored on our servers directly but are processed through trusted, secure third-party payment gateways. We do not share your payment information with any unauthorized third parties, except as required by law or to protect our legal rights.
Device and Usage Information: We collect device and usage information to help us operate, maintain, and improve the App, as well as to enhance your user experience. This information includes technical details such as your device’s unique identifiers, the type and version of your operating system, browser type and version, language preferences, and other diagnostic data. Additionally, we gather data on how you interact with the App, including your usage patterns, session duration, feature engagement, and error reports. When you grant permission for location services, we may also collect precise geolocation data derived from your device’s GPS or inferred from your IP address. All such data is collected and processed in accordance with applicable data protection laws, ensuring that your privacy is respected and protected.
Sensitive Personal Information: If you voluntarily provide sensitive personal information through your profile or communications, such as details about your ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, health information, or other special categories of personal data, we treat this information with the highest level of confidentiality and apply enhanced safeguards in its processing. This sensitive information is collected only with your explicit consent and is handled in strict compliance with applicable data protection laws. We limit access to this data to authorized personnel strictly for the purposes of providing and improving our services, ensuring that appropriate technical, organizational, and legal measures are in place to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse.
Cookies and Tracking – We utilize cookies, pixels, and other similar tracking technologies to collect data that helps us personalise your experience and analyse how you interact with our App and services. These technologies enable us to remember your preferences, facilitate seamless navigation, and gather valuable insights into usage patterns, device information, and interaction behaviour. The data collected through these tracking tools may include information such as your IP address, browser type, pages visited, time spent on the App, and other diagnostic data. This information allows us to enhance functionality, improve performance, and deliver tailored content and advertisements. You have the option to manage or disable cookies through your device or browser settings, although doing so may affect certain features or your overall experience with the App. Our use of tracking technologies is fully compliant with applicable privacy laws.
Third-Party Sources: If you choose to connect or link your Make Your Match account with third-party services such as Google, or other social media and authentication platforms, we may collect certain personal information that these services share with us, subject to your explicit consent and the permissions you grant. This information can include, but is not limited to, your name, email address, profile picture, friend lists, contacts, and other profile details as permitted by the third-party service’s privacy policies. We do not control the privacy practices of these third-party services and encourage you to review their privacy policies before linking your accounts. Any information received from third parties is handled in accordance with applicable data protection laws

3. How We Collect Information

Direct Collection – We gather the personal and profile information you actively provide to us when you interact with the App. This includes details you submit at registration, such as your name, date of birth, gender, email address, and profile photographs, as well as the preferences, interests, and biographical information you enter or update in your profile. We also collect the content of your communications, including messages, media, and any feedback you send to our support team. Finally, when you purchase premium features or subscriptions, we obtain the billing and transactional data necessary to process and manage those payments.
Automated Collection – In order to optimise our services and enhance your experience, we automatically capture technical and usage data each time you access the App. This encompasses device information (such as operating system, unique device identifiers, and browser type), IP addresses, log-in and log-out timestamps, page views, feature interactions, error reports, performance metrics, as well as location data derived from your device’s IP address or GPS (when you have granted permission). We collect this information through cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies to monitor App performance, detect and prevent fraud, and deliver personalised content.
Third-Party Sources – With your explicit consent, we may also enrich our understanding of you by obtaining information from trusted third-party partners. If you choose to link or authenticate via services such as Google, we receive the data that those platforms permit us to access, commonly your public profile details, contact information, and friend networks. We further receive aggregated or anonymised insights from analytics providers and advertising networks to measure campaign effectiveness and improve targeting. All third-party data is integrated in strict accordance with the permissions you grant and is governed by the same privacy standards that apply to data you provide directly.

4. Legal Basis For Processing Your Personal Data

We handle your personal data in strict compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and other applicable privacy laws. Whenever we process your information, we do so under one of the following lawful bases:

Consent: In certain cases, such as when we send you marketing emails, display personalised advertising, or enable social features, you must explicitly agree to our use of your data for those purposes. You are free to withdraw your consent at any time, and we will cease processing for that purpose going forward, without affecting the legitimacy of any processing carried out before you withdrew consent.
Performance of a Contract: Whenever you register for an account, subscribe to premium services, or otherwise enter into an agreement with Make Your Match, we process the personal data necessary to fulfil our contractual obligations. This includes creating and maintaining your user profile, granting you access to paid features, processing your payments, and communicating with you about your account.
Legitimate Interests: In situations where we have a genuine business need, such as detecting and preventing fraud, maintaining the security and integrity of our platform, or improving the quality and relevance of our services, we may process your data on the basis of our legitimate interests. We carefully balance our interests against your privacy rights, ensuring that our use of data is proportionate, transparent, and minimally intrusive.
Legal Obligations: When required by law, such as in response to a subpoena, court order, or regulatory request, we will disclose and process your personal data to comply with our legal or regulatory duties. This includes cooperating with law enforcement or government agencies in accordance with applicable legislation.
Whenever we rely on any of these legal grounds, we ensure that your rights under privacy laws, such as the rights to access, correction, deletion, or objection, are fully respected and upheld.

5. How We Use Your Information

We process your personal data to operate, maintain, and enhance the Make Your Match experience across all aspects of our App. First and foremost, we use your information to provide and maintain our core services. This encompasses everything from creating and managing your user profile, complete with your photos, biography, and preferences, to enabling seamless connections, messaging, and interactions with other users. When you opt for premium features or subscriptions, we likewise rely on your billing and transaction details to process payments, manage your subscription status, issue receipts, and handle any related customer support inquiries.

Beyond basic functionality, we employ your data to personalise your experience and deliver more relevant matches and content. By analysing the interests, preferences, and behavioural patterns you share, such as swiping habits, message frequency, and feature usage, we tailor the profiles and recommendations you see, as well as any in-App advertisements, to better align with what you seek.

Security and the prevention of fraud are paramount. We continuously monitor your interactions and technical signals, such as login locations, device changes, or unusual activity, to detect and thwart malicious behaviour, abuse, or unauthorised access. By doing so, we safeguard both individual users and the integrity of our platform as a whole.

Your contact details also enable us to communicate important information. We send critical service notices, like changes to our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy updates, or alerts about security incidents, to keep you informed. Where you have provided explicit consent, we may also share promotional offers, newsletters, or marketing materials that highlight new features or events relevant to your interests.

To foster ongoing improvement, we aggregate and analyse usage data and user feedback. This research and development process helps us identify pain points, test new features, refine our algorithms, and generally enhance the usability, accessibility, and enjoyment of Make Your Match.

Finally, we may process and disclose your personal data when necessary to fulfil our legal and regulatory obligations. This includes responding to lawful requests from courts, government agencies, or other authorities, as well as enforcing our rights, protecting our users, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws. Whenever we handle your data for legal purposes, we do so with the utmost respect for your privacy rights and in accordance with the relevant local and international laws and regulations.

6. Sharing And Disclosure Of Your Information

We respect your privacy and only share your information under the following circumstances:

With Other Users: Your profile information and any content you choose to share are visible to other users based on your privacy settings.
Service Providers and Partners: We share your data with trusted third-party vendors who assist us with hosting, data analytics, payment processing, customer support, and marketing. These parties are contractually obligated to keep your data confidential and secure.
Legal Requests and Enforcement: We disclose personal data when required by law or to respond to valid legal processes, such as subpoenas, court orders, or government investigations.
Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your personal data may be transferred as part of the business transaction.
Advertising and Analytics Partners: We may share data with advertising and analytics partners to deliver targeted ads, subject to your consent and applicable laws.
Aggregated or De-Identified Data: We may use or share aggregated, anonymized, or de-identified data that cannot reasonably identify you.

7. Internatioanal Data Transfers

Because Make Your Match is an international service, your personal information may be transferred to, stored, and processed outside of South Africa in jurisdictions whose data protection laws may differ from those in your home country.

When we transfer your information across borders, we put robust safeguards in place to ensure that your data continues to receive an equivalent level of protection as provided under South Africa’s laws. Depending on the destination country and the nature of the transfer, these safeguards may include:

Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs): We enter into EU-approved contractual frameworks that bind our service providers to process your personal data in accordance with European data protection standards.

Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs): For transfers within our corporate group, we adopt internal policies approved by European data protection authorities, committing us to a uniformly high level of data protection wherever your data travels.

Because international transfers can subject your data to local laws, potentially including government access requests, we carefully vet each transfer mechanism, conduct regular privacy impact assessments, and monitor our vendors’ compliance with contractual security requirements. If you would like further details on the specific safeguards we use for transfers to a particular country, or to obtain a copy of the relevant transfer agreements, please contact our Data Protection Officer at support@makeyourmatch.co.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

Retention Periods
- User Account Data: Retained for the duration your account remains active plus a reasonable period thereafter to comply with legal or regulatory requirements.
- Transactional Data: Retained for a minimum of 5 (Five) years.
- Marketing Data: Retained until you withdraw consent or unsubscribe.
- Log and Usage Data: Retained for analysis and security purposes for a period not exceeding 12 (Twelve) months, unless longer retention is required by law.
Deletion and Anonymization:
- Upon expiry of retention periods or your account deletion request, we securely delete or anonymize your personal data unless legal obligations require otherwise.

9. Your Rights And Choices

We respect your privacy rights and provide the following options to exercise control over your personal data, in accordance with South African POPIA and other applicable laws:

Access and Correction – You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and to request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete data.
Data Portability – Where applicable, you may request a copy of your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
Restriction of Processing – You may request that we limit the processing of your personal data under certain circumstances, such as when you contest the accuracy of the data.
Objection to Processing – You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data for direct marketing purposes or based on legitimate interests.
Erasure – You may request deletion of your personal data when it is no longer necessary for the purposes it was collected or when you withdraw consent, subject to legal exceptions.
Withdrawal of Consent – You may withdraw any consent given at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on consent before withdrawal.
How to Exercise Your Right – Submit your requests via the contact details provided in Section 16. We may require

10. Security Of Your Personal Data

Make Your Match is committed to protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your personal data. We implement robust technical and organizational security measures in line with standards and legal requirements. Our security approach is risk-based and includes policies for secure development, incident response, and risk management processes.

Technical and Organizational Security Matters

1. Encryption – We encrypt personal data both in transit and at rest using strong industry-standard algorithms. Encryption ensures that intercepted data cannot be read without authorization
2. B. Access Controls – Access to personal data is strictly limited to authorized personnel and systems. We enforce the principle of least privilege and require multi-factor authentication for access to critical systems. All data access is logged and periodically reviewed by our security team to prevent unauthorized use.
3. Secure Hosting and Infrastructure – We host data in secure facilities with robust physical and network security protections. Our data centres use controlled access, surveillance, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems. Regular system patching and hardening reduce the risk of technical vulnerabilities.
4. Eudonymization and Anonymization – Where practical, we pseudonymize or anonymize personal data so that individuals cannot be identified without additional information. These processes ensure that your personal data cannot be linked to you without the use of separate keys or irreversible transformation, reducing risk in case of unauthorized access
5. Monitoring and Testing- We continuously monitor our systems for security events and conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration tests. We regularly test, assess and evaluate our security measures to ensure their effectiveness. Any identified weaknesses are promptly addressed to maintain strong defences.
6. Operational Policie – We maintain comprehensive security policies and incident response plans, and we train our employees on data protection and security best practices. All staff with access to personal data sign confidentiality agreements. We review our security measures periodically and update them in accordance with evolving best practices and standards.

Incident Detection and Breach Response

1. Continuous Monitoring – Our security systems include real-time monitoring and intrusion detection to quickly identify any unauthorized attempts to access personal data. Suspicious activities trigger alerts for immediate investigation.
2. Incident Response Plan – We have a documented incident response protocol. If a breach is suspected, we promptly contain and investigate the incident, eradicate threats, and restore systems. Our team coordinates internally and, if necessary, with external cybersecurity experts to ensure a swift and effective response.
3. Regulatory Reporting – In the event of a confirmed data breach, we meet all legal notification requirements.
4. User Notification – When notification is required, we inform affected users in clear, plain language. Breach notices describe what happened, the types of data involved, steps we have taken to contain and mitigate the incident, and advice for you to protect yourself.
5. Post-Incident Review – After any security incident, we conduct a thorough review to understand the cause and impact. We document the incident and remedial actions, and we update our security controls and procedures to prevent similar events. Lessons learned from incidents drive continuous improvements in our security program.

User Responsibilities

1. Account Security – You are responsible for keeping your account secure. Choose a strong, unique password and keep it confidential. Passwords alone are often insufficient to protect accounts, so we strongly encourage enabling any multi-factor authentication options available for your account.
2. Device and Access Practices – Do not share your password or credentials with others. When using Make Your Match on a device, ensure it is not publicly accessible or insecure. Avoid using public or untrusted Wi-Fi networks when logging in and install security updates for your devices regularly.
3. Suspicious Activity – Be vigilant about phishing emails or messages. We will never ask for your password or sensitive data by email or unsolicited communication. If you receive any suspicious requests or notice unusual activity in your account, report it to us immediately.
4. Prompt Reporting – Notify us right away if you believe your account or personal data has been compromised. Early reporting helps us act quickly to protect your information and prevent further unauthorized access.

By adhering to these measures and cooperating with our guidelines, we work together to keep your personal data secure and compliant with international standards and laws. We continuously review and improve our security practices to ensure the highest level of protection for your information.

11. Cookies And Tracking Technologies

Our app and website use cookies and similar technologies to improve functionality, personalize content, analyse usage, and deliver targeted advertising.

Types of Cookies Used
- Essential Cookies – These cookies are strictly necessary for core features of the App, such as user authentication, session management, and security functions. Disabling these cookies may prevent you from accessing certain services or functions.
- Performance Cookies – We deploy performance cookies to collect anonymous, aggregated usage data, such as page load times, feature usage frequencies, and error rates, in order to continually monitor, diagnose, and improve the performance, reliability, and stability of our systems.
- Functional Cookies – Functional cookies remember your preferences, such as language selection, display settings, and customized search filters, so that you do not need to re-enter these choices each time you use the App.
- Advertising and Targeting Cookies – These cookies enable us or our advertising partners to deliver advertising that is relevant to your interests, based on your usage behaviour within the App and, with your consent, on third-party websites. They may track your interactions over time and across different devices.
Managing Cookies
- You have the right to manage or disable cookies at any time. Most mobile operating systems allow you to refuse or delete cookies through settings menus. For example, you can set your browser to automatically reject cookies or to prompt you each time a website attempts to place one. If you choose to disable cookies labelled as “essential,” certain features of the App, such as logging in, maintaining your session, or making payments, may no longer function properly. Disabling performance or advertising cookies may reduce the personalization and relevance of the content and ads you see.
Third-Party Cookies
- In addition to our own cookies, we permit selected third-party service providers, including analytics platforms, social media plug-ins, and advertising networks, to place cookies on your device. These third parties use cookies to collect information about your online activities over time and across different websites and apps in order to provide you with more relevant advertising, measure campaign effectiveness, and analyse overall trends. Their use of cookies is governed by their respective privacy policies, and we encourage you to review those policies for further details and opt-out instructions.

12. Children’s Privacy

Make Your Match is expressly designed for adults. We require all users to be at least 18 years of age, or the age of majority in their jurisdiction, in order to register and use our services. We do not knowingly solicit or collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you are under 18, you must not use our App or provide us with any personal data.

To enforce this policy, our registration process includes an explicit age-verification step. You must confirm that you meet the minimum age requirement before creating an account. We may also employ technical measures, such as date-of-birth validation checks, to help detect and prevent underage registrations.

If we ever learn or have a reasonable basis to believe that we have collected personal data from an individual under the age of 18 without verified parental or guardian consent, we will take immediate action to remove that information from our systems. We will permanently delete such data within a commercially reasonable timeframe and, where permissible, notify the affected individual’s parent or guardian of the deletion.

In jurisdictions such as the United States, where additional protections apply under laws like COPPA, we comply with all applicable requirements for children’s data privacy.

If you believe that a minor may have provided us with personal information, please contact our Data Protection Officer immediately at support@makeyourmatch.co. We will investigate your report and promptly delete any data found to belong to an under-18 individual.

By strictly enforcing these measures, we ensure that Make Your Match remains a safe and lawful environment for adult users while upholding robust privacy standards across all jurisdictions.

13. International Data Transfers

Because Make Your Match serves users around the globe, your personal data may be transferred to, stored, and processed in jurisdictions outside of South Africa, including countries whose data protection laws are not identical to those in your home country. Common destinations for such transfers include the United States, the European Economic Area, and other locations where our service providers, hosting partners, and analytics platforms operate.

To ensure that your data remains protected when moved across borders, we implement a suite of legally recognized safeguards. For transfers within our corporate group, we maintain Binding Corporate Rules that have been vetted and approved by the relevant data protection authorities, committing each group entity to a uniform, high standard of privacy protection. In cases where transfers occur to a country deemed by the European Commission or South African Information Regulator to offer an adequate level of protection, we rely on that adequacy finding to lawfully move data without further measures.

By using our services, you expressly consent to the international transfer, storage, and processing of your personal information in these and other jurisdictions, in accordance with applicable data protection laws. If you would like more detailed information on the specific transfer mechanisms we employ for your data or wish to obtain a copy of the relevant Standard Contractual Clauses or Binding Corporate Rules, please contact our Data Protection Officer at support@makeyourmatch.co.

14. Third-Party Services And Links

While Make Your Match strives to offer a seamless and secure experience, our App may include hyperlinks, plug-ins, or integrations to websites, applications, and services operated by third parties. These third-party platforms have their own privacy and data-handling practices, over which we have no control. We therefore recommend that you review the privacy policies and terms of use of any external site or service before sharing personal information.

In certain cases, we engage reputable third-party providers, such as payment processors, analytics firms, customer support vendors, and marketing platforms, to perform specific functions on our behalf. When you use premium features, for example, your billing and payment data are transmitted directly to our payment gateway partners under secure channels, and we do not retain full payment details on our servers. Similarly, we may share limited user identifiers, aggregated usage statistics, or preferences with analytics and advertising partners to improve service quality, detect fraud, or deliver personalized content.

All third-party service providers are bound by written agreements that require them to process personal data only for the purposes we specify, to implement appropriate technical and organizational safeguards (for instance, encryption, access controls, and incident-response procedures), and to comply with applicable data protection laws.

By continuing to use Make Your Match, you acknowledge and agree that we are not responsible for the data practices or content of third-party sites or services, even if accessed via our App, and that any data you choose to share with those third parties is done at your own risk. If you have any questions about our third-party partners or wish to request further information, please contact our Data Protection Officer at support@makeyourmatch.co.

15. Changes To The Privacy Policy

Make Your Match may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our data practices, the introduction of new features, evolving legal or regulatory requirements, or advances in technology.

In the event of material changes, such as the introduction of a new category of data collection, significant changes to user rights, or alterations in how we share data with third parties, we will provide you with advance notice. Such notice may be delivered via an email to the address associated with your account, through an in-app notification. Where required by applicable law, we will ensure these notices are provided sufficiently in advance to allow you to review the changes before they become effective.

Your continued access to or use of Make Your Match following the effective date of an updated Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of those changes. If you do not agree with any part of the revised policy, you should stop using the App and may request deletion of your account and personal data.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically, even if no notifications are sent, to stay fully informed about the ways in which we collect, use, and protect your personal data. Should you have any questions about updates or require further clarification, please contact our Data Protection Officer at support@makeyourmatch.co.

16. Contact Us

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

Make Your Match Privacy Team
Email: support@makeyourmatch.co
Registered Office:
2 Landrossteyn Str,
Potch Industrial,
Potchefstroom,
2531.

We will respond to your request within the legally required timeframe (generally within 30 calendar days).