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Herkmate Privacy Policy: How We Protect Your Personal Information and Data

Your trust is paramount. This Privacy Policy explains how herkmate collects, uses, discloses, and safeguards your personal information when you use our platform to foster authentic adult connections.

Last Updated: March 2025

1. Introduction & General Provisions

Welcome to herkmate. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data with transparency and care. This Privacy Policy applies to all information collected through our website (herkmate.org), mobile applications, and related services (collectively, the "Service").

By accessing or using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of our Service immediately.

2. What Data We Collect

We collect information that identifies, relates to, describes, or could reasonably be linked with you ("Personal Data"). This includes:

  • Information You Provide: This includes data you submit during registration, profile creation, and interactions. Examples: your name, email address, date of birth, gender preferences, profile bio, photos, communication preferences, and payment information (processed securely by our third-party payment processors).
  • Automatically Collected Information: When you use our Service, we automatically gather technical data such as your IP address, device type, operating system, browser type, pages visited, time spent, clickstream data, and unique device identifiers.
  • Location Data: With your explicit consent, we may collect precise or approximate location information (via GPS or IP address) to facilitate local matching features.
  • Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and tracking pixels to enhance functionality, analyze trends, and personalize your experience. See Section 7 for details.

3. How We Use Your Data

We use your Personal Data for legitimate business purposes, including:

  • To create, maintain, and secure your account.
  • To facilitate matches and connections based on your preferences.
  • To personalize your experience and show relevant profiles and content.
  • To communicate with you about service updates, security alerts, and promotional offers (you can opt-out of marketing).
  • To analyze and improve our Service, develop new features, and ensure platform safety.
  • To prevent, detect, and investigate fraud, abuse, or illegal activities.
  • To comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service.

We process your data based on your consent, the necessity to perform our contract with you, our legitimate interests, or to comply with the law.

4. Sharing Data with Third Parties

We do not sell, rent, or trade your Personal Data to third parties for their marketing purposes without your explicit consent. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

  • Service Providers: Trusted vendors who perform services on our behalf (e.g., hosting, analytics, payment processing, customer support, email delivery). These partners are contractually bound to protect your data and use it only as instructed.
  • Legal Requirements: If required by law, subpoena, court order, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of herkmate, our users, or the public.
  • Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or bankruptcy, your information may be transferred as a business asset, subject to the promises made in this policy.
  • With Your Consent: We will share information with third parties when you direct us to do so.

5. Data Protection & Security

We implement robust technical, administrative, and physical security measures designed to protect your Personal Data from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include encryption (SSL/TLS), secure server infrastructure, access controls, and regular security assessments.

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials.

6. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your Personal Data, which may include:

  • Access & Portability: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Correction: Update or correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data, subject to certain legal exceptions.
  • Restriction & Objection: Object to or restrict certain processing activities.
  • Withdraw Consent: Withdraw your consent at any time, where processing is based on consent.
  • Opt-Out of Marketing: Unsubscribe from promotional emails via the link in any email.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe and may need to verify your identity for security.

7. Cookies (Cookies)

Cookies are small text files placed on your device. We use them to remember your preferences, understand how you interact with our Service, and deliver targeted advertisements (through third-party ad networks).

Types we use:

  • Essential: Necessary for core functionality (e.g., login, security).
  • Performance/Analytics: Help us understand usage patterns (e.g., Google Analytics).
  • Functionality: Remember your settings and preferences.
  • Advertising: Used by us and our partners to deliver relevant ads on and off our platform.

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the Service. For more information, visit our Cookie Policy.

8. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or services. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page will indicate when revisions were made.

We will notify you of material changes by posting the new policy on this page, and where appropriate, through an in-service notification or email. We encourage you to review this page regularly to stay informed about how we protect your information.

9. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact our Data Protection Officer at:

herkmate Privacy Team
Email: [email protected]
Subject: Privacy Inquiry
We aim to respond to all legitimate inquiries within 30 days.

For general support, please visit our Contact page.