MeritFriends

Privacy Policy

We Value Your Privacy!

  • Besides meeting time and occasion preference all similarities are private.
  • Only same or shared similarities with other user, can be seen only by that user.

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

Your privacy is huge priority for us at Merit Friends s.r.o. as we create and provide services designed to help you build meaningful connections. We value your trust and are committed to protecting it.

We do not compromise your privacy. All our services and products are designed with your privacy in mind. We engage experts in security, engineering, and product design to ensure that every decision values your privacy.

As we did with meeting friends, we want to make also our Privacy Policy plain, transparent and simple so everyone can understand our approach. All data that we collect, we try to secure as much as possible and use absolute minimum of this Privacy Policy only for what is needed for all current/upcoming features and best experience for all users.

We work diligently to keep your information secure. We regularly update our security and invest in measures to safeguard your data.

We appreciate your trust in providing us with your personal information through our Services, and we aim to maintain that trust. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, and your privacy options, all in plain language.

This Privacy Policy applies starting 10.04.2025.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 10.04.2025.

FOR CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS:

Please see our California Privacy Statement below to learn about your California privacy rights.

WHO WE ARE

Merit Friends s.r.o., based in the Czech Republic, European Union, is the company responsible for your information under this Privacy Policy (the “data controller”).

Contact us at: [Contact Support]

WHERE THIS PRIVACY POLICY APPLIES

This Privacy Policy applies to all of Merit Friends’ websites (including meritfriends.com), applications, events, and services (collectively referred to as “Services”). Links to this Privacy Policy are available across our Services for clarity. If a specific Service has its own privacy policy, that policy takes precedence over this one.

INFORMATION WE COLLECT

To help you connect with others, Merit Friends collects detailed personal information you provide, data generated from your use of our Services, and information from third parties. Below, we outline what we collect:

Information You Give Us

When using our Services, you may provide:

  • Account Creation: Login credentials and basic details like gender and date of birth.
  • Detailed Profile Information: Extensive personal details such as personality traits, lifestyle choices, interests, preferences, and multimedia (e.g., photos). Adding multimedia may require camera or photo album access.
  • Sensitive Data: Information like ethnic origin or religious beliefs, which may be considered “special” or “sensitive” under certain laws (e.g., GDPR). By providing this, you explicitly consent to its processing.
  • Payment Information: Debit/credit card details or other financial information for paid services, processed via our payment provider (e.g., [Payment Processor]).
  • Surveys/Focus Groups: Feedback, responses, or testimonials about our Services.
  • Promotions/Events: Registration or entry details for contests or events.
  • Customer Support: Information shared during support interactions, which may be monitored or recorded for quality and training purposes.
  • Third-Party Requests: Information about others if you ask us to act on your behalf (e.g., sending an email to a friend).
  • Interactions: Chats with other users and content you upload.

Information We Receive from Others

We may also collect:

  • Social Networks: Data from social media logins (e.g., Facebook Login) if you use them to access Merit Friends.
  • Other Users: Information about you provided by other users (e.g., if they contact us regarding you).
  • Partners: Details from advertising or platform partners (e.g., campaign performance data).

Information Collected When You Use Our Services

We collect:

  • Usage Information: Activity details like login times, features used, searches, clicks, pages viewed, referring URLs, ads clicked, and interactions with other users e.g., messages sent/received
  • Device Information: Data from your devices, including:
    • Hardware/software details (e.g., IP address, device ID, browser type, operating system)
    • Network details (e.g., provider, signal strength).
  • Payment Processor Data: Our payment processor (e.g., [Payment Processor]) collects device-related data for fraud detection and service improvement.
  • With Consent: Precise geolocation (via GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) or additional photos, if permitted by your device settings. Geolocation may be collected in the background if authorized.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, and pixels to recognize you or your device. Third parties may also use these technologies. See our Cookie Policy for details on their use (e.g., authentication, analytics, ad targeting) and how to manage them. We do not currently respond to “Do Not Track” (DNT) signals, as there’s no universal standard.

HOW WE USE INFORMATION

We use your information to deliver, enhance, and personalize our Services, ensure safety, and comply with laws. Here’s how:

  • Account Management & Services: Create/manage your account, provide customer support, process transactions, and communicate about Services.
  • Connecting Users: Analyze your profile, preferences, and activity to suggest meaningful connections and display profiles to others.
  • Device Consistency: Link your devices (via IP address, browser data, etc.) for a seamless experience.
  • New Services: Register you for new features or apps and manage your participation.
  • Notifications & Ads: Send relevant offers, or notifications via email, phone, or social media (message frequency varies; data rates may apply).
  • Service Improvement: Develop new features, conduct research, and analyze usage to enhance our Services.
  • Safety & Fraud Prevention: Detect and address fraud, illegal activities, or misuse.
  • Legal Compliance: Meet legal obligations, assist law enforcement, and enforce our Terms.

Legal Basis (GDPR):

  • Contract: Processing necessary to provide our Services (e.g., maintaining your profile).
  • Legitimate Interests: Improving Services, preventing fraud, or administrative tasks.
  • Consent: For specific purposes (e.g., sensitive data, geolocation), revocable at [Contact Support].

HOW WE SHARE INFORMATION

We share your information to operate our Services, comply with laws, or with your consent:

  • With Other Users: Profile and interaction data you share can be visible to others. Be cautious about what you disclose, as we cannot control how others use it.
  • Service Providers & Partners: Third parties can assist with analytics, hosting, payments, customer support, marketing, and features: (e.g., matching algorithms). Data can only be shared securely and under confidentiality agreements.
  • Corporate Transactions: Information may be transferred during mergers, acquisitions, or similar events.
  • Legal Requirements: Disclosure if required by law (e.g., court orders) or to prevent crime or ensure safety.
  • Legal Rights: Sharing to protect our rights, enforce agreements, or investigate wrongdoing.
  • With Consent: Sharing with third parties if you agree, with clear explanations provided.

We may also share non-personal or hashed data (e.g., for ads) with partners or affiliates, but only if we find it will be really helpful and useful to our users.

CROSS-BORDER DATA TRANSFERS

Data sharing may involve transfers outside the EU (e.g., to the USA). We use Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission to ensure GDPR-compliant safeguards for your data.

YOUR RIGHTS

We empower you to control your data with these tools and rights:

  • Access/Update Tools: Manage your account data within the Service. Contact [Contact Support] for help.
  • Device Permissions: Adjust location or notification settings on your device (note: disabling may limit features).
  • Deletion: Delete your account via in-Service options.

GDPR Rights (EU Residents):

  • Access: Review your data.
  • Rectification: Correct inaccurate data.
  • Erasure: Request data deletion.
  • Restriction: Limit processing.
  • Portability: Receive your data in a usable format.
  • Object: Oppose processing (e.g., for marketing).

Exercise these rights at [Contact Support]. We may require identity verification and respond within one month (per GDPR). We may deny requests if unlawful or if they impair our ability to provide Services.

Complaints: Contact your local EU data protection authority (e.g., Czech Office for Personal Data Protection) if needed.

CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS (CCPA)

California residents may request:

  • Categories of personal information collected, used, or shared.
  • Details of sharing with third parties for marketing (past year).

Submit requests to [Contact Support]; allow 30 days for a response. Identity verification may be required.

HOW WE PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION

We implement robust security measures to prevent unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure of your data. However, no system is 100% secure. We monitor for vulnerabilities and update our practices regularly. If you suspect a breach, notify us at [Contact Support]. We may suspend Services if security is compromised.

HOW LONG WE RETAIN YOUR INFORMATION

We retain your data only as long as necessary for legitimate purposes or as required by law:

  • Active Accounts: Kept while you use our Services.
  • Post-Deletion: Retained for a 3-month safety window to protect users.
  • Inactivity: Deleted or anonymized after 2 years of non-use, unless:
    • Required by law (e.g., traffic data for 1 year).
    • Needed for compliance records (e.g., consents for 5 years).
    • Relevant to ongoing disputes or fraud prevention.

Deletion timelines may vary due to technical limitations.

CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

Our Services are intended for users who are at least 13 years old. If you are under 13, you are not permitted to use them. If you are under 16 years old, depending on the laws of your country, we may require consent from your parent or guardian to use our Services. By using our Services, you confirm that:

  • You are at least 13 years old.
  • If you are under 16, you have obtained parental consent if required in your country.

We may take steps to verify your age and, if necessary, obtain parental consent to ensure compliance.

Report suspected underage users via [Contact Support].

PRIVACY POLICY CHANGES

We may update this policy to improve our Services. Significant changes will be notified in advance for your review.

CONTACT US

Questions? Email us at [Contact Support].