Privacy Policy

Effective Date: April 2, 2026 | Last Updated: April 2, 2026

Sowlef ("we," "our," or "us") operates the Sowlef mobile application (the "App"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our App. Please read this policy carefully. By using the App, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

Data Type	Purpose	Required?
Display name	Shown to other users during matching and chat	Yes
Gender	Profile display; future matching preferences	Yes
Date of birth	Age verification (18+ enforcement)	Yes
Nationality	Auto-detected from device region; shown on profile	Auto
Interests/topics	Interest-based matching with other users	Yes (min 1)
Profile photo	Displayed on your profile	No
Chat messages	Communication between matched users	N/A
Images shared in chat	Sent to friends in conversations	No
Reports	Community safety and moderation	N/A

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

Data Type	Purpose
Authentication identifiers (Apple ID / Google account ID)	Account creation and login
Device region/locale	Language selection and nationality auto-detection
Expo push token	Delivering push notifications
App usage data (selected topics, search activity)	Improving matching quality
Karma score	Community reputation and safety enforcement

1.3 Information We Do NOT Collect

We do not collect your real name, email address, phone number, or physical address
We do not access your contacts, call logs, or browsing history
We do not collect precise GPS location data
We do not use advertising identifiers (IDFA) or engage in ad tracking
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to any third party

2. How We Use Your Information

Provide the Service: Match you with other users based on shared interests, facilitate real-time chat conversations, and manage friend relationships
Safety and Moderation: Automatically screen messages for harmful content (hate speech, harassment, threats, explicit material) using AI-powered moderation; process user reports; enforce community guidelines through our karma system
Account Management: Authenticate your identity, manage your profile settings, and process account deletion requests
Notifications: Send push notifications when you receive a new match, message, or friend request (with your permission)
Improve the App: Analyze anonymized usage patterns to improve matching quality and app performance

3. Content Moderation

Important: All text messages sent through the App are automatically screened by AI-powered content moderation technology (provided by OpenAI) before delivery. This is done to maintain a safe environment and comply with platform guidelines.

Messages containing hate speech, harassment, threats, sexual content, or other violations are blocked before delivery
Only the message text is sent to OpenAI for moderation — no personal identifiers, account information, or metadata is shared
Users who repeatedly send harmful content face automatic karma reduction, temporary suspension, or permanent ban
Client-side content filtering provides an additional layer of protection for both messages and usernames

4. Karma and Safety System

Sowlef uses a karma-based reputation system to maintain community quality:

All users start with a karma score of 100
Positive interactions (accepting chats, making friends, active participation) increase karma
Violations (blocked messages, valid reports, being blocked by others) decrease karma
Users whose karma falls to -200 receive a 24-hour suspension (first offense) or permanent ban (repeat offense)
Reports are automatically reviewed using AI to determine legitimacy; false reports result in karma penalties for the reporter

5. Data Sharing and Third-Party Services

We share data only with the following service providers, solely for the purpose of operating the App:

Provider	Service	Data Shared
Google (Firebase)	Authentication, database, cloud functions, file storage	Account data, messages, profile photos
OpenAI	Content moderation	Message text only (no personal identifiers)
Expo (expo.dev)	Push notifications, OTA updates	Push token, app version

We do not share data with advertisers, data brokers, analytics companies, or any other third parties. We do not display advertisements in the App.

6. Data Storage and Security

All data is stored securely on Google Cloud Platform (Firebase) with encryption at rest and in transit (TLS 1.2+)
Authentication is handled through Apple Sign-In and Google Sign-In — we never see or store your passwords
Firebase Security Rules restrict data access to authorized users only
Chat messages between non-friend users are automatically deleted when the conversation ends or when either user starts a new search
Profile photos are stored in Firebase Cloud Storage with access restricted to authenticated users

7. Data Retention and Deletion

Data Type	Retention Period
Account profile data	Until you delete your account
Chat messages (non-friends)	Deleted when conversation ends or new search begins
Chat messages (friends)	Until friendship is removed or account is deleted
Reports and moderation logs	Retained for safety and legal compliance purposes
Karma logs	Retained for account integrity purposes

Account Deletion

You may delete your account at any time from the Profile > Delete Account option within the App. When you delete your account:

Your profile, display name, and all personal information are permanently deleted
All active chat sessions are terminated
Your data is removed from our servers within 30 days
Some anonymized data may be retained in moderation logs for safety purposes

8. Children's Privacy

Sowlef is strictly intended for users aged 18 years and older. We enforce age verification during the signup process. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 18.

If we discover that a user is under 18, their account will be immediately terminated and all associated data will be deleted. If you believe a minor is using the App, please report them using the in-app reporting feature or contact us at sowlefapp@gmail.com.

9. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information via the Edit Profile screen
Deletion: Delete your account and all associated data at any time
Portability: Request your data in a portable format by contacting us
Restriction: Block or report other users to restrict their ability to contact you
Withdraw Consent: Disable push notifications at any time from the app settings or your device settings

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at sowlefapp@gmail.com.

10. International Data Transfers

Your data may be processed and stored in data centers operated by Google Cloud Platform in various regions worldwide. By using the App, you consent to the transfer of your data to these facilities. We ensure that all transfers comply with applicable data protection laws.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of material changes by:

Posting the updated policy within the App
Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
Sending a push notification for significant changes (if notifications are enabled)

Your continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

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

Email: sowlefapp@gmail.com
App: Profile > Settings > Help & Support

We will respond to all privacy-related inquiries within 30 days.