Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

When you use Likewise, we collect information to provide and improve our services. The types of information we collect include:

Information You Provide

• Account Information: Your name, email address, date of birth, and password when you create an account.
• Profile Information: Your profile photo, bio, location (city/region), and the hobby stickers you choose to represent your interests.
• Communications: Messages you send to other users through the Likewise platform.
• User Content: Photos, videos, and other content you post or share on Likewise.
• Support Requests: Information you provide when you contact our support team.

Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: Your device type, operating system, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information.
• Usage Data: How you interact with the app, including features used, content viewed, and time spent.
• Log Data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, and timestamps of your activity.
• Location Data: Approximate location derived from your IP address (we do not collect precise GPS location without explicit permission).

Information from Third Parties

• Social Sign-In: If you sign in via Google or Apple, we receive your name and email address from those services, subject to their privacy policies.
• Analytics Partners: Aggregated, anonymised data from analytics providers to help us understand app usage.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Provide the Service: To create and manage your account, enable matching with other users, and facilitate communication between Twins.
• Personalisation: To recommend relevant hobby communities, suggest Twins, and tailor your in-app experience based on your stickers and activity.
• Safety & Security: To detect, prevent, and respond to fraud, abuse, and violations of our Terms of Service.
• Communications: To send you important account notices, updates, and (with your consent) promotional content about new features.
• Improvements: To analyse usage patterns and fix bugs to continuously improve Likewise.
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and lawful requests from public authorities.

3. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal data. We share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Other Users: Your public profile, hobby stickers, and any content you post is visible to other Likewise users according to your privacy settings.
• Service Providers: Trusted third-party vendors who help us operate the platform (e.g., cloud hosting, analytics, email delivery). These providers are contractually bound to protect your data and use it only for specified purposes.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred. We will notify you before your data is transferred and subject to a different privacy policy.
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or governmental authority, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Likewise, our users, or the public.

4. Cookies & Tracking

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience. These include:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the app to function, such as keeping you logged in.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with Likewise so we can improve the product.
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences for future visits.

You can control cookies through your browser settings or device preferences. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the app.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services. Specifically:

• Account data is retained until you delete your account.
• Message history is retained for up to 12 months after the last message in a conversation, unless deleted earlier by you.
• Log data and analytics are retained for up to 24 months in aggregated, anonymised form.
• Certain data may be retained longer where required by law or for legitimate business purposes such as fraud prevention.

When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymise your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.

6. Your Rights

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

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten").
• Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Objection: Object to processing of your data for direct marketing or other purposes based on legitimate interests.
• Restriction: Request that we restrict processing of your data in certain circumstances.
• Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on your consent, you can withdraw it at any time without affecting prior processing.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@likewiseapp.in. We will respond within 30 days.

7. Children's Privacy

Likewise is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at privacy@likewiseapp.in and we will take steps to delete such information.

Users between the ages of 13 and 18 may use Likewise only with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.

8. Data Security

We implement industry-standard technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These include:

• Encryption of data in transit using TLS/SSL.
• Encryption of sensitive data at rest.
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
• Strict access controls and authentication requirements for our team.

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 absolute security.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. When we make material changes, we will:

• Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.
• Notify you via email or an in-app notification at least 14 days before the changes take effect.

Your continued use of Likewise after the effective date of the updated policy constitutes your acceptance of the changes.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the way we handle your data, please reach out to us:

• Email: privacy@likewiseapp.in
• General Support: support@likewiseapp.in
• Contact Form: likewiseapp.in/contact
• Address: Likewise Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru, Karnataka, India