Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

SquadUp (operated by DEKS MEDIA LLC) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use our mobile social networking application and related services ("Service").

By using SquadUp, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use the Service.

2. COPPA Compliance

SquadUp is 18+ only and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18 years of age, and certainly not from children under 13.

In compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), if we become aware that a user is under 18 years of age, we will immediately terminate their account and delete all associated personal information from our systems.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at privacy@squadup.app.

3. Information We Collect

We collect several types of information to provide and improve our Service:

Account Information:

• Name and email address
• Age and date of birth (for age verification)
• Gender and preferences

Profile Information:

• Photos and videos you upload
• Bio and personal descriptions
• Location information (city-level only: Austin, Dallas)
• Interests and preferences

Usage Information:

• Connections and introductions you make
• Messages and conversations
• App interactions and feature usage
• Search queries and filters applied

Device Information:

• Device type and model
• Operating system and version
• Unique device identifiers
• Mobile network information

Authentication Information:

• Apple ID or Google Sign-In tokens
• Authentication credentials (encrypted)

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Provide and improve the Service: To operate SquadUp, deliver features, and enhance user experience
• Verify age requirements: To ensure all users are 18 years of age or older
• Facilitate connections and messaging: To connect you with other users and enable communication
• Send notifications: To notify you about connections, messages, and important app updates
• Analyze app usage: To understand how users interact with our Service and improve performance
• Ensure safety and prevent fraud: To detect and prevent abuse, harassment, and fraudulent activity
• Comply with legal obligations: To respond to legal requests and prevent illegal activity
• Customer support: To respond to your inquiries and provide assistance

5. Information Sharing

We do NOT sell your personal information.

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

With Other Users:

Your profile information (photos, videos, bio, city-level location) is visible to users you connect with as part of the Service's core functionality.

With Service Providers:

• Firebase (Google): Authentication, database, storage, and analytics
• Mixpanel: Analytics and user behavior insights
• OpenAI: AI-powered conversation suggestions and content moderation

For Legal Purposes:

• When required by law, court order, or legal process
• To law enforcement when necessary to investigate illegal activity
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of DEKS MEDIA LLC, our users, or the public

Business Transfers:

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity.

6. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored on secure servers provided by Google Firebase, located in the United States. We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit using SSL/TLS protocols
• Encryption of data at rest in our databases
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Access controls limiting employee access to personal data
• Secure authentication using Apple Sign-In and Google Sign-In

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: You can access your personal information through your account settings
• Correction: You can update or correct inaccurate information in your profile
• Deletion: You can delete your account and all associated data at any time through the app settings
• Opt-out of marketing: You can unsubscribe from promotional emails and push notifications
• Data portability: You can request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format

California Residents (CCPA):

California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act, including the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to delete personal information, and the right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (note: we do not sell personal information).

Texas Residents:

Texas residents have rights under Texas data privacy laws, including the right to access, correct, and delete personal information, and the right to opt-out of targeted advertising.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@squadup.app or delete your account through the app settings.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with the Service.

After you delete your account, we may retain certain information for the following purposes:

• Legal compliance: To comply with legal obligations and respond to legal requests
• Fraud prevention: To prevent abuse and protect the safety of our users
• Safety purposes: To investigate violations of our Terms of Service

This retained information will be permanently deleted within 90 days of account deletion, except where we are legally required to retain it for a longer period.

9. Age Verification

We implement multiple measures to ensure all users are 18 years of age or older:

• Age certification checkbox: All users must certify they are 18+ during signup
• Date of birth collection: Users must provide their date of birth
• Server-side validation: Age is verified on our servers through Firebase
• Documentation requests: We reserve the right to request government-issued ID to verify age
• Immediate termination: Accounts found to belong to users under 18 are immediately terminated

If you believe a user is under 18 years of age, please report them immediately through the app or contact us at safety@squadup.app.

10. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services to operate SquadUp:

Firebase (Google):

Provides authentication, real-time database, cloud storage, and analytics. View Firebase's privacy policy at https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy

Mixpanel:

Provides analytics and user insights to help us improve the app. View Mixpanel's privacy policy at https://mixpanel.com/legal/privacy-policy

OpenAI:

Powers AI-driven conversation suggestions and content moderation. View OpenAI's privacy policy at https://openai.com/policies/privacy-policy

These third-party services have their own privacy policies, and we encourage you to review them. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties.

11. International Data Transfers

SquadUp is operated in the United States. If you are accessing our Service from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States where our servers are located.

By using the Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and acknowledge that the United States may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.

12. Changes to Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.

When we make material changes to this Privacy Policy, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Notify you through the app with an in-app notification
• Send an email notification to the address associated with your account

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

13. Contact Information

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

For data deletion requests, you can also delete your account directly through the app settings under "Account" → "Delete Account".