Privacy Policy

PawMatch · HouseofTech Innovation Pvt Ltd

Last updated: 17 August 2026

HouseofTech Innovation Pvt Ltd (“we”, “us”, “our”, or the “Company”) operates the PawMatch application and website at pawmatch.web.app (the “App”).

PawMatch is a dog playdate app for dog parents. You create a profile for your dog (name, breed, age, interests and photos), browse other dogs, like the ones you find suitable, and when both sides like each other you can chat with the other dog parent and plan a park meet-up. Some features are available only to paid Premium subscribers.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your information when you use PawMatch. By using the App, you agree to the practices described here. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.

1. Information We Collect

A. Information You Provide Directly

• Mobile phone number — used for OTP login and to secure your account.
• Dog profile details — your dog’s name, breed, age, gender, interests, what you are looking for (playdates, friendship, breeding, adoption), and a short bio.
• Photos you upload of your dog (and any photo you choose to include yourself in).
• Chat messages you send to other users you have matched with.
• Reports and blocks you submit about other users, including the reason you give.
• Subscription-related details when you buy Premium, and any support queries or feedback you send us.

B. Automatically Collected Information

• Device and technical information: device type, operating system, app version, browser, IP address.
• Usage data: profiles viewed, likes and passes, matches, features used, session times.
• Performance data: crash reports, diagnostics, and error logs.
• Security data: login attempts and OTP verification records, used to prevent fraud and abuse.
• Advertising ID — the Android app includes the Meta (Facebook) SDK, which reads your device’s advertising ID and logs app installs and app opens so we can measure which of our advertisements brought users to PawMatch. It is used for attribution and analytics only. The App does not show you any ads. You can reset or opt out of the advertising ID from your Android Settings → Privacy → Ads.

C. Permissions We May Request

• Photos / camera — only so you can pick or take a photo for your dog’s profile. We do not browse your gallery in the background.
• Notifications — only to tell you about new matches, messages, or important account and payment notices.
• You can deny or revoke these permissions any time from your device settings. The App keeps working, but you will not be able to add profile photos without photo access.

D. Photo Handling & Metadata Stripping

• Every photo you upload is sent to our server, re-encoded, and re-saved as a new image. This process removes EXIF metadata — including any GPS coordinates, device model, and timestamps that your phone camera embedded in the original file.
• Stored photos are given unguessable file names and are served only to users of the App.
• Your photos are deleted from our storage when you delete the photo or your account.

E. Information We Do Not Collect

• We do not collect precise or approximate GPS location. Distance and area labels shown in the App are illustrative and are not derived from your device location.
• We do not access your contact list, SMS, or call logs.
• We do not collect government IDs, biometric identifiers, or any special-category personal data.
• We do not store your full card, UPI, or bank details — these are handled directly by our payment gateway partner.

2. How We Use Your Information

• Create and authenticate your account and keep your login session secure.
• Show your dog’s profile to other users, and show you other dogs’ profiles.
• Create matches and enable chat between matched dog parents.
• Operate safety features — blocking, reporting, and removing abusive users or content.
• Process Premium subscription payments and manage billing and renewals.
• Send service messages such as OTP, new-match and message notifications, and payment receipts.
• Detect and prevent fraud, spam, impersonation, and unauthorised access.
• Fix bugs, measure feature usage, and improve the App.

3. What Other Users Can See

• Do not put your phone number, home address, or other private details in your bio, photos, or dog name — that information becomes visible to everyone using the App.
• Anything you share inside a chat can be screenshotted or saved by the other person. Share personal details only with people you trust.

4. Subscription & Payment Information

• PawMatch Premium is billed through Razorpay, an RBI-licensed payment gateway, using UPI, UPI Autopay, cards, or netbanking. The active payment gateway may change from time to time without prior notice.
• Razorpay processes and stores your card and UPI mandate details under its own security and privacy policies.
• We retain only your subscription status, plan, renewal date, and transaction/subscription reference for billing, support, and tax compliance.

5. Information Sharing & Disclosure

We do not sell or rent your personal data. We share limited data only:

• With other users, as described in Section 3.
• With service providers — Google Cloud / Firebase (hosting, database, storage), Razorpay (payments), voicensms.in (OTP SMS delivery), and analytics — under data-protection obligations.
• With Meta Platforms (Facebook / Instagram): the advertising ID and app install / app open events described in Section 1.B, so we can measure the performance of our advertising. No profile content, photos, phone number, or chat messages are shared with Meta.
• To comply with legal obligations, court orders, or lawful government or law-enforcement requests.
• In case of a merger, acquisition, or restructuring (with notice to users).
• To protect the rights, safety, and security of our users and the platform.

6. Data Storage, Security & Retention

• Data is stored on Google Cloud infrastructure, with our primary database and photo storage hosted in the Mumbai (asia-south1) region. Some processing and backups may occur outside India with appropriate safeguards.
• All traffic is encrypted in transit (HTTPS/TLS). Access to production data is restricted to authorised personnel.
• Sensitive account fields such as your subscription and Premium status can only be written by our server — the App itself cannot change them.
• OTP records are short-lived and are used only to verify a login.
• We keep your profile, photos, matches, and messages for as long as your account is active.
• Reports and blocks may be retained after deletion where needed to keep other users safe.
• Transaction records are retained for the period required by Indian tax and accounting law (typically up to 7 years).
• Analytics data may be retained in anonymised form for up to 24 months.
• While we take strong precautions, no system is completely secure.
• You may delete your account and data at any time — see the Delete Account page.

7. Your Privacy Rights

Under applicable laws (including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023), you may have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Correct or update your information
• Request deletion of your account, photos, and messages
• Withdraw consent
• File a complaint with the relevant authority

You can exercise these rights in the App, or by writing to us at the email address below.

8. Children’s Privacy

• PawMatch is intended for users aged 18 and above, because it includes chat with other adults.
• We do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 18. If we learn that an account belongs to a minor, we will delete it.
• Do not upload photos of children on your dog’s profile.

9. Third-Party Services

• The App uses Google Cloud / Firebase (hosting, authentication, database, storage), Razorpay (payments), voicensms.in (OTP SMS), the Meta (Facebook) SDK for advertising attribution, and analytics tools.
• These services operate under their own privacy policies.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

• We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
• Significant changes will be communicated through the App.
• Continued use of PawMatch means acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

For any questions or requests:

• Company Name: HouseofTech Innovation Pvt Ltd
• Email: support@houseoftech.ai
• Address: F-118, Adani Galeria, Sector 89A, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
• GST Number: 06AALCP3434H1ZE