Veronata Privacy Policy

Welcome to Veronata. Your privacy is a top priority for us. This Privacy Policy explains how Veronata, Inc. ("Veronata," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, shares, and protects your information when you use our voice‑first dating application and related services (collectively, the "Services"). By using our Services, you agree to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information to provide and improve our Services. The types of information we collect include:

a) Information You Provide to Us

• Account Information: When you create an account, we collect basic information such as your name, age, gender, and location.
• Voice Profile: Our core feature is your voice. We collect the audio recordings you create in response to our prompts during onboarding and for your public profile.
• Photos: To activate your profile, we require at least one photo. This photo is displayed in a blurred format to other users until you grant explicit consent to reveal it to a specific match.
• Preferences & Interests: We collect information about your dating preferences, interests, and personality traits, primarily through our conversational AI onboarding process.
• Communications: We collect information from your communications within the app, including text messages with connected users and feedback you provide after dates.

b) Information We Collect Automatically

• Usage Data: We automatically collect information about your activity on our Services, such as which profiles you listen to, likes you send, dates you participate in, and your interactions with various features.
• Device Information: We collect information from and about the device you use to access our Services, including IP address, device ID and type, browser type, and operating system.

c) Biometric Information and Voice Data Consent

• Voice Recordings as Potential Biometric Data: In certain jurisdictions (including Illinois, Texas, and Washington), voice recordings may be considered biometric information subject to specific legal requirements.
• Explicit Consent: By creating a voice profile, you explicitly consent to our collection, storage, analysis, and use of your voice recordings for the purposes described in this policy. You may withdraw this consent and request deletion of your voice data at any time.
• Voice Analysis: We analyze voice recordings for tone, pace, energy, and language only. We do not attempt to detect or infer protected characteristics, health conditions, or other sensitive attributes from your voice.
• Retention Period: Voice recordings are automatically deleted 180 days after account closure unless subject to legal hold.

2. How We Use Your Information

• To Provide and Manage Your Account: Create and maintain your account and provide you with customer support.
• To Operate and Improve the Services: Display your voice profile, facilitate matchmaking, and enable voice dates and text chats.
• For Matchmaking and AI Systems: Use your profile information, preferences, and activity to recommend compatible matches. Your voice data and feedback help train and refine our algorithms to improve the quality of connections.
• To Ensure Safety and Security: Find and address violations of our Terms of Service, combat spam and harassment, and maintain a safe community. This may include analysis of voice and text communications for moderation purposes.
• For Research and Analytics: Understand how users interact with the Services to improve the experience.

3. Use of AI and AI Agents

Veronata uses Artificial Intelligence to enhance your experience.

• Conversational Onboarding: We use a conversational AI agent (powered by third‑party services like Vapi) to guide you through profile creation. These conversations may be processed to extract your preferences and interests.
• AI Agents ("AIBGs"): To solve the cold‑start problem and ensure a vibrant, active community, you may be matched with AI‑powered agents. These AIBGs simulate real interactions for platform testing, user‑experience enhancement, and data generation to improve our services. We will always clearly label interactions with AIBGs in the UI.
• AI Voice Analysis Transparency: Our AI analyzes voice for matching purposes based on speaking style, energy, and communication patterns. We do not use voice analysis to determine or infer: sexual orientation, mental or physical health status, racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, or other protected characteristics.
• Human Review: Voice clips flagged by our automated safety systems may be reviewed by human moderators solely for safety and policy compliance.
• AI Training: Aggregated and anonymized voice data may be used to improve our matching algorithms. You can opt-out of this use in your privacy settings.

4. How We Share Your Information

• With Other Users: Your voice profile, first name, age, and blurred photo are visible in the feed. Your unblurred photo and messages are visible only to users with whom you have mutually connected.
• With Our Service Providers: We engage third parties such as cloud hosting (Supabase), real‑time communication (LiveKit), and conversational AI processing (Vapi). Providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only to perform services for us.
• For Legal Reasons: We may disclose information to comply with legal process, enforce our Terms or this Policy, or protect the rights, property, or safety of Veronata, our users, or the public.
• Law Enforcement and Legal Requests: We may preserve and disclose information, including voice recordings, in response to lawful requests by public authorities, including for national security or law enforcement requirements. We will notify affected users unless prohibited by law.

5. Payment Processing

Payment processing for Sparks purchases is handled by CCBill, our authorized billing partner. When you make a purchase:

• Payment Information: CCBill collects and processes your payment card information directly. Veronata does not store or have access to your full credit card numbers.
• CCBill Privacy: CCBill processes payment information according to their own privacy policy and security standards. CCBill is PCI-DSS compliant and uses industry-standard encryption.
• Transaction Data: We receive limited transaction information from CCBill, including transaction IDs, purchase amounts, and success/failure status, but not your complete payment card details.
• Voice Analysis for Fraud Prevention: Voice data collected during onboarding may be used to create a voice fingerprint for fraud prevention and account security purposes. This helps prevent unauthorized purchases and account takeovers.
• Billing Support: For billing questions, refunds, or payment disputes, please contact CCBill directly at https://support.ccbill.com/

6. Your Rights and Choices (California Residents)

As a California‑based company, we honor rights provided by the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

• Right to Know: You have the right to know what categories of personal information, including voice recordings, we've collected and shared.
• Right to Delete: Delete your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
• Right to Correct: You may request correction of inaccurate personal information.
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt‑out of the sale of personal information (Veronata does not sell personal information).
• Sensitive Personal Information: Voice recordings may be considered sensitive personal information. You have the right to limit our use of such information.
• Non‑discrimination: Non‑discrimination for exercising your CCPA rights.

Response Timeline: We will respond to verified requests within 45 days. To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details below.

7. Data Security and Retention

We use strong security measures to help protect your information against loss, theft, and unauthorized access. While we take reasonable precautions, no security system is impenetrable. We retain your information for as long as needed to provide the Services and for legitimate business purposes. You can delete your account at any time; we will delete personally identifiable information in accordance with applicable law.

Voice Data Specific Protections

• Voice Data Retention: Active voice clips on profiles are retained for 6 months and then archived. Archived clips are deleted after 12 months unless you choose to keep them active.
• Encryption: All voice recordings are encrypted both in transit and at rest using industry-standard encryption protocols.
• Access Controls: Voice data is stored separately from other profile data with restricted access on a need-to-know basis.
• Data Portability: You may request a copy of your voice recordings and profile data in a portable format.
• Deletion Rights: Upon account deletion, all voice recordings are permanently deleted within 30 days, except where retention is required by law or legal proceedings.

8. Recording and Communication Monitoring

• Voice Messages and Calls: Any voice communications through our platform may be recorded for safety, quality, and training purposes. Users will be notified before any recording begins.
• Consent to Record: By using voice features, you consent to recording and acknowledge you'll obtain consent from other parties where required by law.
• Two-Party Consent States: Users in two-party consent jurisdictions are notified that voice features require mutual consent.
• Moderation: Voice and text communications may be monitored for violations of our Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.

9. Accessibility

• Non-Voice Alternatives: Users who cannot or prefer not to use voice features may create text-based profiles as an alternative.
• Accommodation Requests: We provide reasonable accommodations for users with disabilities. Contact us at accessibility@veronata.com.

10. International Users

• Data Transfer: Your information, including voice recordings, may be transferred to and processed in the United States where privacy laws may differ from your jurisdiction.
• GDPR Rights (for EEA residents): Including right to access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, data portability, and objection to processing. Contact our Data Protection Officer at dpo@veronata.com.

11. Children's Privacy

Our Services are restricted to users who are 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 18.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the new policy on this page, updating the Last Updated date, and sending you an email notification or in-app notification.

13. Contact Us

Veronata, Inc.
2261 Market Street STE 22406
San Francisco, CA 94114
Email: privacy@veronata.com
Data Protection Officer: dpo@veronata.com
Accessibility: accessibility@veronata.com