Privacy Policy — RealTalk Date

Last updated: 24 June 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how C401 STUDIOS (PTY) LTD ("we", "us", "our"), the operator of the RealTalk Date mobile application (the "App"), collects, uses, shares, and protects your personal information. It also explains your rights regarding that information.

RealTalk Date is a voice-first dating application. Users meet through short, voice-only conversations based on shared interests, and profiles (including photos) are revealed only after both people mutually express interest.

RealTalk Date is intended only for users aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18.

By creating an account or using the App, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.

1. Who we are

The data controller responsible for your personal information is:

C401 STUDIOS (PTY) LTD
7 Ernies Pl, Lynnwood Park, Pretoria 0184
Email: hello@c401studios.com

If you have questions about this policy or your data, contact us at the email above.

2. Information we collect

We collect the following categories of information:

2.1 Information you provide

• Account information: your email address and password (used to create and secure your account).
• Profile information: your display name, age / date of birth, gender, bio, and interests.
• Photos: images you upload to your profile. These are shown to another user only after a mutual match.
• Dating preferences: the gender(s) you wish to meet, your preferred age range, and maximum distance.
• Optional sensitive information: you may optionally choose to add your pronouns, languages, and religion to your profile. Providing this is entirely optional, you can skip it, and you can change or remove it at any time. If you add it, it is displayed on your profile and shown to a person after you match. We do not use this information to filter or rank who you are matched with.
• Identity verification (optional): if you choose to verify your account, you submit a selfie image used to confirm you are a real person. This is used only for verification and is not shown publicly.
• Communications: the content of text messages you send to matches, and your participation in voice conversations (see 2.3 regarding voice).
• Reports and safety information: if you report or block another user, we collect the details of that report.

2.2 Information collected automatically

• Approximate location: used to match you with people within your chosen distance.
• Usage data: how you use the App, such as dates initiated, matches, and feature usage.
• Device and technical data: device identifiers, app version, operating system, and diagnostic/crash data used to keep the App working and secure.
• Push notification tokens: to deliver notifications about matches and messages.

2.3 Voice conversations

RealTalk Date enables real-time voice conversations between matched-candidate users. Voice is transmitted to enable the live conversation. We do not record or store the audio of your voice conversations. Voice is processed in real time only to connect the call.

2.4 Subscriptions and purchases

If you purchase a RealTalk Plus subscription, the purchase is processed by Google Play and managed via our payments provider RevenueCat. We receive confirmation of your subscription status. We do not collect or store your full payment-card details — these are handled by Google Play.

3. How we use your information

We use your information to: - Create and manage your account; - Match you with other users based on shared interests, your stated preferences (gender, age range, distance), and availability; - Enable voice conversations, messaging, and profile reveals after a mutual match; - Operate identity verification (if you opt in); - Provide, maintain, and improve the App, and diagnose technical problems; - Keep the service safe — detecting, preventing, and acting on abuse, harassment, fraud, banned users, and policy violations, including reviewing reports; - Deliver notifications about your matches and messages; - Manage subscriptions and show advertisements to non-subscribers; - Comply with our legal obligations.

A note on matching: matching is based on shared interests, your gender/age/distance preferences, and availability. Optional attributes such as religion, pronouns, and languages are displayed on profiles but are not used to filter or score matches.

4. Legal bases for processing (where applicable)

Where data-protection law (such as POPIA in South Africa or the GDPR) applies, we rely on the following legal bases: - Performance of a contract — to provide the App's core features you sign up for; - Consent — for optional sensitive information (e.g. religion) and for certain processing such as location and notifications; you may withdraw consent at any time; - Legitimate interests — to keep the service safe, prevent abuse, and improve the App; - Legal obligation — where we must process data to comply with the law.

Special-category / sensitive data: any optional information you provide about your religion (and any similar sensitive attribute) is processed only with your explicit consent, given when you choose to add it. You can remove it at any time, which withdraws that consent.

5. How we share information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only as follows:

• With other users: your profile details and photos are revealed to another user only after a mutual match. Before a match, other users do not see your profile or photos. Your votes (yes/no decisions) are always private and never shown to the other person.
• Service providers that help us operate the App, including:
• Google Firebase (authentication, database, storage, hosting, notifications, analytics, crash reporting);
• Agora (real-time voice connectivity);
• Google AdMob (advertising to non-subscribers);
• RevenueCat and Google Play (subscription management and payments). These providers process data on our behalf under their own terms and security obligations.
• For legal and safety reasons: where required by law, or to protect the rights, safety, and security of our users, the public, or our company.
• Business transfers: if our business is involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

Some providers may process data outside South Africa. Where this happens, we take steps to ensure appropriate safeguards consistent with applicable law.

6. Advertising

For users on the free tier, we display advertisements through Google AdMob. AdMob may use device identifiers and similar technologies to serve and measure ads. You can subscribe to RealTalk Plus to remove ads. For information on how Google uses data when you use our App, see Google's policies. You can manage ad personalization in your device settings.

7. Data retention

We keep your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the App.

• Voice conversations are not recorded or retained.
• Messages and matches are retained while the match exists.
• Safety and report records may be retained after account deletion, in anonymized or limited form, to protect the service and other users and to meet legal obligations.

8. Your rights and choices

8.1 Account deletion

You can permanently delete your account at any time from Settings → Delete account in the App. Deleting your account removes your profile data, photos, preferences, matches, messages, votes, blocks, verification data, notification tokens, and your login credentials. Certain safety/report records may be retained in limited or anonymized form as described above.

Note: deleting your account does not automatically cancel a paid subscription. To stop subscription charges, cancel your subscription separately in your Google Play account settings.

8.2 Other rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to: - access the personal information we hold about you; - correct inaccurate information (much of which you can edit directly in your profile); - request deletion of your information; - object to or restrict certain processing; - withdraw consent (for example, by removing optional sensitive information, or disabling location/notifications in your device settings); - lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. In South Africa, this is the Information Regulator.

To exercise these rights, use the in-app controls where available, or contact us at hello@c401studios.com.

9. Security

We use technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including access controls and server-side rules that restrict who can read or change data. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security, but we work to protect your information and to respond appropriately to any incident.

10. Children

RealTalk Date is for adults aged 18 and over only. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we learn that we have collected information from a person under 18, we will delete it. If you believe a minor is using the App, please contact us.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date and, where appropriate, notify you in the App. Your continued use of the App after changes take effect means you accept the updated policy.

12. Contact us

If you have any questions, requests, or concerns about this Privacy Policy or your personal information, contact us at:

C401 STUDIOS (PTY) LTD
Email: hello@c401studios.com
7 Ernies Pl, Lynnwood Park, Pretoria 0184