Privacy Policy

Last updated: 4 July 2026

sparq is a proximity-based dating app. It uses Bluetooth to notice when another sparq user is physically nearby, so that two people who both opt in can choose to meet in person. This policy explains what we collect, why, and the choices you have.

The short version. We don't ask for your email or password. We don't collect GPS or precise location. We don't use advertising identifiers and we don't show ads. We collect the profile you create, who you've been physically near (via rotating Bluetooth tokens), and your in-app activity, so the app can introduce you to nearby people. You can delete everything from inside the app at any time.

1. Who we are

sparq (the “app”, “we”, “us”) is operated by Quintus Kilsdonk. We are the data controller for the personal data described in this policy. For any privacy question or request, contact us at privacy@sparqdating.app.

2. Information we collect

Profile information you provide

Display name (a first name or nickname you choose).
Date of birth, which we use to calculate and show your age and to confirm you are 18 or older.
Gender and who you are interested in.
A short tagline and bio.
Up to three photos you upload.
Your discovery preferences (such as age range), used to filter who appears in your nearby list.

Proximity information

To detect nearby users, the app continuously broadcasts and scans for a short, rotating Bluetooth token (a temporary code that changes periodically and cannot be used to identify you off-device). When your device detects another sparq user, we record:

that the two of you were physically near each other and when (“co-presence”);
a coarse signal-strength reading (used only as a rough in-range / out-of-range indicator).

We do not collect GPS or any precise geographic location. Proximity is determined purely by Bluetooth range (roughly 10–30 metres); we never know where you are, only that another user is near you.

Activity information

Likes and super likes you send.
Matches formed when two people like each other.
Chat messages exchanged within a match.
Blocks and reports you submit.
Referrals (if you invite a friend or redeem an invite code).

Device and technical information

An anonymous account identifier created for you on first launch (no email or password is required).
A device identifier stored on your device, used to prevent abuse of the referral system (for example, to stop the same device claiming an invite repeatedly).
A push notification token (from Apple / Firebase Cloud Messaging) so we can notify you about nearby people, likes, matches and messages — only for the categories you enable.
Basic technical data such as your app version.

Usage analytics

We use Google Analytics for Firebase to understand how the app is used (for example, how often matches form or features are used) so we can improve it. This analytics is configured without advertising identifiers — we do not collect the Apple advertising identifier (IDFA), we do not enable ad personalization, and we do not show you ads. Because of this, the app does not present an App Tracking Transparency prompt.

Crash and diagnostics data

To keep the app stable, we use Google Firebase Crashlytics to collect crash reports and related diagnostic data when the app stops unexpectedly. A crash report may include the type of crash, your device model and operating-system version, the app version, the app's state leading up to the crash, and your anonymous account identifier so we can trace a report to the affected account. It does not include your name, photos, chat messages, or any location data. We use this data only to diagnose and fix problems.

What we do not collect

No GPS or precise location.
No email address, phone number or password (sign-in is anonymous).
No contacts, calendar, or social-media account data.
No advertising identifiers and no cross-app tracking.

3. How we use your information

To run the core feature: detecting nearby users and showing you a filtered list of people who match your preferences.
To form matches and enable chat when two people opt in.
To confirm you are 18 or older.
To send the notifications you have enabled.
To operate safety features (blocking, reporting) and to investigate abuse.
To operate the referral feature and prevent its abuse.
To analyse and improve the app.
To diagnose crashes and keep the app stable.
To comply with our legal obligations.

4. Legal bases (GDPR)

Where the EU/UK General Data Protection Regulation applies, we rely on:

Performance of a contract — to provide the app's core functionality you ask us to provide (proximity discovery, matching, chat).
Consent — for optional features such as push notifications and, where required, certain analytics; you can withdraw consent at any time (for example in your device settings or the app's notification settings).
Legitimate interests — to keep the service safe and secure, prevent abuse, and improve the app, balanced against your rights.
Legal obligation — where we must retain or disclose data to comply with the law.

Some of the information you provide (such as data revealing sexual orientation that can be inferred from a dating profile) may be considered a special category of personal data. We process it only to provide the service you have explicitly chosen to use.

5. How your information is shared

With other users

Other users can see the profile you create — your display name, age, gender, tagline, bio and photos — when the app's visibility and matching rules surface you to them. They cannot see your date of birth, your preferences, your device identifiers, or who else you have been near. Your visibility is server-controlled: an invisible (browsing) user is not shown to others until they choose to reveal themselves.

With service providers

We use trusted providers to run the app. They process data on our behalf under contract:

Provider	Purpose
Google Firebase (Authentication, Firestore, Cloud Functions, Cloud Storage, Cloud Messaging)	Anonymous accounts, database, server logic, photo storage, and push delivery
Google Analytics for Firebase	Privacy-preserving usage analytics (no advertising identifiers)
Google Firebase Crashlytics	Crash reporting and stability diagnostics
Apple (Apple Push Notification service)	Delivering notifications to your device

We do not sell your personal data, and we do not share it with advertisers.

For legal and safety reasons

We may disclose information if required by law, or where necessary to investigate, prevent, or act on suspected abuse, fraud, or threats to the safety of any person.

6. International transfers

Your data is stored primarily in Google's European region. Our service providers (Google and Apple) may process data in other countries; where they do, they rely on appropriate safeguards such as the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses.

7. How long we keep it

Your profile and account data are kept while your account exists.
Proximity sightings are short-lived and are automatically deleted after a short period.
Matches and chat messages are deleted when a match ends or expires.
When you reset or delete your account in the app, we delete your profile, photos, likes, matches, chats and related data.
We may retain limited records where necessary to comply with legal obligations or to enforce our Terms (for example, records of serious abuse).

8. Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or export your personal data, to object to or restrict certain processing, and to withdraw consent. You can:

edit your profile at any time in the app;
delete all of your data using Reset account in the app;
control notifications in the app's settings and your device settings;
contact us at privacy@sparqdating.app to exercise any other right.

If you are in the EU/EEA, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. In the Netherlands this is the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens.

9. Security

Sensitive operations run on our servers, not on other users' devices: your visibility choices, identity resolution, matching and messaging are server-controlled, and the Bluetooth tokens your device broadcasts rotate and cannot be tied to you off-device. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we take reasonable measures to protect your information.

10. Children

sparq is strictly for adults. You must be 18 or older to use it. We do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 18; if we learn that we have, we will delete it.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will revise the “Last updated” date above and, where appropriate, notify you in the app.

12. Contact

Questions or requests: privacy@sparqdating.app.