Privacy Policy
Effective Date: To be set upon launch
Our Promise
Your data is not our product. We are funded by subscriptions and contextual advertising—not by selling your personal information. We will never sell, lease, or broker your data to third parties. Privacy features like incognito mode, location fuzzing, and expiring photos are free. Always.
1. Who We Are
Kubo is operated by Kubo Dating LLC, a New York limited liability company.
- Contact Email: privacy@kubo.so
- Mailing Address: Kubo Dating LLC, 99 Wall Street #1026, New York, NY 10005
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you use the Kubo mobile application and related services (collectively, the "Service").
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide
| Data Type | Examples | Why We Need It |
|---|---|---|
| Account Information | Phone number, email address, date of birth | Account creation, age verification, account recovery |
| Profile Information | Display name, photos, bio, height, relationship goals, interests | Display your profile to other users |
| Location Data | Precise location (when granted), city/region | Show nearby users, distance calculations |
| Communications | Messages, chat content, reports | Deliver messages, enforce community guidelines |
| Payment Information | Processed by Apple (App Store) or Google (Play Store) | We do not store credit card numbers |
2.2 Information We Collect Automatically
| Data Type | Examples | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Device Information | Device model, operating system, unique device identifiers | Security, fraud prevention, app optimization |
| Usage Data | Features used, time spent, interaction patterns | Improve the Service, fix bugs |
| Log Data | IP address, access times, error logs | Security, troubleshooting |
What We Don't Collect
We do not collect your contacts, browsing history outside Kubo, or create behavioral profiles for ad targeting. We do not use tracking pixels or share data with ad networks.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Provide the Service: Create your account, display your profile, show you nearby users, deliver messages
- Ensure Safety: Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, spam, and illegal content including CSAM
- Improve Kubo: Analyze aggregate usage patterns to fix bugs and develop new features
- Communicate: Send service-related notifications (e.g., matches, messages, security alerts)
- Legal Compliance: Comply with applicable laws, respond to legal requests
What We Will Never Do
- Sell your personal data to third parties
- Share your profile with advertising networks
- Use your data for behavioral ad targeting
- Create shadow profiles or collect data you didn't explicitly provide
4. How We Share Your Information
4.1 With Other Users
Your profile information (display name, photos, bio, etc.) is visible to other users based on your privacy settings. If you enable Incognito Mode, your profile is only visible to users you've signaled interest in.
4.2 With Service Providers
We share limited data with service providers who help us operate Kubo:
| Provider Type | Purpose | Data Shared |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Infrastructure | Store and process data | Encrypted account and content data |
| Photo Storage | Store user photos | Photos only (no profile metadata) |
| Content Moderation | Detect illegal content (CSAM) | Photo hashes only (not actual images for matching) |
| Analytics | Aggregate usage metrics | Anonymized, aggregated data only |
All service providers are contractually bound to use data only for providing services to us and to maintain appropriate security measures.
4.3 For Legal Reasons
We may disclose your information if required by law or in good faith belief that such disclosure is necessary to:
- Comply with legal obligations (subpoenas, court orders)
- Report child sexual abuse material to NCMEC as required by 18 U.S.C. § 2258A
- Protect the safety of any person
- Prevent fraud or abuse of our Service
4.4 Business Transfers
If Kubo Dating LLC is acquired or merged with another company, your information may be transferred. We will notify you before your personal information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
5. Advertising
Kubo displays contextual advertisements to free-tier users. Here's how we handle ads:
Our Advertising Promise
- Contextual Only: Ads are based on the section of the app you're in—not your profile, messages, or behavior
- No Tracking: We do not use tracking pixels or share data with ad networks
- LGBTQ+ Friendly: We only partner with advertisers who are affirming and respectful
- Non-Intrusive: 2-3 ads per session maximum, clearly labeled as "Sponsored"
- Aggregate Only: Advertisers receive only aggregate statistics (impressions, clicks)—never individual data
- Opt Out: Premium subscription removes all advertisements
6. Data Retention
| Data Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Active account data | Until you delete your account |
| Messages | Until deleted by sender or recipient, or account deletion |
| Expiring photos | 24 hours after sending (automatically deleted) |
| Deleted account data | 30 days (for account recovery), then permanently deleted |
| Content flagged for legal review | As required by law (minimum 1 year for CSAM reports) |
| Anonymized analytics | Indefinitely (cannot be linked to individuals) |
7. Your Privacy Rights
7.1 All Users
- Access: Request a copy of your personal data
- Correction: Update inaccurate information via the app
- Deletion: Delete your account and associated data
- Download: Export your data in a portable format
7.2 California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)
If you are a California resident, you have additional rights:
- Right to Know: Request disclosure of personal information collected, used, and shared
- Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
- Right to Opt-Out of Sale: We do not sell personal information, so this does not apply
- Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights
To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@kubo.so or use the in-app privacy settings.
7.3 Response Time
We will respond to verified requests within 45 days. If we need more time, we will notify you.
8. Security
We implement industry-standard security measures:
- Encryption in Transit: All data transmitted using TLS 1.3
- Encryption at Rest: Stored data encrypted using AES-256
- Access Controls: Strict employee access policies with audit logging
- Regular Audits: Security assessments and penetration testing
- Location Fuzzing: Your precise location is never revealed to other users—we show approximate distance only
No system is 100% secure. If we discover a breach affecting your data, we will notify you as required by law.
9. Privacy Features (Free for All Users)
These features are available to all users at no cost:
- Incognito Mode: Browse without appearing in others' feeds; only visible to users you signal
- Location Fuzzing: Other users see approximate distance (e.g., "2 miles away"), never your exact coordinates
- Expiring Photos: Send photos that automatically delete after 24 hours
- Block & Report: Instantly block users and report violations
10. Children's Privacy
Kubo is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we discover that we have collected information from a minor, we will delete it immediately and terminate the account.
If you believe a minor is using Kubo, please report it to safety@kubo.so.
11. International Users
Kubo is operated from the United States. If you access Kubo from outside the US, your data will be transferred to and processed in the US. By using Kubo, you consent to this transfer.
We currently focus on the US market. If we expand to the EU, we will update this policy to comply with GDPR.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes:
- We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top
- We will notify you in-app or via email before changes take effect
- Material changes require your acknowledgment before continued use
13. Contact Us
For privacy-related questions or to exercise your rights:
- Email: privacy@kubo.so
- Mail: Kubo Dating LLC, Attn: Privacy, 99 Wall Street #1026, New York, NY 10005
We aim to respond to all inquiries within 5 business days.