Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 2025  ·  Matched by Stars Pty Ltd (ABN pending)  ·  Adelaide, South Australia

1. Our Commitment to Privacy

Matched by Stars takes privacy seriously — not just because the law requires it, but because the nature of our service demands it. People share intimate details about themselves with us in order to find love. That trust is sacred. We treat it accordingly.

This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, and how we protect it. It applies to all users of matchedbystars.com.au and our matching services.

We comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of personal information:

• Identity information: Your name, date of birth, gender identity
• Contact information: Email address, location (suburb/region)
• Compatibility data: Answers to your compatibility questionnaire, including relationship goals, values, lifestyle preferences, personality indicators, and partner preferences
• Photo: Only collected at the introduction stage, with your explicit consent at that time
• Identity verification: Collected only when you choose to proceed with an introduction
• Communication: Messages sent through our contact form
• Technical data: IP address, browser type, pages visited (standard analytics)

We do not collect payment information unless you proceed to a paid service, at which point payment is handled by our secure third-party payment provider.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information solely for the following purposes:

• Running compatibility analysis to find your match
• Communicating with you about your account and potential matches
• Verifying your identity at the introduction stage
• Improving our matching algorithms and service quality
• Sending optional updates and insights (only if you opted in)
• Complying with legal obligations

We do not use your information for advertising. We do not sell your data. We do not share your data with third parties for their marketing purposes. Ever.

4. How We Protect Your Privacy

Our privacy protections include:

• Data splitting: Your compatibility profile is stored and processed in a way that ensures no single person on our team can access your complete profile without authorisation
• Anonymisation: Compatibility analysis is run on anonymised data sets where possible
• Photo consent: Your photo is never shared without your explicit, per-introduction consent
• No public profile: You will never appear in any search results or publicly visible profile
• Encryption: Data in transit is encrypted via HTTPS/TLS. Data at rest is encrypted.
• Access controls: Strict internal access controls limit who can see what

5. Who We Share Information With

We do not share your personal information with third parties except in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers: Trusted technical providers (hosting, email delivery) who are bound by confidentiality agreements and cannot use your data for any other purpose
• Legal requirements: If required by law, court order, or regulatory obligation
• Your consent: Any other sharing only with your explicit written consent

We never share your information with other Matched by Stars users without your consent. The only person who will ever know you're in our system is you — unless you choose to tell someone.

6. How Long We Keep Your Data

• If you delete your account, we delete your personal data within 30 days
• Anonymised statistical data may be retained for service improvement purposes
• Legal and financial records are retained as required by Australian law

7. Your Rights

Under Australian Privacy Law, you have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your account and personal data
• Opt out of marketing communications at any time
• Lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@matchedbystars.com.au or through our contact page. We will respond within 30 days.

8. Cookies

We use essential cookies to keep you logged in and maintain your session. We use analytics cookies (anonymised) to understand how people use the website. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies.

9. Children's Privacy

Our service is strictly for adults aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a minor, please contact us immediately.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify registered users of material changes by email. Continued use of the service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

For any privacy questions or concerns: privacy@matchedbystars.com.au

Matched by Stars Pty Ltd  ·  Adelaide, South Australia  ·  Australia