Privacy

What we collect, and what we don't

Last updated 22 October 2026

This is the plain-language version of how Pheromone handles your data. We're a small team building a dating app and we'd rather lose users than abuse trust. Pheromone Ltd (company number 16692722, 11 Monaco Drive, Manchester, M22 4FG) is the data controller.

What we collect

When you sign in with Google or Apple, we receive your email address, name and profile photo. As you fill in your profile, we also collect:

• Your age, gender and what you're looking for
• Photos and prompts you choose to share
• Approximate location, rounded to about 1 km. We never store your exact coordinates on your profile
• If you choose to share live location with a match before a date, your position for that share only. It expires automatically, and your match sees your exact spot only when you're within 300 m
• If you verify your profile, a selfie. It is compared with your profile photo and deleted straight after the check; we keep only the result
• Venue check-ins, when you scan a venue's QR code
• Your match preferences and swipe activity
• Messages you send to other users
• Reports and blocks you make

What we don't collect or do

• We don't track your activity outside Pheromone.
• We don't sell your data, ever.
• We don't use your conversations to train AI models.
• We don't share your data with advertisers.
• We don't share your check-ins with venues by name. Venues see counts and times, not who you are.

How we use it

• Matching. To find compatible profiles based on interests, personality and location.
• Perks. To show offers from venues within about 8 km of your approximate location.
• Moderation. AI-assisted screening of photos and messages for harassment and abuse, with people reviewing every report.
• Verification. An AI check that your selfie matches your profile photo. This is not a biometric template and nothing about your face is stored.
• Improving the product. Aggregated, anonymised usage figures, not individual behaviour.
• Keeping you signed in. Standard sign-in tokens.

Our legal bases are performing our contract with you (running the service), your consent (live location, selfie verification) and our legitimate interest in keeping the service safe (moderation).

Where your data lives

Pheromone runs on Google Cloud (Firebase, in the europe-west2 region in London). Data is encrypted in transit and at rest. AI features (moderation, verification, compatibility, icebreakers and date ideas) run on Google's Gemini models through Google Cloud Vertex AI. They receive only what each check needs, such as the message, photo, bio or interests being checked, never your email address, and Google does not use it to train its models.

How long we keep it

We keep your account data while your account is open. When you delete your account, your profile, photos, matches and messages are deleted. We may keep reports about serious safety issues for longer where the law requires it or to stop banned users returning.

Your rights

Under UK GDPR you can:

• Get a copy of your data: email support@pheromonedating.com
• Correct your data, from your profile in the app
• Delete your account and all associated data: Settings › Account actions › Delete account (see Support)
• Object to AI-assisted moderation, in which case we'll moderate manually: slower, but human
• Complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk

The waitlist on this website

If you join the waitlist, we store your email address and the date you signed up, and use it only to tell you when Pheromone launches. To be removed, email support@pheromonedating.com.

Cookies & storage

The app uses cookies and local storage to keep you signed in and remember your preferences. This website sets no cookies of its own.

Children

Pheromone is for adults aged 18 and over. We don't knowingly collect data from anyone under 18, and we delete accounts we find belong to under-18s.

Changes

If we change anything material, we'll tell you in the app at least 14 days before it takes effect.

Contact

Questions, concerns or data requests: support@pheromonedating.com.