Privacy Policy
App: Dear - AI Couple Counselor
Developer: seungHo Hyun
Effective date: April 20, 2026
Last updated: April 20, 2026
This Privacy Policy describes how Dear - AI Couple Counselor ("the App", "we", "us") collects, uses, and protects your information when you use the App. By installing or using the App, you agree to the practices described below.
1. Information We Collect
We collect the minimum information necessary to operate the App's features.
a. Account information (via Google Sign-In)
- Unique user ID (UID), email address, display name, profile photo URL
b. Onboarding profile (provided voluntarily by you)
- Personality, values, communication style, love language, conflict points, date of birth (for fortune features), and other relationship profile data you enter during the 8-step onboarding
c. Couple and content data
- Couple invitation code and couple ID
- Q&A questions and answers you write or receive
- Counseling messages ("Heart Mail") and chat messages sent between you and your partner
- Calendar events (anniversaries, birthdays, D-Day, etc.)
d. Device and technical information
- Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) registration token for push notifications
- Advertising ID (for Google AdMob rewarded ads)
- App version, OS version, device model, language setting, crash and diagnostic logs
e. Subscription and purchase information
- Purchase token, product ID, and subscription status (processed by Google Play Billing; we do not receive or store your credit card number)
f. Authentication-related data
- Biometric authentication (fingerprint/face) is processed entirely on your device by the Android system. We do not collect or transmit biometric data.
2. How We Use Your Information
- To create and maintain your account, match you with your partner, and route you to the correct screen
- To generate recommended questions, message rephrasing ("Heart Mail"), and fortune content
- To deliver push notifications (new questions, new answers, couple matching events)
- To provide and verify premium subscription benefits
- To display rewarded ads to non-premium users
- To diagnose crashes, prevent abuse, and improve the App
- To comply with applicable laws
3. Third-Party Services
We rely on the following third-party services. Each has its own privacy policy governing how they process data.
- Firebase Authentication, Cloud Firestore, Cloud Messaging, Analytics (Google LLC) — account auth, data storage, push notifications, usage analytics. Firebase Privacy
- Google Sign-In & Credential Manager (Google LLC) — sign-in. Google Privacy
- Google Gemini API (Google LLC) — content generation service used to produce recommended questions, rephrased messages, and fortune content. Text you submit for these features is transmitted to this service for processing and is not used by us to train models. Gemini API Terms
- Google AdMob (Google LLC) — rewarded ads. AdMob may collect the advertising ID and limited device information. AdMob Privacy
- Google Play Billing (Google LLC) — subscription purchases. Play Billing Terms
4. Data Sharing
We do not sell your personal information. We share data only in these cases:
- With your partner: Couple content (Q&A answers, Heart Mail messages, shared calendar events) is visible to the partner linked by the same couple ID. This is the core purpose of the App.
- With service providers listed in Section 3, strictly to operate the App
- When required by law, valid legal process, or to protect rights, safety, and property
5. Data Retention
- Account and profile data: retained until you delete your account
- Couple content (Q&A, messages, calendar): retained until you or your partner delete it, or until the account is deleted
- Local message cache (Room DB): stored only on your device and can be cleared by clearing app data
- Crash and analytics logs: retained according to Firebase's default retention
Upon account deletion, we delete or anonymize your personal data within a reasonable period, except where retention is required by law.
6. Data Security
- Transport is encrypted via HTTPS/TLS
- Counseling messages are encrypted on-device using AndroidX Security Crypto before being cached locally
- Authentication is handled by Firebase Auth and Google Credential Manager
- Biometric unlock is processed locally by the Android OS; no biometric template leaves your device
- Access to backend data is restricted by Firestore security rules
No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
7. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction (including the EEA/UK under GDPR and California under CCPA/CPRA), you may have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you
- Request correction or deletion
- Object to or restrict certain processing
- Withdraw consent at any time
- Data portability
- Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority
You can exercise most rights directly in the App (edit profile, delete content, or use the Withdraw Membership option in Settings) or by emailing the contact below.
8. Children's Privacy
The App is intended for users aged 16 and older and is not directed to children under 13 (or the equivalent minimum age in your jurisdiction, such as 16 in the EEA). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under this age. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
9. International Data Transfers
The App relies on Google Cloud infrastructure. Your information may be processed in countries other than your own, including the United States. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as Google's Standard Contractual Clauses.
10. Permissions
- Internet — required to communicate with Firebase, Gemini, and AdMob
- Notifications — to deliver FCM push notifications (you may disable in system settings)
- Biometric (USE_BIOMETRIC) — optional app-lock feature
- Billing — required by Google Play Billing for subscriptions
11. Account Deletion
You can delete your account and all associated personal data at any time from within the App by using the Withdraw Membership option in Settings. Withdrawal removes your profile, Q&A history, messages, calendar events, couple link, and subscription records held by the App within a reasonable period. If you prefer, you can also request deletion by emailing the address in Section 13.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be announced within the App or on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Continued use of the App after the changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
13. Contact
For questions, requests, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact: