Privacy policy

Controller and contact

Zeitverlag AG, as operator of passion4u at passion4u.ch, is responsible for data processing.

Which personal data is collected?

We process personal data only insofar as this is necessary for providing our services, communication between members, security and abuse prevention, contract performance, compliance with legal obligations, or, where required, based on your consent.

• Automatically collected technical data: IP address, date/time, browser, operating system, referrer URL, basic log data.
• Usage data: login information, session IDs, profile views, interactions (e.g. likes), security and error logs.
• Content data: profile information (e.g. gender, interests), photos, descriptive texts, messages/communication on the platform.
• Payment data (for Premium): name, email, payment ID/transaction; no full payment instruments are stored by us.
• Communication data: inquiries via forms, support emails, feedback.
• Voluntarily provided data: information submitted via forms (e.g. name, email, message).

Purpose of processing

• Provision, operation, and security of the portal (including abuse and fraud prevention).
• Management of user accounts, profile content, and interactions.
• Contract performance and payment processing (Premium memberships).
• Communication with members (support, responses to inquiries, important information).
• Compliance with legal obligations (e.g. commercial and tax retention duties).

Legal basis

Depending on the purpose, processing is based on the following legal basis:

• Contract / use of the platform: processing for registration, account management, communication, and delivery of booked services.
• Legitimate interests: processing for security, fraud and abuse prevention, and platform stability.
• Consent: where consent is required, we obtain it before the corresponding processing.
• Legal obligations: processing to comply with legal retention and evidence obligations.

Visibility of profiles and photos

Profile information and media may be shown to other registered members to the extent provided by your settings. Photos and videos are not publicly visible on the web and are not part of publicly accessible search engine content. We use location data for matching, search, and regional visibility only in line with your settings.

Visibility overview

Location data and regional features

For regional features, we process location information with particular care and as data-efficiently as possible.

• Stored profile location information generally includes postal code, city, country, and an internal geo reference. A continuous exact GPS location history is not maintained in the profile.
• Automatic location updates can optionally be made via your end device. In this case, device coordinates may be processed to determine a suitable location reference.
• Location information may be shown to other members in simplified form (e.g. city/country or distance information), depending on features, access rights, and your settings.
• Location information may be used for matching, search, and regional sorting, especially for relevance and ordering of suggestions.
• You can control visibility and use via available privacy and profile settings (e.g. pause profile, appear in matching, allow messages; additional location privacy depending on account type).
• As part of your profile data, location details are generally stored as long as your account is active and removed after account deletion according to the periods stated there. Time-limited travel locations are reset automatically after expiry.

Matching and personalized suggestions

We use certain profile details, interests, settings, and interactions to suggest suitable profiles, contacts, or content. In particular, this may include your search criteria, interests, contact requests, activities, and interactions. This evaluation is used for personalization within the platform and for ranking suggestions in relevant areas.

Person verification and authenticity checks

If you use person verification, we process verification data to check profile authenticity and reduce abuse.

• In the current process, one verification photo is processed. This photo is intended to show the face and ID photo in the required challenge position.
• A verification video is not part of the current verification flow.
• Verification photos may contain biometric characteristics (e.g. facial features). Automated biometric identification for autonomous decision-making is not part of the current flow.
• Approval or rejection is performed by authorized admins as part of verification review.
• Verification images are stored in a protected, non-public area and are not visible to regular member access.
• We also store verification status and review metadata (e.g. pending/approved/rejected, challenge key, review timestamp, review reason).
• Verification images and ID details are not shown to other members. Only verification status (e.g. verified/partially verified) is visible in dedicated areas.
• Temporary upload files are removed after successful finalization or aborted upload; remaining temporary files are cleaned up in periodic storage cleanup runs after the technical retention period expires (currently 4 hours). With a new submission, the previously active verification image of the same type is marked as deleted in verification records and replaced with the new image. For finally stored verification images, there is currently no single fixed day-based hard-deletion period; further retention depends on verification purpose and security requirements.

Messages and communication

Messages between members are generally visible only to members involved in that conversation. Access by authorized staff may be required, in particular to review reported content as well as in abuse or security incidents.

• For moderation purposes, messages can be filtered and prioritized in internal review views based on defined keywords. Final evaluation and possible measures are carried out by authorized persons.
• Messages and attachments are stored as part of the communication feature. Deleted content is first marked as deleted and then permanently removed as part of technical cleanup processes (currently 60 days after deletion marking).

Sensitive personal data

Certain details voluntarily provided by users on passion4u may contain sensitive personal data or allow conclusions about intimate life. This may include, in particular, sexual orientation, sexual interests, or personal relationship model. Such information may arise, for example, from profile details, photos, messages, or preferences.

• This information is generally voluntary. You decide which content you share in your profile, messages, and preferences.
• We process this data only for clearly defined purposes such as account management, matching features, communication, and abuse prevention.
• Access to such data is limited to authorized persons and systems; access is protected and logged.
• Disclosure only takes place if strictly necessary for operation (e.g. hosting, mail, payments) or if required by law.
• You can use visibility settings as well as adjust or remove content and delete your account according to available functions.

Payment providers

For payment processing, we use external payment providers depending on the selected payment method (for example: PayPal, Stripe, Banküberweisung und Kryptozahlungen (je nach Anbieter und Land)). During a payment transaction, the data required for payment processing is transmitted to the respective payment service provider. Processing is carried out according to its own privacy policy.

The specific countries and processing locations involved depend on the payment product used and the contractual framework of the respective payment service provider.

Third-party providers

We transparently inform you about which data we share with service providers and for which purposes. The following overview shows the core providers configured in the application.

Google Maps is loaded only after your consent. Details on data processing can be found in the Google Maps section.

Data transfers abroad

Platform data is stored and processed in Switzerland. Exceptions apply to explicitly integrated external services, especially for map functions, payment processing, and email delivery via the configured mail transport (OptimaNet Schweiz AG (Hostfactory); Schweiz). Details on Google Maps can be found in the Google Maps section, and details on payment processing in the Payment providers section. Where service providers process personal data on our behalf, we remain responsible for compliant data processing. If personal data is disclosed abroad to a greater extent in the future, we will update this privacy policy and provide information about the relevant recipients, countries, and applicable data protection safeguards.

Google Maps

We use Google Maps to display maps in location-related features, in particular in the Nearby map.

• Google Maps is loaded only after you have consented to map-related cookies.
• When loading and using the map feature, a direct connection to Google is established. Technical connection data (e.g. IP address and browser/device information) and location/coordinate data required for the map feature may be processed.
• For map display, marker data such as profile name, profile link, profile photo URL, and coordinates are processed in the browser.
• Google processes this data according to its own privacy rules. Further information is available in Google's privacy policy. Message content and verification documents are not part of this Maps integration.

Technically necessary cookies

We use technically necessary cookies for secure and stable operation of the website. Optional external maps are activated only after your consent. We do not use marketing cookies.

Cookies

Data security

Data transfers are encrypted via SSL/TLS. Access is protected and logged; technical and organizational measures are implemented in line with the state of the art.

Retention and deletion

• Data is deleted as soon as it is no longer required for the stated purposes.
• Business and booking-relevant documents are retained within the scope of legal retention obligations; for certain documents, the legal retention period under the Swiss Code of Obligations (CO) is generally 10 years.
• After account deletion, your account is deactivated and your profile is hidden in active areas. Communication data is removed once marked as deleted; technical cleanup is performed in periodic cleanup runs (currently 60 days after deletion marking), unless legal retention obligations or legitimate security interests require otherwise.
• Security/error logs: short, purpose-limited retention periods (operationally required).

Your rights

You may exercise the following data subject rights. We respond to requests within a reasonable timeframe.

• Access to personal data concerning you.
• Correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Deletion, provided no statutory obligations prevent this.
• Restriction of processing in cases provided by law.
• Withdrawal of given consent with effect for the future.
• Provision of selected data in a common format (where applicable).

You can send privacy requests to info@passion4u.ch. Please describe your concern as specifically as possible. To prevent unauthorized disclosure of personal data, we may require suitable information to identify or verify your identity.

Changes

We may update this privacy policy at any time. The current version on this website applies. Material changes are indicated on this page.