Data Retention Policy
At LoveLink, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring your personal information is handled responsibly. This Data Retention Policy outlines how long we retain different categories of user data, why we retain it, and how you can manage or request the deletion of your information. This policy works in conjunction with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
1. Overview of Our Retention Approach
We follow a principle of data minimization and purpose limitation. We only retain personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Once the retention period expires, data is either securely deleted or permanently anonymized so that it can no longer be associated with you.
2. Retention Periods by Data Category
The table below details the standard retention periods for the main categories of data we process on behalf of LoveLink users:
| Data Category | Retention Period | Purpose / Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Account & Profile Information | Active period + 30 days post-deactivation | Service delivery, account recovery, security verification |
| Messages & Chat History | 2 years from last activity | Community safety, harassment reporting, user experience |
| AI Matching & Behavioral Logs | 1 year from last interaction | Algorithm training, service improvement, compatibility scoring |
| Photos & Media Uploads | Until manually deleted + 90 days grace period | Profile display, content moderation, copyright compliance |
| Payment & Transaction Records | 7 years | Tax compliance, financial auditing, dispute resolution |
| Video Chat Metadata & Logs | 6 months (recordings only stored if explicitly consented) | Technical troubleshooting, safety investigations |
| Cookies & Device Identifiers | 13 months standard (or per consent settings) | Analytics, session management, fraud prevention |
3. Why We Retain Data
Data is retained for the following core reasons:
- Service Continuity: Maintaining active accounts, preferences, and connection history.
- Legal & Regulatory Compliance: Adhering to tax, financial, consumer protection, and data protection laws (GDPR, CCPA, etc.).
- Safety & Trust: Investigating reports of abuse, fraud, or policy violations within our community.
- Product Improvement: Anonymized aggregate data helps refine our AI matching algorithms and platform features.
- Business Operations: Processing payments, managing subscriptions, and providing customer support.
4. User Rights & Control
You maintain control over your data throughout your time on LoveLink and beyond. Depending on your jurisdiction, you may exercise the following rights:
- Access & Portability: Request a copy of your personal data in a structured, machine-readable format.
- Correction: Update or rectify inaccurate profile or account information at any time.
- Deletion: Request erasure of your data, subject to legal retention requirements.
- Restriction: Limit how we process your data while a deletion request or dispute is under review.
- Withdrawal of Consent: Opt out of marketing communications or optional data processing at any time.
5. How to Request Data Deletion
You can manage your data retention preferences directly in your account settings under Privacy → Data Management. To submit a formal deletion or erasure request:
- Email: privacy@lovelink.com
- Use the Data Request Portal linked in your account dashboard
- Mailing: LoveLink Privacy Office, 100 Relationship Way, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94105
We will acknowledge your request within 5 business days and process it within 30 days, or longer if legally justified. You will receive written confirmation once your data has been securely erased or anonymized.
6. Legal Holds & Exceptions
We may extend retention periods or suspend deletion requests when required to:
- Comply with court orders, subpoenas, or government investigations
- Preserve evidence of terms of service violations, fraud, or threats to user safety
- Maintain financial, tax, or employment records as mandated by applicable law
- Resolve ongoing disputes or chargeback investigations
If a legal hold applies to your account, we will notify you where legally permissible and document the specific data affected and the expected resolution timeline.
7. Compliance & Security Standards
LoveLink adheres to internationally recognized data protection frameworks, including GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, and ISO/IEC 27001. All retained data is encrypted at rest and in transit, access-controlled, and subject to regular third-party security audits. Anonymized datasets used for AI training contain no personally identifiable information and cannot be reversed to identify individual users.
8. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Data Retention Policy to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. Material changes will be communicated via email, in-app notification, or posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Continued use of LoveLink services constitutes acknowledgment of these updates.
9. Contact Our Privacy Team
If you have questions about how we retain your data, wish to exercise your rights, or need assistance with a deletion request, please contact our Data Protection Officer:
Privacy & Compliance Team
Email: privacy@lovelink.com
Phone: +1 (800) 555-0192
Response Time: Within 2 business days