Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

Bloom App Services (ABN 83 684 743 288) (“Bloom”, “we”) operates bloomapp.com.au and the Bloom apps for people in Australia and New Zealand. This policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share personal information. We handle it under the Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and, for members in New Zealand, the Information Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 2020 (NZ).

Privacy questions and requests: rachael@bloomapp.com.au. General support: hello@bloomapp.com.au.

2. Information we collect

• Account data: email, phone (if used), password hashes, display name, date of birth, gender, pronouns, photos, bio, preferences, and location (suburb/postcode or an approximate location you choose).
• Usage data: device and app info, IP address, logs, feature use, and reports you submit or that concern you.
• Messages and calls: direct message content, timestamps, and delivery status needed to provide chat. Voice and video calls are connected live and are not recorded by Bloom.
• Payments: plan type and subscription or purchase status. Card details are handled by our payment processors (Stripe and Airwallex); we never see or store full card numbers.
• Identity verification: when you choose to verify, Stripe Identity collects images of your ID and a selfie to confirm you are a real adult. We receive the verification result (whether it passed) and limited metadata, not a copy of your ID.
• Safety check-in contacts: if you use the optional check-in with a friend, you save up to three friends’ names, mobile numbers, and email addresses, and we record when each check-in starts and whether you tapped I’m OK. We only contact those friends if you don’t respond to a check-in, and we tell them you may need a hand — not who you met or where you are. Please let your friends know before you add them. You can remove them in Settings at any time.
• Business data: if you list a business or advertise — business name, contact details, location, creatives, and billing details.

3. Sensitive information

Because Bloom is an LGBTQ+ app, some of what you share is sensitive information under privacy law — for example your sexual orientation, gender identity, who you are interested in, and the biometric data used in an ID check. Simply being a member of Bloom may suggest your sexual orientation or gender identity.

We only collect sensitive information with your consent, which you give when you add it to your profile or choose to verify. We use it only to run Bloom (for example, to show you to the people you want to meet), keep it to the minimum needed, never use it for advertising targeting, and never sell it. You can change or remove profile details at any time.

4. How we use information

• Provide matching, messaging, Discover, Village, Seniors, events, and memberships
• Run safety features such as verification, blocking, reporting, and check-ins
• Process payments and prevent fraud or chargeback abuse
• Moderate safety reports and enforce our Terms and Guidelines
• Improve the product and send service messages
• Comply with law and protect rights and safety

Advertisers on Bloom never receive your personal information. Ads are shown in the Discover feed and are not targeted using your sexual orientation, gender identity, or messages.

5. Messages — storage, access, retention

Storage: Message content and related metadata are stored securely to provide messaging.

Access: We do not read private messages in normal operations. Authorised staff may review specific chats when a user reports harassment, abuse, or illegal activity, or when automated safety systems flag severe Terms violations.

Retention: After you delete your account, we generally remove your personal information from active systems within about 30 days, except where we must keep records (for example bans for serious misconduct, legal holds, or dispute resolution). Banned accounts may keep profile and related logs for longer to prevent re-registration and protect the community. See Delete your account.

6. Who we share information with

We share personal information only as needed to run Bloom:

• Service providers: Supabase (database, sign-in and file storage), Vercel (website hosting), Stripe and Airwallex (payments), Stripe Identity (ID checks), Resend (email), Cellcast (SMS), and LiveKit (voice and video calls). If you use the optional writing help for your profile, the text you enter is sent to an AI provider (OpenAI or Groq) to draft a suggestion; we do not send your messages, photos, or verification data.
• Other members: the profile information you choose to show (photos, bio, and so on).
• Law enforcement and regulators: when required by law or to protect someone’s safety.

We do not sell your personal information.

7. Storage outside Australia and New Zealand

Some of our service providers store or process information outside Australia and New Zealand, including in the United States and other countries where they operate. We choose providers with strong security practices and contractual privacy protections, and we take reasonable steps so your information is handled consistently with Australian and New Zealand privacy law.

8. Cookies and similar tech

We use cookies and similar technologies for login sessions, security, and basic site function. We also count which public pages are opened (the page name, how someone arrived, and whether they used a phone or a computer) so we can see website traffic. That count is not tied to your name. You can control cookies in your browser; some features may not work without them.

9. Security

We use industry-standard measures, including encryption in transit and access controls. No system is perfectly secure; please use a strong password and keep your devices updated. If a data breach is likely to cause you serious harm, we will tell you and the relevant regulator as the law requires.

10. Your rights

You can ask to access or correct your personal information, or ask us to delete your account, by emailing rachael@bloomapp.com.au. We aim to respond within 30 days. Some information may be kept where the law requires it or for legitimate safety reasons (see bans above).

If you have a complaint, email us first and we will try to resolve it. If you are not satisfied, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (oaic.gov.au) or, in New Zealand, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (privacy.org.nz).

11. Children

Bloom is for adults 18+. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has an account, report it in-app or email hello@bloomapp.com.au. See our Child safety standards.

12. Changes

We may update this policy. The “Last updated” date will change, and we will tell members about significant changes in the app or by email. See also our Terms of Service.