Privacy Policy
1. Introduction and scope
This Privacy Policy describes how Schwartz Entertainment LLC ("HOWHOT", "we", "us") processes personal information in connection with the HOWHOT service (the "Service"). It applies to information collected through the Service and does not apply to any third-party website, application, or service, including those of the payment processor and other providers referenced below, each of which is governed by its own privacy terms for which we are not responsible. By using the Service you acknowledge the practices described in this Policy. The Service is provided for personal, entertainment purposes only.
2. Information we collect
Information you provide. Account registration information (first name, email address or third-party sign-in identifier, date of birth, and gender); the single photograph you elect to submit for rating; messages and message requests you send; reports you file; and communications you send to support.
Information generated through use of the Service. Ratings you give and receive, aggregate scores, connection and block events, subscription status, and related activity records.
Information collected automatically. Device and log information, such as IP address, device and browser type, application version, and timestamps, collected for security, fraud and abuse prevention, and service operation.
Payment information. Payments are processed by Stripe, Inc. We do not collect, receive, or store payment card numbers. We receive only limited subscription status information and a customer reference from the processor.
Verification imagery. If you elect to use photo verification, the verification image is used for the sole purpose of comparison against your profile photograph and is not retained after the comparison is completed.
We do not collect precise geolocation and we do not knowingly use third-party advertising trackers within the Service.
3. How we use information
We may use the information described above to: provide, operate, and maintain the Service, including presenting your photograph for rating and computing aggregate scores; verify eligibility, including minimum age; administer subscriptions and process transactions through our payment processor; deliver notifications and service communications you have enabled; maintain safety and integrity of the Service, including moderation, enforcement of our Terms, and prevention of fraud, manipulation, and abuse; respond to support requests; and comply with applicable legal obligations. We may create and use aggregated or de-identified information that does not identify you for any lawful purpose.
4. How information is shared
We do not sell personal information, and we do not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising, as those terms are defined under applicable U.S. state privacy laws.
Information may be shared only in the following circumstances:
With other users, as the Service is designed to function. Your photograph, first name, and age are visible to other users within the rating experience. Ratings are submitted anonymously; however, if you assign one of the two highest ratings to another user, you may be identified to that user as an admirer where that user holds a paid subscription. Submitting such a rating constitutes your consent to that disclosure. Messages are visible to their participants.
With service providers. We use a limited number of infrastructure providers that process information on our behalf and under contractual restrictions, including database and application hosting, media storage, payment processing, and email delivery. These providers are permitted to process information only as necessary to provide their services to us.
For legal, safety, and compliance purposes. We may disclose information where we believe in good faith that disclosure is required by law, subpoena, or legal process, or is reasonably necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of users, the public, or the Service, to enforce our Terms, or to detect and prevent fraud or security issues.
In connection with a business transaction. If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, or sale of assets, information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to this Policy or a successor policy.
5. Data storage and security
The Service does not operate proprietary data centers; information is stored and processed by the infrastructure providers described above in the United States. We employ commercially reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect personal information, including encryption in transit and at rest, access controls, and storage of photographs in non-public locations accessible only through expiring, signed links. However, no method of transmission or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure, and we cannot and do not warrant the security of any information. Any transmission of information to or through the Service is at your own risk. Where notification of a security incident is required by applicable law, we will provide such notification in the manner the law requires.
6. Retention and account deletion
Personal information is retained while your account is active and thereafter only as described in this section.
Account deletion. You may delete your account at any time in Settings. Upon deletion of your account, your profile is removed from the Service immediately, and all data associated with your account — including your photograph, profile information, ratings, and messages — is automatically deleted from our production database within 48 hours.
Limited exceptions. We may retain certain information after account deletion solely to the extent necessary to: comply with legal, tax, and accounting obligations (for example, transaction records held by or derived from our payment processor); enforce previously issued suspensions or bans and prevent banned users from re-registering; resolve disputes existing at the time of deletion; and maintain routine encrypted backups, which expire and are overwritten on a rolling basis within 30 days. Information retained under these exceptions remains subject to this Policy and is not used for any other purpose.
7. Your choices and rights
Depending on your state or country of residence, you may have rights to request access to, correction of, a copy of, or deletion of your personal information, and to receive information about our processing. Requests may be submitted to support@howhot.app from the email address associated with your account. We may take reasonable steps to verify your identity before acting on a request, and we may decline requests where permitted or required by law, including requests that cannot be verified or that would adversely affect the rights of others. We do not discriminate against users for exercising privacy rights. Because we do not sell personal information or process it for cross-context behavioral advertising, no opt-out of such activities is necessary.
You may also control notifications in Settings, delete your photograph at any time (which removes it from rating), and decline optional features such as verification.
8. Age restriction
The Service is restricted to individuals 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we become aware that an account belongs to a person under 18, we terminate the account and delete its data in accordance with Section 6.
9. International use
The Service is operated from the United States and information is processed and stored in the United States. If you access the Service from another jurisdiction, you do so on your own initiative and consent to the transfer, processing, and storage of your information in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those of your jurisdiction.
10. Changes to this Policy
We may modify this Policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date above reflects the current version. Material changes will be announced within the Service before they take effect, and your continued use of the Service after the effective date constitutes acknowledgment of the revised Policy.
11. Contact
All privacy inquiries and requests: support@howhot.app. Operated by Schwartz Entertainment LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company.