Privacy Policy

1. Who operates ZAWJ

ZAWJ is privately operated from Denmark.

The individual responsible for operating ZAWJ acts as the data controller for personal information processed through the service.

For questions about privacy or the use of personal information, contact:

2. Information we collect

To provide the matchmaking service, ZAWJ collects information provided during registration, profile creation and use of the service.

Account and contact information

This may include:

• Name
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Date of birth or age
• Gender
• Country, city or general location
• Account and verification information

Biodata and profile information

Users provide information relevant to finding a suitable spouse. Depending on the information provided, this may include:

• Marital status
• Education
• Profession and employment
• Family background
• Nationality and cultural background
• Languages
• Height and other personal characteristics
• Religious beliefs and level of religious practice
• Lifestyle information
• Marriage intentions
• Personal description
• Other information voluntarily provided as part of a biodata

Photos

Users may provide photographs as part of their biodata.

Photos are not uploaded for inclusion in a publicly searchable catalogue. They are handled as part of the private matchmaking process.

Partner preferences

Users may specify what they are looking for in a prospective spouse.

Preferences may include:

• Age range
• Location
• Education
• Profession
• Marital status
• Family background
• Cultural background
• Religious beliefs and practice
• Lifestyle
• Other characteristics considered important for marriage

These preferences help ZAWJ's matchmakers identify potentially suitable candidates.

Communications

ZAWJ may retain relevant information from communications between users and ZAWJ, including communications with matchmakers.

This may be necessary to manage introductions, provide support, resolve issues and maintain appropriate records of the matchmaking process.

Technical information

When the website or platform is used, certain technical information may be collected automatically, including:

• IP address
• Browser and device information
• Login activity
• Date and time of access
• Security and authentication information
• Technical logs
• Cookie information

3. Sensitive personal information

Matchmaking can involve information that GDPR classifies as special-category personal data.

In particular, information about religious beliefs is considered special-category personal data under GDPR.

Depending on what a person chooses to include in a biodata, other sensitive information may also be provided.

ZAWJ only processes such information where there is an appropriate legal basis for doing so.

Where required, ZAWJ will ask for explicit consent to process sensitive information for matchmaking purposes.

Sensitive information provided for matchmaking will not be treated as permission to use that information for unrelated purposes.

Where processing relies on consent, consent may be withdrawn at any time. Withdrawal does not affect processing that lawfully took place before consent was withdrawn.

4. How ZAWJ uses personal information

Personal information may be used to:

• Create and maintain an account
• Create and maintain a biodata
• Verify account and contact information
• Understand what a person is looking for in a spouse
• Allow matchmakers to review biodata
• Identify potentially suitable candidates
• Compare relevant preferences between potential candidates
• Facilitate appropriate introductions
• Communicate about the matchmaking process
• Provide support
• Protect the safety and integrity of the platform
• Prevent misuse, fraud or unauthorised access
• Maintain security and technical logs
• Improve the operation and reliability of ZAWJ
• Comply with applicable legal requirements
• Establish, exercise or defend legal claims where necessary

Personal information collected for matchmaking is not used to create a public candidate directory.

5. How matchmaking works

ZAWJ uses a matchmaker-led approach.

Registering with ZAWJ does not provide access to a catalogue of other candidates.

There is no public profile browsing or swiping.

Instead, users provide information about themselves and what they are looking for in a prospective spouse.

ZAWJ's matchmakers use this information to consider potentially suitable candidates.

Where there appears to be a suitable potential match, the matchmaker may approach the relevant parties to determine whether an introduction should proceed.

Registering with ZAWJ does not guarantee that a match or introduction will be found.

6. Legal basis for processing

Different types of personal information may be processed under different legal bases provided by GDPR.

Depending on the circumstances, these may include:

Contractual necessity

Processing necessary to provide the ZAWJ service requested by a user.

Consent

Processing carried out because a person has voluntarily agreed to it.

Explicit consent

Where required, explicit consent may be used for processing special-category information, including information concerning religious beliefs.

Legitimate interests

Certain processing may be necessary to operate, administer and secure ZAWJ, prevent misuse and protect the service and its users.

Legal obligations

Information may be processed where necessary to comply with applicable law.

7. Who can access personal information

Access to personal information is limited to people and service providers who reasonably require it for the operation of ZAWJ.

This may include:

• ZAWJ matchmakers
• People authorised to assist with operating or supporting ZAWJ
• Hosting and infrastructure providers
• Database and storage providers
• Email and communication providers
• Authentication and security providers
• Technical service providers
• Professional advisers where necessary
• Authorities where disclosure is legally required

Where third-party providers process information on behalf of ZAWJ, appropriate data protection arrangements will be used where required.

8. Profiles are not public

Creating a ZAWJ profile does not make that profile publicly searchable.

ZAWJ is not designed as a directory where registered users can browse through other candidates.

Profile information is primarily available to ZAWJ and the matchmakers responsible for providing the matchmaking service.

Information about a candidate may be disclosed to another prospective candidate when appropriate as part of the matchmaking and introduction process.

ZAWJ aims to limit such disclosure to information appropriate for that stage of the process.

9. Photos

Profile photos are treated as private personal information.

They are not intended to appear in a publicly searchable gallery or catalogue.

Photos may be used by ZAWJ's matchmakers as part of the matchmaking process and may be shared with a potential candidate when appropriate according to the introduction process.

Uploading a photograph does not give ZAWJ permission to use that photograph publicly for advertising, social media or promotional purposes.

Separate permission would be required for such use.

10. Family members and profiles created with assistance

In many families, a parent, guardian or other family member may be involved in initiating or assisting with the marriage process.

ZAWJ recognises that a person completing information on the platform may therefore sometimes be assisting another person.

Where personal information is provided about another adult, particularly sensitive information, the person providing it should have appropriate permission to do so.

Where required by data protection law, ZAWJ may need to contact or inform the person whose information has been provided and establish an appropriate basis for continuing to process that information.

11. Sharing information for an introduction

A core part of matchmaking involves sharing some information between prospective candidates.

Registration does not constitute permission for ZAWJ to distribute an entire biodata freely.

Instead, relevant information may be shared when a matchmaker identifies a potential introduction and considers it appropriate to progress the process.

Information should be shared progressively and appropriately according to the stage of the introduction.

Contact details or other private information are not automatically made available simply because two people may meet each other's preferences.

12. Automated matching

Technology may assist ZAWJ with organising biodata, applying preferences and identifying potentially relevant candidates.

However, ZAWJ is designed as a human-led matchmaking service.

Automated filtering or software may assist the process, but potential introductions are reviewed and handled by matchmakers.

ZAWJ does not intend to make decisions producing legal or similarly significant effects concerning users solely through automated processing.

13. We do not sell personal information

ZAWJ does not sell biodata, photographs, contact information or matchmaking preferences to advertisers, data brokers or other businesses for their own marketing purposes.

Candidate information is collected for operating the ZAWJ matchmaking service.

14. International data transfers

Some technology providers used to operate ZAWJ may store or process information outside Denmark or the European Economic Area (EEA).

Where personal information is transferred outside the EEA, ZAWJ will use appropriate safeguards where required by law.

These may include:

• A European Commission adequacy decision
• Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission
• Other legally recognised safeguards

Information about applicable international transfers may be requested by contacting ZAWJ.

15. How long information is kept

Personal information is kept only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected.

Information associated with an active account may be retained while the person continues to use ZAWJ's matchmaking service.

If an account is closed or deleted, personal information will be deleted or anonymised in accordance with ZAWJ's applicable retention procedures, except where some information needs to be retained for purposes such as:

• Legal obligations
• Fraud and abuse prevention
• Security
• Resolving disputes
• Establishing or defending legal claims

Backup copies may remain for a limited period before being automatically removed from backup systems.

16. Security

ZAWJ takes reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information.

Depending on the systems involved, these measures may include:

• Secure authentication
• Access controls
• Restricted administrative access
• Encryption where appropriate
• Secure hosting and storage
• Logging and monitoring
• Protection against unauthorised access
• Appropriate backup procedures

Access to biodata should be limited to people who require it for legitimate matchmaking, support or technical purposes.

No online system can guarantee absolute security, but ZAWJ aims to handle personal information with particular care because of the private nature of matchmaking information.

17. Your data protection rights

Under GDPR, individuals may have a number of rights concerning their personal information.

These include the right to:

Access

Request information about personal data held by ZAWJ and receive a copy where applicable.

Rectification

Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information.

Erasure

Request deletion of personal information in circumstances where the right applies.

Restriction

Request that processing of personal information be restricted in certain circumstances.

Data portability

Receive certain information in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format where the right applies.

Object

Object to certain processing based on legitimate interests.

Withdraw consent

Withdraw consent at any time where processing relies upon consent.

Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before consent was withdrawn.

Some rights are subject to conditions and exceptions under applicable law.

Requests can be made by contacting:

ZAWJ may need to verify the identity of the person making a request before providing or deleting personal information.

18. Account deletion

A user may request deletion of their ZAWJ account by contacting:

Where an account is deleted, it will no longer participate in active matchmaking.

Associated personal information will be deleted or anonymised subject to applicable legal, security and retention requirements.

If consent to process information essential to matchmaking is withdrawn, ZAWJ may no longer be able to provide the matchmaking service.

19. Marketing communications

ZAWJ may occasionally send information relating to the service.

Optional marketing communications will only be sent where permitted by applicable law and, where required, after appropriate consent has been obtained.

Recipients may unsubscribe from optional marketing communications at any time.

Important communications relating to an account, privacy, security or an active matchmaking process may still be sent where necessary.

20. Cookies

ZAWJ may use cookies and similar technologies required for the website and platform to function.

These may be used for purposes such as:

• Authentication
• Account sessions
• Security
• Remembering preferences
• Website functionality

If ZAWJ uses non-essential analytics, advertising or similar cookies, appropriate information and consent mechanisms will be provided where required.

Further details may be provided in a separate Cookie Policy.

21. Age requirement

ZAWJ is intended only for adults aged 18 years or older.

People under the age of 18 may not register as candidates for the matchmaking service.

If ZAWJ becomes aware that personal information has been collected for a candidate under the age of 18, appropriate steps will be taken to remove the account and associated information.

22. Data breaches

If a personal data breach occurs, ZAWJ will assess the nature and potential consequences of the breach.

Where required by applicable data protection law, the breach will be reported to the relevant supervisory authority.

Where a breach is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of affected individuals, those individuals will also be informed where legally required.

23. Complaints

Questions or concerns about how personal information is handled should first be directed to:

Individuals also have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection supervisory authority.

In Denmark, the supervisory authority is:

24. Changes to this Privacy Policy

ZAWJ may update this Privacy Policy as the service develops or where legal, technical or operational requirements change.

The latest version will be published on the ZAWJ website together with the date it was last updated.

Where a change materially affects how personal information is processed, additional notice will be provided where required.