This Privacy Policy explains how Gaggo Studio (“we”) collects, uses, stores and protects your personal data in the Yakın mobile app. Yakın is an app for adults (18+) that finds people who are in the same place as you using Bluetooth. Gaggo Studio is the data controller. We act in line with Turkey’s Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK, No. 6698) and, for users in the EU, GDPR principles.
1. In short
- We do not track you, show ads or sell your data.
- We do not use GPS to find people near you; we use Bluetooth.
- Your device does not broadcast your name, phone number or any permanent identifier, only an anonymous code that keeps changing.
- You can delete your account from within the app at any time.
2. Data we collect
2.1 Account and profile
- Phone number: for sign-in and verification (one-time SMS code). It is kept only in the authentication service; it is not shown on your profile or shared with other users.
- Name, date of birth, gender and who you want to see.
- Profile content: bio, interests, what you are looking for and 2–6 profile photos. These are shown to other users on your profile.
- Sign in with Apple (optional): the unique identifier Apple provides if you link your account.
2.2 Proximity (Bluetooth) data
- The app advertises and scans for a Bluetooth Low Energy service specific to Yakın. The only thing it broadcasts is an anonymous code that changes at regular intervals (an ephemeral ID). Only our server can link that code to an account.
- When you see another user’s code, your device reports to our server: the code, an approximate signal-strength range and the time rounded to five minutes. No location is reported.
- These records become “encounters” shown in your Discover deck and “Missed” list. Raw sightings are kept briefly (days); encounter records are kept for at most 30 days, then deleted.
- No encounters are created between users who have blocked each other.
2.3 Location (optional)
If you grant “While Using the App” location access, an approximate (rounded) location is sent to our server only to compute the counter showing how many people are around you. The record is valid for about 10 minutes and is then deleted automatically. The counter appears only when at least three people are in an area. If you decline, the rest of the app keeps working; you can turn the permission off in iPhone Settings at any time.
If the venue check-in feature is enabled, your “I’m at this venue” information (venue name) is kept for at most 30 minutes.
2.4 Messages and interactions
- Messages you exchange with your matches (kept while your account exists).
- Your likes, passes, Selam sends, blocks and reports, and your filter preferences (such as age range).
2.5 Purchases
Plus and Gold subscriptions and one-time items such as Selam and Boost (“Öne Çık”) are bought through the App Store. Your card or payment details never reach us; Apple processes them. To manage your subscription status and balances, purchase records (product, date, status) are kept by our purchase infrastructure provider RevenueCat and on our servers.
2.6 Technical data
- Push notification token: to send notifications.
- Crash reports: to fix app errors (not linked to your identity).
- Usage analytics: enabled only if you give explicit consent; not collected otherwise.
3. Special-category data
The app does not ask your sexual orientation directly. However, your gender combined with the gender of the people you want to see could allow it to be inferred. We therefore treat these preferences like special-category data: they are used only for matching, are not separately displayed on your profile, are processed on your explicit consent and are not shared with third parties for marketing. You can withdraw consent by deleting your account. If biometric features such as selfie verification are added, we will update this policy and ask for your separate consent.
4. Why we use data
- To create, verify and manage your account.
- To show people near you, create matches and enable messaging.
- To manage your purchases and subscription entitlements.
- For safety: preventing fake accounts, harassment and fraud; reviewing reports; automatically scanning photos for inappropriate content; enforcing the age limit.
- To improve the app and fix errors.
- To meet our legal obligations.
Our legal bases are performance of a contract, legitimate interests (security and bug fixing), legal obligation and, where required, your explicit consent.
5. Who we share data with
We do not sell your data. We work only with service providers needed to run the app:
- Google Firebase / Google Cloud (authentication, database, file storage, notifications, crash reporting, photo safety scanning).
- RevenueCat (subscription and purchase management).
- Apple (App Store, payments, Sign in with Apple, notification delivery).
The name, age, photos and text on your profile are shown to other Yakın users who are in the same place as you. Your phone number is never shown. We may disclose data to authorities upon a lawful request or legal obligation.
6. Where data is stored and international transfers
Your data is processed in the European Union (Google Cloud, Frankfurt region), which means it is transferred outside Turkey. Under KVKK Article 9 the transfer relies on the required safeguards and legal procedures and, where needed, your explicit consent. Our providers (including RevenueCat and Apple) may process data under their own privacy policies and contracts.
7. Retention
- Bluetooth sighting records: briefly (days).
- Encounter records: up to 30 days.
- Location counter record: about 10 minutes. Venue information: up to 30 minutes.
- Profile, photos, messages and matches: while your account exists.
- Purchase and accounting records: for the legal retention period, in a form detached from your identity.
- Report records: may be kept after account deletion to keep people safe.
8. Deleting your account and data
You can delete your account in the app (Settings). After you request deletion, your profile, photos, messages and matches are deleted within 30 days, subject to the legal-retention and safety exceptions above. If you cannot access the app, email hello@gaggostudio.com to request deletion. Deleting your account does not cancel your subscription; cancel it separately in your App Store settings.
9. Your rights
Under KVKK Article 11 (and GDPR if you live in the EU) you may request to:
- Learn whether your data is processed and request information,
- Have it corrected, deleted or destroyed,
- Object to processing and withdraw consent,
- Learn which third parties receive your data,
- Claim compensation if you suffer damage.
Send requests to hello@gaggostudio.com; we reply within 30 days. You also have the right to complain to the Turkish Personal Data Protection Authority (or your local supervisory authority).
10. Children
Yakın is only for people aged 18 and over. We permanently close accounts we find belong to anyone under 18 and delete their data. If you believe a minor has an account, please tell us.
11. Security
Your data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Account access and sensitive fields such as the phone number are additionally protected. No system is completely secure, but we apply reasonable technical and organizational measures.
12. Changes
We may update this policy. We will announce important changes in the app or on this page. The date at the top shows the latest update.
13. Contact
Gaggo Studio — hello@gaggostudio.com