Privacy & Data ProtectionEffective Date: September 2026 • Compliant with Canadian PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act)
1. Commitment to Member Privacy
At HalalRishta Canada (“we,” “our,” or “the Platform”), we recognize that matrimonial searching is deeply personal and sensitive. We are committed to safeguarding your personal information in strict compliance with Canadian privacy legislation, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
2. Information We Collect
We collect information necessary to deliver matrimonial matchmaking services:
- Account Credentials: Email address, hashed password (using industry-standard bcrypt), and optional phone number.
- Biographical & Religious Preferences: Full name (publicly abbreviated to initial/first name), age/date of birth, gender, marital status, Canadian city and province, sect/manhaj, prayer practice level, education, profession, and guardian (Wali) contact details.
- Media: Profile photos uploaded by you, with optional modesty blur protection.
- Interactions: Connection interests sent/received, shortlists, conversation messages, and support inquiries.
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3. Face Verification & Identity Document Privacy (Strict Disclosure)
To protect Canadian Muslim families from fake accounts, bots, and bad actors, HalalRishta Canada provides an optional Identity Verification & Face Review process. We are completely transparent regarding how this data is handled:
- Purpose of Collection: When you submit a government-issued photo ID (e.g. Canadian Driver's License or Passport) and take a live camera selfie, this information is collected solely to verify that your account belongs to a real, living individual whose likeness matches their profile.
- No Biometric Facial Selling or Commercial Profiling: We do NOT sell, license, or trade your facial data or identity documents to any third-party marketing companies, data brokers, or advertising networks.
- Encrypted & Restricted Storage: ID documents and verification selfies are stored in private, restricted-access storage with industry-standard encryption (AES-256 at rest and TLS 1.3 in transit). They are never publicly accessible via public URLs or web search engines.
- Strict Staff Access Controls: Only authorized, vetted Canadian administrative staff can access the verification queue to perform the manual comparison.
- Retention & Deletion Schedule: Once an account identity has been verified and approved, raw identity documents are permanently purged or securely archived in compliance with Canadian record retention laws. You may request immediate deletion of your verification documents at any time by contacting our Privacy Officer at halalrishtacanada.com/contact.
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4. Geolocation & Nearby Match Privacy Disclosures
HalalRishta Canada offers a localized discovery tool to assist members in finding matches within their Canadian vicinity. Here is how your location is handled:
- Approximate City-Level Location by Default:By default, we only use the City and Province you enter during registration (e.g. “Mississauga, Ontario”). Other members only see your city and approximate distance.
- Never Revealing Exact GPS Coordinates: Even if you choose to grant browser/device GPS permission for live nearby discovery, our system truncates and approximates the coordinates. Your exact street address, apartment number, or pinpoint coordinates are NEVER published, displayed, or shared with other members.
- Explicit Consent Required: Live device GPS is strictly opt-in. Your browser will prompt you for permission, and you may deny or revoke it at any time.
- Manual Location Selection: If you prefer not to use device GPS, you can select any Canadian municipality manually from our verified city dropdown list.
5. How We Use Your Information
Your information is used strictly to:
- Create and manage your HalalRishta Canada member account.
- Match your profile with compatible Canadian Muslim candidates based on deen, lifestyle, and location.
- Facilitate halal, secure messaging and calls between mutually accepted matches.
- Detect and prevent fraud, spam, harassment, and unauthorized access.
- Communicate administrative notices, account security alerts, and system updates.
6. Modesty & Profile Visibility Controls
Your contact details (email address and phone number) are never visible publicly on your profile. Female members and brothers desiring modesty can keep their profile photos blurred until mutual interest is formally accepted.
7. Information Sharing & Third Parties
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We only share information with trusted Canadian infrastructure providers (such as hosting and database servers) who adhere to strict data protection standards and confidentiality agreements.
8. Your Data Rights & Account Deletion
Under Canadian privacy law, you have the right to access, review, modify, or permanently delete your personal information. If you wish to close your account and permanently remove your biodata, photos, and messages, you may do so directly in your Profile Settings or by submitting a request to our Support team.
9. Privacy Inquiries & Privacy Officer
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data handling practices, please contact our designated Privacy Desk at halalrishtacanada.com/contactselecting “Privacy Request.”
