Privacy Policy

Last updated: 23 April 2026

Sawa ("we", "us", "our") operates the Sawa mobile application (the "App"). This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding it. Sawa is operated from Switzerland and is committed to protecting your privacy.

1. Information we collect

When you create an account and use Sawa, we collect:

• Account information: your name, phone number, email address, date of birth, city, and profile photo (if uploaded).
• Profile information: interests, preferences, and answers to onboarding questions you voluntarily provide.
• Message content: text, photos, videos, and voice messages you send in group chats and direct messages, stored securely on Google Firebase.
• Usage data: in-app actions, features used, crashes, and performance metrics.
• Device information: device type, operating system version, and push notification token.
• Affiliate interaction data: which activity or event suggestions you view or click. We do not share your personal identity with affiliate partners — only aggregate click events.

2. How we use your data

• To match you into groups of 5 compatible users in your city.
• To deliver messages between group members and direct messages between friends.
• To send push notifications about group activity, matches, and messages.
• To personalize activity and event suggestions based on your city and preferences.
• To prevent fraud, spam, and abuse.
• To improve the App through aggregated, anonymized analytics.

3. Third-party processors

We use the following services to operate Sawa:

• Google Firebase (Firestore, Authentication, Cloud Functions, Cloud Messaging, Cloud Storage) — hosts your account data, messages, and media. Processed in Google's EU data centres where available. Subject to Google's privacy terms.
• Affiliate partners (including GetYourGuide, Ticketcorner, Eventfrog, and others) — when you tap an activity card, you are redirected to the partner's website with an affiliate tracking identifier so that any booking is credited to Sawa. We do not share your personal profile, contact details, or messages with these partners.

4. Legal basis (Swiss FADP / EU GDPR)

We process your data based on:

• The contract between you and Sawa (providing the matching and messaging service).
• Your consent for optional features such as push notifications.
• Our legitimate interests in operating a safe, functional platform and preventing abuse.

5. Data retention

We keep your account data while your account is active. If you delete your account, we permanently erase your profile, messages you authored, and affiliate interaction data within 30 days, except where retention is legally required (e.g. for fraud prevention or financial record-keeping).

6. Your rights

Under the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate data.
• Request deletion of your data (the "right to erasure").
• Export your data in a portable format.
• Withdraw consent at any time.
• Lodge a complaint with the Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) or, if you are in the EU, your local supervisory authority.

To exercise any of these rights, email hello@joinsawa.ch.

7. Security

Data is encrypted in transit via HTTPS / TLS and encrypted at rest on Google Cloud infrastructure. Authentication is handled by Firebase Auth with industry-standard security practices. We restrict internal access on a need-to-know basis.

8. Children

Sawa is not intended for users under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from minors. If you believe a minor has created an account, please contact us and we will delete it.

9. International transfers

Some of our processors (such as Google) may store data outside Switzerland and the EU. Where this happens, we rely on adequacy decisions and standard contractual clauses approved by Swiss and EU authorities to ensure your data is adequately protected.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "last updated" date above reflects the most recent version. We will notify you in-app of significant changes before they take effect.

11. Contact

Questions about privacy or your data? Email hello@joinsawa.ch.