Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 6, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Shot In The Dark ("we," "us," "our") collects, uses, and shares information when you use Shot in the Dark Dating (the "Service"). We are not for use by anyone under 18 years old, and we do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18.

1. Information We Collect

When you create an account and use the Service, we collect:

• Account information: your name, email address, and password (stored securely as a one-way hash — we never store your actual password in readable form).
• Questionnaire responses: your answers to our personality and compatibility questionnaire, used to help our team find your matches.
• Profile photo: if you choose to upload one for your member card, it is stored with our image hosting provider, Cloudinary.
• Billing information: we do not collect or store your card or bank details ourselves. Payments and subscriptions are handled entirely by our payment processor, Stripe, subject to Stripe's own privacy policy.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Operate your account and provide the Service, including matchmaking.
• Use AI (through our AI provider, Anthropic) to help our team narrow your questionnaire responses down to a shortlist of compatible candidates. A human member of our team always makes the final matchmaking decision — AI is a research tool for our staff, not an automated decision-maker.
• Process your membership payments and manage your subscription, through Stripe.
• Communicate with you about your account, matches, or events you've registered for.
• Maintain the safety and integrity of the Service, including investigating violations of our Acceptable Use Policy.

3. Who We Share Information With

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only with the service providers that help us run the Service:

• Stripe — payment processing and subscription management.
• Cloudinary — hosting for member profile photos.
• Twilio — sending text messages for our walk-in event pairing feature (your phone number and the message text are passed to Twilio for delivery).
• Anthropic — AI-assisted analysis of questionnaire compatibility (your matchmaking answers may be sent to Anthropic's Claude AI for this purpose).
• Law enforcement, when required by valid legal process — see our Law Enforcement Requests page.

Your name and photo are visible to another member only when you personally choose to share your member card link or QR code with them — we do not publish a public directory of members.

4. Cookies and Local Storage

We use your browser's local storage (not cookies) to keep you logged in between visits. Stripe's own checkout and billing pages, which you're taken to for payments, may set their own cookies under Stripe's privacy policy, outside of our control.

5. Data Retention and Your Rights

We retain your information for as long as your account is active. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by contacting shotinthedarkdating@aol.com. We may retain limited information where required by law or to resolve disputes.

6. Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your information, including password hashing and encrypted connections. However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Text Messages (SMS)

If you check in for walk-in event pairing with your phone number, you agree to receive text messages from Shot in the Dark Dating about that pairing, such as a message telling you that you've been paired and a link to confirm. These are not marketing messages. Message frequency varies and is limited to your check-in at an event. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP at any time to opt out, or HELP for help. We do not sell or share your phone number or SMS opt-in with third parties for marketing or promotional purposes. Your phone number is shared only with Twilio, our text-message provider, to deliver these messages.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

9. Contact

Questions about this Privacy Policy can be sent to shotinthedarkdating@aol.com, or see our full Contact page.