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PRIVACY POLICY
This Privacy Policy sets out how Niche Dating, registration number 2011/015356/23, uses and protects personal information that you provide when using Rishta, available at www.rishta.co.za (“the Website”).
Rishta is a private matchmaking service operated by Niche Dating. For purposes of applicable South African data protection law, including the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”), Niche Dating is the responsible party in respect of personal information processed through the Website and the Rishta matchmaking service.
Niche Dating is committed to protecting your privacy and processing your personal information lawfully, reasonably and securely.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how it is used and protected, when it may be shared, and the choices and rights available to you.
1. Privacy
Niche Dating processes personal information in accordance with applicable South African law, including POPIA.
Rishta is a private matchmaking service. Information submitted as part of your matchmaking profile is not intended to create a publicly searchable profile or public dating profile.
Your information is used primarily to administer your registration, communicate with you, assess potential matches, facilitate introductions where appropriate, operate and secure the Website, and provide the Rishta service.
Some information provided to Rishta may constitute sensitive or special personal information. Where such information is required or voluntarily provided for matchmaking purposes, we will process it only where there is an appropriate lawful basis to do so, including your consent where required.
2. Information We Collect
Depending on how you interact with Rishta, we may collect the following information.
2.1 Registration and profile information
When you register with Rishta, we may collect information including:
your name;
email address;
mobile or telephone number;
date of birth and age;
gender;
location;
relationship or marital status;
information about children;
education and occupation;
cultural, religious or community information;
lifestyle information;
information about your matchmaking preferences;
photographs submitted for your profile; and
other information that you voluntarily provide as part of your registration or subsequent communications with Rishta.
The precise information requested may change as the Rishta service develops.
We do not ask you to submit identity documents through the ordinary public registration form. If identity or other verification is required in a particular case, this will be dealt with separately and you will be informed of what information is required and why.
2.2 Technical and website information
When you use the Website, certain technical information may be processed automatically. This can include:
Internet Protocol (IP) address;
browser and device information;
pages visited;
date and time of visits;
technical information required to operate and secure the Website; and
cookie and analytics preferences.
Where optional analytics are used, they are subject to your cookie choice as described below.
2.3 Communications
If you contact Rishta by email or through another communication channel, we may retain the communication and related contact information where reasonably necessary to respond to you, administer the service, maintain appropriate records, or protect our legitimate interests.
3. How and Why We Use Your Information
We may use your personal information to:
process and administer your Rishta registration;
create and maintain your private matchmaking profile;
communicate with you regarding your registration or the Rishta service;
review your information for potential matchmaking opportunities;
identify potential matches;
communicate with you about a potential introduction;
facilitate an introduction where the relevant parties have agreed to proceed;
maintain internal administrative notes relating to the matchmaking service;
provide support and respond to enquiries;
maintain appropriate business and transaction records;
prevent abuse, spam, fraud or misuse of the Website;
protect the security and integrity of Rishta and its users;
comply with legal and regulatory obligations;
enforce our Terms and Conditions;
improve the Website and registration experience; and
understand aggregate Website usage where you have permitted optional analytics cookies.
We will not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.
Your matchmaking information will not be made publicly searchable through the Website.
4. Matchmaking and Disclosure to Potential Matches
The purpose of Rishta is to facilitate suitable introductions between people seeking a potential life partner.
Submitting a registration does not mean that your complete profile will automatically be disclosed to other users.
Rishta may review profile information and use it internally to assess potential compatibility.
Where we identify a potential introduction, appropriate information may be shared or discussed for the purpose of facilitating that introduction. We aim to disclose information in a manner consistent with the private and curated nature of the service and the applicable matchmaking process.
We may seek confirmation or consent before facilitating an introduction or disclosing information where appropriate.
Users who receive information about another person through Rishta are expected to respect the confidential and personal nature of that information and use it only for the purpose of considering or participating in the relevant introduction.
5. Photographs
Photographs submitted as part of the registration process are treated as private profile information.
They are not intended to be displayed in a publicly searchable gallery.
Rishta takes reasonable technical and organisational measures to restrict unauthorised access to profile photographs and other private registration information.
Where appropriate in the matchmaking process, photographs may be shared with a potential match as part of considering or facilitating an introduction.
6. Cookies and Analytics
The Website uses cookies and similar technologies where necessary for the operation, security and functionality of the Website.
Rishta may also use optional analytics cookies to help us understand how visitors use the Website and improve the Website and registration experience.
Where optional analytics require consent, they will not be enabled unless you choose to allow them.
The Website provides a privacy choice asking:
“Allow cookies?”
Selecting Yes permits the optional analytics functionality described in the Website’s privacy choice.
Selecting No means optional analytics remain disabled.
You may subsequently change your analytics preference using the privacy choices control provided on the Website.
Information you enter into the Rishta registration form is not sent to analytics as registration-profile data.
Your browser may also provide controls for managing or deleting cookies. Disabling certain cookies that are technically necessary may affect Website functionality.
7. Google reCAPTCHA
Rishta uses Google reCAPTCHA as a security measure to help protect the Website and registration process against spam, automated submissions and abuse.
When reCAPTCHA is used, certain technical information may be processed by Google for security and fraud-prevention purposes in accordance with Google’s applicable terms and privacy practices.
Use of reCAPTCHA is intended to protect both Rishta and people using the registration service.
8. Email and Service Providers
Rishta uses third-party service providers where reasonably necessary to operate the Website and provide the matchmaking service.
This may include hosting and infrastructure providers, security services, email-delivery services and other technology providers.
Rishta currently uses Resend to assist with transactional email delivery.
These providers may process limited personal information on our behalf where this is necessary to provide their services.
We take reasonable steps to use service providers appropriate to the nature of the information being processed and to protect personal information in accordance with applicable law.
We do not authorise service providers to use your personal information for unrelated marketing purposes merely because they provide services to Rishta.
9. International Processing
Some technology or service providers used by Rishta may process or store information outside South Africa.
Where personal information is transferred across borders, Niche Dating will take reasonable steps to ensure that such processing is undertaken in accordance with applicable South African data protection requirements, including POPIA.
10. Security
Niche Dating takes reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure or destruction.
These measures include appropriate access controls and safeguards relating to the Website, registration information and private profile photographs.
Access to personal information is restricted to persons who reasonably require access for the operation and administration of the Rishta service.
No internet-based service can guarantee absolute security. While we take reasonable precautions to safeguard personal information, transmission and storage of information electronically involves inherent risks.
If we become aware of a security compromise involving personal information, we will respond in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
11. Retention of Information
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, the administration of the Rishta service, legitimate business requirements, dispute resolution, security, record-keeping and compliance with legal obligations.
Different categories of information may be retained for different periods.
Where information is no longer reasonably required and there is no lawful reason to retain it, it may be securely deleted, destroyed or de-identified.
If you ask Rishta to remove your profile or personal information, we will consider and action the request in accordance with applicable law and any legitimate retention obligations that may continue to apply.
Certain records may need to be retained after a profile is removed, for example where required for legal, accounting, security, evidentiary or dispute-resolution purposes.
12. Legal Disclosure
Niche Dating may disclose personal information where reasonably necessary to:
comply with applicable law;
comply with a court order, subpoena or other lawful process;
respond to a lawful request from a regulator, government body or law-enforcement authority;
investigate suspected fraud, abuse or unlawful activity;
protect the rights, safety or property of Niche Dating, Rishta, its users or others; or
establish, exercise or defend legal rights.
We will not disclose more information than is reasonably necessary in the circumstances.
13. Transfer in Certain Circumstances
If Niche Dating or the Rishta service undergoes a sale, merger, restructuring, change of control, transfer of business or assets, reorganisation or similar transaction, personal information associated with the service may form part of that transaction.
Any such transfer remains subject to applicable data protection law and appropriate protection of personal information.
14. De-identified and Aggregate Information
Information that has been permanently de-identified so that it cannot reasonably be linked to you may be used for statistical, analytical, operational and business purposes.
We may use aggregate information to understand use of the Website, evaluate the service and improve Rishta.
Such information will not be treated as identifiable personal information where it has genuinely been de-identified in accordance with applicable law.
15. Your Rights
Subject to POPIA and other applicable law, you may have the right to:
ask whether we hold personal information about you;
request access to personal information we hold about you;
request correction or updating of inaccurate or incomplete information;
request deletion or destruction of personal information where legally permitted;
object to certain processing;
withdraw consent where processing is based on consent, subject to the consequences of withdrawal;
request information regarding how your personal information is processed; and
lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.
Requests concerning your personal information may be sent to:
info@rishta.co.za
We may need to take reasonable steps to verify your identity before providing access to, changing or deleting personal information.
16. Information Regulator
If you believe that your personal information has been processed in a manner inconsistent with POPIA, you have the right to raise the matter with Niche Dating and, where appropriate, lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.
Current contact information for the Information Regulator can be obtained from the regulator’s official channels.
17. Children
Rishta is intended only for persons who are 18 years of age or older.
We do not knowingly accept registrations from persons under the age of 18.
If we become aware that a person under 18 has submitted personal information through the registration service, we may take appropriate steps to remove that information.
18. Changes to this Privacy Policy
Niche Dating may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to the Rishta service, technology, legal requirements or our information-processing practices.
The current version and effective date will be displayed on this page.
Where a change is material and additional notification or consent is required by law, we will take appropriate steps to provide such notification or obtain such consent.
Changes to this Privacy Policy do not retrospectively alter the consent or other evidence recorded in relation to an earlier registration.
19. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or have concerns about the way Rishta processes your personal information, please contact:
Niche Dating
Email: info@rishta.co.za
Rishta
Private matchmaking for the South African Indian community.
How It Works
Create Your Profile
Privacy
Terms
Privacy choices
Home
How It Works
Create your profile
PRIVACY POLICY
This Privacy Policy sets out how Niche Dating, registration number 2011/015356/23, uses and protects personal information that you provide when using Rishta, available at www.rishta.co.za (“the Website”).
Rishta is a private matchmaking service operated by Niche Dating. For purposes of applicable South African data protection law, including the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”), Niche Dating is the responsible party in respect of personal information processed through the Website and the Rishta matchmaking service.
Niche Dating is committed to protecting your privacy and processing your personal information lawfully, reasonably and securely.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how it is used and protected, when it may be shared, and the choices and rights available to you.
1. Privacy
Niche Dating processes personal information in accordance with applicable South African law, including POPIA.
Rishta is a private matchmaking service. Information submitted as part of your matchmaking profile is not intended to create a publicly searchable profile or public dating profile.
Your information is used primarily to administer your registration, communicate with you, assess potential matches, facilitate introductions where appropriate, operate and secure the Website, and provide the Rishta service.
Some information provided to Rishta may constitute sensitive or special personal information. Where such information is required or voluntarily provided for matchmaking purposes, we will process it only where there is an appropriate lawful basis to do so, including your consent where required.
2. Information We Collect
Depending on how you interact with Rishta, we may collect the following information.
2.1 Registration and profile information
When you register with Rishta, we may collect information including:
your name;
email address;
mobile or telephone number;
date of birth and age;
gender;
location;
relationship or marital status;
information about children;
education and occupation;
cultural, religious or community information;
lifestyle information;
information about your matchmaking preferences;
photographs submitted for your profile; and
other information that you voluntarily provide as part of your registration or subsequent communications with Rishta.
The precise information requested may change as the Rishta service develops.
We do not ask you to submit identity documents through the ordinary public registration form. If identity or other verification is required in a particular case, this will be dealt with separately and you will be informed of what information is required and why.
2.2 Technical and website information
When you use the Website, certain technical information may be processed automatically. This can include:
Internet Protocol (IP) address;
browser and device information;
pages visited;
date and time of visits;
technical information required to operate and secure the Website; and
cookie and analytics preferences.
Where optional analytics are used, they are subject to your cookie choice as described below.
2.3 Communications
If you contact Rishta by email or through another communication channel, we may retain the communication and related contact information where reasonably necessary to respond to you, administer the service, maintain appropriate records, or protect our legitimate interests.
3. How and Why We Use Your Information
We may use your personal information to:
process and administer your Rishta registration;
create and maintain your private matchmaking profile;
communicate with you regarding your registration or the Rishta service;
review your information for potential matchmaking opportunities;
identify potential matches;
communicate with you about a potential introduction;
facilitate an introduction where the relevant parties have agreed to proceed;
maintain internal administrative notes relating to the matchmaking service;
provide support and respond to enquiries;
maintain appropriate business and transaction records;
prevent abuse, spam, fraud or misuse of the Website;
protect the security and integrity of Rishta and its users;
comply with legal and regulatory obligations;
enforce our Terms and Conditions;
improve the Website and registration experience; and
understand aggregate Website usage where you have permitted optional analytics cookies.
We will not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.
Your matchmaking information will not be made publicly searchable through the Website.
4. Matchmaking and Disclosure to Potential Matches
The purpose of Rishta is to facilitate suitable introductions between people seeking a potential life partner.
Submitting a registration does not mean that your complete profile will automatically be disclosed to other users.
Rishta may review profile information and use it internally to assess potential compatibility.
Where we identify a potential introduction, appropriate information may be shared or discussed for the purpose of facilitating that introduction. We aim to disclose information in a manner consistent with the private and curated nature of the service and the applicable matchmaking process.
We may seek confirmation or consent before facilitating an introduction or disclosing information where appropriate.
Users who receive information about another person through Rishta are expected to respect the confidential and personal nature of that information and use it only for the purpose of considering or participating in the relevant introduction.
5. Photographs
Photographs submitted as part of the registration process are treated as private profile information.
They are not intended to be displayed in a publicly searchable gallery.
Rishta takes reasonable technical and organisational measures to restrict unauthorised access to profile photographs and other private registration information.
Where appropriate in the matchmaking process, photographs may be shared with a potential match as part of considering or facilitating an introduction.
6. Cookies and Analytics
The Website uses cookies and similar technologies where necessary for the operation, security and functionality of the Website.
Rishta may also use optional analytics cookies to help us understand how visitors use the Website and improve the Website and registration experience.
Where optional analytics require consent, they will not be enabled unless you choose to allow them.
The Website provides a privacy choice asking:
“Allow cookies?”
Selecting Yes permits the optional analytics functionality described in the Website’s privacy choice.
Selecting No means optional analytics remain disabled.
You may subsequently change your analytics preference using the privacy choices control provided on the Website.
Information you enter into the Rishta registration form is not sent to analytics as registration-profile data.
Your browser may also provide controls for managing or deleting cookies. Disabling certain cookies that are technically necessary may affect Website functionality.
7. Google reCAPTCHA
Rishta uses Google reCAPTCHA as a security measure to help protect the Website and registration process against spam, automated submissions and abuse.
When reCAPTCHA is used, certain technical information may be processed by Google for security and fraud-prevention purposes in accordance with Google’s applicable terms and privacy practices.
Use of reCAPTCHA is intended to protect both Rishta and people using the registration service.
8. Email and Service Providers
Rishta uses third-party service providers where reasonably necessary to operate the Website and provide the matchmaking service.
This may include hosting and infrastructure providers, security services, email-delivery services and other technology providers.
Rishta currently uses Resend to assist with transactional email delivery.
These providers may process limited personal information on our behalf where this is necessary to provide their services.
We take reasonable steps to use service providers appropriate to the nature of the information being processed and to protect personal information in accordance with applicable law.
We do not authorise service providers to use your personal information for unrelated marketing purposes merely because they provide services to Rishta.
9. International Processing
Some technology or service providers used by Rishta may process or store information outside South Africa.
Where personal information is transferred across borders, Niche Dating will take reasonable steps to ensure that such processing is undertaken in accordance with applicable South African data protection requirements, including POPIA.
10. Security
Niche Dating takes reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure or destruction.
These measures include appropriate access controls and safeguards relating to the Website, registration information and private profile photographs.
Access to personal information is restricted to persons who reasonably require access for the operation and administration of the Rishta service.
No internet-based service can guarantee absolute security. While we take reasonable precautions to safeguard personal information, transmission and storage of information electronically involves inherent risks.
If we become aware of a security compromise involving personal information, we will respond in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
11. Retention of Information
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, the administration of the Rishta service, legitimate business requirements, dispute resolution, security, record-keeping and compliance with legal obligations.
Different categories of information may be retained for different periods.
Where information is no longer reasonably required and there is no lawful reason to retain it, it may be securely deleted, destroyed or de-identified.
If you ask Rishta to remove your profile or personal information, we will consider and action the request in accordance with applicable law and any legitimate retention obligations that may continue to apply.
Certain records may need to be retained after a profile is removed, for example where required for legal, accounting, security, evidentiary or dispute-resolution purposes.
12. Legal Disclosure
Niche Dating may disclose personal information where reasonably necessary to:
comply with applicable law;
comply with a court order, subpoena or other lawful process;
respond to a lawful request from a regulator, government body or law-enforcement authority;
investigate suspected fraud, abuse or unlawful activity;
protect the rights, safety or property of Niche Dating, Rishta, its users or others; or
establish, exercise or defend legal rights.
We will not disclose more information than is reasonably necessary in the circumstances.
13. Transfer in Certain Circumstances
If Niche Dating or the Rishta service undergoes a sale, merger, restructuring, change of control, transfer of business or assets, reorganisation or similar transaction, personal information associated with the service may form part of that transaction.
Any such transfer remains subject to applicable data protection law and appropriate protection of personal information.
14. De-identified and Aggregate Information
Information that has been permanently de-identified so that it cannot reasonably be linked to you may be used for statistical, analytical, operational and business purposes.
We may use aggregate information to understand use of the Website, evaluate the service and improve Rishta.
Such information will not be treated as identifiable personal information where it has genuinely been de-identified in accordance with applicable law.
15. Your Rights
Subject to POPIA and other applicable law, you may have the right to:
ask whether we hold personal information about you;
request access to personal information we hold about you;
request correction or updating of inaccurate or incomplete information;
request deletion or destruction of personal information where legally permitted;
object to certain processing;
withdraw consent where processing is based on consent, subject to the consequences of withdrawal;
request information regarding how your personal information is processed; and
lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.
Requests concerning your personal information may be sent to:
info@rishta.co.za
We may need to take reasonable steps to verify your identity before providing access to, changing or deleting personal information.
16. Information Regulator
If you believe that your personal information has been processed in a manner inconsistent with POPIA, you have the right to raise the matter with Niche Dating and, where appropriate, lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.
Current contact information for the Information Regulator can be obtained from the regulator’s official channels.
17. Children
Rishta is intended only for persons who are 18 years of age or older.
We do not knowingly accept registrations from persons under the age of 18.
If we become aware that a person under 18 has submitted personal information through the registration service, we may take appropriate steps to remove that information.
18. Changes to this Privacy Policy
Niche Dating may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to the Rishta service, technology, legal requirements or our information-processing practices.
The current version and effective date will be displayed on this page.
Where a change is material and additional notification or consent is required by law, we will take appropriate steps to provide such notification or obtain such consent.
Changes to this Privacy Policy do not retrospectively alter the consent or other evidence recorded in relation to an earlier registration.
19. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or have concerns about the way Rishta processes your personal information, please contact:
Niche Dating
Email: info@rishta.co.za
Rishta
Private matchmaking for the South African Indian community.
How It Works
Create Your Profile
Privacy
Terms
Privacy choices