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Age assurance refers to the measures we take to confirm that users of our platform meet the minimum age requirement. HoopFrog is a dating platform intended exclusively for adults aged 18 and over. We are committed to preventing access by minors and protecting children from exposure to adult content and interactions.

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Under the UK Online Safety Act 2023, regulated services that host content which may be harmful to children must implement effective age assurance measures. We take this obligation seriously and have adopted a document-based identity verification approach to provide a high level of confidence in the age of our users.

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As a dating platform, HoopFrog facilitates private messaging, profile browsing, and social interaction between adults. These features are not appropriate for children or young people under the age of 18. Age verification helps us to:

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• Protect children from accessing adult-oriented content and interactions
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• Comply with the UK Online Safety Act 2023 and Ofcom regulatory requirements
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• Create a safer environment for all users
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• Maintain the integrity and trust of our community
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We use VerifyMy, a specialist identity and age verification provider, to carry out age checks on our platform. VerifyMy provides document-based identity verification that meets the standards set out in the BSI PAS 1296 framework for age verification and by the Age Verification Providers Association (AVPA).

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VerifyMy processes your verification independently. HoopFrog does not have access to, and does not receive, any identity documents or biometric data submitted during the verification process.

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The age verification process uses a two-stage approach, starting with the least intrusive method:

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1. Email-based check (stealth verification) — When you register, VerifyMy first checks your email address against previously verified identities. If your age can be confirmed through this check, no further action is required and you are verified instantly.
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2. Document verification (if needed) — If the email check is inconclusive, you are redirected to VerifyMy’s secure portal where you provide a photograph of a valid government-issued identity document (such as a passport, driving licence, or national identity card).
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3. Age confirmation — VerifyMy checks the date of birth on the document to confirm that you are aged 18 or over.
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4. Result returned — VerifyMy sends a pass or fail result to HoopFrog. If you pass, your account is granted full access. If you fail, access is restricted until the issue is resolved.
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The email-based check is instant. If document verification is required, the process typically takes less than two minutes.

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HoopFrog operates on a pass/fail model. This means:

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• We do not receive or store your identity document
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• We do not receive or store your date of birth
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• We do not receive or store your selfie photograph
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• We do not receive or store any biometric data
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The only information we receive from VerifyMy is:

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• A verification status (pass or fail)
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• A unique verification reference number
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• A timestamp of when the verification was completed
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VerifyMy retains identity documents and selfie images only for the duration required to complete the verification check, in accordance with their own privacy policy and data retention schedule. We encourage you to review VerifyMy’s privacy policy for details on their data handling practices.

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Your age verification data is processed in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The legal basis for processing your verification result is legitimate interest (Article 6(1)(f)) — specifically, our obligation to prevent minors from accessing adult content as required by the UK Online Safety Act 2023.

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You have the following rights in relation to your personal data:

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• Right of access — You can request a copy of the verification data we hold about you.
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• Right to rectification — If any data we hold is inaccurate, you can ask us to correct it.
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• Right to erasure — You can request deletion of your verification data, subject to any legal retention requirements.
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• Right to object — You can object to our processing of your data. However, age verification is a mandatory requirement for using our platform, so objection may result in account restrictions.
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• Right to lodge a complaint — You can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk if you believe your data rights have been violated.
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For full details of how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.

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If your age verification is unsuccessful, this may be because:

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• The identity document was unclear, expired, or could not be read
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• The selfie did not sufficiently match the document photograph
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• The document indicates that you are under 18 years of age
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• A technical error occurred during the verification process
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If your verification fails, you may:

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• Retry the process — You can attempt verification again with the same or a different valid identity document. Ensure the document is clearly photographed in good lighting.
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• Contact our support team — If you believe the result is inaccurate, you can appeal by contacting us at privacy@hoopfrog.com. Please include your account email address and a description of the issue. We will review your case within 5 working days.
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We are committed to ensuring our age verification process is fair and accurate. If an error has occurred, we will work with you and our verification provider to resolve it.

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We are committed to making our age verification process accessible to all users. If you experience difficulty completing the verification process due to a disability or accessibility barrier, please contact us at privacy@hoopfrog.com and we will work with you to find an appropriate solution.

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We may update this Age Assurance Statement from time to time to reflect changes in our verification process, legal requirements, or regulatory guidance. The effective date at the top of this page indicates when this statement was last revised. We encourage you to review this statement periodically.

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If you have questions about our age assurance practices, your privacy rights, or wish to appeal a verification decision, please contact us:

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• Email: privacy@hoopfrog.com
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• Postal address: HoopFrog Inc., 3-11 Bellerose Drive, Suite 312, St. Albert, AB T8N 5C9, Canada
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If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint. HoopFrog™ is a brand of HoopFrog® Inc.

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