Legal information

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: July 30, 2026

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how Decibel: dB Sound Meter (the “App”) processes information when you download, install, access, purchase, subscribe to, or use the App. It applies to the iOS and Android versions, except where a section expressly identifies a platform.

By using the App, you acknowledge this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the App or grant optional permissions.

2. Scope and service provider

This Policy covers the App, the App’s support and feedback functions, the official website, and information processed to provide the App. It does not replace the privacy policies of Apple, Google, Firebase, system services, or other independent third parties. Contact details are provided only in Section 20.

3. Summary of our data practices

4. Information we may process

4.1 Information you provide

If you contact support or submit feedback, the App may process your email address, feedback title, message, and information you choose to include, such as screenshots, logs, or diagnostic details.

4.2 Device, usage, and diagnostic information

The App and its services may process an App-generated UUID, session ID, Firebase or Crashlytics installation identifiers, device model, operating-system version, App version, language, region, time zone, screen characteristics, network type, App screens, feature interactions, error details, crash reports, and diagnostic information.

4.3 Approximate location and network information

The App may send a network request to infer an IP address, country, region, or city. The App does not request Android precise or approximate location permission. IP-derived country, region, or city is still approximate-location information and may be processed by the IP/geolocation providers described in Section 6.

4.4 Local measurement, recording, and media data

When you actively start measurement, the Android implementation continuously captures 16-bit, mono PCM environmental audio and creates a temporary WAV file in App cache. If you save a session, the App may save an M4A audio file, measurement statistics, dB chart data, device information, a record name, and notes in App storage. Camera features may create photos or videos with dB overlays. PDF, print, and sharing features may create local report files.

The current audit did not find code that automatically uploads complete audio files, complete measurement curves, photos, videos, or PDFs to developer servers or Firebase. Your active use of share, print, email, or another system destination is a separate user-directed disclosure.

4.5 Purchase and subscription information

For iOS, StoreKit and Apple may process product IDs, transaction or receipt information, purchase dates, subscription status, entitlement status, and related billing events necessary to provide or verify an Apple subscription. We do not receive or store your full payment-card number, Apple Account password, or bank-account details.

The current Android Release does not include Google Play Billing or an Android auto-renewing subscription. If Android billing is enabled in a later release, this Policy, the store disclosures, and the Subscription Terms will be updated before that release.

4.6 Sensitive information

Environmental audio, photographs, videos, record names, notes, and feedback can incidentally contain personal or sensitive information. The App is not designed for medical diagnosis, clinical assessment, or the collection of health records. Do not include unnecessary personal or sensitive information in record names, notes, feedback, reports, or shared files.

5. Permissions and device controls

5.1 Microphone

The App requests microphone access when you actively start sound measurement or optional recording. Measurement may capture environmental audio, including nearby speech. On Android, an active measurement may use a foreground microphone service and visible system notification so that the measurement can continue while the App is in the background. You can stop the measurement in the App.

5.2 Camera and media

Camera access is used only when you choose to take a photo or video with dB overlays. On supported older Android versions, legacy storage permissions may be used for compatible media handling and saving media you create; they are not a statement that the App reads your entire photo library.

5.3 Network access

Network access supports Firebase services, diagnostics, support feedback, platform interactions, and IP-based region services. The App may also open privacy, terms, or subscription webpages in a WebView; web content may have its own cookies and network behavior.

5.4 Your controls

You may manage or revoke permissions in device settings. Denying a permission can make the related feature unavailable. A general privacy acknowledgement does not replace the operating system’s permission controls.

6. Third-party services and service providers

The App currently uses or may interact with the following categories of providers:

Providers process information under their own privacy terms and, where applicable, contractual arrangements with the App operator. The current audit identified several IP-geolocation provider candidates; their exact retention, processing location, and contractual role require ongoing review.

7. How we use information

We may use information to provide requested measurement, recording, camera, export, share, and support features; maintain local records; respond to feedback; analyze reliability and feature use; diagnose crashes and errors; configure the App; verify iOS subscription entitlements; prevent abuse; comply with legal or platform obligations; and enforce applicable terms.

8. Legal bases for processing

Where a legal basis is required, processing may rely on performance of a contract to provide the App and requested features; consent for permissions or optional processing; legitimate interests in security, stability, fraud prevention, and service improvement where not overridden by your rights; and compliance with legal obligations. The applicable basis depends on the feature, platform, and your location.

9. How information may be shared

We may disclose information to service providers that operate, support, secure, analyze, or configure the App; to Apple or Google for marketplace and platform functions; to a system or third-party recipient you select through sharing, printing, email, or export; when required by law or to protect rights, safety, security, or prevent fraud; or as part of a lawful business reorganization. We do not describe the current Android Release as using targeted advertising, advertising SDKs, Android Advertising ID, or Android AdServices.

10. International transfers

Service providers may process information in countries or regions other than where you live. Where required by law, appropriate safeguards for international transfers may include contractual protections, data processing terms, platform safeguards, or other legally recognized transfer mechanisms.

11. Retention

Temporary measurement audio may be overwritten by a later measurement or cleared by the operating system. Saved local data may remain until you delete it, clear App data, uninstall the App, or the App modifies it. The current deletion implementation removes a record’s JSON detail and list entry but may not remove an associated M4A file; do not assume that deleting a visible record removes every associated audio file.

Feedback, event, log, Firebase, backup, and IP-provider retention periods depend on provider and server settings. The client audit cannot confirm a fixed retention period for those services, so this Policy does not promise a fixed number of days. We retain information only as reasonably necessary for the stated purposes, legal obligations, dispute handling, security, and platform compliance.

12. Security

We use reasonable technical, administrative, and organizational measures designed to protect information. No transmission, device, service, or storage method is completely secure. You are responsible for protecting your device, operating system, App Store account, device backups, and any content you choose to export or share.

13. Your choices and privacy rights

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may request access, correction, deletion, restriction, objection, portability, or withdrawal of consent. You may manage device permissions, delete supported local content, uninstall the App, and manage Apple subscriptions through Apple settings. Because there is no in-App account, a request may require information sufficient to locate the relevant support message, transaction, or App-generated identifier. Where the App provides an optional analytics-consent control, you may use it to withdraw future optional consent.

14. Regional privacy notices

14.1 Exercising rights

To exercise a privacy right, use the contact method in Section 20 and identify the App and your request. We may need to verify the request before responding and may limit or decline a request where permitted by law.

14.2 EEA, EU, United Kingdom, and Switzerland

Users in these regions may have rights under GDPR, UK GDPR, Swiss FADP, or similar law, including access, correction, erasure, restriction, objection, portability, withdrawal of consent, and a complaint to a supervisory authority. The legal bases and transfer safeguards in Sections 8 and 10 apply where required.

14.3 California and other U.S. states

Where CCPA/CPRA, CalOPPA, or another state privacy law applies, residents may have rights to know, access, correct, delete, receive a portable copy, appeal a decision where required, and opt out of a sale, sharing, targeted advertising, or certain profiling if the law and an applicable practice trigger those rights. We do not state that the current Android Release sells personal information for money or uses targeted advertising. Traditional browser Do Not Track signals do not have a single accepted standard; legally required opt-out preference signals will be handled where applicable and technically feasible.

14.4 Canada, Australia, and New Zealand

Where applicable, users may request access to or correction of personal information and submit a privacy complaint. We will handle requests in accordance with applicable Canadian, Australian, or New Zealand privacy law.

14.5 Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Thailand, Brazil, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other regions

Users may have additional access, correction, deletion, withdrawal, restriction, objection, portability, complaint, or other rights under local law. We will respect mandatory rights that apply to the relevant processing. If a local law provides greater protection than a general statement in this Policy, that law controls to the required extent.

15. Children’s privacy

The App is intended solely for individuals who are at least 18 years old and is not directed to anyone under 18. We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe that a person under 18 has provided personal information through the App, contact us using Section 20.

16. No user account by default

The App does not require an in-App account, registration, or login by default. iOS subscriptions are associated with the Apple Account used for purchase, not an App account. The current Android Release does not provide a Google Play subscription.

17. Deletion and local data

You can delete supported content in the App, clear App data, or uninstall the App. These steps may not cancel an Apple subscription, which must be managed in Apple subscription settings. As explained in Section 11, the current record-deletion implementation may leave an associated M4A audio file until App data is cleared or the file is otherwise removed.

18. Third-party links and services

The App may link to or open Apple, Google, support, legal, WebView, system, or other third-party services. Their availability, terms, privacy practices, and handling of information are governed by their own policies.

19. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Policy to reflect changes in the App, platform requirements, data practices, or law. The updated version will be made available in the App or on the official website. The “Last Updated” date identifies the latest revision.

20. Contact us

For a privacy request, include the App name and a clear description of your request.