closed-captioner

Privacy Policy for Closed Captioner

Effective Date: October 31, 2025

Last Updated: August 23, 2026

1. Introduction

RaveSociety (“we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application Closed Captioner (the “App”). Please read this privacy policy carefully to understand our practices regarding your personal data and how we treat it.

By downloading, installing, accessing, or using our App, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our App.

2. Information We Collect

Closed Captioner processes information for app features and, when ads are shown, for advertising through Google AdMob. Some data stays only on your device; other data is handled by Apple or Google as described below.

2.1 Audio Data (Microphone Input)

What we collect: Audio from your device’s microphone when you use speech-to-text
How we collect it: Through the microphone with your explicit iOS permission
Why we collect it: App Functionality — real-time speech-to-text transcription
How we use it: Audio is sent to Apple’s Speech Recognition service for transcription (subject to Apple’s privacy policy). We do not store microphone recordings in the App, and we do not use audio for advertising or tracking
App Privacy label: Audio Data — not used for tracking; not linked to your identity by us

2.2 Transcribed Text and Caption History (On-Device Only)

What we process: Text transcriptions, edits, and caption history with timestamps
How we process it: Created when you use speech-to-text or edit text; history may save captions with 2+ words
Why: App Functionality — display captions, history, and export (text, PDF, HTML)
Storage: Stored only on your device (UserDefaults). We do not transmit captions or history to our servers or to AdMob
App Privacy label: Generally not declared as “collected” off-device, because it remains on-device

2.3 Device Motion Data (On-Device Only)

What we process: Accelerometer data for the shake gesture feature
How: CoreMotion, processed in real time on device
Why: App Functionality — shake intensity for entertainment content
Storage: Raw motion data is not stored or transmitted

2.4 Device ID and Advertising Data (Google AdMob)

Unless you purchase Remove Ads, the App shows ads via Google AdMob (Google Mobile Ads SDK). AdMob and its partners may collect or use:

Device ID (including Identifier for Advertisers / IDFA when you allow tracking)
Advertising Data (ad interactions, ad performance, and related advertising information)
Related device and network information Google uses to serve and measure ads (for example IP address and device type, under Google’s policies)

Data may be collected by us and/or our third-party partner Google (AdMob). Declining tracking still allows non-personalized ads.

2.5 Purchase Information

Optional Remove Ads is processed by Apple StoreKit. We do not receive your payment card details. Purchase status may be checked on-device to disable ads. Payment data is governed by Apple’s privacy policy.

2.6 Usage Preferences (On-Device Only)

App settings and preferences stay on your device. We do not operate a separate analytics SDK beyond what AdMob provides for ad delivery and measurement.

2.7 Huddle Messages (Optional, On-Device / Local Network)

If you turn on Huddle, the App may receive short text messages from other Closed Captioner peers (or a local test tool) over Bluetooth or the local network using Apple Multipeer Connectivity. This is off by default.

Messages stay on the receiving device for display. We do not send them to our servers or to AdMob.
This does not use cellular data as a transport. If nobody nearby is emitting, nothing is received.
Optional Relay messages (Settings → Preferences → Huddle, on by default) may forward a message you receive to other nearby peers. Delivery is not guaranteed. Relay does nothing unless Huddle is also on.
While Huddle is on, the App may keep advertising and browsing nearby peers if you switch apps or lock the phone, until you turn Huddle off, close the App, or the auto-off timer you chose in Settings (default 30 minutes). iOS may still pause this to save battery.
If Huddle is on, we may show at most one local iOS notification per launch when you lock the phone or leave the App for at least a minute. Control Center or a quick app switch does not trigger it. That notice stays on this device and is not sent to any server.
You can turn Huddle off at any time. iOS Local Network (and Bluetooth) permission may be requested the first time you enable it.

3. How We Collect Information

Directly from you: Speech-to-text, text editing, history, purchases
Automatically via permissions: Microphone, Speech Recognition, and (for personalized ads) App Tracking Transparency
Through third parties: Apple (Speech Recognition, StoreKit) and Google AdMob (advertising)
On device: Motion sensors for shake detection; local caption/history storage
Huddle (optional): Local network or Bluetooth when you enable Huddle, to receive caption messages from nearby Closed Captioner peers. Relay (on by default) may forward a message to other nearby peers; it never leaves the local Bluetooth or Wi‑Fi link. You can turn relay off in Settings. Huddle may stay active in the background until you turn it off, close the App, or the auto-off timer ends.

You can revoke microphone, speech, and tracking permissions in iOS Settings at any time.

4. How We Use Your Information

App Functionality: Speech-to-text, captions, history, export, shake features, and optional nearby message receive when Huddle is on
Advertising: Deliver, personalize (if allowed), and measure ads via Google AdMob unless Remove Ads is purchased
Tracking (as defined by Apple): Device advertising identifiers and related advertising data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies only if you allow tracking via App Tracking Transparency

We do NOT:

Sell your personal information
Use your microphone audio, transcribed captions, or caption history for ad targeting
Build marketing profiles from your caption content

5. Data Storage and Security

5.1 What Stays on Your Device

Caption text, history, and app preferences: stored locally (UserDefaults), encrypted by iOS device encryption
We do not operate our own cloud backend for captions or history

5.2 What Leaves the Device

Apple Speech Recognition: Audio for transcription (Apple’s privacy policy applies)
Google AdMob: Device ID, advertising-related data, and other information Google requires to serve and measure ads (Google’s privacy policy applies)
Apple StoreKit: Purchase processing (Apple’s privacy policy applies)
Nearby messages (optional): If you enable Huddle, short text may travel over Bluetooth or the local network to or from nearby Closed Captioner peers. This does not go to our servers.

5.3 Security

We follow iOS security practices for local storage. No method of storage or transmission is 100% secure.

6. Third-Party Services

6.1 Apple Speech Recognition Framework

Converts speech to text
Audio may be sent to Apple’s servers
Revoke permission in Settings → Privacy & Security → Speech Recognition
Subject to Apple’s Privacy Policy

6.2 Google AdMob (Advertising)

Loads banner and interstitial ads
May use Device ID (including IDFA if you grant tracking), Advertising Data, and related device information
You may see an App Tracking Transparency prompt; change anytime in Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking
Policies: Google Privacy Policy and How Google uses information from sites or apps

We do not share caption text, microphone audio, or caption history with AdMob for targeting.

6.3 In-App Purchases (Apple StoreKit)

Remove Ads is a one-time purchase handled by Apple
Restore via in-app Restore Purchases or Apple ID purchase history
Subject to Apple’s privacy policy

6.4 No Other Analytics Platforms

Aside from Apple Speech Recognition, Google AdMob, and Apple StoreKit, the App does not integrate additional third-party analytics or data brokers.

We do NOT sell, rent, or trade your personal information.

Limited disclosure may occur as follows:

Advertising partners: Google AdMob and partners may receive advertising-related device information (Section 6.2)
Service providers: Apple for speech recognition and purchases
Legal requirements: If required by law, court order, or authority
Protection of rights: To protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of users
With your consent: If you explicitly consent

8. Data Retention

Audio: Not retained by the App after transcription; Apple may process audio under its policies
Text and history: On your device until you delete items, clear history, or uninstall
Motion data: Not retained
Ad-related data: Retained by Google under Google’s policies
Purchases: Managed by Apple

9. Your Rights and Choices

9.1 Access and Deletion

View and delete caption history in the App
Uninstalling the App removes local caption data

9.2 Permission Control

Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone
Settings → Privacy & Security → Speech Recognition
Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking (personalized ads / IDFA)

Revoking permissions disables related features. Caption history already saved remains until you delete it.

9.3 Advertising Choices

Decline or revoke tracking for non-personalized ads
Purchase Remove Ads to disable AdMob banners and interstitials

9.4 Data Portability

Export caption history as text, PDF, or HTML from the App.

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, delete, correct, restrict, or object to certain processing, and to withdraw consent. Contact us (Section 17) to exercise these rights where applicable. We do not sell personal information.

10. Children’s Privacy

Our App is NOT intended for children under 13 (or the applicable age of consent in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If you believe a child has provided personal information, contact us. For users 13–18, we recommend parental supervision when using speech-to-text and advertising features.

11. International Users

This Privacy Policy is designed to align with GDPR (EEA), CCPA (California), COPPA, and Apple App Store privacy requirements.

Caption and history data remain on your device. Audio processed by Apple and advertising data processed by Google may be handled on servers in the United States or other countries according to those companies’ policies.

12. California Privacy Rights

Under the CCPA/CPRA, California residents may have rights to know, delete, and opt out of sale/sharing of personal information, and to non-discrimination for exercising those rights.

We do not sell your personal information. Advertising-related data may be collected by Google AdMob as described in this policy. Contact us to make a privacy request.

13. European Economic Area (EEA) Privacy Rights

Under GDPR you may have rights to access, rectify, erase, restrict, port, object, and withdraw consent. Contact us using Section 17. AdMob and Apple act as independent controllers or processors for their respective services under their policies.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will note material changes by updating the Last Updated date and posting the updated policy (including via the App Store privacy policy URL). Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

15. App Permissions Explained

15.1 Microphone

Purpose: Capture audio for speech-to-text
Required: Yes, for transcription

15.2 Speech Recognition

Purpose: Apple’s transcription service
Required: Yes, for transcription
Data: Audio may be sent to Apple

15.3 App Tracking Transparency

Purpose: Request permission to use the advertising identifier (IDFA) for personalized ads via AdMob
Required: Optional — declining still allows non-personalized ads
When: Typically around first ad initialization
Change later: Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking

15.4 Motion & Fitness (Accelerometer)

Purpose: Shake gesture entertainment feature
Required: Optional
Data: Processed on device only, not stored

16. Security Measures

Local caption/history storage with iOS encryption
Minimal collection for core features; advertising handled by AdMob under your tracking choice
User control via permissions, history deletion, and Remove Ads

No method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure.

17. Contact Information

RaveSociety
Email: karthikbibireddy@hotmail.com
Website: https://github.com/kbibireddy/closed-captioner

For privacy inquiries, use the subject line Privacy Inquiry - Closed Captioner. We typically respond within 30 days.

By using Closed Captioner, you consent to:

Processing described in this Privacy Policy
Local storage of caption history on your device
Audio processing for speech-to-text (with your permission)
Motion processing for shake features
Advertising via Google AdMob (unless Remove Ads is purchased), including personalized ads only if you allow tracking

You can withdraw consent by revoking permissions, deleting local data, purchasing Remove Ads, or uninstalling the App.

19. Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the United States of America, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

20. App Store Privacy Summary (App Privacy Labels)

This section mirrors how we intend the App Store App Privacy questionnaire to read:

Data type	Collected?	Linked to you by us?	Used for tracking?	Purposes
Audio Data	Yes (via Apple Speech)	No	No	App Functionality
Device ID	Yes (via AdMob)	No	Yes	Third-Party Advertising; Developer’s Advertising or Marketing; Analytics
Advertising Data	Yes (via AdMob)	No	Yes	Third-Party Advertising
Product Interaction	May apply via AdMob	No	Usually No	Analytics / Advertising as applicable
Captions / history	On-device only	N/A	No	Not off-device collection
Purchase History	Handled by Apple; we do not collect card data	N/A	No	Typically not declared as our collection

Do you or third-party partners collect data from this app? Yes (Apple Speech Recognition; Google AdMob).
Is data used for tracking? Yes — Device ID and Advertising Data when personalized advertising is enabled under ATT.

20.1 Offline Functionality

Caption history and local features work offline. Network is required for App Store download, Apple speech recognition (when used), and AdMob ads.

20.2 No Account Required

The App does not require account creation.

20.3 Data Minimization

We only process what is needed for captions and, when ads are shown, what AdMob requires to serve and measure ads.

21. Acknowledgment

By downloading, installing, or using Closed Captioner, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the App.