Privacy policy
The short version
- Your recordings and transcripts stay on your phone, and we never receive them.
- There is no account, analytics, advertising or crash reporting in the app.
- The app goes online only when you download a larger model, or buy or restore Pro.
- Anything you export or share is your own copy, and it is not encrypted by EchoLocal.
Who we are
EchoLocal is published by ahmedbuildapps. This policy covers the EchoLocal app for iPhone, iPad and Android, and this website. Questions go to [email protected].
What the app handles
| Data | Do we receive it? | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone audio | No | Encrypted on your device |
| Imported audio | No | Copied, converted and encrypted on your device. Your original file is not changed |
| Transcripts | No | Encrypted on your device |
| Settings | No | On your device |
| Exports | No | Only where you send them, through the share sheet or a save dialog |
| Purchases | No | Handled by Apple or Google. The app learns only whether Pro was bought |
When the app uses the internet
Only in two cases, and only when you ask:
- Downloading a model. The app makes an HTTPS request to the service hosting the model file, currently Hugging Face. That service can see your IP address and which model you requested, as with any download, and handles that information under its own policies. The request contains none of your audio or text.
- Buying or restoring Pro. This goes through the App Store or Google Play, under Apple’s or Google’s terms and privacy policies. We don’t receive your payment details.
How your data is protected
Recordings and transcripts are encrypted with AES-256 on your device, with keys held in its secure storage. You can also add an app lock using Face ID, Touch ID, your device’s biometrics or passcode.
This protection has limits you should know about:
- Temporary files. During conversion, transcription and playback, short-lived unencrypted audio exists in the app’s temporary folder, because the speech engine and audio player read from a file. These files are deleted after use, and any left over are removed the next time the app starts.
- Exports. Exported files leave the encrypted library and are not encrypted. The app warns you about this.
- Your device. Your data is only as safe as your phone. Use a strong passcode and keep the system up to date.
Backups and losing your phone
We keep no copy of your data, so we can’t recover it. Android backup and device transfer are turned off for the app. On Apple devices, the encryption keys stay on the device, so a library restored from a backup can’t be decrypted, and the app will offer to start again. Export anything you want to keep elsewhere.
Permissions
| Permission | Why | When |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone | Live transcription | Your first recording, after an explanation in the app |
| Face ID or biometrics | App lock | Only if you turn it on |
| Background audio (iOS), foreground service (Android) | Keep recording with the screen locked | Only while recording. Android shows a notification |
| Internet (Android) | Model download and purchases | Granted automatically when you install |
Your choices and rights
Because we hold none of your recordings or transcripts, we have nothing of yours to look up, correct or delete on request. You stay in control on the device: delete a transcript in the app, or uninstall the app to remove its library.
Depending on where you live, you may have rights under laws such as the GDPR. Contact us at [email protected] with any question, and you can complain to your local data protection authority. Apple and Google handle their own purchase records, so contact them directly about those.
Recording other people
You are responsible for following the recording and consent laws that apply to you. These vary by country and state, and some places require everyone’s consent.
Regulated work
EchoLocal has no HIPAA or SOC 2 certification. Keeping audio on the device can support your obligations, but it does not meet them by itself. Check with your compliance team before using it for regulated work.
Children
EchoLocal is a general-purpose tool and isn’t directed at children. We don’t knowingly collect personal information from anyone, including children.
This website
This site uses no cookies and no analytics, and loads no third-party scripts, fonts or images. Our hosting provider may keep standard server logs, such as IP addresses and pages requested, to run and secure the site. Links to other sites, including the sources in our articles, are covered by those sites’ own policies. If you email us, we use your message and address only to reply.
Changes to this policy
If this policy changes, we’ll update this page and the date at the top. If the app ever starts collecting data, we’ll say so here and in its store listings before that change ships. See also our terms of use.