Privacy Policy

Effective Date: August 15, 2026

Welcome to AutoCaptioner! This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use our mobile application (the "App"). We value your privacy and trust, and we are committed to being fully transparent about what data is collected and why.

1. 100% On-Device Processing — Our Core Principle

AutoCaptioner is built to leverage your device's own hardware, giving you powerful AI tools without the need for expensive cloud subscriptions. All media processing, including speech recognition, caption generation, video editing, camera effects, and AI features, happens locally on your device.

• No Cloud Media Processing: Your video files, audio recordings, recorded camera footage, generated captions, image overlays, text overlays, and teleprompter scripts are never uploaded, sent, or stored on our servers.
• No Audio Streaming: Audio data is extracted and analyzed purely on your device's processor using our integrated Whisper AI models.
• No Camera Streaming: Camera frames used for recording, real-time color grading filters, hand gesture recognition, or AI skin smoothing are processed entirely on-device in real-time. No frames, images, or biometric data derived from the camera are ever transmitted.

2. Data Collection and Use

Because the App operates entirely on-device for all its core features, we collect very minimal data. Below is a full and transparent account of what is collected and why:

• AI Model Downloads: The App requires an internet connection to download the necessary AI models (Whisper language models, ranging from ~44 MB to ~835 MB) upon first use or when selecting a new language. These models are downloaded from Hugging Face, a third-party model hosting platform. While your IP address is exposed during this download connection, no media, personal data, captions, or content is ever sent during this process.
• Crash Reports (Firebase Crashlytics): We use Firebase Crashlytics to receive automatic crash reports. When the App crashes, Crashlytics collects diagnostic data including your device model, Android OS version, app version, a stack trace of the error, and the app state at the time of the crash. Your media files, video content, audio recordings, captions, overlays, and personal data are never included in crash reports.
• Usage Analytics (Firebase Analytics): We use Firebase Analytics to understand how the App is used in aggregate. This includes anonymised events such as which screens are visited and which features are used, along with device information and approximate location at the country or city level. No personal media content is collected or transmitted. You can opt out of analytics tracking at any time via the Settings screen in the App.
• Advertising ID (AD_ID): The App declares the Advertising ID permission, which is used solely by Firebase Analytics and Firebase Crashlytics for analytics correlation and crash reporting purposes. The App does not display advertisements and does not use the Advertising ID for ad targeting or profiling of any kind.
• Performance Monitoring (Firebase Performance): We use Firebase Performance Monitoring to measure technical performance metrics such as app startup time, screen render times, and network request durations. This data is anonymised and aggregated. You can disable this along with other telemetry via the Settings screen.
• Remote Configuration (Firebase Remote Config): We use Firebase Remote Config to manage feature flags and app configuration remotely, such as the URLs for this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Service. This service fetches configuration parameters from Firebase servers. No personal data is sent as part of this process.
• In-App Purchases (Future Feature): We plan to offer digital in-app purchases in a future release to unlock premium features ("AutoCaptioner Pro"). We have integrated RevenueCat into the App in preparation for this. RevenueCat is currently not processing any purchases. When premium purchases are made available, RevenueCat will collect an anonymous App User ID, device information, and purchase history to validate your transactions. No sensitive payment data (such as credit card numbers) is ever collected, processed, or visible to AutoCaptioner. All actual payment processing is handled securely by Google Play.
• Local Data (On-Device Storage): The App stores project data, caption files, image and text overlays, export history records, and your settings preferences in a local database (Room) and local file storage on your device. This data never leaves your device and is not accessible to us. Deleting the App removes all locally stored data.

3. Device Permissions

To function correctly, AutoCaptioner requests the following permissions:

• Camera: Required for two distinct purposes: (1) recording video directly within the App using the built-in recording screen with real-time filters and AI skin smoothing; and (2) enabling the hand-gesture recognition feature to start hands-free recording without tapping the screen. Camera frames are processed entirely on-device and never transmitted. The camera is not used during standard video import and editing workflows.
• Microphone (Record Audio): Required to capture audio when recording video inside the App so that captions can be generated. Audio is processed entirely on-device by the Whisper AI engine. Audio is not used during faceless recording mode if you choose not to speak.
• Storage / Media Permissions: Required to import videos from your gallery, to import still images for use as video backgrounds in faceless recording mode or as image overlays in the editor, and to save the final captioned and edited videos back to your device's storage.
• Internet: Required solely to download AI language models and to fetch remote configuration from Firebase.
• Notifications & Foreground Service: Required to keep on-device transcription and video export running if you minimise the App, and to display a progress notification in your notification tray. These services do not transmit any data.
• Wake Lock: Required to prevent your device's screen or processor from sleeping during long video processing or export operations, ensuring they complete without interruption.

4. App Features and Data Handling

The following is a clear description of how each major feature handles your data:

• AI Transcription & Captioning: Speech recognition is performed entirely on your device using locally stored Whisper AI models. Audio is extracted from your video file locally, processed on-device, and the resulting captions are stored in the local database. No audio or video data ever leaves your device for this feature.
• Caption & Video Editor: All editing operations including trimming, splitting, rearranging clips, adjusting caption timing and style, adding image overlays from your gallery, and adding custom text overlays happen entirely locally. The full editing history (undo/redo states) is held in device memory only.
• Creator Studio (Camera Recording with Filters): When recording with the built-in camera, the App applies real-time color-grading filters (such as Golden Hour, Kodak, Cinematic, and others) using on-device GPU shaders. These filters process camera frames locally in real-time. No camera frames or filter data are transmitted.
• AI Skin Smoothing: The App offers an optional real-time AI skin-smoothing effect during camera recording. This effect analyses camera frames using on-device AI processing. No camera frames, images, biometric data, or facial data are ever uploaded, shared with third parties, or stored permanently for this feature.
• Hand Gesture Recognition: The App uses your device's camera to enable hands-free recording control (e.g., showing your open palm to start a recording countdown). This is powered by on-device AI (Google's MediaPipe). Camera frames are processed locally in real-time and are never uploaded or saved.
• Teleprompter: The built-in teleprompter allows you to type a script that scrolls on-screen while you record. Teleprompter text is stored locally on your device only and is never sent to our servers.
• Faceless Recording Mode: This mode allows voice-only creators to import a still image as the video background and record their voiceover without using the live camera. The imported image is accessed locally from your device and is not uploaded.
• Export & Export History: Exported videos are saved directly to your device's local storage. A history of your exports is stored in the local on-device database for your reference. This history is never synced to our servers.

5. Third-Party Services

AutoCaptioner uses the following third-party services. We do not sell or rent your personal information to anyone.

• Hugging Face: We use Hugging Face to host and distribute the open-source Whisper AI language models required for on-device transcription. When the App downloads a model, your device connects to Hugging Face servers, which may log your IP address and standard connection details. No media, captions, or personal content is ever sent. You can review their Privacy Policy at https://huggingface.co/privacy.
• Google LLC / Firebase: We use several Firebase services (Crashlytics, Analytics, Performance Monitoring, and Remote Config) operated by Google LLC. These services may collect device identifiers, app usage events, crash diagnostics, and performance metrics as described in Section 2. All data collected by Firebase is processed by Google under their own privacy policy. You can review Google's Privacy Policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy. You may opt out of Crashlytics and Analytics collection directly in the App's Settings.
• RevenueCat (Future Integration): The App includes RevenueCat infrastructure in preparation for future in-app purchases. RevenueCat is not currently processing any purchases or collecting any data. When premium purchases are enabled in a future release, RevenueCat will process anonymous user IDs and purchase receipts to manage entitlements. Their Privacy Policy is available at https://www.revenuecat.com/privacy.
• Google Play Billing: All in-app purchases, when made available, will be processed securely through Google Play. AutoCaptioner never has access to your payment information.
• Website Analytics & Hosting: Our website uses Vercel Analytics and Google Fonts. When you visit our website, these services may collect basic telemetry such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, and approximate geographic location (derived from IP) for performance and analytics purposes.
• Your Media Stays Yours: None of the above third-party services receive your video files, audio recordings, camera frames, generated captions, teleprompter scripts, image overlays, or text overlays. Your media content never leaves your device.

6. Data Retention and Deletion

AutoCaptioner processes all media entirely on your device and does not upload your media or captions to our servers. We do not store or have access to your personal media, generated captions, overlays, or editing history, so you do not need to request media deletion from us.

All App data — including your projects, captions, video editor state, image and text overlays, export history, teleprompter scripts, and settings — is stored locally on your device. You can delete this data at any time by uninstalling the App or by clearing the App's data via your device's Settings.

Crash reports, anonymised analytics events, and performance metrics collected via Firebase are retained by Google according to their data retention policies. If you have questions about how Google retains this data, please refer to Google's Privacy Policy.

7. India Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP)

For users in India, AutoCaptioner complies with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Dipankaj Singh (DipDev Labs) acts as the Data Fiduciary for the limited telemetry data we collect.

• Right to Access and Erasure: You have the right to access, correct, or erase the personal data we hold (e.g., website analytics or crash logs, which are typically anonymised). Since all your media and app content stays on your device, uninstalling the App acts as a complete erasure of your content.
• Consent: By using the App, you consent to the collection of anonymised crash reports and analytics as described in this policy. You may withdraw consent for analytics and crash reporting at any time via the Settings screen in the App.
• Grievance Redressal: If you have any privacy concerns or wish to exercise your rights under the DPDP Act, you may contact our designated Grievance Officer using the contact details in Section 10.

8. Children's Privacy

Our App is not intended for use by children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can take the necessary actions.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time as the App evolves. We will notify you of any changes by updating the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Your continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

10. Contact Us

AutoCaptioner is developed and maintained by Dipankaj Singh (operating as DipDev Labs). If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at: