Voice Notes Privacy Policy
Publisher: Aetherlink Digital Ltd.
Effective Date: 13 October 2026
Applicable Application: Voice Notes for Android (录音笔记, Package name: com.record.voice, hereinafter referred to as the “App”)
Aetherlink Digital Ltd. values your personal privacy. We believe that your voice, thoughts, and personal notes belong solely to you. The App is built on a local-first privacy framework: we do not operate user accounts, nor do we run remote servers to host or process user-generated content. Audio recordings, voice enhancements, transcriptions, and written memos are processed and stored locally on your device.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, please reach us at:
Contact Email: support@aetherlink.me.uk
1. Data We Process
1.1 Data That Remains Exclusively on Your Device
The following items are saved directly into the App's isolated internal storage and are never transmitted to our developers:
- Audio Recordings: When you initiate a recording, the App accesses the microphone and generates audio files in formats such as M4A, AAC, MP3, WAV, FLAC, or OGG, which are saved in the App's private audio directory.
- Metadata & Indexing: Names, timestamps, audio duration, format, sample quality, channel configuration, waveform cache, playback speeds, and voice enhancement flags. Each memo is assigned a randomly generated local ID that bears no link to your hardware identifiers and is never synced externally.
- Transcriptions & Notes: Real-time text generated via offline speech recognition, along with your written notes and summaries, remain strictly inside the App's private sandbox.
- Offline Speech Models: Language model files downloaded at your request are retained in the local sandbox exclusively for offline speech-to-text functionality.
- User Preferences: Preferred audio format, appearance theme, language, and the local activation state of the Pro license.
Backup Disclaimer: Audio files, transcripts, note indexes, and offline speech packs are explicitly excluded from automated Android cloud backups and device-to-device data migration, preventing unintended cloud exposure of your private voice recordings. Only basic interface preferences may be retained if your device has system-level Android backup active.
1.2 Data Involving Network Transmission
The App establishes external network connections only under the following limited scenarios. With the exception of explicit user-directed sharing or email feedback, the developer receives none of this data:
- Advertising (Free Tier): We utilize the Google Mobile Ads SDK (AdMob) in the free version. It serves banner advertisements and, after saving a voice note with appropriate frequency caps, interstitial ads. Google may process your device's advertising identifier, IP address, general device specifications (model, OS version, language), and ad engagement metrics for fraud prevention and reporting. The App’s proprietary codebase does not read or inspect your advertising ID. Upgrading to Pro permanently terminates the ad module, preventing any further ad-related connections.
- Consent Management (UMP): In jurisdictions requiring explicit privacy choices (such as the EEA and the UK), the App uses Google’s User Messaging Platform to govern consent. The App may contact Google upon launch to verify consent status. You can update your consent settings at any time under About > Privacy options.
- Pro Purchases & License Verification: Unlocking the one-time in-app product (voice_notes_pro) is processed through Google Play In-App Billing. We never collect or retain financial details or payment credentials. The App queries Google Play strictly to determine entitlement status and stores the unlock flag locally.
- Downloading Offline Models: Only upon explicit confirmation, the App fetches model archives from the public repository (https://alphacephei.com/vosk/models/). This is a standard file download that contains no user content. The hosting server observes only the standard incoming request IP address.
- User-Initiated Sharing: Tapping "Share" invokes the native Android share sheet, delegating the selected audio file to the target app of your choice. Aetherlink Digital Ltd. plays no role in subsequent transmissions.
- Support & Feedback: Selecting "Help and Feedback" opens your preferred email client with pre-filled subject text containing your app version and locale. The decision to send the email and the contents included remain entirely under your control.
2. Microphone Usage, Transcription, and Audio Enhancement
Microphone Access: Microphone permission is requested solely to record audio when you press record. While recording is active, an ongoing foreground service notification indicates "Recording" or "Paused" alongside elapsed time without carrying any audio data. This notification can be hidden on the lock screen via internal settings.
Offline Processing: Transcription is performed locally utilizing on-device Vosk models. Voice enhancement and noise reduction algorithms execute directly on your device's processor. Neither audio recordings nor generated transcripts are ever uploaded to third-party cloud AI vendors or remote recognition platforms.
3. Application Permissions
| Permission | Justification |
|---|---|
| Microphone | Capturing audio during user-initiated recording sessions. |
| Notifications | Displaying an ongoing background status indicator and recording controls. |
| Foreground Service (Microphone) | Ensuring background recording continuity when the App is minimized or the screen is locked. |
| Internet & Network State | Loading ads (free version), verifying Play Billing status, fetching consent profiles, and downloading offline speech packs. |
| Wake Lock | Preventing the operating system from entering deep sleep and interrupting an active recording. |
| Ignore Battery Optimizations (Optional) | Asking the OS to exempt the App from aggressive background process termination during extended recordings. |
Note: The App does not request permissions for Location, Contacts, Media Storage/Photos, SMS, or Phone State.
4. Policy on Permanent Device Identifiers
The App does not read, collect, or distribute permanent device hardware identifiers such as IMEI, IMSI, SIM card serial numbers, or device serial numbers, nor does it link any such identifiers to your audio recordings or transcripts.
In the ad-supported tier, Google’s advertising libraries may interact with the resettable Android Advertising ID. You may reset this identifier or disable personalized ads at any time through your Android system settings under Settings > Google > Ads.
5. How We Use Information
- To support standard voice recorder functionality (recording, playback, renaming, sorting, sharing, and deleting);
- To run on-device transcription and voice enhancement at your request;
- To retain your interface and recording settings across sessions;
- To serve non-intrusive ads and adhere to regional consent guidelines in the free tier;
- To manage your Pro entitlement through Google Play Billing;
- To provide system diagnostics when you send optional feedback emails.
We do not sell personal data. We do not use user audio or transcribed text to profile users or train public advertising algorithms.
6. Third-Party Disclosures
We share information only under the transparent boundaries described below:
- Google (AdMob & User Messaging Platform): To manage and display ads and process regulatory consent in the free tier. See the Google Privacy Policy.
- Google Play: To verify ownership of the Pro unlock. Payment transactions are handled directly by Google.
- Alpha Cephei (alphacephei.com): Only as a remote download source when you choose to download an offline language model.
- User-Selected Apps: Only when you choose to share an audio note via the Android system share sheet.
We do not sell, rent, or transfer user notes to third parties. If legally compelled by formal law enforcement requests, we can only provide information directly in our possession. Due to our architecture, we do not possess or host your audio recordings.
7. Data Retention & Deletion
Because the App functions without cloud-based user accounts, there is no separate "Delete Account" portal. You maintain complete control over your content through the following controls:
- Individual Recordings: Deleted memos move to the "Recently Deleted" folder for 30 days before being permanently purged. Selecting "Delete Immediately" erases the audio file, transcript, and associated notes from storage.
- Offline Speech Models: Downloaded model packs can be cleared at any time in the App Settings.
- Complete App Removal: You can permanently erase all stored recordings, notes, preferences, and cached models by selecting Clear Data / Clear Storage in your Android app settings, or by uninstalling the App.
- Pro Purchase Records: Your purchase history is maintained securely by Google Play. Clearing local storage does not void your purchase rights, which can be restored upon reinstallation.
8. Children’s Privacy
The App is designed as a general utility tool and is not directed toward children under 13 years of age (or the applicable age threshold in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.
9. Storage Security Architecture
Recordings and notes reside within Android’s sandboxed private internal storage, isolated from access by other applications. Audio files shared through the system are exposed temporarily on a single-item basis. We encourage users to maintain proper device-level screen locks. This policy accurately notes that files are not independently encrypted beyond the standard Android file system security.
10. Updates & Inquiries
We may periodically revise this policy to reflect application enhancements or regulatory changes. Updated revisions will be published on this page with an updated effective date.
For questions, feedback, or data privacy requests, please contact:
Email: support@aetherlink.me.uk
(Please mention "Voice Notes" in the subject line to ensure timely handling.)