Terms of Use

Effective date: January 15, 2026

1. Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years old (or the minimum age of digital consent in your country) to use the App. If you are under the age of majority in your jurisdiction, you may use the App only with the consent of a parent or legal guardian who accepts these Terms on your behalf.

2. Description of the Service

Private Transcriber enables you to record or import audio and generate transcripts on your device using on‑device models. The App performs transcription locally and stores your recordings, transcripts, and settings within your device's app storage. The App does not require an account and does not upload your recordings or transcripts to our servers.

3. Privacy

Please review our Privacy Policy for details on how the App handles information. The App is designed so that your content remains on your device unless you choose to export or share it. We do not collect personal data from your use of the App.

4. Your Content and Responsibilities

• Ownership: You retain all rights in recordings and transcripts you create or import with the App ("User Content").
• Control: User Content remains on your device unless you export or share it. You control if, when, and how you share User Content with third parties.
• Legal compliance: You are solely responsible for (a) obtaining all necessary consents (e.g., from participants in recorded conversations) and (b) complying with all applicable laws (including call‑recording, wiretapping, data protection, and privacy laws) when using the App.
• Prohibited content: Do not use the App to create, store, or share content that is illegal, infringing, or violates the rights of others.

5. On‑Device Processing; No Cloud Services

Transcription is performed locally using models stored on your device. We do not operate servers that process your audio or transcripts. Network access may be used for model downloads you initiate and for importing audio from URLs you supply.

6. Permissions

To function, the App may request certain device permissions (e.g., Microphone for recording; Files/Media/Photos for importing; Network for model downloads/imports). Permissions are used only to provide the requested functionality. You can change permissions in your device settings, though some features may not work without them.

7. Third‑Party Services and Links

• Model downloads: When you choose to download a transcription model, the App retrieves the model file over HTTPS from a public model host (e.g., huggingface.co). Only the model file is downloaded; your content is not uploaded.
• System share sheet: If you export a transcript, your operating system's share sheet presents third‑party apps/services you select. Your interactions with third‑party apps/services are governed by their terms and policies.
• No endorsement: We are not responsible for third‑party services, content, or policies.

8. Acceptable Use

You agree not to: (a) reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to derive the source code of the App except as permitted by law; (b) bypass or circumvent security features; (c) use the App to violate rights of others, including privacy or intellectual property rights; (d) use the App in a way that could damage, disable, or impair the App.

9. License and Intellectual Property

Subject to your compliance with these Terms, we grant you a personal, limited, non‑exclusive, non‑transferable, revocable license to install and use the App on a device you own or control. We and our licensors retain all rights, title, and interest in and to the App (excluding User Content). All trademarks, logos, and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

10. Open Source Notices

The App includes open‑source components (e.g., React Native, Expo, whisper.rn). Such components are licensed under their respective licenses. Where a license grants you rights that are broader than these Terms, the open‑source license controls for that component. Acknowledgments and licenses are available in the App repository and/or the respective project pages.

11. No Professional Advice

The App and any generated transcripts are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal, medical, financial, or other professional advice. Do not rely on transcripts as authoritative; always verify important information.

12. Accuracy and Availability

Transcription quality and performance may vary by device, model, audio quality, and language. We do not guarantee that the App or any output will be accurate, uninterrupted, or error‑free.

13. Fees and Purchases

At this time, the App does not charge fees or include in‑app purchases. If we later introduce paid features:

• Purchases on iOS will be processed via Apple's in‑app purchase system, and the Apple Media Services Terms and Apple's Standard EULA will apply in addition to these Terms.
• Purchases on Android via Google Play will be processed via Google Play's billing system, and the Google Play Terms of Service will apply in addition to these Terms.
• Any new fees will be disclosed in‑App prior to purchase.

15. Google Play Requirements (Android)

For Android users who download the App via Google Play, these Terms are between you and us, not Google. You acknowledge that:

• Your use of the App is also subject to the Google Play Terms of Service.
• Google is not responsible for any maintenance or support for the App.
• To the maximum extent permitted by law, Google has no warranty obligation with respect to the App and is not responsible for claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, or expenses arising from the App.
• Google is not a party to these Terms and has no obligations with respect to the App.

16. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE APP IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON‑INFRINGEMENT. YOUR USE OF THE APP AND ANY OUTPUT IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK.

17. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL WE OR OUR LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE APP, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS RELATING TO THE APP WILL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNTS YOU PAID US (IF ANY) FOR THE APP IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR ONE HUNDRED POUNDS STERLING (£100), WHICHEVER IS GREATER. NOTHING IN THESE TERMS EXCLUDES OR LIMITS OUR LIABILITY FOR DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURY CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE, FRAUD, OR ANY OTHER LIABILITY THAT CANNOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.

18. Indemnification

You will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless us and our affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or in any way connected with (a) your User Content; (b) your use of the App; or (c) your violation of these Terms or applicable law.

19. Export Controls and Sanctions

You agree to comply with all applicable export control, sanctions, and trade restriction laws and regulations in your jurisdiction and internationally. You represent that you are not located in any country or region subject to comprehensive international sanctions or embargoes.

20. Changes to the App and Terms

We may modify or discontinue features, and we may update these Terms from time to time. We will post the updated Terms in the App repository and/or website and update the "Effective date" above. Your continued use of the App after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

21. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the App at any time if we believe you have violated these Terms. Upon termination, the licenses granted to you under these Terms end. Sections intended to survive termination, including Sections 9–19, will survive.

22. Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms, including any question regarding their existence, validity, or termination, shall be subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales. If you are a consumer in the EU, UK, or another jurisdiction with mandatory consumer protections, nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights, and you retain the benefit of any mandatory protections provided to you by law, including the right to bring proceedings in your country of residence.

23. General

If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permissible and the remaining provisions will remain in full force. Our failure to enforce a right is not a waiver. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding the App.