Privacy Policy

JournAI ("we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information and voice data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you use our AI-powered voice journaling mobile application (the "App"). We understand that your journal entries contain your most personal thoughts, and we treat this responsibility with the utmost care.

1Information We Collect

We collect only the information necessary to provide you with voice journaling services and AI insights:

Voice and Audio Data

• Voice Recordings: Temporary audio recordings you create while journaling (automatically deleted after transcription)
• Transcribed Text: The written text converted from your voice recordings
• Audio Quality Metadata: Technical information to improve transcription accuracy (duration, volume levels)
• Processing Logs: Anonymous technical logs to ensure transcription service reliability

Journal Content and Analysis

• Journal Entries: The transcribed text of your personal journal entries
• Mood Data: Emotional patterns detected from your journal content
• Personal Insights: AI-generated patterns and recommendations based on your entries
• Tags and Categories: Labels you create or that are suggested to organize your entries

Account Information

• Email Address: Used for account creation, login, and important app notifications
• Password: Securely encrypted and stored for account authentication
• Account Preferences: Settings like notification preferences, privacy controls, and app customizations
• Profile Information: Optional display name and any personalization settings you choose

Usage and Technical Data

• App Usage Patterns: How you navigate and use the app to improve user experience
• Device Information: iPhone model, iOS version, and app version for compatibility and support
• Performance Data: App performance metrics to identify and fix technical issues
• Crash Reports: Anonymous technical reports to improve app stability

2How We Use Your Information

We use your information solely to provide voice journaling services and personal growth insights:

Voice Processing and Transcription

• Speech-to-Text Conversion: Convert your voice recordings into written journal entries
• Language Processing: Improve transcription accuracy and handle natural speech patterns
• Quality Enhancement: Optimize audio processing for better transcription results
• Error Correction: Learn from your manual edits to improve future transcriptions

AI Analysis and Insights

• Pattern Recognition: Identify themes, emotions, and patterns in your journal entries
• Mood Tracking: Analyze emotional content to provide mood insights over time
• Personal Growth: Generate personalized recommendations for habits and well-being
• Trend Analysis: Show you patterns in your thoughts and feelings across weeks and months

App Functionality and User Experience

• Account Management: Maintain your account, preferences, and subscription status
• Cloud Synchronization: Sync your journal entries across your devices securely
• Search and Organization: Enable you to find and organize your journal entries
• Performance Optimization: Improve app speed, reliability, and user experience

Communication and Support

• Account Notifications: Send important updates about your account or subscription
• Feature Updates: Inform you about new features and improvements (if opted in)
• Customer Support: Provide assistance when you contact us for help
• Safety Communications: Send critical security or privacy-related notifications

3Data Storage and Security

Encryption and Data Protection

• End-to-End Encryption: All data encrypted using AES-256 encryption during transmission
• Encrypted Storage: Journal entries encrypted at rest using industry-standard encryption
• Secure Key Management: Encryption keys managed through secure, audited key management systems
• Local Device Security: Sensitive operations performed locally on your device when possible

Cloud Storage and Infrastructure

• Firebase Security: Data stored using Google Firebase's secure, enterprise-grade infrastructure
• Geographic Location: All data stored in secure data centers within the United States
• Access Controls: Strict role-based access controls limiting who can access user data
• Regular Backups: Encrypted backups to prevent data loss while maintaining security

Voice Data Processing

• Temporary Processing: Voice recordings processed temporarily and deleted immediately after transcription
• Secure Transmission: Voice data encrypted during transmission to transcription services
• No Permanent Storage: Voice recordings never permanently stored on our servers
• Local Processing: Some voice processing performed locally on your device for enhanced privacy

4Third-Party Services

JournAI integrates with several third-party services to provide voice transcription and secure data storage:

OpenAI (Voice Transcription)

• Service Purpose: Convert your voice recordings to text using advanced speech recognition
• Data Shared: Temporary voice recordings for transcription only
• Privacy Protection: OpenAI processes data under strict privacy agreements and does not use your data for training
• Data Retention: Voice data not retained by OpenAI after transcription is complete

Firebase (Google Cloud)

• Service Purpose: Secure data storage, user authentication, and app infrastructure
• Data Shared: Encrypted journal entries, account information, and app usage data
• Privacy Protection: Google's enterprise privacy standards with data processing agreements
• Geographic Location: All data stored in Google's secure US data centers

Apple Services

• Service Purpose: App distribution, subscription management, and push notifications
• Data Shared: Subscription status and app installation data (no journal content)
• Privacy Protection: Apple's privacy standards for App Store and subscription services
• User Control: Manage subscriptions and data sharing through iOS settings

5Information Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. Information sharing is strictly limited to:

No Marketing or Advertising Use

• Strict Prohibition: We never share journal content or personal data with advertisers
• No Data Brokers: Your information is never sold to data brokers or marketing companies
• No Targeted Advertising: We don't use your data for targeted advertising or profiling
• No Analytics Sharing: Personal data not shared with third-party analytics services

Service Providers (Data Processing Only)

• Voice Transcription: OpenAI processes voice recordings solely for transcription services
• Data Storage: Firebase stores encrypted journal entries and account information
• Payment Processing: Apple processes subscription payments (no journal content shared)
• Technical Support: Limited access for technical support personnel under strict confidentiality

Legal Requirements

• Legal Compliance: Only when required by valid legal process or court orders
• Safety Protection: To protect the safety of users or prevent harm when legally required
• Platform Compliance: To comply with Apple App Store policies and terms
• Minimal Disclosure: Only the minimum necessary information would be shared

6Your Rights and Controls

You have complete control over your personal information and journal data:

Access and Download Your Data

• Complete Access: View all your journal entries, insights, and account information anytime
• Data Export: Download your complete journal history in multiple formats (Premium feature)
• Insight History: Access all AI-generated insights and mood tracking data
• Account Information: View and update your account details and preferences

Control Your AI Processing

• Insight Settings: Enable or disable specific types of AI analysis and insights
• Mood Tracking: Turn off automated mood detection and tracking
• Habit Suggestions: Control whether AI provides habit and behavior recommendations
• Data Processing: Limit how your journal content is analyzed and processed

Delete Your Information

• Individual Entries: Delete specific journal entries and their associated insights
• Account Deletion: Permanently delete your account and all associated data
• Complete Removal: All data removed from our systems within 30 days of deletion request
• Secure Deletion: Data securely wiped from servers and backup systems

Communication Preferences

• Notification Control: Manage all app notifications through iOS settings
• Email Preferences: Control what types of emails you receive from us
• Marketing Opt-out: Unsubscribe from promotional communications anytime
• Security Alerts: Choose to receive important security and privacy notifications

7Data Retention

We retain your information only as long as necessary to provide our services:

Active Account Data

• Journal Entries: Stored securely while your account is active
• AI Insights: Retained to provide ongoing personal growth tracking
• Voice Recordings: Immediately deleted after transcription (never stored long-term)
• Account Information: Maintained while you use the service

Inactive Account Policy

• Retention Period: Data retained for 2 years after last app use
• Notification Process: Email warnings sent before automatic deletion
• Reactivation: Accounts can be reactivated anytime during retention period
• Automatic Cleanup: Inactive accounts automatically deleted after retention period

Deleted Account Data

• Immediate Deletion: Personal information deleted within 30 days of account deletion
• Backup Cleanup: Data removed from backup systems within 90 days
• Anonymized Analytics: Some aggregated, anonymized usage data may be retained
• Legal Requirements: Some data may be retained if required by law

8International Users

JournAI is available internationally but operates under US privacy laws:

GDPR Compliance (European Users)

• Data Processing Rights: Access, rectification, erasure, and portability of your data
• Consent Management: Clear consent for data processing with withdrawal options
• Data Protection Officer: Contact privacy@journai.app for GDPR-related requests
• Legal Basis: Processing based on your consent and our legitimate interests

Data Transfers

• US Processing: All data processing occurs within the United States
• Adequate Protection: Safeguards in place for international data transfers
• Standard Contractual Clauses: Appropriate contracts with service providers
• User Consent: International users consent to US-based data processing

9Children's Privacy

JournAI is designed for users 13 and older:

• Age Requirement: App intended for users aged 13 and above
• Parental Consent: Users under 18 should have parental consent before using the app
• COPPA Compliance: We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13
• Account Removal: Accounts of users under 13 will be deleted if discovered

10Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements:

• Notification Process: Users notified of significant changes through the app and email
• Effective Date: Changes become effective 30 days after notification
• Continued Use: Continued app use indicates acceptance of updated policy
• Opt-out Option: Users can delete their account if they disagree with changes

11Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

• Email: privacy@journai.app
• Privacy Requests: Data access, correction, or deletion requests
• Security Concerns: Report security issues or suspicious activity
• General Support: Use the in-app support feature for general questions

For subscription and billing questions, please contact Apple Support as all payments are processed through the Apple App Store.

This Privacy Policy was last updated in August 2024 and is effective immediately. Your privacy and the security of your personal thoughts are our highest priorities. We're committed to maintaining your trust and protecting your most personal information with the highest standards of privacy and security.