This policy explains how Voice Notes (“the app”) handles information wherever you live, including the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The app is published by OwnForge, New Zealand. Contact: admin@ownforge.co.nz.
OwnForge is the organisation responsible (the “controller”) for this privacy notice and for the tiny amount of information you send us if you email a privacy request. OwnForge does not operate a Voice Notes account server and does not receive your recordings unless you choose to share a file yourself.
You are responsible for the conversations you record — including getting agreement from everyone being recorded, and for any cloud transcription key you paste into Settings. Recording laws differ by country and US state (one-party vs all-party consent). Voice recordings and transcripts stay on your phone unless you share them or start a cloud transcription you configure. If other people can be identified in a recording, you are typically the controller of that information and must handle it under your own obligations.
Voice Notes is an Android meeting and conversation notebook. It records audio through this device’s microphone after you confirm participant agreement and grant microphone permission, then lets you play the note back and transcribe it. There is no account and no sign-in.
The app is not a phone-call recorder. It does not capture the remote audio channel of the Phone app, WhatsApp, Zoom, Meet, or other VoIP apps. If you record a call, put it on speaker so the microphone can hear the room. Quality then depends on volume and background noise.
The app stores, only on the device:
Recordings are kept in the app’s private storage. Android backups of recordings, transcripts, and secrets are turned off so those files are not copied to Google Backup.
Off-device processing happens only in these cases:
We do not upload recordings to OwnForge servers.
Where a privacy law requires a legal basis (including GDPR and UK GDPR):
We do not use your information for advertising, profiling, or automated decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects.
These organisations process audio only if you start cloud transcription with your own key:
Their own privacy policies apply to the data they receive.
OwnForge is in New Zealand. If you use cloud transcription, OpenAI or Google may process audio in the United States and other countries. Where GDPR or UK GDPR applies, those transfers rely on the platforms’ published safeguards (such as Standard Contractual Clauses or an adequacy decision). On-device recordings are not transferred by OwnForge.
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:
For recordings and transcripts that exist only on your phone, use the in-app delete controls or Android storage settings. For anything OwnForge actually holds (typically an email you sent), email admin@ownforge.co.nz. We will respond as required by the law that applies to you. We may need to confirm it is you before we act.
If we refuse a request where the law allows, we will say why and how you can complain. Authorised agents (for example under California law) may contact us with proof of authority.
The app is a meeting notebook. It is not directed at children, including anyone under 16 (or under 13 where that is the local digital-consent age). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided data to us by email, contact us and we will delete what we can.
European Union / EEA (GDPR). OwnForge is established in New Zealand, not in the EU, and we have not appointed an Article 27 EU representative. You can still exercise your rights by emailing us, and you can complain to your local data-protection authority. Voice recordings can be personal data. You decide when to record and whether to send audio to a transcription provider. Legal bases are listed above.
United Kingdom (UK GDPR). The same rights and bases apply. You can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). We have not appointed a UK Article 27 representative; contact OwnForge in New Zealand.
New Zealand (Privacy Act 2020). You can ask for access or correction and complain to the Privacy Commissioner if you are not satisfied.
Australia (Privacy Act). We handle the limited personal information described here for the purposes stated. You can complain to us first, then to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
Canada (PIPEDA and provincial laws). We collect only what is needed to provide the app on your device, with your knowledge as described in this policy. You can withdraw consent for recording or cloud transcription in the app, and you can complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
United States (including California CPRA and similar state laws). Categories of personal information: audio recordings and transcripts you create; identifiers if you email us. Audio can be treated as sensitive personal information in some states. We do not use it to infer characteristics. We do not sell personal information or share it for cross-context behavioural advertising. We do not track you across other companies’ apps or websites for advertising. Retention is described above. “Shine the Light” and similar marketing-list laws do not apply because we do not share personal information for third-party direct marketing.
Brazil (LGPD). Processing on the device is to provide the service you requested. Cloud transcription happens only if you send audio with your own key. You may request confirmation, access, correction, anonymisation or deletion, and information about sharing, by emailing us. You may complain to the Autoridade Nacional de Proteção de Dados (ANPD).
Other countries: we still apply the practices in this policy — minimise data, keep recordings on device unless you send them, and let you delete or ask us about anything we actually hold.
If this policy changes, we will update the date at the top of this page and ship the same text in the app’s Privacy screen. If a change is material, we will make the new date obvious on this page.
OwnForge
Email: admin@ownforge.co.nz
Web: https://ownforge.co.nz
Privacy requests: put “Privacy request” in the subject line and tell us which country you are in so we can apply the right rules.