Privacy Policy for Sound Meter

Effective Date: April 12, 2026 Developer: Muhammad Ilyas Contact: muhammadilyas15@gmail.com

1. Introduction

Sound Meter ("we", "our", "the app") is a sound level measurement tool that uses your phone's microphone to measure ambient noise in decibels (dB). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you use our mobile application.

By using Sound Meter, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

• Noise readings: Decibel measurements (current, min, max, average levels) that you choose to save
• Recording duration: Length of each measurement session
• Location labels: Optional text labels you may assign to saved readings (no GPS location is collected)

2.2 Microphone Access

• Sound Meter requires microphone (RECORD_AUDIO) permission to measure ambient sound levels
• Audio is processed locally on your device in real-time for dB calculation only
• Audio is NOT recorded, stored, or transmitted as audio files
• No voice data, speech, or conversations are captured or saved
• The microphone is only active while you are actively measuring (Start/Stop control)

2.3 Information Collected Automatically

• Device information (model, OS version) for crash reporting
• App usage analytics (screens visited, feature usage)
• Advertising identifiers (for personalized ads, free tier only)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to:

• Measure and display real-time sound levels in decibels
• Save noise readings for your personal history and trend analysis
• Track daily noise exposure levels and display safety breakdowns
• Show weekly charts of your sound measurement history
• Display relevant advertisements (free tier)
• Improve app performance and fix crashes via crash reporting
• Process subscription and one-time purchases

4. Data Storage and Security

4.1 Local Storage

• All noise readings and exposure logs are stored locally on your device using a Room database
• Calibration preferences are stored in local SharedPreferences
• No measurement data is transmitted to any server

4.2 Security Measures

• All network communication (ads, analytics, crash reports) uses HTTPS/TLS encryption
• Your measurement data remains entirely on your device
• No cloud backup or sync is performed on your data

5. Data Sharing

5.1 We Do NOT Sell Your Data

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties.

5.2 Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services that may collect data:

5.3 Ad Personalization

• Free tier users see advertisements served by Google AdMob
• AdMob may use device identifiers and usage data for ad personalization
• You can opt out of personalized ads through your device settings
• Premium subscribers see no advertisements

6. Children's Privacy

Sound Meter is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will delete it promptly.

7. Your Rights and Choices

7.1 Access and Control

• You can view all your saved readings within the app at any time
• You can delete any individual reading from the history screen
• All data is stored locally and under your full control

7.2 Data Deletion

• You can delete individual readings from the Reading History screen
• Uninstalling the app removes all locally stored data and preferences
• No cloud data exists to delete

7.3 Ad Preferences

• Premium subscription removes all advertisements
• You can opt out of personalized ads via device settings (Settings > Google > Ads)

8. GDPR Compliance (European Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights:

• Right to access -- request a copy of your data
• Right to rectification -- correct inaccurate data
• Right to erasure -- request deletion of your data
• Right to restrict processing -- limit how we use your data
• Right to data portability -- receive your data in a portable format
• Right to object -- object to data processing for marketing

The app uses Google's User Messaging Platform (UMP) to obtain consent for data processing and personalized advertising in compliance with GDPR.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at muhammadilyas15@gmail.com.

9. Data Retention

We keep your information only for as long as it is needed for the purposes described in this policy.

• All of your entries stay on your device. We operate no server for this data and never receive a copy of it, so there is nothing for us to retain. Your data is kept until you delete the individual entry, clear the app's storage, or uninstall the App. Uninstalling removes all of it from the device.
• Crash reports (Firebase Crashlytics) — automatically deleted after 90 days.
• Analytics data (Firebase Analytics) — retained in aggregated, non-identifying form for a maximum of 14 months, then automatically deleted.
• Support emails — if you contact us, your message is retained for up to 24 months after your enquiry is resolved, then deleted.
• Purchase records — retained by Google Play for the period required by applicable tax and accounting law. We do not hold separate copies.

10. Data Deletion — How to Delete Your Data

You can delete your data at any time. Delete individual entries Open any entry in the App and tap Delete. It is removed immediately from the device. Uninstall Uninstalling the App removes all locally stored data from your device. Request deletion by email If you cannot access the App, or you want written confirmation that your data has been erased, email us at muhammadilyas15@gmail.com with the subject line "Sound Meter – Data Deletion Request". We will verify the request, delete all associated data, and confirm by email within 30 days. There is no charge for this.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by:

• Updating the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy
• Posting a notice within the app

Your continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

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

Email: muhammadilyas15@gmail.com Developer: Muhammad Ilyas

Privacy Policy URL: https://itworldpro.com/sound-meter/privacy-policy