Privacy policy

About this policy

LocalType respects your privacy.

This Privacy Policy explains how personal data is processed when you use the LocalType Android application (“LocalType”, the “App”), visit our website (the “Website”), contact us, or otherwise interact with LocalType.

LocalType is operated by LocalType, Keizersgracht 520H, 1017 EK Amsterdam, The Netherlands, registered with the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KvK) under number 56759398.

For the purposes of applicable data protection law, including the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), LocalType is the controller of personal data where we determine the purposes and means of processing.

You can reach us about privacy through our contact form.

1. Our privacy principle

LocalType is designed around local processing.

When you use LocalType’s voice typing functionality, speech recognition is performed on your Android device using a locally installed speech recognition model.

Your dictation audio does not need to be uploaded to LocalType servers for speech-to-text processing.

LocalType does not operate a cloud speech-to-text service that receives your voice recordings in order to transcribe them.

This does not mean that no personal data is ever processed in connection with LocalType. For example, we may process information when you contact support, subscribe through Google Play, join a beta programme, or visit our Website.

This Privacy Policy explains those situations.

The LocalType app

2. Voice input

When you use voice typing, LocalType requires access to your device’s microphone.

Microphone audio is used to perform speech recognition locally on your device.

LocalType does not send your dictation audio to LocalType servers for speech-to-text processing, and does not keep an archive of your recordings.

3. Transcribed text

Text generated through voice recognition is produced locally and inserted into the text field in which you are using the keyboard.

LocalType does not need to send that text to LocalType servers to perform speech recognition.

Once you enter, submit, save, or send text in another application, that application may process the text according to its own privacy practices.

For example, if you use LocalType to dictate an email, LocalType can process your voice locally, but your email provider will process the email when you send it.

LocalType is not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party applications into which you enter text.

4. Keyboard input

LocalType functions as an Android input method.

The keyboard necessarily processes input locally in order to provide keyboard functionality.

LocalType does not use the contents of what you type to create advertising profiles.

5. Password fields

When Android identifies an input field to LocalType as a password field, LocalType disables voice input for that field.

This is intended to reduce the possibility of passwords being spoken into voice recognition.

LocalType cannot guarantee that every third-party application will correctly identify every sensitive input field as a password field.

6. Personal vocabulary

If you choose to add names, specialist terminology, or other words to LocalType’s personal vocabulary, this information may be stored locally on your device and used to improve local speech recognition or keyboard functionality.

Personal vocabulary data is not transmitted to LocalType servers.

You control the information you choose to add to your personal vocabulary.

7. Speech recognition models

LocalType uses speech recognition models stored locally on your device.

When you choose to download a model, LocalType connects to the internet to retrieve the model file.

Information technically necessary to make an internet request, such as your IP address, may be processed by the infrastructure or hosting provider from which the model is downloaded.

After the model has been downloaded, supported speech recognition can operate locally without an active internet connection.

Downloaded models are stored in LocalType’s private application storage.

8. Internet access

LocalType may request internet access even though speech recognition itself can operate offline.

Internet access is used for functionality that requires a network connection, including downloading speech recognition models.

If additional online functionality is introduced in the future, this Privacy Policy will be updated where necessary.

LocalType will not describe speech recognition as fully local if future functionality causes dictation audio to be transmitted remotely.

9. Cloud backup

LocalType is designed with Android cloud backup for LocalType application data disabled.

This helps prevent LocalType application data and downloaded speech models from being transferred through Android’s normal application backup mechanism.

As a consequence, you may need to download your speech recognition model again when moving to another device.

10. Device information

LocalType may process technical information locally in order to determine device capabilities and recommend an appropriate speech recognition model.

This may include information such as:

• device architecture;
• available memory;
• processor capabilities;
• number of processor cores;
• Android version; and
• available storage.

Where this information is used solely on-device, it is not collected by LocalType as a company.

If technical information is sent to us as part of a support request, Section 15 applies.

Payments and Google Play

11. Subscriptions

LocalType subscriptions are offered through Google Play.

Google processes payment details and manages the payment transaction.

LocalType does not receive your complete payment card details from Google Play.

To provide subscription functionality, LocalType may receive or process information from Google Play relating to your purchase or subscription status, such as whether you have an active entitlement and information necessary to validate or manage the purchase.

Google processes personal data according to its own privacy policies and terms.

The legal basis for LocalType processing subscription information, where the GDPR applies, is generally the performance of our contract with you and our legitimate interest in preventing fraud and providing purchased functionality.

12. Free trials

If you start a free trial through Google Play, Google may process information necessary to administer the trial and subsequent subscription.

LocalType may process information necessary to determine whether the App should provide trial or paid functionality.

Payment and billing information remains subject to Google Play’s systems and privacy practices.

Website

13. Website visits

When you visit the LocalType Website, certain technical information may be processed automatically by our hosting infrastructure.

This can include:

• IP address;
• date and time of the request;
• requested page;
• browser type;
• operating system;
• referring page;
• technical request information; and
• security-related logs.

This information may be necessary to deliver the Website, maintain security, diagnose technical problems and prevent abuse.

Where the GDPR applies, such processing is generally based on our legitimate interests in operating and securing the Website.

Server logs are retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for these purposes, subject to the retention practices of our hosting provider.

14. Analytics and cookies

The LocalType Website does not use analytics services or non-essential cookies. It sets no advertising or tracking cookies and embeds no third-party advertising or analytics scripts.

Web fonts are loaded from Google Fonts, so your browser makes a request to Google’s servers and Google receives your IP address as part of that request. If web fonts are later served from our own domain, this section will be updated.

If analytics, advertising or other non-essential tracking technologies are introduced in the future, this Privacy Policy and any required consent mechanism will be updated before those technologies are used.

Communication

15. Support

If you contact LocalType for support, we may process information you provide to us, such as:

• your email address;
• your message;
• information about the problem;
• technical information you choose to provide;
• diagnostic information you choose to export and send; and
• subsequent correspondence.

Technical diagnostics may include information such as the LocalType version, Android version, device model, processor architecture, memory information, the selected speech model and language, permission status, relevant settings and error information.

LocalType diagnostic reports should not intentionally include dictated text, microphone recordings, passwords, clipboard contents or the contents of private messages.

Diagnostic information is only transmitted to LocalType when you choose to provide it, unless this Privacy Policy is updated to disclose another mechanism.

We use support information to respond to requests, investigate problems, improve LocalType and protect the security and reliability of the App.

Where applicable, the legal basis is performance of our contract, steps taken at your request, and/or our legitimate interests in providing support and improving our product.

16. Beta programme

If you sign up to participate in a LocalType beta programme, we may process information such as:

• email address;
• Google Play account email address, where necessary to provide beta access;
• device model;
• Android version;
• preferred language;
• beta feedback; and
• communications relating to the beta.

We use this information to administer the beta programme, provide access, communicate with testers and improve LocalType.

Where the GDPR applies, processing may be based on your request to participate in the programme, our legitimate interests in testing and improving LocalType, and consent where consent is specifically requested.

Beta information will not automatically be used for unrelated marketing unless we have an appropriate legal basis to do so.

17. Email communications

If you contact us or request communications from LocalType, we may use your email address to respond or provide the requested communication.

We will not add support contacts or beta participants to unrelated marketing lists merely because they contacted us.

Where we offer newsletters or marketing communications, users will be given an appropriate choice and can unsubscribe from marketing emails.

How we handle personal data

18. Data we do not need for local speech recognition

LocalType does not require a LocalType account for speech recognition.

Local speech recognition does not require us to receive your:

• dictation audio;
• dictated text;
• keyboard history; or
• passwords

on LocalType servers in order to convert speech into text.

This section relates specifically to LocalType’s local speech recognition architecture and does not describe data that may be processed separately when you contact us, visit the Website, purchase through Google Play, or use third-party applications.

19. Service providers

We may use service providers where necessary to operate LocalType and the Website.

These may include providers for:

• website hosting;
• email;
• customer support;
• model file hosting or distribution;
• payment and subscription infrastructure through Google Play; and
• other necessary technical infrastructure.

Service providers may process personal data only as necessary for their respective purposes and subject to applicable contractual and legal requirements.

20. Sale of personal data

LocalType does not sell personal data to advertisers.

LocalType does not use dictation audio or typed content to create advertising profiles.

If our business practices change in a way that materially affects these statements, this Privacy Policy will be updated before such processing is introduced where required by law.

21. Data retention

We retain personal data only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was processed, including legal, accounting, security and dispute-resolution requirements.

Retention depends on the type of information. For example:

• support correspondence may be retained for as long as reasonably necessary to resolve issues and maintain support records;
• beta information may be retained for the duration of the programme and a reasonable period afterwards;
• transaction-related records may be retained where required for accounting, tax, fraud prevention or legal obligations;
• server logs are retained for a limited period appropriate to security and technical operations.

Information that remains exclusively on your device is controlled through the App and Android rather than retained by LocalType on our servers.

22. International data transfers

LocalType is based in the Netherlands.

Some service providers we use may process information outside the Netherlands or European Economic Area.

Where personal data protected by the GDPR is transferred internationally, we will use an appropriate legal mechanism where required, such as an adequacy decision or approved Standard Contractual Clauses.

Local speech recognition itself takes place on your device and does not require an international transfer of dictation audio to LocalType.

23. Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data processed by LocalType against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.

No software, device, network or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Local processing reduces the amount of speech-related information that needs to be transmitted to LocalType infrastructure, but it should not be interpreted as a guarantee that your device itself can never be compromised.

Your rights

24. GDPR and EEA/UK users

Depending on applicable data protection law, you may have rights relating to your personal data, including the right to:

• request access to your personal data;
• request correction of inaccurate personal data;
• request deletion of personal data;
• restrict certain processing;
• object to certain processing;
• receive certain data in a portable format;
• withdraw consent where processing is based on consent; and
• lodge a complaint with a competent data protection authority.

These rights are subject to the conditions and exceptions provided by applicable law.

Because LocalType does not receive data that remains exclusively on your device, we may not have access to certain locally stored information. For example, if dictated text never leaves your device for LocalType processing, LocalType cannot provide a server-side copy of that dictated text because we do not possess it.

To exercise a privacy right relating to information held by LocalType, get in touch through our contact form.

25. Dutch supervisory authority

If you believe that our processing of your personal data violates applicable data protection law, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority.

For LocalType in the Netherlands, the supervisory authority is the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens.

You may also have the right to contact the data protection authority in the country where you live or work.

26. Children

LocalType is not specifically directed at children.

We do not knowingly operate LocalType for the purpose of collecting personal data from children.

If we become aware that personal data relating to a child has been processed in circumstances requiring parental consent or another legal basis that is absent, we will take appropriate steps in accordance with applicable law.

27. Third-party services

LocalType may interact with third-party services, particularly Google Play and applications into which users enter text.

Those third parties operate independently and have their own privacy practices.

This Privacy Policy covers processing performed by LocalType and does not replace the privacy policies of Google or other applications and services you choose to use.

28. Changes to this privacy policy

We may update this Privacy Policy when LocalType changes, our business practices change, service providers change, or legal requirements require an update.

The current version will be published on our Website. The date at the top of this Privacy Policy indicates when it was last updated.

Where required by applicable law, we will provide additional notice of material changes.

29. Contact

For questions, requests or concerns regarding privacy or this Privacy Policy, please get in touch through our contact form.

LocalType
Keizersgracht 520H
1017 EK Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Chamber of Commerce (KvK): 56759398

Contact form: www.localtype.net/contact/