Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 31, 2026

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how the VCStopwatch app (“VCStopwatch”, “the app”) and the VCStopwatch website at https://vcstopwatch.com handle information. VCStopwatch is a hands-free, voice-controlled stopwatch and timer. Speech recognition is designed to run on your device. Some features, such as language model downloads, diagnostics, analytics, website access, and Google Play services, may require an internet connection.

We tried to keep this policy short and honest. It describes what the app actually does today. Where we mention possible future features, we say so clearly.

2. Who we are

VCStopwatch is developed and published by WaveForgeDev, an independent developer. WaveForgeDev is the developer name shown on Google Play.

The app uses the domain libervibe.com (in its package identifier com.libervibe.vcstopwatch, for language model hosting, and for our contact email). The domain is used for these technical purposes and does not represent a separate company.

If you have any questions about this policy or your data, you can contact us at:

support@libervibe.com

3. What this policy covers

This policy covers:

  • The VCStopwatch mobile app, including the Android app package com.libervibe.vcstopwatch and any future iOS version if released.
  • The VCStopwatch website at https://vcstopwatch.com.

It does not cover third-party services that have their own privacy policies (for example Google Play, Google/Firebase, or hosting providers used to deliver downloads). Links to those services are listed in section 19.

4. Data processed by the app

VCStopwatch is designed to keep your activity on your device. Core session content and user-created data are stored locally by default and are not routinely uploaded by the app:

  • Your stopwatch and timer sessions and session history.
  • Your profiles, templates, phases, laps and phase notes/descriptions.
  • Your settings and preferences.
  • Generated PDF reports (until you choose to share them yourself).

However, limited technical information about the current app or session state may be included in feedback or diagnostic reports, as described in the diagnostics sections below.

The app does process some information off your device for the limited purposes described below: diagnostics and crash reports, product analytics, optional feedback you send us, and downloading offline language models. Each is explained in its own section.

The app does not require an account, and it does not ask you to sign in. There is no user login.

5. Microphone and voice recognition

VCStopwatch uses the microphone so you can control the stopwatch with your voice (for example to start, stop, or reset). Voice recognition runs offline, on your device, using an on-device speech engine (Vosk).

  • Your audio is processed locally and is not recorded, stored, or transmitted off your device.
  • To control the timer while it runs in the background, the app may keep the microphone active through a foreground service, shown by a notification.

We may record that a voice command was used (for example, which command) as part of product analytics that is not intended to directly identify you, but never the audio itself.

6. Offline language models and downloads

Voice recognition relies on language model files. Some models are included in the app. Others are downloaded when you choose a language, from our hosting at vosk-models.libervibe.com (delivered through Cloudflare) and from a mirror on Hugging Face. These downloads transfer model files to your device. Like any download, the request reveals your device’s IP address to the hosting/mirror provider, which is standard for delivering files. We do not upload your personal data during a model download.

7. Local storage, history, profiles, notes, and PDF reports

Your sessions, session history, profiles, templates, phases, laps, phase notes, and app settings are stored only on your device (in local app storage and a local database). PDF reports are generated on your device. They are shared only when you decide to share or print them, using your device’s standard share or print options. The app does not upload this content anywhere automatically.

8. Notifications, background mode, and floating dial

To keep timing reliable when the app is in the background or the screen is off, VCStopwatch may:

  • Show notifications and run a foreground service for the timer.
  • Ask to ignore battery optimization so the system does not stop the timer.
  • Show a floating on-screen dial over other apps (this uses the “draw over other apps” permission).

These features run on your device and are used only to make the timer work reliably. They do not collect personal data.

9. Data collected by the website

The VCStopwatch website provides information about the app and links to download it on Google Play.

We may use analytics tools on our website to understand how visitors use the website, which pages are viewed, and which Google Play download buttons are clicked. This helps us improve the website and understand which content is useful.

Any cookies or analytics used on the website are governed by the information shown on the website itself (for example a cookie or consent notice, where required).

10. Analytics and future install attribution

We use product analytics in the app to understand how features are used and to improve the app. This includes usage events (for example, a session started or a setting changed) and general app/device characteristics provided by the analytics service. The analytics service (Firebase Analytics) uses an app-instance identifier and collects app and device information; this analytics is not intended to directly identify you, and where appropriate it is used in pseudonymous or aggregated form. We do not sell this data.

Future versions of the app may process install attribution information, such as Google Play install referrer data, to understand whether an installation may have originated from our website, a specific article, campaign, or download button. This information would be used for product analytics, measuring acquisition performance, and improving the website and app experience. This is not active today; if we add it, we will update this policy and the Google Play Data Safety information first.

11. Firebase, Google Play services, diagnostics, and third-party SDKs

VCStopwatch uses Google Firebase and Google Play services:

  • Firebase Analytics — product (usage) analytics that is not intended to directly identify you (see section 10).
  • Firebase Crashlytics — crash and error reports with technical diagnostics (such as error details, device model, Android version, app state, and recent in-app diagnostic logs) so we can fix problems.
  • Firebase Remote Config — to adjust app behavior and apply safety switches; this downloads configuration to the app.
  • Cloud Firestore and Firebase Storage — used for feedback and diagnostic reports (see sections 12–13).
  • Google Play in-app review and in-app update — handled by Google Play.

To help correlate diagnostics without using your name or email, the app creates a random installation identifier and sends only a hashed version of it (SHA-256). The original identifier never leaves your device. This hash is a pseudonymous identifier, not a fully anonymous one. The app does not request your advertising ID, and it contains no advertising SDKs.

Feedback and diagnostic reports are received through our own Firebase backend (Cloud Functions) and forwarded to the developer by email so we can act on them.

12. How we use information

We use the limited information described above to:

  • Run the timer and voice features on your device.
  • Keep the app stable and fix crashes and bugs (diagnostics and crash reports).
  • Understand how features are used and improve the app (usage analytics).
  • Respond to feedback you send us, including any contact details you choose to provide.
  • Deliver and verify language model downloads.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for advertising.

Feedback and diagnostic reports. There are two separate things here.

User-submitted feedback. Feedback is sent only when you choose to send it. When you submit in-app feedback, we receive your message. You can optionally add a contact (email or Telegram) and attach screenshots — these are optional and are only included if you provide them. The feedback form also has an “attach diagnostics” option that is on by default; when it is on, the feedback includes technical diagnostics about your device and app state (for example device model, Android version, permissions, settings, session state, and recent diagnostic logs). You can turn this option off before sending feedback.

Automatic diagnostic reports. Separately, the app may send automatic diagnostic reports when it detects certain stability problems (for example the timer service being stopped by the system). These reports may be sent without a separate feedback action, and are used to detect and fix stability and reliability issues. They may include technical diagnostics, app and session state, device and app information, and the pseudonymous install identifier hash. They do not include your feedback text or your contact details.

13. Sharing of information

We share information only as needed to run the app:

  • With Google/Firebase and Google Play, which process analytics, crash reports, feedback/report storage, and app distribution on our behalf.
  • With hosting and mirror providers (Cloudflare hosting and a Hugging Face mirror) that deliver language model downloads.

We do not sell your data and we do not share it with advertisers. We may disclose information if required by law.

14. Data retention and deletion

  • Data stored only on your device (sessions, history, profiles, notes, settings) remains until you delete it, clear the app’s data, or uninstall the app.
  • Feedback and diagnostic reports are retained as long as reasonably needed to respond to feedback, diagnose issues, improve reliability, comply with legal obligations, or maintain records. Analytics and crash reports are also retained according to the settings and policies of Google/Firebase.
  • You can contact support@libervibe.com to request deletion of your feedback or diagnostic reports where deletion is possible. To help us locate the relevant data, we may ask you to provide additional information, such as the contact detail used in feedback, approximate date and time, feedback text, app version, device model, or a diagnostic/request identifier if available. Some analytics or diagnostic data may be pseudonymous or aggregated, and if we cannot reasonably link it to a specific user, device, or report, we may not be able to delete it individually.

15. Security

We rely on Google/Firebase infrastructure and standard encrypted connections (HTTPS) for data sent off the device. The install identifier is transmitted only as an irreversible hash. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we take reasonable measures to protect information.

16. Children’s privacy

VCStopwatch is a general-audience productivity app that may also be used by children with parent or guardian supervision. The app does not require an account, does not include advertising SDKs, and does not ask children to provide personal information.

If a child uses the app, parents or guardians should help configure the app, review permissions, and decide whether feedback, screenshots, diagnostics, or contact details are sent. Children should not send feedback or contact details without parent or guardian permission.

If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us at support@libervibe.com and we will take appropriate steps, including deletion where technically possible.

17. International users

The app is available internationally. Information processed off your device (for example analytics, crash reports, and feedback) may be processed and stored on servers operated by Google/Firebase, which may be located in other countries. Feedback and diagnostic backend functions are operated in the European region. By using the app you understand that your information may be processed in countries other than your own.

18. Your choices and rights

  • You can use the core stopwatch and timer without an account.
  • You decide whether to submit feedback. When you do, you choose whether to include an optional contact (email or Telegram) and optional screenshots, and you can turn off the “attach diagnostics” option before sending.
  • Automatic diagnostic reports may still be sent to support stability and reliability. The app does not currently provide an in-app toggle to disable analytics or automatic diagnostics; if such an option is added in the future, we will describe it here.
  • You can control microphone, notification, and overlay permissions in your device settings.
  • Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, or delete your personal information. To exercise these, contact us using the email in section 2.
  • Some rights can be exercised only when we can reasonably identify the relevant data. Because the app does not require an account, some analytics or diagnostic records may not be individually identifiable unless you provide enough information to locate them.

19. Links to third-party services

The app and website may link to or rely on third-party services with their own privacy policies, including:

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties.

20. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the app evolves. When we add features that change what data is processed (for example cloud sync or install attribution), we will update this policy and the Google Play Data Safety information before or when those features ship. The “Last updated” date at the top shows the latest version.

21. Contact

If you have questions about this policy or your data, contact WaveForgeDev at:

support@libervibe.com