Privacy Policy for the dictop app

Last updated: 2026-07-25

Dictop is a dictation app made by Actondon UG (haftungsbeschränkt). This policy describes the Dictop app and its iOS keyboard. The website policy below is separate.

1. Processing choices

Dictop lets you choose an on-device or cloud model for speech-to-text. On-device speech models and Apple Intelligence processing, where available and selected, process the applicable audio or text on your device. They do not send that content to Dictop’s service for that processing.

If you select a cloud speech model, Dictop sends the recorded audio and the selected speech settings needed to complete that request to Dictop’s speech service and the selected provider. If you select a cloud AI rewrite model, Dictop sends the transcript and the configured rewrite prompts needed to produce that rewrite. The relevant provider’s terms and privacy policy apply to its processing. Dictop does not use dictation audio or transcript content for advertising or tracking.

Cloud request completion is not exactly-once: if the app is terminated after a provider may have accepted a request but before completion is saved, a deliberate retry can send the request again and may consume credits again.

2. Local recording, transcripts, and keyboard use

The Dictop app, not the custom keyboard extension, requests microphone access and records audio. The keyboard does not receive microphone access, including when Full Access is enabled.

To dictate from other apps, you explicitly start a keyboard session in Dictop. The microphone stays active for that session, for up to one hour or until you stop it. Between dictated segments, idle audio is discarded. A recorded segment is retained locally only while it is needed to transcribe, retry, or recover that segment, then is removed on success, insertion or discard, expiry, or the app’s applicable recovery cleanup. A pending insertion result is removed after acknowledgement or its expiry. If you enable saved history, finished text is stored locally as a Dictop note; if you disable history, successful keyboard dictation can still be inserted without creating that history entry.

Dictop uses an App Group only for the bounded keyboard protocol and minimal lifecycle state needed to coordinate the containing app, keyboard, and Live Activity. Control records contain identifiers, state, timestamps, and display-only meter levels. They do not contain raw audio, typed document context, transcript text, prompts, credentials, or provider responses. Transcript-bearing results, processing journals, delivery markers, and temporary audio use stronger device file protection.

The keyboard cannot open Dictop by itself. When account, credit, model, permission, or recovery attention is needed, it asks you to open Dictop manually.

3. Full Access and microphone permission

Full Access is an iOS keyboard setting. It lets the keyboard write to Dictop’s shared App Group and use the coordination required for cross-app insertion. It does not grant microphone permission. Microphone permission is requested and used by the Dictop app separately. You can turn either setting off in iOS Settings.

4. Live Activity and diagnostics

During an active keyboard session, Dictop shows a Live Activity and iOS shows the microphone privacy indicator. The Live Activity contains session status and a Stop action, not transcript, prompt, audio, or waveform content.

Dictop does not include a custom analytics or diagnostic-upload service for keyboard dictation. Privacy-safe local OSLog events use operational stages and identifiers, not dictation audio, transcript text, document context, prompts, credentials, provider responses, or local audio paths. Apple may provide standard App Store/TestFlight crash reporting under its own terms.

5. Data retention and deletion boundaries

Dictop removes bounded keyboard artifacts when their protocol or retry lifetime ends and during launch/foreground cleanup. It does not delete a newer job while resolving an older one, and it defers Complete-protected cleanup until the device is unlocked.

The app cannot guarantee deletion after an operating-system uninstall, backup restore, or a stale App Group container that iOS preserves across an install boundary. On the next launch it validates and removes stale protocol artifacts it can access. To remove local Dictop history, use the app’s history controls. To remove cloud-provider data, use the applicable provider’s privacy process.

6. Account and purchases

Sign in with Apple and in-app purchases are handled through Apple and the services needed to provide the selected cloud credits. Dictop stores authentication material in the device Keychain. Payment card details are handled by Apple, not by Dictop.

7. App Store privacy details

The App Store privacy label is maintained to match the selected cloud features and their providers. It identifies cloud audio and text processing as app functionality when required, and does not represent on-device-only processing as off-device collection. Dictop does not track people across apps or websites for advertising.

8. Changes and contact

We may update this policy as Dictop changes. The current version is published on this page. For privacy questions or requests, use the contact address shown in Dictop or on dictop.com.

Privacy Policy for dictop.com

Last updated: 2024-03-28

Welcome to dictop.com (the “Website”), operated by Actondon UG (haftungsbeschränkt) (“us”, “we”, or “our”). Your privacy is important to us, and this Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect information related to your interaction with our Website. This policy applies only to information collected through the Website and not to information collected offline or via other channels.

1. Information Collection and Use

We do not collect any personal information from visitors to our Website. As such, there is no personal information to use or disclose.

2. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our Website does not use cookies or any form of tracking technologies. Hence, visitors’ information or behaviors on the site are not monitored or tracked.

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

Since we do not collect personal information, there is no sharing or disclosure of personal data to third parties.

4. Data Security

Even though we do not collect personal information, we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect our Website and maintain the integrity of our online presence.

5. Children’s Privacy

Our Website is not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from children under this age. The app and Website are designed for a general audience and do not require an age limit for usage.

6. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to update or change our Privacy Policy at any time. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page. Since we do not collect personal information, we will not notify users of changes. Users are encouraged to check this page regularly for any updates to the privacy policy.

7. Contact Us

If you have any questions or suggestions about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us. You can find our contact information on our Website and inside the app.