Ephemera — Privacy Policy

1. End-to-End Encryption

All capsules in Ephemera are encrypted using AES-256-GCM encryption. The encryption key is derived from your GPS coordinates and the unlock date—only you can derive this key when visiting the correct location at the correct time. Even ByNeel cannot decrypt your capsules. This design ensures complete privacy and data security.

2. Local Storage Only

All capsules, including photos, text, audio, and metadata, are stored locally on your device in a SQLite database. Encrypted capsule content never leaves your device and is never transmitted to ByNeel, any cloud service, or any third party. You can delete capsules at any time.

3. No Account Required

Ephemera does not require an account, login, or registration. We do not ask for your name, email, phone number, or any personal identification. All capsules are tied to your device only.

4. GPS for Capsule Unlock

Ephemera uses your device's GPS to verify your location when unlocking a capsule. GPS coordinates are compared to the capsule's creation location to determine if you can open it. GPS data is:

• Processed entirely on your device
• Never stored or logged by ByNeel
• Never transmitted to any server
• Used only for the cryptographic derivation of capsule encryption keys

5. Camera & Microphone Permissions

Ephemera requests camera and microphone access to enable you to record photos, videos, and audio for your capsules. All media content is captured and stored locally on your device in encrypted form. We do not access, store, or transmit any media you record.

6. Map Data

Ephemera displays an interactive map showing capsule locations. Map tiles are provided by a third-party mapping service (e.g., OpenStreetMap). The mapping service may collect standard HTTP request information (IP address, User-Agent). Ephemera does not transmit your GPS coordinates to the mapping service—only standard map tile requests are sent.

7. No Tracking, No Servers

Ephemera has no backend servers, no accounts, no analytics, and no tracking. We do not know how many capsules you create, where you travel, or any other data about your usage. Your activity is completely private.

8. Policy Updates

This privacy policy may be updated occasionally. Updates will be posted here with an updated "Last updated" date. Your continued use of Ephemera indicates acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact

If you have questions about this privacy policy or how Ephemera handles your data, please contact us at contact@byneel.com