From 520bf379b4bcb8bf47d0471c885c1455c48c9c20 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Jean-Luc Makiola Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2026 19:11:18 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] docs: add privacy policy --- docs/PRIVACY.md | 192 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 192 insertions(+) create mode 100644 docs/PRIVACY.md diff --git a/docs/PRIVACY.md b/docs/PRIVACY.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4a2e23f --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/PRIVACY.md @@ -0,0 +1,192 @@ +--- +title: Privacy Policy — Clockula +description: What Clockula does with your data. It collects nothing, sends nothing, and has no internet permission at all. +updated: 2026-10-02 +--- + + + +**Last updated:** 2 October 2026 +Applies to the Android app **Clockula** (package `de.jeanlucmakiola.clockula`), +all versions and all distribution channels. + +## In short + +Clockula collects nothing, sends nothing, and has no user accounts. It has no +internet permission, so it cannot transmit your data anywhere. Your alarms, +timers and world clocks are stored on your device and nowhere else. + +## 1. Controller + +IT-Dienstleister | Jean-Luc Makiola +Mahlerstraße 10 +14772 Brandenburg an der Havel +Email: [support@jeanlucmakiola.de](mailto:support@jeanlucmakiola.de) + +## 2. No data collection + +Clockula contains no analytics, tracking, advertising, crash-reporting SDK or +third-party service of any kind. It creates no user profile and generates no +identifier, and it shares or sells no data to anyone. + +The app does not request the `android.permission.INTERNET` permission, and +without it Android does not let an app open a network connection. You can check +this yourself in the permission list of any released APK, or in the +[source code](https://codeberg.org/jlmakiola/clockula). + +## 3. Data Clockula keeps on your device + +Everything below is processed locally on your device. None of it is +transmitted, and the developer never receives or stores any of it. + +### Alarms, timers, stopwatch and world clocks + +Clockula keeps its own database in the app's private storage. It holds your +alarms (time, repeat days, label, sound and similar options), your timers and +their labels, the stopwatch and its laps, and the list of cities you added as +world clocks. No other app can read this database. Uninstalling Clockula +deletes it. + +World clock times are calculated from the time zone data built into Android. +Adding a city does not look anything up online. + +### Other apps setting alarms + +Clockula supports Android's standard alarm interface, so a voice assistant or +automation app can set, show or dismiss alarms and timers in Clockula. Android +only lets apps that declare the `SET_ALARM` permission do this. Clockula +receives what that app sends (for example a time and a label) and stores it +like an alarm you created yourself. It sends nothing back beyond the result of +the request. + +### Alarm and timer sounds + +You can choose one of the ringtones that come with your device, or pick your +own audio file through Android's system file picker. Clockula can then read +exactly that file, so it can play it when the alarm rings. It has no access to +your other files. + +### Notifications and the lock screen + +Alarms, timers and the running stopwatch appear as local notifications, and a +ringing alarm can show a full-screen view over the lock screen. Android also +shows your next alarm in the status bar and on the lock screen. None of this +uses a push service. + +### Home-screen widgets + +The widgets show data from Clockula's own database, such as your next alarm, +a running timer or the stopwatch. Each widget's style and settings are stored +on your device. + +### Backup files + +Clockula can export your alarms, timers, world clocks and settings to a +`clockula-backup-v1.json` file in a folder you pick, and import such a file +again. The app reads and writes only the folder or file you select through +Android's system file picker. The file contains your alarm and timer labels, +so treat it like any other personal file when you move or share it. + +### App settings + +Your preferences (theme, language, snooze length, default sounds and similar) +are stored on your device and are removed when you uninstall the app. + +## 4. Android backup + +If Android Auto Backup is turned on for your device, Android may back up +Clockula's database and settings to your own Google account, under Google's +terms. The developer has no access to that backup. You can turn Auto Backup off +in your device's system settings. + +## 5. Crash reports: the only case where data can leave your device + +If Clockula crashes, it offers to report the problem. It never sends anything +on its own. The report is copied to your clipboard and your browser opens the +project's issue tracker with the text filled in. You can read the full report, +edit it, or discard it, and nothing is submitted unless you submit it. + +The report contains: + +- the app version, +- the Android version, +- the device manufacturer and model, +- your device language, +- the time of the crash, +- and the technical stack trace. + +It contains no alarms, timers, labels or other personal data. + +If you submit it, the report becomes a public issue on the project's issue +tracker at Codeberg, which Codeberg e. V. operates. Their privacy policy +applies to that submission. + +## 6. External links + +The settings screen links to the source code, the licence, the issue tracker +and a voluntary donation page (Ko-fi). The "Why might my alarm not ring?" +check can also link to dontkillmyapp.com, which explains battery restrictions +for your phone's manufacturer. Opening any of these links starts your browser +and leaves the app, and the privacy policy of that website applies from then +on. Clockula only opens the address and sends no data of yours with it. + +## 7. Permissions and why they exist + +- `USE_EXACT_ALARM`, `SCHEDULE_EXACT_ALARM`: ring alarms and timers at the + exact time. +- `RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED`: schedule the next alarm again after the phone + restarts. +- `USE_FULL_SCREEN_INTENT`: show the ringing alarm over the lock screen. +- `POST_NOTIFICATIONS`, `POST_PROMOTED_NOTIFICATIONS`: show alarm, timer and + stopwatch notifications, including the live timer in the status bar. +- `FOREGROUND_SERVICE`, `FOREGROUND_SERVICE_SYSTEM_EXEMPTED`, + `FOREGROUND_SERVICE_SPECIAL_USE`: keep a ringing alarm, a running timer or the + stopwatch going while the app is in the background. +- `WAKE_LOCK`: keep the phone awake while an alarm or timer rings. +- `VIBRATE`: vibrate when an alarm or timer rings. +- `ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE`: added by the Android library that updates the + home-screen widgets (WorkManager). It lets an app see whether a network + connection exists. It does not let it use one, and without `INTERNET` no + connection is possible. + +## 8. Distribution channels + +Clockula is distributed through the project's releases on Codeberg, a +self-hosted F-Droid repository, Obtainium and, where available, F-Droid and the +Google Play Store. When you download or update the app, the operator of that +channel processes data such as your IP address under its own privacy policy. +The developer has no control over this, and it is separate from what the app +itself does. + +## 9. Children + +Clockula is suitable for all ages. It collects no data from anyone, children +included. + +## 10. Your rights + +The developer processes no personal data of yours, so there is no stored data +to which the rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, data +portability or objection (Art. 15–21 GDPR) could apply. You can still contact +the address above with any question, and you have the right to lodge a +complaint with a supervisory authority. + +## 11. Changes to this policy + +If a change to the app affects how it handles data, this policy will be updated +and the date at the top changed. The history of this file is public in the +project's repository.