Last Updated: 2 December 2025
Effective Date: 27 October 2025
Introduction
ClearShare (“we”, “our”, or “the App”) is a mobile application developed by Simple Cat Software that helps users protect their privacy by removing sensitive metadata from files before sharing them.
This Privacy Policy explains how ClearShare handles your data and protects your privacy. We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Important: ClearShare is designed with privacy as a core principle. We do not collect, store, transmit, or share any of your personal data or files. All file processing happens entirely on your device.
Network Connections: The app communicates with Google Play (Android) or Apple App Store (iOS) servers only for verifying premium feature purchases. Your files and their metadata never leave your device.
Current File Support: At present, ClearShare processes JPEG image files. Support for additional file types (PDFs, Word documents, and others) will be added in future updates. This privacy policy covers all file types that ClearShare may support.
Information We Do NOT Collect
ClearShare does NOT collect:
Your files (images, documents, or any other files you process)
The metadata from your files
Your name, email address, or contact information
Your device location
Analytics or usage statistics
Crash reports or diagnostics (unless you explicitly choose to send a report)
Advertising identifiers
Any other personal information
How ClearShare Works
On-Device Processing
All file processing happens entirely on your device:
File Access: When you select a file, ClearShare reads it directly from your device’s storage
Metadata Removal: The app processes the file locally to remove embedded metadata (such as EXIF, XMP, META data in images; document properties in PDFs and Word documents; and similar metadata in other file types)
Content Detection (Premium): If enabled, on-device machine learning models detect sensitive content (such as faces and text in images) without any data leaving your device
File Output: The processed file is saved to your device or shared directly to another app
Your files never leave your device and are never uploaded to any server.
ML Kit (Premium Features)
Premium features use Google’s ML Kit for content detection in supported file types:
Image files: Face detection and blurring, text recognition and blurring (for number plates, name badges, etc.)
Future file types: Additional content detection features as they become available
Important: ML Kit runs entirely on-device. The machine learning models are downloaded to your device and all processing happens locally. No file data is sent to Google or any other server.
Data Stored Locally on Your Device
ClearShare stores the following information only on your device:
1. File Cache
What: Processed metadata from recently opened files (maximum 10 files)
Purpose: To speed up re-opening the same files
Location: Your device’s app storage directory
Retention: Automatically deleted when you uninstall the app or when the cache limit is reached (oldest entries deleted first)
You can: Clear the cache manually via the settings page
2. Premium Purchase Information
If you purchase premium features, the following is stored locally:
Purchase status (premium or free)
Purchase date
Product identifier
This information is stored only on your device using Android’s SharedPreferences or iOS’s UserDefaults. We do not maintain a database of purchases.
3. Application Settings
If you edit the default application settings these changes will be stored using Android’s SharedPreferences or iOS’s UserDefaults. These settings are automatically deleted when you uninstall the app.
Optional Bug Reports and Feedback
ClearShare includes an optional feature that allows you to voluntarily share feedback or report problems to help us improve the app.
What This Feature Does
Entirely Voluntary: You choose whether to send a report. Reports are never sent automatically
User-Initiated: You can access this feature through Settings> "Share Your Feedback"
Error Prompts: If an error occurs, you may be prompted to send a report, but you can always dismiss this without sending any data
What IS Included in Reports
When you choose to send a report, the following information may be included:
For Bug Reports (when an error has occurred):
Error type and error message (with file paths automatically removed for privacy)
Technical stack trace (helps identify where the error occurred)
Date and time of the error
App version and platform (e.g., "1.0.0, Android")
Your message (if you choose to add one)
For Feedback (no error occurred):
App version and platform
Your message
What is NEVER Included
Reports never include:
Your photos, files, or any file content
File paths or filenames
Personal information (name, email, location)
Device identifiers or advertising IDs
Any metadata from your files
Analytics or usage data
Where Reports Are Sent
Reports are transmitted securely (via HTTPS) through Simple Cat Software's API to GitHub, where they are stored as issue tickets to help us track and resolve problems. We do not link reports to individual users as no personal identifiers are included.
Data Flow:
1. Your report is sent via HTTPS to our secure API (hosted on Amazon Web Services)
2. The API creates a private issue in our GitHub repository
3. Only Simple Cat Software team members can view these issues
Third-Party Services:
Amazon Web Services (AWS): Processes the API request (data is not stored)
GitHub: Stores the report as an issue ticket
For information about how GitHub handles data, see: GitHub Privacy Statement
Legal Basis (UK GDPR)
The legal basis for processing bug reports and feedback is:
Consent: You explicitly choose to send a report by tapping the "Send Report" or "Send Feedback" button
You can choose not to send reports at any time without affecting your use of the app
Permissions Required
ClearShare requires the following permissions to function:
Android
READ_MEDIA_IMAGES (Android 13+) or READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE (Android 12 and below): Required to read files you select for processing
WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE (Android 12 and below): Required to save processed files
As support for additional file types is added, additional read permissions (e.g., READ_MEDIA_DOCUMENTS) may be requested
iOS
Photo Library Access (Read): Required to read image files you select for processing
Photo Library Access (Write): Required to save processed images to your photo library
Files Access: May be requested in future updates for accessing non-image file types
These permissions are only used to access the specific files you choose. ClearShare cannot and does not access other files or data on your device beyond what you explicitly select.
Internet Permission
ClearShare requires internet access permission only for:
Purchasing premium features through Google Play or Apple App Store
Verifying purchase status when the app starts
Restoring purchases on new devices
Sending bug reports or feedback (only when you explicitly choose to do so)
Important: Internet permission is not used for:
Uploading or transmitting your files or their content
Automatic crash reporting or diagnostics
Analytics or tracking
Advertisements
Any other data collection without your explicit consent
You can use ClearShare’s core features (metadata removal) completely offline. Only purchase-related functions require an internet connection.
Third-Party Services
In-App Purchases
ClearShare uses the standard in-app purchase systems provided by:
Google Play Billing (Android)
Apple App Store (iOS)
What Data is Transmitted to Google/Apple
The app communicates with Google Play or Apple App Store servers for:
Making Purchases: When you purchase premium features
Your payment is processed entirely by Google or Apple
We do not have access to your payment details, credit card information, or billing address
Purchase Verification: The app connects to store servers to:
Verify your purchase status when the app starts
Validate that your premium features are still active
Restore purchases on new devices
Listen for purchase updates (e.g., if you purchase on another device)
Data Exchanged During Verification:
Sent to stores: Your device’s unique purchase receipt/token (provided by Google/Apple)
Received from stores: Purchase status (active/expired), purchase date, product identifier
NOT sent: Your files, their metadata, or any content you process in the app
Storage and Retention
Purchase status is stored locally on your device only
We do not maintain our own database of purchases or user accounts
Purchase verification is handled entirely through Google/Apple’s systems
For information about how Google and Apple handle your purchase data, please see:
Google ML Kit
Premium features use Google ML Kit’s on-device models:
Face Detection API (on-device)
Text Recognition API (on-device)
These APIs process data entirely on your device. No image data is sent to Google servers. The ML models are downloaded to your device once and used locally.
For more information: Google ML Kit Privacy
Data Sharing and Transfers
ClearShare does not collect or share your personal data, files, or file metadata with any third parties or our own servers. Optional bug reports (which contain only technical error information, not personal
data) are shared with GitHub as described in the "Optional Bug Reports and Feedback" section above.
Data transferred outside your device:
User-Controlled Sharing:
When you choose to share a processed file with another app (entirely under your control)
Purchase Verification (Automatic):
Purchase receipt/token sent to Google Play or Apple App Store servers
This happens automatically when the app starts (if you have premium features)
Only purchase-related data is transmitted; never your files or their metadata
International Data Transfers:
File Processing: All file processing happens on your device, regardless of your location
Purchase Data: Purchase verification data may be transferred to Google or Apple servers, which may be located outside the United Kingdom
Google and Apple are responsible for the international transfer and processing of purchase data
Both companies provide appropriate safeguards for international data transfers under UK GDPR
Important: Your files and their metadata never leave your device and are never transferred internationally or to any servers.
Bug Reports and Feedback (User-Initiated)
When you choose to send a bug report or feedback
Reports are sent to Simple Cat Software's AWS servers
Reports contain only technical error information and your optional message
Never includes your files, their metadata, or personal identifiers
Your Rights Under UK GDPR
While ClearShare does not collect personal data, you have the following rights regarding any data that might be stored on your device:
Right of Access: You can view what data is stored on your device
Right to Erasure: You can delete the app and all its data at any time
Right to Data Portability: Any data stored is accessible to you through your device
Right to Object: You can stop using the app at any time
To exercise these rights, you can:
Clear the app’s cache through your device settings
Uninstall the app to remove all locally stored data
Children’s Privacy
ClearShare does not knowingly collect any personal data from children or anyone else. The app is suitable for users of all ages as it operates entirely on-device with no personal data collection.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by:
Updating the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy
Posting a notice in the app (for significant changes)
Changes become effective immediately upon posting.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how ClearShare handles data, please contact us at:
Simple Cat Software Email: clearshare@simplecat.software Website: clearshare.apps.simplecat.software
Data Controller
For the purposes of UK GDPR, the data controller is:
Simple Cat Software
Address: 20-22 Wenlock Road, London, England, N1 7GU
Company Registration Number: 11770940
Complaints
If you believe we have not handled your data correctly, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK’s data protection supervisory authority:
Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Website: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/ Telephone: 0303 123 1113 Address: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF
Legal Basis for Processing (UK GDPR)
Although ClearShare does not process personal data in the traditional sense, the minimal local storage on your device is based on:
Legitimate Interest: Caching recently processed files to improve app performance
Contract: Storing purchase information to fulfil the premium features you purchased
Consent: Processing files you explicitly select and choose to process
Consent: Sending bug reports or feedback when you explicitly choose to do so
Summary
Privacy-First Design:
✅ All file processing happens on your device
✅ No automatic data collection or tracking of your files or usage
✅ Bug reports are entirely optional and user-initiated
✅ No analytics or advertisements
✅ No account creation required
✅ Your files and their metadata never leave your device
✅ No third-party data sharing (except purchase verification with Google/Apple, and optional bug reports to GitHub)
File Type Support:
Current: JPEG image files
Future: PDFs, Word documents, and other file types with embedded metadata
All file types will be processed entirely on your device with the same privacy protections
Internet Connection:
❌ NOT required for processing files, removing metadata, or using content detection features
✅ Required for purchasing premium features and verifying purchase status
✅ Optional for sending error reports or feedback (only when you explicitly choose)
The app connects to Google Play or Apple App Store only for purchase-related functions
ClearShare is designed to protect your privacy, not compromise it.
This privacy policy applies to:
ClearShare for Android (available on Google Play)
ClearShare for iOS (available on the Apple App Store)
Version: 1.2.0
Change Log
1.2.0 - 2025-12-01
Information We Do NOT Collect
Changed "Crash reports or diagnostics" to "Crash reports or diagnostics (unless you explicitly choose to send a report)"
Added new section "Optional Bug Reports and Feedback"
Permissions Required> Internet Permission
Internet Permission Required For
Added "Sending bug reports or feedback (only when you explicitly choose to do so)"
Internet Permission Not Required For
Added "Automatic crash reporting or diagnostics"
Updated "Any other data collection" to "Any other data collection without your explicit consent"
Data Sharing and Transfers
Added "Bug Reports and Feedback (User-Initiated)" section
Summary> Internet Connection
Added "Optional for sending error reports or feedback (only when you explicitly choose)"
Added "Bug reports are entirely optional and user-initiated"
Updated "No third-party data sharing (except purchase verification with Google/Apple)" to "No third-party data sharing (except purchase verification with Google/Apple, and optional bug reports to GitHub)"
Legal Basis for Processing (UK GDPR)
Added "Consent: Sending bug reports or feedback when you explicitly choose to do so"
1.1.0 - 2025-11-18
Data Stored Locally on Your Device> 1. File Cache
Updated to indicate that file cache can be cleared using application settings page.
Updated to indicate that file cache is removed on uninstall of app, not on exit.
Data Stored Locally on Your Device> 3. Application Settings
Added section.
