ListenToMe — Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 2, 2026

ListenToMe is an Android application that converts PDF documents and images into spoken audiobooks. It is designed primarily for blind and visually impaired users. This policy explains what information the app collects, how it is used, which service providers process it, and how to request deletion.

Who we are

ListenToMe is developed by Yogen Ghodke as a personal project. The app and its backend are operated by an individual developer, not a company. You can reach us at yogenghodke@gmail.com.

What information we collect

• Account information: When you sign in with Google, we receive your email address and a unique user identifier from Firebase Authentication. We do not receive your password.
• Files you upload: The PDF and image files that you choose to upload through the app are stored in Google Cloud Storage so they can be processed into audio. You explicitly initiate every upload.
• Generated audiobooks: The MP3 files produced from your uploads are stored alongside your account so you can play them on demand.
• Job metadata: Filename, processing status, page count, and timestamps are stored in Firebase Firestore so the app can show you the state of each conversion.
• Playback position: Saved locally on your device only — never transmitted to our servers.
• Notifications: If notifications are enabled, Firebase Cloud Messaging stores a device-specific notification token so we can tell your device that an audiobook is ready or that processing failed.
• Usage analytics: Firebase Analytics automatically collects app activity such as first opens, sessions, screen views, and an app-instance identifier. It may also derive coarse location and device information from technical data. We use this information to understand reliability and improve the app. We do not set Analytics user IDs, send document content, or use Analytics for advertising.

What we do NOT collect

• We do not collect advertising identifiers for ads, and the current Android release removes the Advertising ID permission.
• We do not access your contacts, microphone, camera, or any files outside of files you explicitly select for upload.
• We do not sell or share your data with third parties for marketing purposes.
• We do not use your uploaded content to train our own AI models.

How your files are processed

When you upload a PDF or image, the file may be sent to Google's Gemini APIs for text extraction, language detection, translation, or speech generation. Depending on the selected processing route, the backend may also use configured document-processing providers such as Sarvam or Datalab. Some OCR and speech routes run locally on the developer's processing machine. The resulting MP3 file is stored in your private Firebase Storage area and made available to you on the device. These providers process content only to provide the requested conversion service; we do not sell uploaded content or use it to train our own models.

How long we keep your files

• Uploaded source files: Deleted automatically after the retention window, currently 10 days, or immediately when you delete the book in the app.
• Generated MP3 audiobooks: Kept in your library until you delete the book in the app or ask us to delete your account. Failed or abandoned conversion jobs are cleaned up after the retention window.
• Local downloads: An audiobook downloaded to your device remains there until you delete it or remove the app's local data.
• Account information: Persists until you ask us to delete your account by emailing the address above.
• Analytics data: Retention is controlled by the Firebase Analytics property and is separate from uploaded files. Analytics data does not contain your document text or filenames.

How to delete your data

You can delete any individual book from inside the app, which removes the source file, the audiobook, and its job metadata from our backend. To request deletion of your entire account and associated data without reinstalling the app, use the account deletion request page. You can also email yogenghodke@gmail.com from the address you signed in with. We verify the request, delete the account and associated backend records, and explain any data that must be retained temporarily for security or legal reasons.

Children

This app is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children.

Third-party services

The app uses the following services to function:

• Firebase Authentication — for Google Sign-In
• Firebase Cloud Firestore — for storing job metadata
• Firebase Cloud Storage — for storing uploaded files and generated audio
• Firebase Cloud Messaging — for audiobook-ready and failure notifications
• Firebase Analytics — for app activity and reliability measurement
• Google Gemini APIs — for text extraction, language detection, translation, and speech generation
• Sarvam or Datalab — only when the selected backend processing route uses one of these document services

Each service is governed by Google's own privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Security

All data in transit between your device and our backend is encrypted via HTTPS. Your files are stored in your private Firebase Storage area, accessible only to your authenticated account.

Changes to this policy

If we update this privacy policy in a meaningful way, the "Last updated" date at the top of this page will change. We recommend checking this page periodically.

Contact

For questions about this privacy policy or your data, email yogenghodke@gmail.com.