Privacy Policy

1. Information We Don't Collect

Unlike most apps, CastKeeper is designed to collect as little information as possible. We do not collect, store, or transmit:

• Your podcast subscriptions - We never see what podcasts you subscribe to
• Your private feed credentials - Authentication details for private feeds never leave your device
• Your listening history - We don't track which episodes you play or when you listen
• Your playback preferences - Speed settings, skip intervals, and other preferences stay on your device
• Your downloaded episodes - We have no knowledge of which episodes you've archived
• Your transcription data - Generated transcriptions never leave your device
• Analytics or usage data - We don't use analytics tools that track individual user behavior
• Device identifiers - No tracking via advertising IDs or device fingerprinting
• Location data - We never request or access your location
• Contact information - Unless you email us for support, we don't have your contact details

2. How Your Data Is Stored

On-Device Storage

All core app functionality happens locally on your iPhone:

• Podcast library: Your subscriptions and episode metadata are stored in your device's local database, iCloud, or other cloud storage providers
• Playback state: Current position, playback speed, and listening progress stay on your device or iCloud.
• AI processing: Transcription, chapter detection, and most AI features run using Apple's Core ML framework, WhisperKit, and on-device Apple Intelligence. Some AI features may instead use Apple's Private Cloud Compute by default — see Section 4 for details and how to keep everything strictly on-device.
• User preferences: All settings and customizations are stored locally or in iCloud.

Age & Content Assurance

To show age-appropriate content warnings and meet regional regulatory requirements, CastKeeper may use Apple's system-level Declared Age Range API (where available on your device) to receive an age-range signal:

• We request an age range (for example, "13-15," "16-17," or "18+") from Apple's system — never an exact birthdate — and only to power explicit-content warnings or a region-specific disclosure Apple requires us to show
• This signal, and whether you've declined to share it, is stored locally on your device only. It is never transmitted to us and never synced via iCloud
• If you decline to share an age range, CastKeeper conservatively hides and blocks explicit content by default
• You can review this at any time in Settings

iCloud Sync

If you enable iCloud sync:

• Your podcast library data syncs across your devices using Apple's CloudKit service
• This data is stored in your personal iCloud account, which we cannot access
• Apple provides end-to-end encryption for CloudKit data
• We never have access to your iCloud data or credentials
• You can disable iCloud sync at any time in the app settings

Third-Party Storage (Optional)

If you configure third-party storage (such as Cloudflare R2):

• Podcast audio files are stored in your own storage account that you create and control
• You provide your own credentials, which are stored securely in your device's keychain
• We never see or have access to your storage account, credentials, or stored files
• Storage costs and data handling are subject to your chosen provider's terms and policies

3. Third-Party Services

CastKeeper integrates with certain third-party services to provide core functionality. Here's how your data interacts with these services:

iTunes Search API (Apple)

• Purpose: Search for podcasts when you explicitly use the search feature
• Data shared: Only your search queries when you search
• Our control: We don't control Apple's data handling; see Apple's Privacy Policy

RSS Feed Providers

• Purpose: Download podcast episode information and audio files
• Data shared: Your IP address, basic HTTP headers, and any necessary private feed credentials when fetching feeds
• Our control: These are third-party podcast hosts; we don't control their data practices

Apple CloudKit

• Purpose: Sync your library across your Apple devices
• Data shared: Your podcast library metadata (subscriptions, playback state)
• Our control: Data is stored in your iCloud account; see Apple's Privacy Policy

Storage Providers (Optional)

• Purpose: Store archived podcast audio files if you choose this option
• Data shared: Audio files and associated metadata you choose to archive
• Our control: You configure and control these services directly; refer to their privacy policies

CastKeeper Host Directory (Our Own Service)

• Purpose: CastKeeper operates one small backend service that provides publicly available podcast host/creator credit information (name, bio, photo, and social links) so we can show "who's behind this show" in the app
• Data shared: When viewing a podcast, your app sends only that podcast's public iTunes ID to look up host information — no personal data about you is sent
• Podcast owners: If a podcast owner submits or updates their own host information, we verify ownership via their podcast's RSS feed and email, and store the details they provide (name, bio, photo, social links, email) so we can serve it back to listeners
• Our control: Unlike the rest of CastKeeper, this is a backend we operate ourselves (hosted on Cloudflare). It stores podcast credit metadata only — never your listening history, subscriptions, or personal information

Shared with You (Messages)

• Purpose: If enabled, CastKeeper can surface podcast links shared with you in Messages using Apple's Shared with You framework
• Data shared: Apple's framework only gives CastKeeper links that match our own domain; we never receive your Messages content, conversations, or contacts
• Your control: Subscribing is always a separate, explicit action — nothing is added to your library automatically

4. AI & Machine Learning

CastKeeper uses advanced AI features for transcription and content analysis. Here's our privacy-first approach:

• On-device by default: Most AI models run entirely on your device using Apple's Core ML, WhisperKit, and on-device Apple Intelligence
• Private Cloud Compute: Select AI features (for example, chapter and show-notes generation) may use Apple's Private Cloud Compute, which can process data on Apple-operated servers under Apple's published, independently verifiable privacy guarantees. Apple states this data is never stored and never made accessible to Apple — or to us. This is on by default; you can turn it off in Settings to keep all AI processing strictly on-device
• Complete privacy: Regardless of where processing happens, transcriptions and AI-generated content are never stored on our servers

5. Data You Control

You have complete control over your data in CastKeeper:

Viewing Your Data

• All your data is accessible within the app's interface
• You can view your subscriptions, listening history, and preferences at any time

Deleting Your Data

• Delete the app: Uninstalling removes all locally stored data from your device
• Clear library: Remove all subscriptions and episodes from within the app
• iCloud data: Disable iCloud sync in Settings to stop syncing; delete data from iCloud settings
• Storage data: Delete files from your storage provider's dashboard

Exporting Your Data

• Export your podcast subscriptions as an OPML file
• Access your stored audio files directly from your storage provider
• Share individual episodes or playlists

6. Children's Privacy

CastKeeper does not knowingly collect information from children under 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction). The app is designed for general audiences and does not target children.

In some jurisdictions, we use Apple's system-level Declared Age Range API to receive an age-range signal (never an exact birthdate) so we can show age-appropriate content warnings and any regulatory notices Apple requires us to display. This signal is processed and stored locally on your device only — see Section 2, "Age & Content Assurance."

If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately at [email protected].

7. Security

We take the security of your data seriously:

• Credential storage: Storage and private feed credentials are stored in your device's secure keychain using Apple's Keychain Services
• Encrypted transmission: All network requests use HTTPS/TLS encryption
• Minimal backend: CastKeeper operates one small backend service, used only to look up and let podcast owners maintain public host/creator credit information (see Section 3). It never stores your listening data, subscriptions, or personal information
• Local data protection: App data is protected by iOS/macOS device encryption and your device passcode
• Minimal attack surface: By not collecting your personal listening data, there's nothing meaningful for us to lose in a breach

8. International Users

CastKeeper is available worldwide. Because all processing happens on your device and we don't collect personal data:

• We don't transfer your data across borders (it stays on your device or in your chosen storage)
• GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy regulations are inherently satisfied by our architecture
• You maintain full control and sovereignty over your data

9. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have specific privacy rights. Because we don't collect personal data, many of these rights are automatically satisfied:

• Right to access: All your data is accessible within the app
• Right to deletion: Delete the app or clear data at any time
• Right to portability: Export your subscriptions and access stored files
• Right to opt-out: No tracking to opt out of
• Right to rectification: Edit or update your data within the app

10. Email Communications

We do not send marketing emails or newsletters. The only emails you might receive are:

• Support responses: If you contact us for help
• Critical updates: In rare cases, important security or legal notifications

We will never sell or share your email address with third parties.

11. Crash Reports & Diagnostics (Optional)

If you opt-in to sharing diagnostics with Apple:

• iOS/macOS may send anonymous crash reports to Apple and app developers
• These reports contain technical information about app crashes but no personal data
• This is controlled by your device's privacy settings, not by our app
• We use these reports solely to fix bugs and improve stability

12. Changes to Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by:

• Displaying a notice in the app
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy

Your continued use of CastKeeper after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act:

• We do not sell personal information - We don't collect it in the first place
• We do not share for cross-context behavioral advertising
• Right to know: We've outlined all data practices in this policy
• Right to delete: Simply delete the app

14. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area, UK, or Switzerland:

• Legal basis: Our processing (minimal as it is) is based on your consent and contract performance
• Data controller: 121 Gigawatz is the data controller for any processing that occurs
• Right to lodge complaint: You can complain to your local data protection authority
• Data protection officer: Given our minimal data processing, we don't require a DPO

15. Our Philosophy

Privacy isn't just a legal requirement for us—it's a design principle. We built CastKeeper to prove that you can create powerful, feature-rich applications without surveillance capitalism. Your podcast listening is personal, and it should stay that way.

16. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us:

Privacy Email: [email protected]
General Support: [email protected]

We will respond to all privacy inquiries within 30 days.