Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how blackWbox (the “App”) handles information when you use its dash-cam recording, location, audio, export, and optional connected-service features.

1. Information the App may access

Camera and video

The App uses the device camera to record driving video. Recorded video is stored on the device in the location used or selected by the App.

Microphone and audio

If you enable audio recording, the App may access an available microphone input. Where Android and your hardware allow it, you may be able to select among built-in, wired, USB, or Bluetooth audio inputs.

Location and motion information

If you grant location permission, the App may use location information to calculate and display speed and, when route recording is on, record route information. Route recording is on by default once you allow location permission; the route is stored only on your device and is not uploaded to a server, except in a video or GPX export or an optional backup that you start or enable. You can turn it off in Settings (“Route recording”). The App shows the route of a saved video on an OpenStreetMap map during playback (map tiles are requested from OpenStreetMap, which receives the map area being viewed and your IP address, not your route), and you can export it as GPX. Motion sensors may be used for supported event-detection features.

Device and diagnostic information

The App may process technical information such as camera capabilities, available codecs, storage state, thermal state, recording errors, and feature support to operate reliably and show compatible settings. Sharing diagnostic information is off by default, and the current version does not transmit diagnostic information. Separately, the App sends anonymous usage statistics as described in section 2A.

Voice commands (optional)

If you enable voice commands, the App uses Android speech recognition on the device to recognize commands such as “start recording” and “stop recording”. The App does not store recognized speech text or send it to a server. The Android system speech service may download language models.

Notifications

The App may show notifications, for example while a recording is in progress.

Bluetooth (optional)

If you grant Bluetooth permission, the App may detect a connection to your vehicle and receive input from an external GPS or OBD-II device.

Display over other apps (optional)

If you grant this permission, the App may open its recording screen automatically, for example when a charger is connected.

Local network (optional)

If you configure an SMB or WebDAV backup server, the App connects to it over your local network.

Video library access (optional)

If you grant video access, the App can find existing recordings so they can be restored into the App.

2. Advertising

The App is free and includes ads served by Google AdMob. The ad formats are: banner ads on App screens; app-open ads when you return to the App, including while a recording is running; interstitial ads that may appear roughly after every five minutes of App use when you move between pages; and optional rewarded ads. Interstitial ads are not shown while a recording is running.

By default, videos you record carry a “BlackWbox Free” watermark, and date, time, speed, GPS coordinates, vehicle number and G-force information are not inserted into the video. When you start a recording you can choose to watch a rewarded ad to the end. If you do, for the next 24 hours the watermark is removed, video information can be inserted into new recordings, and no ads are shown. Watching is optional and never prevents you from starting a recording; if you start without watching, the recording starts at once with the watermark and ads continue.

Where required, such as in the EEA and UK, the App asks for your consent using the Google User Messaging Platform (UMP) form. When UMP requires it, a “Privacy options” entry appears in the App so you can change your choice. No camera frames, recordings, microphone audio, route points or vehicle numbers are added to ad requests.

Under Google’s policies, AdMob may process device identifiers such as the advertising ID, IP address, approximate location, and ad interaction and diagnostic data. The App’s advertising SDK may use the advertising ID on devices where it is available. This advertising data is handled by Google and is separate from Google Drive data obtained through OAuth (see section 3), which is never used for advertising. See how Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services and the Google Privacy Policy. You can reset your advertising ID or opt out of ad personalization in your device’s Android ads settings.

2A. Usage statistics (Google Analytics for Firebase)

The App uses Google Analytics for Firebase, provided by Google, to count how the App is used so that we can check that recording works and improve the App. Usage statistics are on by default and you can turn them off at any time in Settings > Privacy and data > “Send usage statistics”.

The App sends a small set of fixed-value events: whether a recording started, finished, or failed (with how it was started, such as manually, automatically or by recovery; a rough length range; and a broad failure category), how you answered the recording-start ad prompt, whether a rewarded ad granted the 24-hour reward, whether an ad was ready when it could have been shown, and whether you opened a video, opened it in fullscreen and whether it had a route. The SDK also collects standard app-lifecycle information such as first open, sessions and app updates.

The App does not send your videos, audio, GPS coordinates, routes, file names, vehicle numbers, or any text you enter in these events. Google Analytics for Firebase itself processes an app instance ID and, because it handles network requests, your IP address, from which Google derives an approximate location. It may also use the advertising ID where it is available and allowed. Google processes this data under the Google Privacy Policy; see also how Google Analytics data is handled in apps.

Where the User Messaging Platform consent form applies (for example in the EEA and UK), your choice there is passed to Google Analytics through Google Consent Mode, so declining storage consent turns off Analytics storage. Elsewhere, usage statistics follow the Settings switch. Usage statistics are not shared with other companies by the App, and the App does not currently use Google Ads conversion measurement. Retention of Analytics event data follows the retention setting of the Analytics property.

3. Google OAuth and Google user data

If you choose to connect a Google service, such as an optional Google Drive backup feature, authentication is performed through Google OAuth. blackWbox does not receive your Google password.

The App requests only the Google permissions shown on the Google consent screen for the feature you choose to use. Google user data obtained through these permissions is used only to provide or maintain that user-requested feature.

• Google user data is not sold.
• Google user data is not used for advertising.
• Google user data is not used for unrelated profiling or marketing.
• OAuth credentials or tokens, when retained, are used only as needed to maintain the connection you authorized.

Our use and transfer of information received from Google APIs will comply with the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.

4. How information is used

Information accessed by the App is used to provide recording, speed and route display, event protection, playback, export, device compatibility checks, recording health, and optional backup or connected-service features requested by you.

5. Sharing and disclosure

blackWbox does not sell your recordings, audio, precise location, or Google user data. Information is shared only when you initiate an export, enable a connected service, or when disclosure is required by applicable law.

6. Storage and retention

Normal recordings may be removed by the App’s loop-recording rules when you enable or configure them. Protected recordings are intended to remain protected from automatic deletion until you remove protection or delete them yourself. Optional cloud or external backups are subject to the storage provider’s own retention rules.

Optional backups

Backups upload recordings only to destinations you connect yourself: Google Drive (using the drive.file scope), WebDAV, or SMB. Automatic backup runs only after you separately consent to it. Credentials for these destinations are stored protected by the Android Keystore. Copies already uploaded to a destination must be deleted separately in that service.

7. Your choices and controls

• You can deny or revoke camera, microphone, location, notification, or storage-related permissions through Android settings.
• You can disable audio recording or turn off route recording in Settings.
• You can disconnect an optional Google or other connected service.
• You can delete recordings from your device using the App or supported system file controls.
• You can use Settings > Privacy and data > Delete all local data to remove local videos, events, and location history. This does not delete copies already uploaded to a remote backup.
• Uninstalling the App deletes its local data.
• You can turn off usage statistics in Settings > Privacy and data > “Send usage statistics”, and change consent through the “Privacy options” entry where it is shown.
• You can change ad consent through “Privacy options” (shown only when required), reset or limit your advertising ID in Android settings, or choose to watch a rewarded ad for 24 hours without ads.

8. Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational safeguards appropriate to the App’s architecture. No method of electronic storage or transmission is guaranteed to be completely secure.

9. Children

blackWbox is not directed to children and is intended for lawful use by people permitted to operate or configure the device and vehicle in their jurisdiction.

10. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as the App changes. The effective date at the top of this page will be updated when material changes are published.

11. Contact

For privacy questions or requests, please use the developer contact information published with the blackWbox app listing or the official garhi.io support channel associated with the App.