Privacy Policy for Tessera Keyboard
At SmallTinyApps, your privacy is our highest priority. As developers of a keyboard application, we understand the immense trust you place in us to protect your most sensitive data.
This Privacy Policy outlines how the Tessera Keyboard application handles your information.
Our core privacy promise to you is simple: what you type on your device, stays on your device.
1. Core Privacy Promise: Offline-First Architecture
Tessera Keyboard is designed as an "offline-first" application. While the app utilizes standard Android internet permissions exclusively for secure license verification and premium features (via Google Play Services), the keyboard engine itself operates entirely offline. It is technically impossible for your keystrokes, personal data, or customizations to be transmitted to our servers or any third parties. All input processing occurs locally on your device.
2. Keystrokes and Input Data
As a keyboard application (Input Method Editor), Tessera Keyboard requires access to the text you type to function. However, we do not log, collect, or transmit your keystrokes. The text you type is passed directly to the application you are typing into and is not stored by Tessera Keyboard unless explicitly required by a local feature you have enabled (such as Macros or Clipboard History).
3. App Permissions and Data Usage
To provide specific functionality, Tessera Keyboard requests the following permissions:
- Internet & Network State (INTERNET, ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE): These permissions are used exclusively to communicate with Google Play Services for license verification and managing "Tessera Premium" subscriptions. They are never accessed by the keyboard's input engine.
- Microphone (RECORD_AUDIO): This permission is strictly used for the Voice Typing feature. When activated, your audio is processed locally or via the standard Android system speech engine to convert your voice to text. Tessera Keyboard never records, saves, or transmits your audio files.
- Billing (com.android.vending.BILLING, com.android.vending.CHECK_LICENSE): These are used to facilitate in-app purchases and verify your app ownership. All transactions are securely handled by Google Play Services. SmallTinyApps does not collect or have access to your financial information or payment history.
4. Local Features and Storage
Tessera Keyboard offers several features designed to enhance your typing experience. All data associated with these features is stored locally in the app's secure, private internal storage:
- Clipboard History: This is an optional feature and requires your explicit consent to enable. When activated, it stores your recently copied text locally on your device for easy access. To further protect your privacy, this feature includes an automatic filter designed to ignore and discard passwords and standard credit card numbers.
- Macros & Settings: User-defined shortcuts, personalized themes, and general app settings are saved locally on your device.
- Backup & Restore: You have the option to manually export your settings to a local JSON file on your device. This process uses standard Android storage access frameworks, ensuring the app does not require broad access to your device's files.
5. Third-Party Analytics and Tracking
We respect your digital footprint. Tessera Keyboard does not include any third-party analytics SDKs (such as Firebase or Crashlytics), advertising frameworks, or user tracking mechanisms. The only third-party component in the app is the Google Play Billing library, which is used solely for processing purchases and is subject to Google’s own privacy standards. We do not track your usage behavior, and we do not serve advertisements.
6. Data Retention and Deletion
Because your data is stored locally on your device, you maintain complete control over it:
- You can clear your Clipboard History or Macros at any time within the app's settings.
- All data stored by Tessera Keyboard is permanently deleted when you uninstall the application or clear the app's data through your Android system settings.
7. GDPR and CCPA Compliance
Given our strict adherence to local, offline data processing and our complete lack of data collection, tracking, and transmission, Tessera Keyboard inherently complies with the principles of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). We do not collect, sell, or share personal data.
8. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons.
9. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at smalltinyapps@gmail.com