Privacy Policy for The Dissemination Service Launcher Android App

Effective Date: 01/10/2025

At IHMC (Institute for Human & Machine Cognition), we are committed to safeguarding your privacy and protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle your data when you (the User) use the Dissemination Service Launcher Android App (“Our App” or “The App”). By using the App, the User agrees to the practices outlined in this policy.

1. Data Collection and Usage

Our App is designed with the User’s privacy in mind. It operates exclusively on a peer-to-peer basis over the local LAN, ensuring that no personal data is collected, stored, or transmitted to any remote servers or centralized storage. Our App does not collect personal data. However, it can store locally on the User’s device any data that other apps share using our App.

Our App enables other applications to share data directly with other DisService Users over the LAN. However, natively, our App, in and of itself, does not allow Users to share data or interact directly. Its primary function is to configure and start a service that other apps can use to facilitate peer-to-peer data sharing within the local network.

The data the User chooses to share may include:

  • Text messages;
  • The location of the device;
  • Media files (e.g., images, videos);
  • Other types of binary or textual content or data that the User actively decides to share with other Users.

All data sharing occurs directly between devices over the local network. IHMC does not store, process, or have access to this data beyond its intended purpose within the app’s functionality. This design ensures that the User’s data remains private and secure.

2. Data Deletion

The User can delete all data stored by the App easily by uninstalling it. The User may use the standard uninstall processes as may be available as part of their mobile device or via the mobile application marketplace or network.

Additionally, our App provides an in-app capability to selectively delete data from specific sessions. The User has control over when to start a new session or resume an old one directly from within the App. This allows the User to manage stored data flexibly and ensure that only relevant session data is retained.

3. Data That The User Shares with Other Users

When the User shares data with other Users of the app, they do so at their own discretion. IHMC does not control or monitor the data shared between Users, and we recommend that the User be mindful of the information they disclose to others.

The User is responsible for any data they choose to share. The App enables peer-to-peer interactions, so once data is shared, it may be accessed by the recipient.

No data, personal or otherwise, is automatically shared. The App will never collect or share any of the User’s data, including personal data such as name, email address, or location, unless the User specifically provides it or as part of a communication with other Users to other apps that use our App to exchange data.

4. Permissions

The App requires the following permissions:

  • INTERNET, to perform network operations, such as sending and receiving data.
  • ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE, to acquire information about the network, such as what interfaces are available on the device.
  • FOREGROUND_SERVICE, to run the Dissemination Service as an Android foreground service.
  • POST_NOTIFICATIONS, to send notifications to the User.
  • FOREGROUND_SERVICE_SPECIAL_USE, to run the Dissemination Service as an Android foreground service.

5. Third-Party Services

Our app does not link or integrate with any third-party services.

6. Children

The App is not used to knowingly solicit data from, or market to, children under the age of 13.

The Service Provider does not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children. The Service Provider encourages all children to never submit any personally identifiable information through the App and/or Services. The Service Provider encourage parents and legal guardians to monitor their children’s Internet usage and to help enforce this Policy by instructing their children never to provide personally identifiable information through the App and/or Services without their permission. If you have reason to believe that a child has provided personally identifiable information to the Service Provider through the App and/or Services, please contact the Service Provider (nsuri@ihmc.org) so that they will be able to take the necessary actions. You must also be at least 16 years of age to consent to the processing of your personally identifiable information in your country (in some countries we may allow your parent or guardian to do so on your behalf).

7. Security

While IHMC takes reasonable measures to protect the data Users share within the App, please understand that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We encourage the User to use caution and avoid sharing sensitive personal information within the App.

8. Changes to This Privacy Policy

IHMC may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted in the App, along with the updated policy. Please check the policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting the User’s data.

9. User Consent

By using the Application, the User is consenting to the processing of his/her information, as set forth in this Privacy Policy now and as amended by the Service Provider.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please feel free to contact us at:

Niranjan Suri [nsuri@ihmc.org]

Thank you for using our App. We value your trust and are committed to protecting your privacy.