Privacy Policy

Last Updated: March 23, 2025

This Privacy Policy describes how EtchDroid (“we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, uses, and discloses your personal data when you use our application (“EtchDroid” or “the App”). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal data is handled responsibly.

This Privacy Policy has been written to comply with the Google Play policies and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

This privacy policy applies to EtchDroid version 1.9.rc5+25 or newer. Older versions do not include telemetry data collection.

In short

• F-Droid Users: When you download EtchDroid from F-Droid, no analytics, telemetry, tracking, or ads are included.

• Other Sources (Google Play, GitHub releases, etc.): When downloaded from other sources, EtchDroid collects non-personally identifying telemetry data to help identify and fix issues.

• Crash and Performance Reporting: We use both Sentry and Firebase Crashlytics for crash reporting and performance metrics. You can opt out of data collection if you wish.

Please read the detailed sections below for more information.

Data Controller and Contact Information

The data controller responsible for your personal data is:

Davide Depau

Email: privacy@etchdroid.app

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at the above email address.

Where the App Was Downloaded From

The type and amount of data that EtchDroid processes depend on where the App was downloaded.

F-Droid Store

If you downloaded EtchDroid from the F-Droid store:

• No Data Collection: EtchDroid does not collect or process any information about you or your device.
• No Tracking: There are no analytics, telemetry, tracking, or ads.
• Source Separation: We have separated all telemetry code from the rest of the App to ensure the F-Droid build fully respects your privacy. The F-Droid builds do not include any tracking code.

We rely on your help to troubleshoot and submit bug reports and issues. If you are unable to do that, please download EtchDroid from another store so we can use crash reports to improve the App’s stability.

Google Play, GitHub Releases, and Other Sources

If you downloaded EtchDroid from Google Play, GitHub releases, or any other source:

• Data Collection: EtchDroid uses Sentry and Firebase Crashlytics telemetry services to help us identify stability issues and crashes.
• Opt-Out Mechanism: Telemetry is enabled by default based on our legitimate interest to improve the App. You can opt out of data collection at any time in the App’s settings.

What Information Does EtchDroid Collect?

We collect the following information:

• Device Information: Brand and family of your device (e.g., Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy).
• Performance Information: App startup times and performance events.
• Usage Information: Which buttons are pressed and which screens are displayed within the App.
• Image File Names and Sizes: File names and sizes of the disk images you open for writing.

  Note: File names can sometimes contain personal data. We collect file names to help us troubleshoot issues with specific disk images. If you are concerned about this, you can opt out of telemetry in the App’s settings.

• USB Device Information:
  • Device name.
  • Device vendor and product ID.
  • Device storage size.
• App Screenshots: Screenshots of the App where all text is censored. External views (such as the system file manager) are not captured. (Note that the App does not display any personally identifying information; screenshots are used for troubleshooting graphical issues.)
• App Status Information: Internal status of the App, such as ongoing jobs and their status.
• Error and Crash Reports: Any errors the App generates due to bugs or external issues such as disconnections or hardware problems. These crashes may be logged via Sentry or Firebase Crashlytics.

Why Does EtchDroid Collect This Data?

We collect this data to:

• Identify and fix problems with the App, such as handling of specific disk images, issues with specific hardware, crashes, and stability issues.
• Improve the performance and user experience of the App.

Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data based on our legitimate interest to improve the App and provide a better user experience. We have conducted a Legitimate Interests Assessment (LIA) to ensure that our data processing does not override your rights and freedoms.

Your Rights Under GDPR

As a user in the European Union, you have certain rights regarding your personal data under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These rights include:

• Right of Access: You can request information about the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: You can request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Right to Erasure: You can request deletion of your personal data under certain circumstances.
• Right to Restrict Processing: You can request that we limit the processing of your personal data.
• Right to Object: You can object to the processing of your personal data.

How to Request Data Deletion

Since EtchDroid collects minimal personal data and most of it is anonymized, we may not be able to identify your data without specific information from you. If you believe that your personal data (specifically an image file name that is not commonly used) has been collected and wish to have it deleted, please follow these steps:

1. Contact Us: Send an email to privacy@etchdroid.app with the subject line “Data Deletion Request - EtchDroid”.
2. Provide Necessary Details: Include the exact image file name you opened in EtchDroid. This will help us locate and delete any related data.
3. Verification: We may need to verify your identity to protect your privacy and security.

We will process your request within 30 days, in accordance with GDPR regulations.

Note that the retention period for collected data is 90 days; after this period, all data is automatically deleted.

Data Retention

• Data Deleted: Specific image file names you provide for deletion.
• Data Retained: Anonymized telemetry data that cannot be linked back to you.
• Retention Period: All collected data is stored for up to 90 days before automatic deletion.

If you have any questions or concerns about your data, please contact us at privacy@etchdroid.app.

EtchDroid is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparency about how your data is handled.

Opt-Out of Data Collection

You can opt out of telemetry data collection at any time:

1. Open the App’s menu.
2. Toggle the “Send anonymous telemetry data” setting to disable telemetry.

When telemetry is disabled, the App will no longer collect any data about your device or usage.

Data Retention

We retain the collected data for up to 90 days, after which it is automatically deleted. This retention period allows us to analyze issues and improve the App’s stability.

Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data from unauthorized access or disclosure. This includes encryption in transit and at rest.

Use of Data Processors

We use two primary data processors for telemetry:

1. Sentry (for crash and performance reporting)

• See Sentry’s Privacy Policy and Data Processing Agreement for details.
• We have a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) with Sentry.

2. Firebase Crashlytics (provided by Google)

• See Firebase Crashlytics Terms and Firebase Data Processing and Security Terms.
• No separate DPA: We have not signed a specific Data Processing Agreement with Google for Firebase Crashlytics. Your data is therefore subject to the standard Firebase data processing terms.

By using the App from Google Play, GitHub releases, or other sources (where telemetry is included), you acknowledge and agree that crash reports and related data may be sent to both Sentry and Firebase Crashlytics. If you do not agree, you may opt out of telemetry.

No Automated Decision-Making

We do not use automated decision-making or profiling in our App.

Children’s Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from children.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by updating the date at the top of this policy and, where appropriate, by other means such as in-app notifications.

Contact Us

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

Email: privacy@etchdroid.app

Change log

• October 21, 2024: Initial version.
• March 23, 2025: Added details about our use of Firebase Crashlytics for telemetry.