Effective date: 1 January 2026 · Last updated: April 2026
Summary: DeCiphr stores all your data locally on your device. The app developer does not collect, see, or have access to your images, analyses, or frameworks. When you run an AI analysis, your image is sent to Anthropic solely to perform the analysis and is not retained by Anthropic beyond the API request.
This Privacy Policy explains how DeCiphr ("the app"), developed by Salem M. Alajmi ("the developer"), handles your information. DeCiphr is a mobile application for AI-assisted visual analysis designed for researchers across the humanities and social sciences.
By using DeCiphr, you agree to the practices described in this policy.
All of the following is stored exclusively on your device using local SQLite storage. None of this data is transmitted to or accessible by the app developer:
No cloud backup: Because your data is stored locally only, it cannot be recovered if your device is lost, reset, or damaged. We strongly recommend using the CSV export regularly to back up your data to a computer.
When you run an AI analysis in DeCiphr, the following is transmitted to Anthropic's servers via the Claude Vision API:
This transmission occurs solely to perform the analysis and return the result to your device. According to Anthropic's API usage policy, images and inputs sent via the API are not used to train Anthropic's models and are not retained beyond the API request.
For full details, refer to Anthropic's Privacy Policy: anthropic.com/privacy
DeCiphr requests access to your device's location only when you photograph a sign in the field. Location data (latitude and longitude) is attached to that photograph and stored locally on your device alongside the image. Location data is never transmitted to the app developer and is only included in your AI analysis request if explicitly relevant to the analysis prompt.
DeCiphr requests access to your camera and photo library solely to allow you to capture or import images for analysis. The app does not access your photo library beyond images you explicitly select. Photos are stored locally on your device and not uploaded to any server operated by the developer.
The app developer does not collect, store, transmit, or have access to: your images or photographs, your analysis results, your frameworks or codes, your location data, your analytic memos, your usage patterns or analytics, or any personally identifiable information.
DeCiphr does not include any third-party analytics SDKs, advertising SDKs, or crash reporting services that would transmit personal data to external parties.
If you submit your email address via the waitlist form on the DeCiphr website (deciphr.netlify.app), that email address is collected and stored by Netlify Forms solely to notify you of future updates. It is not shared with any third party and will only be used for DeCiphr-related communications. You may request removal at any time by contacting the developer.
DeCiphr is designed for use by researchers and is not directed at children under the age of 13. The app does not knowingly collect personal information from children.
If this privacy policy changes materially, the updated version will be posted at this URL with a revised effective date. Continued use of the app after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how DeCiphr handles your data, please contact:
Salem M. Alajmi
PhD Researcher · University of Reading
PAAET, Kuwait · University of Reading, UK