Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 12, 2026

Your screams stay on your device. No analytics, no tracking, no advertising SDKs.

Overview

Scream Jar ("the App") is an entertainment app developed by Joshua Hart / Hartistic LLC. This privacy policy explains how the App handles your information. Scream Jar is designed with privacy as a core principle — all audio processing happens on your device.

Data Storage

All audio recordings you create (screams) are stored locally on your device in the app's sandboxed Documents directory as AAC-LC encoded .m4a files. This audio data never leaves your device unless you explicitly choose to share a jar via the system Share Sheet.

Jar metadata (capacity, lid color, scream names) is stored via SwiftData and may sync across your devices via your private iCloud database (CloudKit). This data is encrypted in transit and at rest by Apple and is accessible only to your Apple ID. No other users, developers, or third parties can access this data.

Data Collection

Scream Jar does not collect personal information. Specifically:

No account or sign-up is required
No analytics, tracking, or advertising SDKs are included
No cookies or similar tracking technologies are used
No data is sold or shared with third parties
No audio content is transmitted to any server

Device Permissions

Scream Jar requests the following device permissions:

Microphone: Required to record screams. Audio is captured via AVAudioEngine, processed entirely on-device (spectral analysis for orb color mapping), and stored locally. The mic is only active while you are actively recording in the Add Scream sheet. The app does not record in the background.
Motion & Fitness: Used to detect when you shake the device (to rattle the orbs in the jar) and to apply real gravity to the physics simulation. Motion data is processed in real-time and is never stored or transmitted.

Network Requests

The App makes the following types of network requests:

iCloud sync (CloudKit): Jar metadata (capacity, lid color, creation date) syncs via your private iCloud database so your purchased capacity survives a delete and reinstall. No audio content is synced. Apple's CloudKit infrastructure handles encryption and access control.
StoreKit (App Store): In-app purchase transactions are processed entirely through Apple's App Store. The developer does not collect, store, or have access to your payment information.

In-App Purchases

Scream Jar offers consumable in-app purchases (capacity expansions at $0.99 and additional jars at $0.99) processed entirely through Apple's App Store. We do not collect, store, or have access to your payment information. All purchase transactions are handled by Apple and are subject to Apple's Privacy Policy. Your purchase status is persisted via CloudKit-backed SwiftData so it survives reinstallation.

Sharing

When you share a jar, the App packages your scream audio files into a .screamjar archive (a ZIP file) and presents the system Share Sheet. Sharing is always opt-in and always via the system Share Sheet. The App does not transmit, upload, or store shared files on any server. Once shared, the file is under the recipient's control.

Children's Privacy

Scream Jar is intended for users of all ages. The App does not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 13. Because the App collects no personal information, it is compliant with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and similar laws.

California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident:

We do not collect personal information as defined under the CCPA/CPRA.
We do not sell or share personal information to third parties.
We do not use or disclose sensitive personal information.
You may delete all your data at any time by clearing all screams from your jar or uninstalling the App.
For questions about your California privacy rights, contact us at support@screamjar.app.

Other State Privacy Laws

Various U.S. states (including Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and others) have enacted consumer privacy laws. Because Scream Jar does not collect, process, sell, or share personal data, the App is designed to comply with these laws. For questions, contact us at the address below.

International Users (GDPR)

If you are located in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland, the GDPR may apply. Because Scream Jar does not collect or process personal data on any server, no data is transferred across borders. All processing occurs locally on your device. Jar metadata synced via iCloud is handled by Apple under their own GDPR compliance framework. For questions, contact us at the address below.

Data Retention

Your scream audio files and jar metadata are stored locally on your device (and optionally synced via iCloud) until you delete them by clearing your jar, deleting individual screams, or uninstalling the App. No personal data is retained on any server controlled by the developer.

Security

Because Scream Jar does not collect or transmit personal data to any developer-controlled server, there is no risk of server-side data breach. All data remains on your device and is protected by your device's built-in security features (passcode, Face ID, Touch ID, device encryption). iCloud data is encrypted by Apple in transit and at rest.

Changes to This Policy

If this privacy policy is updated, the changes will be reflected both in-app and on this page with a revised "last updated" date.

Contact

If you have questions about this privacy policy, contact us at support@screamjar.app.