Privacy Policy for PDF Foundry

1. What We Collect

We do not operate backend servers, user accounts, or proprietary analytics for PDF Foundry. We collect no personal data, no document metadata, and no biometric or signature information. The only component utilizing the network is third-party advertising served through Google AdMob (see Section 6).

2. On-Device Document Processing

All core functionalities—including merging, splitting, compressing, reordering, password-encrypting, unlocking, text extraction, watermarking, page numbering, metadata sanitization, image conversion, and digital signature stamping—execute strictly within your device's local memory using on-device libraries (Apache PDFBox and Android's built-in PdfRenderer). Text extraction reads text already embedded in a document; the app performs no OCR and sends nothing anywhere for recognition. Your files never leave your device during any operation.

3. Local Signature Vault

Signatures drawn or saved within the app's Signature Vault are encrypted at rest with an AES-256 key held in your device's hardware security module (Android Keystore) and stored in the app's sandboxed private storage. They are excluded from cloud backup and device-to-device transfer, are never transmitted across any network, and are permanently removed if you delete them or uninstall the app. When a signature is deleted, its file is overwritten before removal.

4. Permissions and Why They Are Needed

• Storage & Document Access (Storage Access Framework) — Used solely when you deliberately select a PDF or image file to open, process, or save. The app only accesses files you explicitly grant permission to through the standard Android system file picker.
• Camera — not requested. The Document Scanner hands capture off to your device's own camera app; PDF Foundry never holds camera access itself. Captured pages are processed on-device and saved only to your local storage.
• Notifications (Optional, Android 13+) — Requested once, when you first start a long-running operation, so its progress and completion can be shown while the app is in the background. Declining never blocks any document operation.
• Internet & Network State — Required exclusively by the Google Mobile Ads SDK and Google User Messaging Platform (UMP) to serve advertisements and manage consent status.

5. Data Sharing and Exporting

PDF Foundry does not sell, rent, or transmit your files to any third party. Your processed documents leave the app only when you explicitly choose to share or export them via the standard Android share sheet or save them to your device storage.

6. Advertising and Google UMP Consent

To support ongoing development while offering full document functionality for free, the app presents occasional interstitial advertisements served by Google AdMob. We adhere to a strict policy regarding ad presentation:

• Frequency Capped: Interstitials are subject to an enforced minimum 15-minute cooldown between showings.
• Natural Breakpoints: Ads are never shown during document editing, upon initial app launch, or during app exit; they are triggered only upon completing an export or saving operation.
• Google User Messaging Platform (UMP): For users in regions subject to privacy regulations (such as the EEA, UK, and California/CPRA), an official consent form is presented before any ad request is made. You can review, update, or revoke your consent preferences at any time within the app under Settings → Privacy & Ad Consent Settings.

Google AdMob may collect and process pseudonymous identifiers (e.g., Google Advertising ID) and network metadata in accordance with Google's Privacy Policy and Google's Partner Technologies terms.

7. Security and Backups

The app opts out of automated cloud backups for user document caches and signature assets, ensuring sensitive files are not copied to third-party backup providers. Because operations are local, you maintain complete ownership and control over your data.

8. Children's Privacy

PDF Foundry is a general-audience productivity tool and does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

9. Changes to This Policy

If we update this Privacy Policy, the revised version will be published here with an updated effective date.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns regarding your privacy while using PDF Foundry, please contact us: