Privacy Policy · PlayBox

The PlayBox team ("we", "us" or "PlayBox") understands how important your personal information is to you. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share and protect your information when you use the PlayBox application and related services.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully before using PlayBox. By using the app, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to the practices described below.

1Information We Collect & How We Use It

To provide playback, library management and AI features, we may need access to certain system permissions. We only request a permission through a system prompt when you first use the related feature, and you can revoke any permission at any time in your device settings.

🖼️ Media & Files Access

Permission: Photos / Files (Read External Storage)

Why we need it: Required for the core playback experience. We use this permission to display the videos, audio and images on your device so you can play them inside the app. Your media files are never uploaded to our servers without your explicit action.

📍 Local Network & Location

Permission: Location & Local Network

Why we need it: Required for casting (AirPlay / DLNA) and LAN playback (SMB / WebDAV). Location is only used to scan nearby Wi-Fi network names (SSIDs); we do not collect precise GPS coordinates or movement history.

📷 Camera & Visual Recognition

Permission: Camera

Why we need it:

To scan QR codes when establishing a "PC Quick Transfer" connection;
To enable AR playback mode or to take a photo for your profile avatar;
To assist Face ID verification (where applicable).

The camera is only activated when you explicitly open the camera interface.

🎤 Microphone & Speech Recognition

Permission: Microphone & Speech Recognition

Why we need it:

Voice control: Convert your voice commands ("pause", "skip ahead") into playback actions;
AI subtitles: Analyze audio in real time to generate subtitles for videos that don't have them — processed on-device.

We do not record your daily conversations. Audio is only buffered temporarily while a feature is active.

🔐 Biometric Authentication

Permission: Face ID / Touch ID

Why we need it: To protect the contents of your "Private Vault" or hidden videos. The verification is handled entirely by the iOS system API; we only receive a "success" or "failure" result and never have access to your biometric data.

👥 Contacts

Permission: Contacts

Why we need it: Used only when you actively share an invite link or video, to help you quickly find friends inside the share sheet. We do not upload or store your contact list.

📅 Calendar

Permission: Calendar

Why we need it: Used by the "Watchlist Calendar" feature to add reminders for new episodes to your system calendar — only after you confirm.

📊 Advertising & Tracking

Permission: App Tracking Transparency

Why we need it: To keep PlayBox free, we may show ads from third-party networks. Granting tracking permission helps these networks show ads more relevant to you. If you decline, you will still see ads — they just may be less relevant.

2AI Features & Data Handling

PlayBox's signature feature is AI-powered video summarization. We follow these principles when handling related data:

On-device first. We use your device's Neural Engine and GPU to perform frame analysis and key-frame extraction locally whenever possible.
Cloud assistance, when needed. For long videos or content requiring high-precision semantic understanding, only the necessary audio/subtitle text excerpts are encrypted and uploaded to our analysis engine.
Zero retention. Once cloud analysis is complete, the result is sent back to your device and the original uploaded data is permanently deleted from our servers.

3How We Share, Transfer or Disclose Your Information

We do not share your personal information with third parties outside of PlayBox without your explicit consent, except in the following cases:

Third-party SDKs. To enable analytics, crash reporting and advertising, the app integrates SDKs such as Google AdMob and Firebase Crashlytics. These SDKs may collect non-sensitive technical information such as device identifiers (IDFA) and network status.
Legal requirements. When required by applicable law, court order or other valid governmental request.

4Data Storage & Security

We employ industry-standard security measures — including HTTPS in transit and AES encryption at rest — to protect your information from unauthorized access or disclosure. Your playback history, favorites and other preferences are stored primarily on your device.

5Children's Privacy

PlayBox is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can delete it. Where required by GDPR or local law, the applicable age threshold (such as 16) applies.

6Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction (including under GDPR and CCPA), you may have the right to access, correct, delete or port your personal information, and to opt out of the sale of personal information. To exercise these rights, please contact us at support@playbox.app.

7Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time as our services evolve. We will notify you of significant changes through an in-app notice or system message. Your continued use of PlayBox after the update means you agree to the revised policy.

8Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please email us at support@playbox.app. We will do our best to respond within 30 days.