Privacy Policy
Last Updated: August 8, 2026
Welcome to GiphyByte (also referred to historically as "SoundByte", the "App", or the "Service"), owned and operated by DestinPQ LLP ("we", "our", "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal data. This Privacy Policy details our practices, obligations, and your rights concerning the collection, usage, storage, and protection of information when you interact with our mobile application, customized keyboard extension, iMessage extension, backend servers, and public sharing websites.
By downloading, accessing, or using the Service, you consent to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms outlined herein, please do not use the App or grant permissions to access device resources.
1. Definitions and Key Terms
To help explain things as clearly as possible in this Privacy Policy, every time any of these terms are referenced, they are strictly defined as follows:
- App: SoundByte (and GiphyByte) application, including its keyboard extension, iMessage extension, and any related software updates.
- Service: The App, the backend API endpoints, the database storage, public website links, and customer support channels provided by DestinPQ.
- User-Generated Content (UGC): Any audio recordings, video clips, composite soundbytes, graphics, animated templates, titles, or tags uploaded or created by the user within the App.
- Device: Any internet-connected device such as a smartphone, tablet, computer, or other compatible device used to access the Service.
2. Information We Collect
We collect information to provide a personalized, functional, and secure experience. This information is categorized as follows:
A. Active and User-Provided Information
- Display name: When you create a GiphyByte account in the app, we store a display name you choose. This is the only required personal detail for account setup. We do not collect age, location, email, or password for the consumer mobile profile.
- Microphone Access and Voice Recordings: The App requests explicit permission to access your device’s microphone. This permission is utilized exclusively when you actively record custom audio tracks, catchphrases, or reaction voiceovers. Audio recordings are processed on-device and, if you choose to save and share them, uploaded to our secure backend cloud storage.
- User Media Uploads: When customizing your meme gallery, you may upload audio files (MP3, WAV, M4A), image assets (JPEG, PNG, GIF), or video clips (MP4, MOV) via the system file picker. These assets are uploaded to our secure servers. For video uploads, our backend may extract the audio stream and generate a matching thumbnail image.
- Customer Support Correspondence: If you contact us via [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected], we collect your email address, message body, and any attachments provided to help resolve your inquiry.
B. Automatically Collected Data
- Usage and Interaction Data: We track anonymous event logs such as how frequently a meme is played, share counts, popular categories, and extension load times to monitor system load and popular content.
- Device and System Attributes: To optimize app stability and screen layouts, we collect details including your hardware model, operating system version (iOS/Android), application version, and system language settings.
- Device account identifier: A per-install device identifier is used to attribute uploads and to process account deletion requests.
- Technical and Network Logs: When communicating with our backend APIs, standard server logs are generated, containing IP addresses, request timestamps, and API response codes. This data is used solely for system security and load balancing.
3. Information We Do NOT Collect
To maintain a privacy-first posture, we explicitly avoid collecting:
- Age or location for account creation.
- Your device's contact list, address book, or calendar events.
- Real-time geolocation coordinates or GPS tracking data.
- Private message content or conversation histories from the host chat applications (iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) outside of the GiphyByte links you choose to send.
- Sensitive financial, payment card, or banking information.
4. Purpose and Legal Basis for Processing
We process your data under the following legal bases:
- Contractual Necessity: To provide the core functionalities of the App, including loading preloaded memes, rendering custom user uploads in the keyboard/iMessage extensions, and routing play links.
- Consent: When you grant the App permission to access your device's microphone. You may withdraw this consent at any time via your device settings.
- Legitimate Interests: To detect, prevent, and address technical bugs, security threats, server overload, and policy violations.
5. Data Storage, Hosting, and Retention
All data collected by the Service is securely hosted in cloud environments (such as Microsoft Azure Container Apps) and saved in databases utilizing GridFS for large media assets.
- Retention of User Content: We retain user-uploaded media files for as long as your account remains active or as needed to support shared links. If you delete a custom sound or meme from your gallery, the corresponding media files are permanently deleted from our servers.
- System Logs: Server logs and network communication records are kept for a maximum of 90 days before being automatically purged, unless required for ongoing security audits.
6. Data Security Measures
We employ robust technical and organizational measures to safeguard your personal data:
- Encryption: All data transmitted between the App and our backend servers is encrypted in transit using Transport Layer Security (TLS/HTTPS). Stored assets are subject to encryption at rest.
- Access Control: Backend access is restricted to authorized administrative accounts guarded by JSON Web Tokens (JWT) and API authentication guards.
- Vulnerability Management: We conduct periodic reviews of our dependencies, server configurations, and storage permissions to mitigate data leaks or unauthorized access.
7. Children's Privacy Protection (COPPA Compliance)
SoundByte is rated 4+ on app stores and is designed for general audiences. We do not knowingly collect, request, or solicit personal information from children under the age of 13. In the event we learn that we have collected personal data from a child under 13 without verification of parental consent, we will delete that information immediately. If you believe your child has uploaded media or personal data to our servers, please contact us.
8. Third-Party Integrations and External Links
The Service may display media hosted on or linked to third-party services. When you interact with third-party websites or share links via external chat applications, their respective terms of service and privacy policies govern your interactions. We recommend reviewing the privacy statements of any external service you interact with.
9. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your location, you may have specific rights regarding your personal data:
- Account deletion: Open GiphyByte → tap Account → tap Delete account and confirm. This permanently deletes your profile and uploaded content. You can also follow the instructions at https://www.giphybyte.app/delete-account.
- Revoking Permissions: You can revoke microphone permission at any time through your device's Settings menu. Doing so will disable custom recording features but will not impact general browsing.
- Deletion of Uploads: You can delete uploaded content via account deletion, which removes associated user uploads from our servers.
- Access and Export: You can request a copy of any data associated with your uploader profile by emailing support.
10. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may revise this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our App's functionality, security practices, or regulatory requirements. Any modifications will be posted directly to this page, and the "Last Updated" date at the top will be updated accordingly. Continued use of the App following the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.
11. Contact Us
For questions, feedback, or requests regarding your data, please reach out to us at: