Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 23, 2026

Overview

Bolkar (“we”, “our”, or “the app”) is a voice-to-text service built for India. This policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights. We keep things simple: your voice is used only to transcribe, your history is saved so you can access it across devices, and we never sell your data.

What we collect

Audio recordings

When you tap the microphone, your audio is captured on-device and sent over HTTPS to our backend (bolkar.online), which forwards it to Sarvam AI for transcription or translation. We do not store the raw audio. It is transmitted, transcribed, and discarded. Sarvam AI’s own privacy policy governs how they handle audio on their end.

Transcripts and history

The text output of each transcription is saved to our database (CockroachDB, hosted on Google Cloud Platform) so you can review your history across sessions and devices. Each entry stores the transcript text, the mode used (Dictate or Translate), the processing time, and a timestamp. History is linked to your account if you are signed in, or to a device identifier if you are not.

Account information (if you sign in)

If you choose to sign in with Google, we receive your name, email address, and profile picture from Google OAuth. We store this in our database to identify your account and sync your history. We do not receive or store your Google password.

Device identifier (anonymous use)

If you use the app without signing in, a random device ID is generated and stored locally on your device. This ID is sent with API requests so your history can be saved and retrieved. It contains no personal information and is not linked to your identity.

Hot words and post-processing settings

Custom trigger phrases (hot words) and post-processing preferences you configure are saved to our database, linked to your account or device ID. These are used solely to apply your preferences to transcripts.

Usage analytics

We use Google Analytics (GA4) on the web app to collect anonymous usage statistics such as page views and session counts. No personally identifiable information is sent to Google Analytics.

Android app — permissions explained

Microphone (RECORD_AUDIO)

Required to capture your voice when you tap the record button or activate the floating mic overlay. Audio is only recorded while you are actively recording — we never listen in the background.

Display over other apps (SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW)

Powers the floating microphone bubble that lets you dictate while using any other app (messages, email, browser, etc.). The overlay is only shown when you explicitly enable it. It does not interact with or read content from other apps.

Foreground service (FOREGROUND_SERVICE, FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MICROPHONE)

Keeps the floating mic active while you switch apps. Android requires apps that record audio in a foreground context to declare this permission. The service runs only while the floating bubble is visible and stops when you dismiss it.

Internet (INTERNET)

Sends your audio to our backend for transcription and syncs your history and settings to our database.

Vibration (VIBRATE)

Optional haptic feedback when recording starts or stops.

How we use your data

To transcribe or translate your voice recordings.
To save and display your transcription history across sessions and devices.
To apply your hot-word substitutions and post-processing preferences.
To maintain your account if you choose to sign in.
To improve the reliability and performance of the service.

We do not sell your data. We do not use your transcripts to train models. We do not share your personal information with advertisers or third parties beyond the service providers listed below.

Third-party service providers

Provider	Purpose	Data shared
Sarvam AI	Speech-to-text transcription and translation	Audio recording
Google OAuth	Sign-in	Name, email, profile picture
CockroachDB / GCP	Database hosting	Transcripts, account info, settings
Google Analytics	Anonymous usage analytics	Page views, session data (no PII)

Data retention and deletion

Your transcription history is retained until you delete it.

To request deletion of your account and all associated data (transcription history, hot words, settings), email us at singhal0921@gmail.com with the subject line “Delete my account”. We will process the request within 7 days.

Data security

All data in transit is encrypted via HTTPS/TLS. Our database uses encrypted storage at rest. Access to the database is restricted to the application backend. We do not log raw audio at any point.

Children's privacy

Bolkar is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the service evolves. We will update the “Last updated” date above. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact

Questions about this privacy policy? Email us at singhal0921@gmail.com.