Privacy Policy - CallShield

Last Updated: February 2026

CallShield ("we," "our," or "us") values your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how our Android application ("the App") collects, uses, and protects your information. By using the App, you agree to the practices described below.

About the App: CallShield is free to download. Activating the call protection service requires a one-time purchase through the App. Payment for this purchase is handled exclusively by Google Play Store as described in this policy.

1. Data Collection

CallShield operates entirely locally on your device. We do not collect, transmit, or store any personal data on external servers. Your privacy is our priority.

Payment Information: Payment for the one-time purchase is handled exclusively by Google Play Store. We never have access to your payment details, credit card information, or any other financial data.

2. Local Data Storage

The following data is stored locally on your device:

• Whitelist entries: Phone numbers and contact names you manually add to allow calls
• Blacklist preferences: Country-based blocking settings and your preferences for which countries to allow or block
• Blocking settings: Your preferences for blocking unsaved numbers, numbers without international prefix, and specific blacklisted numbers
• Blocked call statistics: Information about blocked calls including phone numbers and country prefixes for statistical purposes
• Purchase status: Verification that you have completed the one-time purchase (verified via Google Play; we do not store payment details)

All this data remains on your device and is never transmitted to external servers, except for purchase verification as described in Section 8.

3. Contacts Access

CallShield requires read-only access to your contacts to sync them with the whitelist. This allows the App to automatically allow calls from numbers in your device contacts. Contact data is never transmitted outside your device and is used solely for local call screening purposes.

4. Call Information

When calls are blocked, minimal information is stored locally for statistics:

• Phone number of the blocked call
• Country prefix associated with the number
• Timestamp of the blocked call

This data is used exclusively to provide you with statistics about blocked calls and remains stored locally on your device.

5. Permissions Required

The App requests the following Android permissions to function:

• READ_PHONE_STATE: To detect incoming calls and determine call state
• READ_CALL_LOG: To access call information for the call screening service
• READ_CONTACTS: To sync your contacts with the whitelist (read-only access)
• POST_NOTIFICATIONS: To notify you when calls are blocked
• CALL_SCREENING: To set CallShield as the default call screening app, enabling call blocking functionality
• INTERNET: Required by Firebase Crashlytics for sending crash reports and by Google Play Billing for purchase verification

6. How We Use Information

We use your information solely to:

• Block incoming calls based on your whitelist and blacklist preferences (when the protection service is active)
• Sync your device contacts with the whitelist
• Provide statistics about blocked calls
• Display notifications when calls are blocked
• Verify your one-time purchase status through Google Play Billing
• Identify and fix technical issues through crash reports

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data.

7. Data Security

All call blocking data, whitelist entries, blacklist preferences, and statistics remain on your device. While we implement reasonable measures, no system is completely secure. You are responsible for safeguarding your device.

Crash reports and diagnostic data transmitted to Firebase are sent over secure, encrypted connections (HTTPS). Purchase verification communications with Google Play are also encrypted and secure.

8. Third-Party Services

The App integrates the following third-party services:

Firebase Crashlytics

Used for crash reporting only. The App uses Firebase Crashlytics to automatically collect crash reports and diagnostic data when the App unexpectedly terminates. This data includes:

• Device information (model, manufacturer, Android version)
• Error stack traces (technical information about the error)
• App state at the time of the crash
• Crash timestamps
• Anonymous installation identifiers

This data is anonymous and is used exclusively to identify and fix technical issues, improving the App's stability. The data is handled according to Google's Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Google Play Billing

Used for purchase management. The App uses Google Play Billing to verify your one-time purchase status so that the call protection service can be activated. No payment information, credit card details, or billing addresses are accessible to our App.

All payment processing and data storage are handled by Google Play Store according to Google's Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

You can manage your purchase and request refunds at any time through your Google Play Store settings (Google Play Store → Account → Payments & subscriptions).

9. Purchase Data

CallShield uses Google Play Billing to verify your one-time purchase status. The App verifies this status through Google Play's secure API, but we do not store or have access to any payment information, credit card details, or billing addresses.

All purchase management is handled entirely through your Google Play Store account. Status information is managed by Google Play Store according to Google's privacy and data retention policies.

10. GDPR Compliance

As all data is stored locally and no data is transmitted externally (except for anonymous crash reports and purchase verification through Google Play), CallShield complies with GDPR requirements.

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have certain rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right to access: All your data is accessible directly within the App
• Right to rectification: You can modify your whitelist and blacklist at any time within the App
• Right to erasure: You can delete all app data by uninstalling the application. Refund requests must be made through Google Play Store settings
• Right to data portability: Your data is stored locally and can be backed up via Android backup services

Legal basis for processing:

• Local data storage: Consent (by using the App and configuring settings)
• Crash reports: Legitimate interest (improving app stability)
• Purchase verification: Contract performance (verifying your one-time purchase status)

11. Children's Privacy

The App is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children.

12. Your Choices

• You may modify or delete your whitelist and blacklist directly within the App
• You may clear blocked call statistics at any time
• You may disable notifications in the App settings
• You may request a refund for your purchase through Google Play Store settings
• Crash reporting data is collected automatically and cannot be opted out of while using the App

13. Data Retention

• Local data: Retained on your device until you delete the App or clear its data through Android settings
• Purchase status: Managed by Google Play Store according to Google's data retention policies
• Crash reports: Retained by Firebase for up to 90 days for diagnostic purposes

14. Data Deletion

You can delete all app data by uninstalling the application. This will remove:

• All whitelist entries
• All blacklist preferences
• All blocked call statistics

Refunds: Refund requests for your purchase must be made through Google Play Store settings (Google Play Store → Account → Payments & subscriptions). Refunds are subject to Google's refund policy.

Note: Uninstalling the App will not delete crash reports already sent to Firebase, which are retained according to Firebase's retention policies. Purchase data is managed by Google Play Store according to Google's policies.

15. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be reflected in the "Last Updated" date above. Continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

16. Contact Us

For questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us via the dedicated section in the App (Settings → Contact).