Privacy Policy for Now Playing History

Last Updated: 2026-03-29

This privacy notice for Apps by Birbeck ("Company," "we," "us," or "our") describes how we collect, store, use, and share your information when you download and use the Now Playing History mobile application.

Our core philosophy is simple: your data belongs to you. Now Playing History requires no user accounts to function. All data processing happens locally on your device unless you explicitly opt-in to our third-party integrations.

1. Information We Collect and How We Use It

To provide the core functionality of the app, we request the following device permissions:

• Notifications: We request access to your mobile device's notifications solely to detect and log the music recognized by your device's native system. Now Playing History strictly filters for and accesses only music-related notifications. The app NEVER attempts to read, access, collect, or store any of your personal information, private communications, contacts, phone calls, or text messages.

• Location Data: We may request permission to track location-based information from your mobile device. This is an optional feature used exclusively to display where your music was played and recognized on a map. You can opt out of allowing us to collect this information at any time by disabling the location setting in the applications settings.

2. Third-Party Integrations and API Services

Now Playing History offers optional third-party integrations to enhance your experience. We only communicate with these services if you explicitly enable them.

YouTube API Services (YouTube Music Exports): Now Playing History utilizes YouTube API Services to allow you to seamlessly export your discovered music and create playlists on your YouTube Music account. By using this feature, you agree to be bound by the YouTube Terms of Service, and your use is subject to the Google Privacy Policy. You can revoke Now Playing History's access to your YouTube data at any time via the Google Security Settings page.

• Google API Services User Data Policy Compliance: Now Playing History strictly adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements. Our application accesses, uses, stores, and shares Google user data strictly as described below:

1. Data Accessed: The application requests access to your YouTube account (via the https://www.googleapis.com/auth/youtube scope) specifically to read your existing playlists and create new playlists containing your exported songs. We do not access, collect, or store your Google passwords.

2. Data Usage: The Google user data accessed by the application is used exclusively to provide the core functionality of exporting your locally saved ambient music history into custom playlists on your personal YouTube Music account.

3. Data Sharing: Google user data is NEVER shared with, transferred to, or sold to any third parties. The data transmission occurs strictly between your local device and Google's YouTube API servers.

4. Data Storage & Protection: We employ industry-standard security measures to protect your sensitive data. The application stores, accesses, and collects information directly on your device using local storage technologies (such as SQLite databases and EncryptedSharedPreferences). All Google user data and YouTube API communications are encrypted in transit using secure HTTPS/TLS protocols. Furthermore, your authentication tokens and sensitive information are encrypted at rest and stored securely on your local device utilizing the Android Keystore system. We do not store your Google user data or YouTube API data on any external databases or servers.

5. Data Retention & Deletion: Authentication tokens are retained locally on your device until you explicitly log out or revoke access. Any data retrieved from the YouTube API Services (such as video IDs cached locally to optimize performance) is automatically deleted or refreshed after 30 days. We do not access, display, or store any YouTube API statistics. Because the application does not use external servers, you can instantly delete all stored Google user data and tokens at any time by clearing the application's local data in your device settings or by uninstalling the app.

• Other Music Streaming Services: We support optional playlist exports to Spotify, and Tidal. Authentication is handled securely via their respective APIs.

• Last.fm: To enhance your local library, we securely transmit the song title and artist name to Last.fm to download accurate album art and track tags. We also optionally support Last.fm scrobbling if you choose to connect your account.

• Analytics, Crash Reporting, and Advertising: To improve the performance and user experience of the app, we use Firebase Analytics and Firebase Crashlytics.

  • Analytics: We collect aggregated, anonymous data about how you interact with the app (such as which features are used most frequently). We do not collect personally identifiable information (PII) such as your name or email address.

  • Crashlytics: In the case of an app error or crash, we collect log data and diagnostic information (such as device model, operating system version, and the time of the crash) to help us identify and fix bugs.

• Advertising: We use Google AdMob to display advertisements in the free version of the app. AdMob may use advertising IDs from your device (such as the Android Advertising ID) and cookies to serve personalized ads based on your interests and past usage. To learn more about how Google uses your data for advertising, please visit: How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services. Users who upgrade to the Premium version of the app will not be shown these advertisements.

• Third-Party Privacy Policies: Below are the links to the privacy policies of the third-party service providers used by the app:

  • Google Play Services

  • AdMob

  • Google Analytics for Firebase

  • Firebase Crashlytics

3. Opting Out of Tracking and Personalized Ads

You can opt out of personalized advertising by navigating to your device's Settings > Google > Ads and enabling "Opt out of Ads Personalization" or "Delete advertising ID." Furthermore, purchasing the Premium upgrade within the app will permanently remove all AdMob advertisements and associated tracking.

4. Data Sharing and Selling

Except for the specific, requested data transmissions required for the third-party integrations and advertising services mentioned above, Apps by Birbeck does not disclose, share, or sell any personal information to third parties for a business or commercial purpose. Your local music history database is never sold or monetized.

5. Data Deletion and Retention

You have full control over your data and can ask for the deletion of your personal information at any time. Because Now Playing History is a local-first application, all logged music history, location data, and integration settings can be permanently deleted directly from within the application's settings menu.

6. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this privacy notice or our practices, please contact us at [email protected].