Beacon Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to the Beacon mobile application, referred to below as “Beacon.”

Beacon is a local-first AI chat application. It does not require an account and does not send conversations to a cloud AI service for inference.

Information Stored on Your Device

Beacon stores the following information locally on your device:

• Conversations and prompts
• AI-generated responses
• Images you attach to conversations
• Downloaded AI models
• Your selected model
• Onboarding state
• Notification preferences
• Appearance preferences
• Other application settings

This information is used to provide chat history, local AI responses, model management, and application preferences. Beacon does not upload your locally stored conversations, prompts, responses, or attached images. You can delete individual conversations or all saved conversations from Beacon’s Settings.

Local AI Processing

Your prompts, attached images, conversation history, and AI responses are processed locally on your device by the model you select. Beacon does not send this content to a cloud AI service for inference, training, advertising, profiling, or analytics. When Apple’s built-in Foundation Model is selected, processing is performed using Apple’s on-device system model.

No Beacon Backend

Beacon does not operate a backend server for:

• AI inference
• Conversation storage
• User accounts
• Model-catalog delivery
• Prompt processing
• Image processing
• AI training

Your prompts, conversations, attached images, chat history, and AI responses are not transmitted to Beacon infrastructure. The model catalog is included inside the application, and chat inference occurs locally on your device.

Hugging Face Model Hosting

Beacon uses Hugging Face as a third-party provider for hosting downloadable AI model files. When you choose to download a model, Beacon connects directly to Hugging Face. Hugging Face may receive:

• The model repository identifier you selected
• Your IP address
• User-agent information
• Device and network metadata normally included with an internet request
• Other information necessary to complete the download

Beacon does not include your prompts, conversations, attached images, AI responses, or chat history in model-download requests. After a model is downloaded, it is stored on your device and used locally. Hugging Face processes model-download requests under its own privacy policy and terms.

Model Licenses

Models available through Beacon may be created and distributed by third parties. Each model may have its own:

• License
• Terms of use
• Acceptable-use policy
• Commercial-use restrictions
• Redistribution restrictions

Beacon does not send your chat content to a model creator or provider merely because you use that model locally. You are responsible for reviewing the terms applicable to models you download or use.

Notifications

If you enable notifications, Beacon may schedule local notifications on your device. Beacon does not use a remote notification service to transmit your conversations. You can disable notifications from Beacon’s Settings or your device’s system settings.

Information Beacon Does Not Collect

Beacon does not collect:

• Your conversations
• Your prompts
• AI-generated responses
• Images attached to conversations
• Precise real-time location
• Advertising identifiers
• Cross-app tracking information
• Biometric information
• Contacts
• Payment information
• Account credentials

Beacon does not require an account to use local chat.

Advertising and Tracking

Beacon does not:

• Sell personal information
• Use chat content for advertising
• Use personal information for cross-app tracking
• Upload conversations for AI training
• Create advertising profiles based on your conversations
• Share chat content with data brokers

Analytics

Beacon does not send your conversations, prompts, attached images, or AI responses to an analytics service. Standard crash or diagnostic information may be made available through Apple according to your device and App Store privacy settings.

Web Search

Web search is not available in the current release. If Beacon adds a feature that sends a query or other personal information to a third party, Beacon will explain what information is sent, identify the recipient, and request any permission required by applicable law.

Location Information

Beacon does not collect precise real-time location information from your device. Information you voluntarily type into a conversation remains part of that locally stored conversation.

Data Retention

Your conversations, application settings, and downloaded models remain on your device until you delete them or uninstall Beacon. Beacon does not retain copies of your conversations on a Beacon server because Beacon does not operate a conversation-storage backend. Device or cloud backups may retain application data according to your Apple ID, device, and backup settings.

Data Deletion

You can:

• Delete individual conversations
• Delete all saved conversations from Settings
• Remove downloaded models from the model marketplace
• Disable notifications
• Uninstall Beacon using the standard iOS process

Uninstalling Beacon removes application data according to the standard behavior of your operating system. Existing device or cloud backups may remain subject to your backup settings and provider policies.

Children

Beacon is not intended to knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. Because Beacon does not operate user accounts or receive chat content, it does not knowingly maintain a server-side collection of children’s conversations. If you believe a child has provided personal information to Beacon outside the application, contact us so appropriate action can be taken.

Security

Beacon is designed to keep conversations and downloaded models on your device. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your:

• Device
• Passcode
• Apple ID
• Backups
• Network connection

Jailbreaking, modifying, or otherwise compromising your device may reduce the security and reliability of Beacon. No method of storage or electronic communication is completely secure. Beacon cannot guarantee the security of a compromised device or third-party service.

Third-Party Services

Beacon currently uses Hugging Face to host optional model downloads. Hugging Face does not provide Beacon’s chat inference. Downloaded models run locally on your device. Beacon is not responsible for the privacy, availability, or security practices of third-party services. You should review the policies of any third-party service you choose to use.

International Users

Third-party model downloads may be processed by Hugging Face infrastructure located in countries other than your own. Beacon does not transfer your conversations or AI responses to Hugging Face as part of these downloads.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version will be published with a revised “Last updated” date. If a future change requires permission before personal information is sent to a third party, Beacon will request that permission before sending the information.

Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, contact: armondschneider@gmail.com