Privacy Policy for Groundwaves

Published by Offline Circuits · Last updated: 21 July 2026

Groundwaves ("the app," "we," "our") is a local, offline group communication app for any group that needs to talk when there is no network — riders and hiking crews, event and festival teams, remote worksites, basecamps, and anywhere the signal runs out — without cellular data, internet access, or dedicated hardware. This policy explains what information the app uses, how it is used, and — just as importantly — what we do not do with it.

1. Information the app uses, and why

Groundwaves requests the following device permissions. Each is used exclusively to make the local, offline group connection work — none of it is uploaded, stored on a server, or shared with third parties by us.

• Microphone. Used to capture your voice and stream it live to other connected group members over the local peer-to-peer connection while you are actively communicating. Audio is processed in real time and is not stored by the app unless you explicitly enable the optional Recording feature (see Section 3).
• Bluetooth. Used to discover nearby group members and establish the local connection between devices (pairing and, depending on connection mode, ongoing data transport). Bluetooth device identifiers are used only for this pairing process and are not transmitted anywhere beyond the devices in your group.
• Location (approximate/precise, depending on Android version). Two uses: (a) Android requires location permission to be granted for apps to perform Bluetooth/WiFi peer discovery, even though Groundwaves does not use this permission to determine or record your whereabouts; and (b) if you enable the optional position/bearing-sharing feature, your device's GPS coordinates are exchanged directly and locally with your connected group members so the app can show relative distance and direction. This location data is never sent to us or to any server — it travels only between the devices in your local group, and only while that feature is active.
• Camera. Used only when you start or join a video call. Video is captured and streamed live to the other connected members of your local group over the same direct device-to-device connection, and is not stored by the app or transmitted to any server. The camera is not accessed outside an active video call.
• Nearby devices / WiFi state. Used to establish and maintain the local connection between group members' devices.

Groundwaves also lets you send short typed messages and quick-phrases to your group. These are delivered directly to the other devices in your local group over the same connection. They are not routed through, stored on, or readable by any server, and Offline Circuits never receives them.

2. What we do not do

• We do not operate a server that receives, stores, or processes your audio, video, location, messages, or any other personal data.
• We do not require or support user accounts, sign-in, or profiles.
• We do not sell, rent, or share your data with advertisers, analytics companies, or any other third party.
• We do not use your data for advertising or ad targeting.
• The app does not require an active internet connection to function, and its core communication features do not use one.

3. Optional recording feature

Groundwaves includes an optional, off-by-default recording feature. When a user enables recording during a session, every connected participant receives a clear, visible notification that recording has started — there is no way to record silently or without this notification. Any recording made is stored locally on the recording device's own storage only. It is never uploaded, synced, or transmitted to us or to any third party. Deleting the recording from your device permanently removes it, since no copy exists anywhere else.

4. Google Play Services / Nearby Connections

Groundwaves uses Google's Nearby Connections API (part of Google Play Services) to help establish local connections between nearby devices. This is a standard Android system component provided by Google, not a service Offline Circuits operates. Establishing a connection may involve brief interaction with Google's own infrastructure as part of Play Services' normal operation (for example, initial device discovery), separate from and outside the app's own data handling described above. We encourage you to review Google's Privacy Policy for details on how Google Play Services itself handles data.

5. Data retention and deletion

Because Groundwaves does not operate a server and does not store your data outside your own device, there is no remote copy of your information for us to retain or delete. Voice audio and video exist only for the duration of a live transmission unless you choose to record audio, in which case it is stored solely on your device until you delete it yourself. Uninstalling the app removes all locally stored app data, including any recordings, from your device.

6. Children's privacy

Groundwaves is not directed at children and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. The app has no account system and no mechanism for collecting personal information from any user, child or adult, beyond the local, in-session functionality described above.

7. Changes to this policy

If this policy changes, we will update the "Last updated" date above and, for material changes, note them in the app's release notes.

8. Contact

Questions about this policy or the app's data practices? Use the button below and we'll come back to you.