Privacy Policy

1. Who is responsible for Brink?

Brink Browser (“Brink”, “the app”, “I”, “me” or “my”) is independently developed by Josh Bradley in the United Kingdom.

If you have a privacy question or wish to exercise a data protection right, you can contact me at hello@brinkbrowser.app.

2. Information Brink does not collect

Brink is designed so that the content you create and the material you research remain local to your device. Brink does not collect the content of:

• your browsing history or the webpages you visit;
• your search queries;
• your Research Projects or project names;
• your folders and folder structure;
• saved webpages and research material;
• notes and annotations;
• webpage highlights;
• PDFs, images or other research files you save;
• lecture recordings or other recorded audio; or
• the contents of citations you create.

Brink does not use Apple's advertising identifier (IDFA) to build advertising profiles, and Brink does not sell your personal data.

3. Diagnostics and usage analytics

Brink uses Firebase services provided by Google to support app diagnostics and usage analytics. Depending on the Firebase services enabled in the version of Brink you use, technical information may be processed to help identify crashes, understand performance and understand how app features are used.

Firebase may process your device's IP address, from which an approximate location (for example, at country or city level) can be derived for analytics purposes. Brink itself does not request, access or use your device's precise or GPS location (it has no location permission) and does not track your whereabouts.

The analytics and diagnostic systems are not used by Brink to collect the contents of webpages you visit, your search queries, research projects, notes, saved research, PDFs or recordings.

Google processes information collected through Firebase under Google's applicable privacy and security terms. You can learn more through Firebase Privacy and Security.

4. Terms and privacy acknowledgement

Brink may ask you to review and acknowledge the current Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy during onboarding or when those documents are materially updated. Brink stores the version you have acknowledged so it can determine whether an updated notice needs to be shown again.

Where a feature or service requires a particular permission or consent under applicable law, Brink will request that permission or consent as required. You can also manage applicable system permissions through iPadOS Settings.

5. Research Projects, saved research and local storage

Research Projects, folders, saved research, notes, highlights, PDFs, images and lecture recordings are stored locally as part of Brink's app data or in locations you choose through Apple's file-management interfaces.

These items are not uploaded to a Brink account or Brink-operated cloud service because Brink does not currently provide an account-based research synchronisation service.

If you export, download, share or save material outside Brink, that copy is then handled by the destination you choose and by iPadOS or the third-party app or service involved.

6. Microphone access and Lecture Capture

Brink requests microphone access only when needed for features that record audio, such as Lecture Capture. Audio is recorded only when you start a recording.

Lecture recordings are stored locally with your research and are not uploaded by Brink to a Brink-operated server. You can revoke Brink's microphone permission at any time through iPadOS Settings, although recording features will no longer work while permission is disabled.

7. Notifications

If Brink offers notifications and you choose to enable them, Apple and any notification-delivery service used by Brink may process technical information required to deliver those notifications, such as a device or push-notification token.

Notification permission can be changed at any time in iPadOS Settings.

8. App Store purchases

Brink is distributed through Apple's App Store. Apple processes your purchase, payment method and App Store account information under Apple's own terms and privacy policy. Brink does not receive your payment-card details.

Apple may provide developers with sales, download, product and performance information through App Store Connect. This is separate from the research content stored inside Brink.

9. Website contact form

If you contact me through the Brink website's contact form, the information you submit may include your name, email address, selected subject and message. This information is used to receive and respond to your enquiry.

The website contact form is processed using Formspree, a third-party form-processing service. This means information submitted through the form is transmitted through Formspree in order to deliver your message.

Formspree processes information under its own privacy terms. You can review Formspree's Privacy Policy. If you prefer not to use the website form, you can contact me directly at hello@brinkbrowser.app.

10. Other third-party website services

The Brink website may load resources or widgets from third-party providers. For example, the website uses Google Fonts and may display a Buy Me a Coffee support widget. When your browser connects to a third-party service, that provider may receive technical information normally associated with a web request, such as your IP address, browser information and the page making the request.

If you choose to interact with an external service, the provider's own terms and privacy policy apply to that interaction.

11. Third-party websites opened in Brink

Brink is a web browser. Websites you visit can collect or process information under their own privacy policies, use cookies or similar technologies, and request permissions independently of Brink.

This Privacy Policy describes Brink's own handling of information. It does not control the privacy practices of websites or online services that you choose to visit through the browser.

12. Data security

Research content stored locally in Brink benefits from the security protections provided by iPadOS and your device. You should protect your iPad with an appropriate device passcode and, where available, Face ID or Touch ID.

No method of electronic storage or transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Brink therefore cannot promise absolute security, but the app is designed to avoid unnecessarily transmitting the contents of your research.

13. Data retention

Research content stored locally remains on your device until you delete it, remove the app and its data, or otherwise manage that content through Brink or iPadOS.

Information processed through Firebase, Formspree, Apple or other third-party services is subject to the applicable provider's retention practices as well as any configuration or controls available to Brink.

Direct support correspondence may be retained for as long as reasonably necessary to respond to your enquiry, maintain a record of support provided, resolve disputes or meet legal obligations.

14. Your data protection rights

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, including the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, you may have rights relating to personal data processed about you. These can include rights to request access, correction or erasure, to restrict or object to certain processing, and to request data portability where applicable.

Some information used by Brink's analytics or diagnostic providers may not be reasonably identifiable by me as belonging to a particular individual. If I cannot identify data as relating to you, I may not be able to fulfil a request in relation to that specific data.

To make a privacy request, contact hello@brinkbrowser.app.

You may also have the right to raise a concern with the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

15. Children and age requirement

Brink is intended for users aged 16 and over. The app is not intended for children under 16.

16. International processing

Some third-party service providers used by Brink or the Brink website may process information using infrastructure located outside the United Kingdom. Where personal data is transferred internationally, the relevant provider is responsible for applying the transfer mechanisms and safeguards required for its processing under applicable law.

17. Changes to this Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated when Brink's features, services or legal obligations change. Where an update is significant, Brink may present an in-app notice or require you to review the current version before continuing to use relevant features.

The “Last updated” date at the top of this page identifies the current version of this policy.

18. Contact

For privacy questions, requests or concerns, contact:

Josh Bradley
Email: hello@brinkbrowser.app
Website: Brink contact page