This Privacy Policy explains how OCRBook ("the App") handles your information. OCRBook is designed to process documents on your device and to minimize any data that leaves your device.
OCRBook does not create accounts, does not use in-app analytics, does not show ads, and does not collect personal information from your documents. Your PDFs, images, and OCR text stay on your device unless you explicitly choose to share them or use the optional AI integration described below.
1. Data we do not collect
OCRBook does not:
- Create user accounts or require you to sign in.
- Collect your name, email address, or contact details by default.
- Upload your documents, OCR text, or usage history to our own servers.
- Use third-party analytics SDKs or advertising SDKs.
- Sell, rent, or trade any personal data.
2. Documents and OCR text (on-device)
When you import a PDF or image into OCRBook, the file and the resulting OCR text are stored locally on your device's storage, under your user account. Typical examples:
- Scanned books in PDF format.
- Document images imported from the Files app or other apps.
- OCR text generated from those PDFs or images.
This data is only accessible to you and to the operating system (iOS, iPadOS, or macOS) according to its standard app sandbox rules. The developer of OCRBook cannot access this data.
3. Optional Ollama / LLM integration (Beta)
Important: The Ollama (or compatible local LLM server) integration is an optional, beta feature.
If you choose to enable this feature, OCRBook can send selected text (for example, a page or a passage) to an AI model running at a server address you configure (such as an Ollama server on your local network). This is used to provide features like summaries, explanations, or Q&A about your document.
What this means for your data:
- OCRBook sends only the text you choose (and your prompt) to the configured server endpoint.
- We do not operate this Ollama/LLM server. It may be hosted on your own computer, your local network, or a server you control.
- Any storage, logging, or secondary use of that text depends on your chosen server's configuration, not on OCRBook.
No segment / end-to-end encryption
In the current beta implementation, OCRBook communicates with the
Ollama/LLM server typically over http:// on a local
network or custom URL. This means:
- Traffic between OCRBook and the Ollama server is not protected by transport-layer encryption (no HTTPS / TLS, no end-to-end or segment encryption).
- On shared or untrusted networks, technically skilled third parties may be able to inspect or intercept the transmitted text.
- You should only enable this feature on networks and servers you trust (for example, your own private LAN at home).
Future versions may add HTTPS/TLS or other encryption options, but in this beta implementation you are responsible for the security and configuration of the Ollama/LLM server and the network around it.
4. Third-party services and system features
OCRBook may interact with the following system-level or third-party components:
- Apple Files / iCloud Drive: If you store PDFs in iCloud Drive or other cloud folders, those services handle the data according to their own privacy policies.
- System text-to-speech (TTS): If you use TTS, selected text is sent to the OS's built-in speech engine. This processing is managed by Apple's platform, not by OCRBook.
- Share sheets / export: When you share or export text or files, they are passed to other apps or services you select, each with its own privacy practices.
OCRBook does not control how those external services store or process your data. Please review their respective privacy policies if you have concerns.
5. Data retention and deletion
All documents and OCR results are stored on your device until you choose to delete them. You can:
- Delete individual PDFs or text results from within the app (if the app provides such UI), or
- Remove the app itself, which will normally delete its local data according to the operating system's standard behavior.
If you used the optional Ollama/LLM integration, any copies of your text stored on that server must be deleted through that server's own tools or configuration. OCRBook cannot remove data from servers it does not control.
6. Children's privacy
OCRBook is not designed to collect personal information from anyone, including children. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under any age threshold because we do not collect such data from any user by default.
7. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect improvements to the app, changes in platform capabilities, or legal requirements. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. For significant changes, we may also mention it in the app's release notes or App Store listing.
8. Contact
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how OCRBook handles your data, please contact the developer using the contact information provided in the App Store listing (for example, the "App Support" or "Developer Website" link).