# Privacy Policy for MAE – My Accounting Expenses

**Last Updated: July 30, 2026**

MAE (My Accounting Expenses) is built with an **offline-first and privacy-first architecture**. Your financial data is strictly your own business.

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## 1. Local Data Storage & Privacy

* **100% Offline Processing**: All account balances, transactions, budgets, recurring bills, savings goals, debts, and loan repayments are stored exclusively on your device using a local SQLite database (`drift`).
* **Zero Network Transmission**: MAE does **not** transmit your financial records to any remote cloud servers, external databases, or third-party analytics. Checking for application updates only queries official release metadata and directs you to verified downloads.
* **Cloud Backup Isolation**: On Android, application passcode hashes, recovery keys, and sensitive authentication parameters are explicitly excluded from automatic cloud backup (`data_extraction_rules.xml`).
* **No Third-Party Tracking or Ads**: MAE contains **no analytics SDKs, advertising frameworks, or tracking cookies**.

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## 2. Permissions & Hardware Access

MAE requests only minimal, necessary device permissions:

* **Biometrics / Device Lock (`USE_BIOMETRIC`, `USE_FINGERPRINT`)**: Used exclusively to lock/unlock the app locally on your device via Android System Authentication.
* **Camera / Media Gallery (`image_picker`)**: Used solely when you manually choose to attach a receipt photo to a transaction. Captured images are compressed and stored locally in your app's isolated document storage.
* **File Export (`file_picker`, `share_plus`)**: Used only when you initiate an export of PDF receipts, PDF financial summaries, CSV statements, or SQLite backup files to your mobile device's public Download folder.

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## 3. Data Ownership & Security

* **Complete User Ownership**: You have full control over your financial records. You can create local SQLite backups, export CSV/PDF reports, or delete all records at any time.
* **Data Persistence**: Data remains on your device until you uninstall the app or clear its application storage.

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## 4. Contact & Developer Verification

For questions regarding MAE or app verification, contact the developer:
* **Application ID**: `com.mae.accounting.expenses`
* **Developer Name**: MAE Development Team