Privacy Policy

Introduction

At Sound Meter ("we," "our," or "us"), we are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle information when you use our online sound measurement tool at realtimesoundmeter.org (the "Service").

Key Point: We do not collect, store, or transmit any audio data or personal information. All sound processing happens locally in your web browser.

Information We Do NOT Collect

Unlike many websites, Sound Meter does not collect:

• Audio recordings: We never record, store, or transmit audio from your microphone
• Personal information: We don't ask for names, email addresses, or other personal data
• User accounts: No registration or login is required
• Location data: We don't track your physical location
• Biometric data: No voice prints or audio fingerprints are created

How the Sound Meter Works

When you use Sound Meter, the tool accesses your device's microphone through your web browser using the Web Audio API. All audio processing happens entirely within your browser on your device:

1. Your browser requests microphone permission
2. Audio is analyzed in real-time by JavaScript code running in your browser
3. Only the calculated decibel level is displayed to you
4. No audio data leaves your device
5. No audio data is stored anywhere

Microphone Permission

To measure sound levels, Sound Meter requires access to your device's microphone. You must explicitly grant this permission through your web browser. You can:

• Deny permission - the tool will not function
• Grant permission temporarily - for the current session only
• Revoke permission at any time through your browser settings

Your browser manages this permission, not our website. We respect your browser's security settings.

Information We May Collect

We may collect limited, non-personal technical information for website operation and improvement:

• Anonymous Analytics: Page views, browser type, device type, and general location (country/region only) via Google Analytics or similar services
• Cookies: We may use cookies for analytics and website functionality (see Cookie Policy below)
• Technical Logs: Standard server logs (IP address, access times) for security and performance

This information is aggregated and cannot be used to identify you personally.

Cookies

Sound Meter may use cookies and similar technologies for:

• Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality
• Analytics Cookies: To understand how visitors use our site (Google Analytics)

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Disabling cookies may affect some website features.

Third-Party Services

We may use third-party services that may collect information:

• Google Analytics: For website traffic analysis (subject to Google's privacy policy)
• CDN Services: For faster content delivery (Tailwind CSS CDN)
• Advertising: We may display ads via Google AdSense, which uses cookies for ad targeting

These services have their own privacy policies. We recommend reviewing them.

Data Security

Since we don't collect audio data or personal information, there is minimal risk to your privacy. We implement industry-standard security measures for our website infrastructure.

Children's Privacy

Sound Meter is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children. Parents and guardians should supervise children's internet use.

Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights under GDPR, CCPA, or other privacy laws:

• Right to know what data we collect (minimal, as described above)
• Right to delete any data (contact us if needed)
• Right to opt-out of analytics cookies
• Right to data portability (not applicable as we don't store personal data)

International Users

Sound Meter is accessible globally. If you access our Service from outside the United States, please note that information may be transferred to and processed in the United States or other countries.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

Email: privacy@realtimesoundmeter.org
Or visit our Contact Page