PRIVACY POLICY — askMEL: Medical Empowerment Liaison
Last Updated: May 23, 2026 | Version 1.0 | Effective Date: May 23, 2026
THE SHORT VERSION
✅ Your notes stay on your device only
✅ We never sell your data — ever
✅ Research contributions are 100% anonymous and opt-in
✅ You can delete your data or opt out anytime
✅ No advertising or third-party tracking
✅ We follow HIPAA and GDPR best practices
INTRODUCTION
MEL — operated by The Webb Project LLC d/b/a askMEL ("we," "us," or "our") — is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use the MEL mobile application (the "App").
Important: MEL is designed to keep your health information private and secure. Most of your data never leaves your device.
INFORMATION WE COLLECT
- Information You Provide Directly
Personal Preferences: — Your preferred name — Pronouns (optional) — Age range (optional) — Gender identity (optional) — Cultural background (optional) — Language preference (optional)
Health & Medical Information: — Voice-to-text transcriptions of medical visits (processed and stored as text only — no audio is recorded or retained at any time) — Text notes about visits — Photos related to visits (optional) — Symptoms you track — Pre-visit preparation plans — Care preferences and values
App Settings: — Communication style preference — Notification preferences
- Information Collected Automatically
— Device information: iOS version, device model, app version, language settings — Usage information: number of visits recorded, features used, app crash data (if crash reporting is enabled)
- Research Data (Opt-In Only)
If you choose to contribute to research, we collect anonymized data only. We do NOT collect: your name or contact information, transcripts or content of recordings, doctor names or medical facility names, diagnoses or medical conditions, or any personally identifiable information (PII).
HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION
Local Use (On Your Device): Most of MEL's features work entirely on your device. Visit notes, symptom tracking, pre-visit plans, and profile information are saved locally and never uploaded to our servers. AI analysis is performed on-device.
Research Use (Only If You Opt In): If you enable "Contribute to Research," anonymized data is used to improve healthcare advocacy tools and develop better features. You can opt out at any time in your profile settings.
Operational Use: Automatically collected information helps us fix bugs, improve performance, and ensure compatibility with new iOS versions.
DATA STORAGE & SECURITY
— On-Device Storage: All health data is stored only on your device, protected by iOS's built-in encryption — iCloud Backup: If you have iCloud Backup enabled, MEL data may be included — encrypted by Apple. We do not have access to your iCloud backups. — No Cloud Sync: MEL does not upload your recordings or notes to our servers — No audio is recorded or stored at any time — MEL uses voice-to-text only.
DATA SHARING
We do not sell your data. We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal information or health data to third parties for marketing purposes — ever.
Research data (opt-in only) may be shared with research partners in anonymized, aggregated form. Your identity cannot be determined from this data.
YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS
You have the right to:
✅ View all data you've entered in the app
✅ Edit your profile and preferences at any time
✅ Delete individual visits, symptoms, or plans
✅ Export your data (coming soon)
✅ Opt out of research contributions at any time
To delete all local data: open your Profile → tap "Sign Out" → confirm deletion. This permanently deletes all local MEL data and cannot be undone.
CHILDREN'S PRIVACY
MEL is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. Contact us immediately at help@askMEL.app if you believe a child under 13 has provided information.
THIRD-PARTY SERVICES
MEL uses Apple iCloud (if you enable iCloud Backup) and Apple's built-in crash reporting tools to fix bugs and improve performance.
We do NOT use: — Advertising networks — Social media tracking — Third-party analytics — Marketing platforms — Firebase, MongoDB, or any third-party database services.
HIPAA COMPLIANCE
MEL is not a HIPAA-covered entity. We are not a healthcare provider, health plan, or healthcare clearinghouse. However, we follow HIPAA best practices:
✅ No Protected Health Information (PHI) is stored on our servers
✅ All notes stay on your device
✅ Research data is de-identified per HIPAA Safe Harbor method
✅ Encryption in transit and at rest
✅ No raw audio is recorded or stored at any time — MEL uses voice-to-text only.
GDPR COMPLIANCE (EU USERS)
If you are in the European Union, you have additional rights under GDPR, including the right to access, rectification, erasure, data portability, and the right to withdraw consent. Contact: help@askMEL.app
CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS (CCPA)
California residents have the right to know what data we collect, request deletion, and opt out of research at any time. We do not sell your personal information. Contact: help@askMEL.app
CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated through in-app notification with a new "Last Updated" date. Continued use of MEL after changes constitutes acceptance.
DATA PROTECTION OFFICER
For concerns about how your data is handled: help@askMEL.app
CONTACT US
Email: help@askMEL.app
Website: www.askMEL.app
Address: Indianapolis, IN 46260 The Webb Project LLC d/b/a askMEL — Medical Empowerment Liaison
DISCLAIMER
MEL is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider. In case of medical emergency, call 911 immediately. Do not rely on MEL for emergencies.