Privacy Policy

Version: 2026-10-26 · Last updated: October 26, 2026

Muteiny is operated by Trevanyaki Technologies LLC (“Muteiny,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). This Privacy Policy applies to the Muteiny mobile application and website at muteiny.com. It explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your choices.

Information we collect

Account information

• Phone number — used to sign you in via SMS verification, to match you with group invitations, and stored on our servers as part of your account (including your phone number in standard formats we use to operate the service).
• Display name — the name you choose to show to other people in your groups.
• Personal display names — optional names you choose for other members so they appear the way you prefer in your app. These are stored on your account and are visible only to you, not to the people you name.
• Profile picture — an optional photo you upload to represent yourself in conversations and group member lists, stored on our servers.

Messages and content

• Messages and reactions — text messages, emoji reactions, and related metadata (such as timestamps) that you send in groups. This includes structured messages such as polls, headcounts, and events (event name, time, description, and RSVP responses).
• Photos and videos — media you attach to messages, stored so other group members can view them.
• Group and topic data — group names, optional group descriptions, topic names, group pictures, membership, your notification preferences (such as muted or hidden topics and threads), pinned groups and topics, messages you mark to follow up on later, and information needed to run the app (such as which messages you have read in a group).
• Calendar subscription links — if you choose to subscribe to a Muteiny calendar feed (all groups, one group, or one topic), we create a private, unguessable link for you. Calendar apps that fetch that link receive event titles, times, and descriptions from the selected scope (subject to your mute preferences for broader feeds). Anyone with the link can read those event details until you reset the link or delete your account. RSVP responses are not included in calendar feeds.
• Edited messages — if you edit a message, we may retain prior versions as part of the message record.

Invitations

• When someone invites you to a group, we may store a hashed version of your phone number, a partially masked phone number, and limited invite metadata (such as a contact-book label the inviter chose) until you join.
• When you invite others, we store similar hashed identifiers, masked phone numbers, and optional contact labels for pending invitees.
• If you invite someone who is already on Muteiny, you may choose a contact-book label for them that we store so your group can display a familiar name.
• Group join links — if a group member creates a join link, we store an unguessable token tied to that group. Anyone with the link can see a preview of the group’s name, avatar, and member count on the join webpage (including in link previews shown by other apps). People with a Muteiny account can then join from the app. Members can reset the link at any time; the old token stops working. Join-link tokens are not public group directories and are meant to be shared intentionally.
• Desktop sign-in codes — when you open Muteiny on a computer, we create a short-lived pairing session so your phone can approve signing that computer into your account. The session stores only an opaque code and status (not your messages), expires within minutes, and is single-use.

Device permissions

• Contacts — if you grant permission, Muteiny shows an in-app explanation before requesting access. Contacts are read on your device to help you search and invite people. We do not upload your full address book. Contact data stays on your device except when you invite someone, as described under Invitations above. You can enable access from Settings or when adding people to a group.
• Photo library — if you grant permission, you can attach photos and videos from your library to messages, and save photos or videos from messages to your library.
• Camera and microphone — if you grant permission, you can take photos and record videos with sound directly in the app to send in messages, and scan a QR code on your phone to approve signing in on a Muteiny desktop app. Captured media is handled the same as photos and videos selected from your library.
• Push notifications — if you grant permission, we collect device push tokens (Firebase Cloud Messaging, and legacy Expo tokens from older installs) and store them with your account so we can deliver notifications about new messages and activity in your groups.

On-device processing

Some features process data entirely on your device without sending it to our servers:

• Message search — Muteiny builds a local search index of your messages on your device so you can search across conversations. The index is stored only on your phone and is not uploaded.
• Topic title suggestions — on-device software may suggest topic titles from the message text you are composing.
• Video compression and trimming — videos are compressed and trimmed on your device before uploading.
• Media cache — photos, GIFs, and videos you view may be stored temporarily on your device so they can load faster and remain available offline. This cache stays on your device and is not uploaded.
• Link previews — when a message contains a website link, Muteiny may fetch publicly available page metadata (such as title, description, and preview image) from that website on your device so a preview can appear in the chat bubble. On iPhone and iPad, Muteiny uses Apple’s LinkPresentation framework (the same system used by Messages) for this fetch when available. Preview metadata is kept on your device for the app session and is not uploaded to Muteiny. The destination site may see standard technical data from your device (such as IP address) when the preview is loaded, similar to opening the link in a browser.
• Message link detection (iOS) — on iPhone and iPad, Muteiny uses Apple’s on-device Data Detectors to recognize phone numbers, street addresses, and links in message text so they can be tapped. Detection runs only on your device and is not uploaded. If you tap an address, the app opens Apple Maps with that address as a search query (no Muteiny geocoding API). Tapping a phone number opens the Phone app via a tel: link.
• Notification presentation — on iOS, a Notification Service Extension may adjust badge counts, promote Communication Notifications, and (when the payload includes them) download message photos or conversation avatars you can already access so the notification can show a preview and icon. On Android, the app may download the same media on-device when rebuilding the notification. Separately, the app may send privacy-light delivery acknowledgements (see Automatically collected information).
• Headcount Live Activity (iOS) — when you create a headcount, are asked to answer one, or change your response, Muteiny may show a Live Activity on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island with the question, group/topic context, and tallies. That content is taken from headcount data already on your device; it is not uploaded for the Live Activity display. To start a Live Activity when Muteiny is in the background (iOS 17.2+), the app may store an ActivityKit push-to-start token with your other push notification tokens so our servers can ask Apple to start that Live Activity. On iOS 17+, the Live Activity may offer Going and Not going; Going writes the same going response as in the app (using your signed-in account) and keeps the activity, while Not going clears your response the same way as in the app and ends the activity. If you dismiss the Live Activity, Muteiny remembers that on-device so it is not shown again for that headcount. At most one headcount Live Activity is shown (the most recent one you interacted with). You can turn Live Activities off for Muteiny in iOS Settings.

Automatically collected information

Our infrastructure provider (Google Firebase) may process standard technical data necessary to operate the service, such as device type, app version, and IP address, as part of delivering authentication, storage, and notifications.

To diagnose missed push notifications, the app may also send short delivery acknowledgements when a notification is received, presented, or suppressed on your device. These acknowledgements include technical identifiers only (such as message, conversation, and topic IDs), platform, app lifecycle stage, and a present/suppress decision with a short reason code. They do not include message text, titles, or notification body content.

To understand product funnels (for example first open, group created, invite sent, join completed, a second member messaging, and mute used), the app may send privacy-light product analytics events. Each event is a named action plus optional conversation or topic IDs, platform, and app version. Events are linked to your account for App Functionality / Analytics and are processed via Google Firebase Cloud Functions and Cloud Logging. They do not include message text, titles, notification bodies, or other message content. Muteiny does not use third-party advertising analytics SDKs (such as Firebase Analytics / Google Analytics for Firebase) in the app today.

How we use information

We use the information above to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve the Muteiny messaging service
• Authenticate you and keep you signed in
• Deliver messages, media, and push notifications to you and your groups
• Process group invitations and membership
• Provide optional calendar subscription feeds you create
• Understand high-level product usage funnels (privacy-light event names only)
• Respond to support requests and protect the security of the service

We do not sell your personal information. We do not use third-party advertising analytics in the app.

Where we process data

We use service providers in the United States (including Google Firebase) to host and operate Muteiny. If you use the service from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States.

How we share information

We share information only in these circumstances:

• With other group members — your display name, profile picture, messages, reactions, and media are visible to people in the groups you belong to.
• With your calendar apps (optional) — if you create a calendar subscription link, event titles, times, and descriptions in that feed are delivered to whichever calendar client fetches the link. Muteiny does not send your feed to a calendar provider unless you (or someone with your link) subscribe there.
• With service providers — we use Google Firebase (Authentication, Cloud Firestore, Cloud Storage, Cloud Functions, and Firebase Cloud Messaging) to operate Muteiny, and Resend to email moderation reports to our support team. These providers process data on our behalf under their terms and privacy policies.
• With Giphy — if you use the GIF picker, your search queries are sent to Giphy to retrieve results. Giphy may collect technical data such as your IP address in accordance with their privacy policy. We do not send your account information to Giphy.
• With linked websites (on-device previews) — if a message includes an http(s) link, your device may contact that website to load a link preview. Muteiny does not send your account information to those sites and does not store preview metadata on our servers.
• With Apple Maps (iOS only) — when you type in an event location field on iPhone or iPad, Muteiny may send the text you are typing to Apple’s MapKit local search to show place and address suggestions. We do not request your device location for these suggestions. If you pick a suggestion (or type freely), the resulting location text is stored with the event and visible to group members. Apple processes search queries under Apple’s privacy policy. Android does not use this suggestion feature today.
• For legal reasons — if required by law or to protect the rights, safety, and security of Muteiny, our users, or others.

Data retention

We retain your account information, messages, and media for as long as your account is active and as needed to provide the service. If you leave a group, you will no longer see that group's content in the app; other members may still have access to messages you sent while you were in the group. When you delete your account, we remove your profile and auth account, leave all groups, delete your reports and calendar feeds, remove your user ID from other people’s block lists and custom nicknames, delete media you uploaded under your account, and anonymize messages you sent (content and media cleared; sender shown as a deleted account). Use Settings → Delete account in the app (phone verification required) or contact us at support@muteiny.com.

Safety, reporting, and blocking

You can report a message from the message actions menu to flag objectionable content. You can also block someone from their profile or from a message. When you block someone, you leave any direct chats with them and their messages are hidden from group chats you share (including notifications and unread indicators). Blocked people cannot start a new chat with you or add you to groups. When blocking, you may choose to report them for review or block only. If you report (a message or a user), we store their user ID, optional message and group context, a reason when provided, and a timestamp. We email new reports to our support inbox (via our email provider) so we can review them within 24 hours and may remove content or suspend accounts that violate our Terms.

Security

We use industry-standard measures through Firebase and application-level access controls to protect your data. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Children's privacy

Muteiny is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, please contact us and we will take steps to delete it.

Your choices and rights

• You can update your display name and profile picture in Settings.
• You can set personal display names for other members from their profile (visible only to you).
• You can leave groups at any time.
• You can report messages and block users from the app; you may optionally report someone when blocking (see Safety section above).
• You can delete your account from Settings (phone verification required).
• You can revoke contacts, photo library, camera, microphone, or notification permissions in your device settings.
• You can sign out of Muteiny from Settings.

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or receive a copy of your personal information, or to object to or restrict certain processing. To exercise these rights, contact privacy@muteiny.com.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the revised policy on this page and update the “Last updated” date above.

Contact us

Trevanyaki Technologies LLC operates Muteiny. Questions about this Privacy Policy? Email privacy@muteiny.com or support@muteiny.com.