ZERO Privacy Policy
Last updated: 30 October 2026
ZERO is a focus app that puts a pause before short-video apps, blocks Reels and Shorts, and runs Lockdowns. It is built so that almost everything stays on your phone. This policy explains what ZERO uses, what (little) leaves your phone, and the choices you have.
The short version
- No account, no ads, no advertising ID, no selling data.
- Your app usage, rules, history and settings are stored only on your phone.
- Crash reports and basic app-usage statistics go to Google Firebase so we can fix bugs and improve ZERO.
- If you join a Squad, your squad name, the display name you choose and daily totals are sent to our server.
- We never sell or share data with anyone.
Accessibility service
ZERO uses Android's Accessibility API, and only with your permission, to:
- see which app is opening, so it can show the Gate before apps you chose;
- recognise Reels and Shorts screens by their layout, so it can close them;
- count time in gated apps against your daily budget;
- in Monk mode, close the Settings screens that would uninstall or switch off ZERO.
ZERO does not read or store your messages, what you type, passwords, or what you watch. Nothing observed through the Accessibility API leaves your phone.
Other permissions
| Permission | Why |
|---|---|
| Usage access | Reads how long apps were open over the last 7 days to work out your Rot Score and stats. Stays on your phone. |
| Camera (optional) | Counts push-ups to earn minutes. Images are analysed on the phone in real time and are never saved or sent. |
| Physical activity (optional) | Counts steps for walks that earn minutes. Stays on your phone. |
| NFC (optional) | Reads the tag you register as your ZERO Key. Only a hash of the tag id is stored, on your phone. |
| Device admin (optional) | The Uninstall Shield: stops ZERO being uninstalled while Monk mode is on. It has no other powers, and you can switch it off. |
| Notifications | Rot Radar reminders and the "protection is paused" reminder. |
| Internet | For Squads, Firebase (crash reports, statistics, announcements) and Google Play's in-app updates. |
Squads (optional)
If you create or join a Squad, ZERO sends the following to its server at csip12.in:
- the squad name and the display name you type;
- for each day: focus minutes, Reels minutes, the number of times you resisted, and your Brain Charge score;
- a random ID generated on your phone, so the server can recognise your phone. It is not linked to your Google account, phone number or advertising ID.
The server never receives app names, what you watched or times of day. Your IP address is used, in hashed form, only to limit how often squads can be created or joined. Daily totals older than 60 days are deleted automatically. When you leave a squad your membership is removed; the last member to leave deletes the squad.
Everyone in your squad can see your display name and daily totals. Data is sent over HTTPS.
Firebase (Google)
ZERO uses three Google Firebase services. Google processes this data under the Firebase privacy and security terms.
- Crashlytics: if ZERO crashes, a crash report is sent: the error and stack trace, device model, Android version, app version and a random installation ID.
- Analytics: standard, automatic events such as app opens, screens viewed, first launch, session length, app version, device model, country (from IP, not GPS) and a random app-instance ID. ZERO does not collect the advertising ID, does not use this for ads, and never sends which apps you use or block.
- Cloud Messaging: a push token lets us send occasional announcements. You can switch off the "News from ZERO" notification channel at any time.
Analytics data is kept by Google for up to 14 months. These IDs are not linked to your name, Google account or phone number.
Google Play
ZERO checks Google Play for required updates. Google handles that check under Google's Privacy Policy.
Children
ZERO is not directed at children under 13 and does not knowingly collect data from them.
Your choices and deleting data
- Leave your squad in ZERO › Focus › Squads to stop sharing; your membership is removed.
- Uninstalling ZERO deletes everything stored on your phone and resets its Firebase IDs.
- To have your squad data deleted from the server, email us with your squad code and display name.
Changes
If this policy changes, the new version will be posted here with a new date.