Before you share personal messages or photos with an AI companion app, review what it collects, where it is stored, and which controls you can change. The privacy screen should be as easy to find as the chat screen.
Check the data settings first
Look for clear controls for chat history, model training, exports and deletion. Read whether deleted conversations are removed from backups on a stated timetable, and avoid apps that leave this unclear.
Limit permissions to what you need
Turn off contacts, precise location, microphone and photo-library access unless a feature genuinely requires it. Revisit permissions after updates, because a new feature can introduce a new request.
Protect the account
Use a unique password, enable two-factor authentication when available, and check the recovery email and active sessions. Treat private chats as sensitive data even when an app describes them as anonymous.
Ember Privacy & Safety Checklist
Chat Encryption: Verify whether conversation logs are encrypted in transit and at rest.
Monetization Model: Check for hidden subscription tiers, token limits, or paywalled memory features.
Data Retention: Confirm whether voice messages and custom avatars can be permanently deleted.
EmberGF links primary sources where available, separates testing from opinion, and labels commercial relationships beside the relevant recommendation.
