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12 questions to ask a mood or journaling app about your data.

Before you type something into an app that you would not say out loud, it is worth knowing who runs it, what it collects, which AI company reads your text and where, how long it is kept, and whether it trains AI. These twelve questions cover what matters. A trustworthy app answers all of them plainly, including the ones that do not flatter it.

Published 2026-09-27 · Updated 2026-09-27

Why “encrypted” and “we never sell your data” are not answers

• Not selling is not the same as not sharing. Apps share data with service providers, including AI companies, to run features.
• Encrypted is not the same as unreadable. Most apps can read your data on their servers; only end-to-end encryption prevents that, and most AI features cannot work with it.
• Not training is not the same as not keeping. A provider can promise not to train on your text and still retain it for a while.

The twelve questions

1. Who legally runs the app, and which privacy law applies? Good: a named company, country and law. Bad: only a brand name.
2. Exactly what do you collect? Good: a list by category. Bad: "information you provide".
3. Why do you need each thing? Good: a purpose per category. Bad: "to improve our services".
4. Which AI company receives my text, and in which country? Good: named providers and countries. Bad: "trusted partners".
5. How long does everyone keep it? Good: periods for the app and each provider. Bad: "as long as necessary".
6. Is it used to train AI? Good: a clear answer for the app and each provider, with sources. Bad: silence.
7. Can I use the app with AI off? Good: yes, and it says what you lose. Bad: AI is bundled with everything.
8. Is anything processed on my device? Good: an honest yes or no per feature.
9. Who can read my entries in plain text? Good: a named, limited group with access logged. Bad: "only you", when AI features clearly read your text.
10. Does my data leave my country? Good: which parts go where. Bad: a blanket "your data stays here".
11. What happens when I delete my account, and what survives? Good: a timeline and a list of exceptions.
12. Does any automated process make decisions about me? Good: a list of what happens automatically and how to ask a person to review it. From 10 December 2026, Australian privacy policies must explain this.

How to check without reading the whole policy

Look at the app's store privacy label, then search its privacy policy for a few words: train, retention, subprocessor, overseas and automated. If a question above has no answer anywhere, email the company and ask. How they reply tells you a lot.

Our answers

We publish The Peachy Life's answers to these questions, including the ones that cost us something, such as the fact that the journal is not end-to-end encrypted. See AI and your data for the feature-by-feature detail and the Privacy Policy for the full record.

Questions people ask

What should I ask before trusting a mood or journaling app with my data?

Who runs it and which privacy law applies, exactly what it collects, which AI company receives your text and in which country, how long everyone keeps it, whether it is used to train AI, whether you can use the app with AI off, who can read your entries, and what happens when you delete your account.

Does "we never sell your data" mean my data is private?

Not on its own. An app can promise never to sell your data and still share it with service providers, including AI companies, to run its features. Look for a list of who receives what, and why.

Is health information treated differently under Australian privacy law?

Yes. Under the Privacy Act 1988, health information is sensitive information, which carries stricter rules about how it is collected, used and disclosed. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) publishes guidance at oaic.gov.au.

Sources

This historical guide did not include a source list when it was first published. We have preserved its original text and have not added retrospective citations.

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