Privacy Policy
Last updated: April 3, 2026
1. Introduction
Backbencher ("bb", "we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our AI-powered coding assistant.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 License Information
When you activate a license, we collect:
- License key (hashed)
- Device fingerprint (hostname, platform, architecture, anonymized hardware identifiers)
- Activation timestamp
2.2 Usage Data
We collect minimal anonymized telemetry to improve the product:
- Feature usage patterns (anonymized)
- Error reports (with no personally identifiable information)
- Performance metrics
2.3 What We Do NOT Collect
We respect your code and intellectual property:
- Your source code is NEVER sent to our servers
- Your conversations with AI models are NOT stored by us
- Your file contents remain on your device
- Your API keys are stored locally and never transmitted to us
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the collected information to:
- Validate and manage your license
- Prevent unauthorized use and piracy
- Improve our product and user experience
- Provide customer support
- Send important product updates (with your consent)
4. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures:
- All data in transit is encrypted using TLS 1.3
- Local caches are encrypted with AES-256-GCM
- License data is signed with HMAC-SHA256 to prevent tampering
- Device fingerprints are one-way hashed
5. Third-Party Services
When you use bb, your queries are sent to AI providers based on your configuration (e.g., Anthropic, OpenAI). These providers have their own privacy policies. We recommend reviewing their policies:
6. Data Retention
We retain license validation data for the duration of your subscription plus 30 days. Anonymized usage data may be retained indefinitely for analytics purposes. You can request deletion of your data by contacting us.
7. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:
- Access your personal data
- Correct inaccurate data
- Delete your data
- Object to data processing
- Export your data
8. Offline Mode
bb supports offline usage for up to 7 days. During offline mode, license validation data is cached locally in an encrypted format. No data is transmitted during offline use.
9. Children's Privacy
Our service is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any significant changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date.
11. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us at: