Where your recordings go
Last updated: October 4, 2026
An interview holds someone's voice and their story. Before you record a family member, an Elder or a member of your community, you should know which companies receive that recording, what each one receives, and how long each one keeps it. This page sets that out.
In short
- Never used to train AI. Not by StorySeeker, and not by the companies that process your interviews. There is no setting that changes this.
- Yours to take and yours to delete. You can export everything at any time. A deleted interview can be restored for 30 days and is then permanently removed. Deleting your account removes everything.
- It does leave your device. To transcribe and coach, recordings and transcripts are sent to the companies listed below, which are based in the United States. StorySeeker does not currently offer Canadian-only or on-premise processing.
- Held briefly, then deleted. The AI providers may keep what they receive for up to 30 days to detect abuse, then delete it.
Who receives what
OpenAI
When
Live transcription, while an interview is being recorded. Also coaching, notes and analysis when Anthropic is unavailable, or if you choose OpenAI in settings.
Receives
Audio in short segments as you record. For coaching and notes, transcript text.
Keeps it
Up to 30 days for abuse monitoring, then deleted. Not used to train their models.
Anthropic
When
Coaching suggestions, notes and analysis. Anthropic is tried first.
Receives
Transcript text and your interview plan. Never audio.
Keeps it
Up to 30 days for abuse monitoring, then deleted. Not used to train their models.
Soniox
When
A second, more careful transcription after the interview ends, on plans that keep recordings. Also live transcription if OpenAI is unavailable.
Receives
The full saved recording.
Keeps it
Nothing. We delete the recording and the result from Soniox as soon as we receive the transcript.
Cloudflare
When
Storage and hosting for everything you save.
Receives
Your recordings, transcripts, notes, analyses and exports, held in StorySeeker's own storage in North America.
Keeps it
Until you delete it. Audio on the free plan is kept 30 days. Studio video is kept 180 days on every plan. Everything else stays until you remove it.
LiveKit
When
Studio rooms, while the room is open.
Receives
The live audio and video connection between participants.
Keeps it
Nothing. Each participant records on their own device and the file is uploaded straight to StorySeeker's storage.
Recall.ai
When
Only if you send a bot to a Zoom, Google Meet or Teams call.
Receives
The audio of everyone on the call, and the platform's captions.
Keeps it
7 days, then deleted. Your copy is moved into StorySeeker's storage first.
Accounts are handled by Supabase, payments by Stripe, and email by Resend. None of them receive interview content. Place search sends only the place name you type to Esri.
If you are recording someone else
The services above process the voice of everyone in a recording, not only the account holder. The person you interview should know that before you begin. Guests who join a Studio room are shown what is being recorded and asked to agree. For interviews in person, the keepsake export includes a consent record where the speaker's wishes are written down, and those wishes travel with the interview.
StorySeeker staff can open an account's content only for the reasons listed in section 5 of the Privacy Policy, such as investigating a fault or answering a support request you sent.
What we do not offer yet
Processing that stays in Canada, a version that runs on your own equipment, and a mode that records and archives with no AI at all. If your community or organization needs any of these before it can use StorySeeker, please tell us. It decides what we build next.
Questions
Write to hello@storyseeker.app. The full terms are in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.