AI companion privacy deserves the same seriousness you give banking apps—sometimes more—because chats can include emotional and personal detail. A privacy guide is not paranoia; it is how you keep convenience from becoming exposure.
Read before you vent
- What is stored, for how long, and where?
- Is chat used to train models? Can you opt out?
- Who can access reports—support staff, moderators, partners?
- How do export and delete account flows work?
- What does the paid plan change about data handling?
Use strong unique passwords and avoid reusing credentials. Be careful with photos and voice if those modalities exist. On shared devices, lock sessions. For sensitive topics, prefer products with clear retention limits—or keep them offline with a human professional.
If you cannot delete it, think twice before typing it.
Pick one companion app you use and complete a privacy checkup this week: password, memory audit, and deletion policy skim. Small hygiene beats a vague sense of trust.
Shared devices and relationships
Log out on shared computers. Use app locks if your phone is often borrowed. Be thoughtful about screenshots that include other people’s data. If a partner is uncomfortable with companion use, that is a relationship conversation, not only a settings toggle. Privacy includes social privacy, not only cryptography buzzwords. When in doubt, minimize what you type.
Consider jurisdiction: where the company is based can affect legal process and breach notification norms. Prefer reading the real policy over summary blogs. If you are a minor, or if minors can access your device, choose stricter setups and parental controls—many companion products are poorly suited for children. When you stop using an app, actually complete deletion rather than abandoning a zombie account full of old chats. Privacy is a practice finished with follow-through.