Anchor is a free, offline‑first mobile app for iOS and Android that lets users record audio evidence securely during high‑stress incidents. Recordings are encrypted on the device with AES‑256‑GCM and backed up to an encrypted vault when online, while trusted contacts receive instant safety alerts and can view the evidence only within the app. The app includes bilingual rights scripts, a quick‑exit feature, and requires no account, trackers, or ads.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Individuals facing high‑stress encounters—such as law‑enforcement interactions, immigration checks, campus incidents, or field reporting—often lack a safe way to record what happened, protect that evidence, and quickly notify trusted supporters, especially when internet access or a formal account is unavailable.
Solution
Anchor is a free, offline‑first mobile app for iOS and Android that lets users record audio evidence securely at the moment of an incident. Recordings are encrypted on the device with AES‑256‑GCM, and the encryption key never leaves the phone, ensuring a zero‑knowledge design. When a network connection is available, encrypted chunks are uploaded to an encrypted vault for backup, preserving evidence even if the device is seized. Users can pre‑configure trusted contacts who receive a push or SMS safety alert during recording; the contacts view the decrypted evidence only within the Anchor app, and the server copy is automatically deleted after 24 hours. The app also provides bilingual rights scripts and legal‑aid resources without requiring an account, email, or personal identifiers.
Target Audience
Primary users are individuals in the United States who need a secure way to document incidents—such as students, journalists, immigrants, and community members—and their trusted contacts (family, attorneys, advocates) who receive alerts and review evidence.
Features
- One‑tap audio recording with on‑device AES‑256‑GCM encryption; keys stored in secure enclave/keystore
- Offline‑first operation: core recording, rights scripts, and local storage work without internet
- Encrypted vault backup that uploads encrypted chunks in real time and survives device loss
- Trusted‑contact alerts via push notification and optional SMS, with QR‑code or link invitation flow
- Safety‑alert recipients view evidence only inside the app; server copy auto‑deletes after 24 hours
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) rights scripts and legal‑aid directory for U.S. users
- Quick‑exit button that hides the app UI instantly while preserving the recording
- Open‑source codebase, no trackers, no ads, and no user account required