Terms of service
Platform status: Operational
© 2025 Blackout Technologies Limited. All rights reserved.
The Blackout App is a device management solution for employers to help restrict functionality on personal smart devices during working hours, or while the device is within a controlled zone. Blackout actively restricts smart phone devices to prevent misuse and reduce distractions while working or while operating within a defined restricted area.
No. Your employer can not see what Apps are installed on your device or what you do while using your device. The App has been designed to only ever provide enough information to your employer to enable effective blocking while your device is in a controlled zone without infringing your right to privacy.
The Blackout App permissions are based on the needs of your organisation and the type of device you have, for example of your organisation only uses our API service and you have an Apple iPhone, we'll only require Push message notification and Screen Time permissions. A fill list of permissions that may be required have been outlined below:
iOS
- Location (For Fleet and bluetooth use only, not for education)
- Notifications (When Required)Bluetooth (When Required)
- Screen time
- VPN service
Android
- Location (For Fleet and bluetooth use only, not for education)
- Do Not Disturb
- Accessibility service
- VPN Service
- Bluetooth (When Required)
- Wifi (When Required)
- Overlay
- UsageNotifications (When Required)
The Blackout App will never block SMS messaging or Call functionality, if you need full access to your device while in a controlled zone you can switch the App off using our Toggle Blackout feature. By activating this feature, you will be asked to enter the code presented on the screen before being immediately unblocked on your device. Do note that when manually unblocking your device, your organisation administrator will be alerted to the override, and your device will be marked as disabled in our system.
The technology does not infract any current legislation or regulations, nor does it impact civil liberties. It’s not a question of trust, it’s a question of security and regulatory compliance.
These are limited to: Google Cloud Services & Amazon WebServices based in Dublin, and all app development is done in the UK.
No.
By removing the App you may be in breach of your employment contract or organisation security policies. When the App is removed from your device your organisation administrator will be informed.
No. Blackout uses around 578 KB per day – that’s less than 1 MB. It has almost no impact on your data or your battery.
For context, many popular apps use far more data each day:
These apps also collect personal data such as your location, browsing history, contacts, what other apps you use, and details like your birthday and address.
Blackout does not collect any of this information.
No. Blackout blocks access to distracting apps during school hours. It doesn’t track what you do online.
It allows the app to work in the right year group and helps your school support you if something isn’t working.
Only your school’s approved Blackout staff and the Blackout admin team (when requested). No one else.
Only five basic details:
That's it.
No. Blackout never looks at anything on your phone. We can’t read your messages, see your photos, apps, or anything you do.
Blackout uses VPN permissions to manage which apps and websites are accessible during school hours. This is a standard method used by many safeguarding and wellbeing tools, it does not track browsing activity, personal data, or the content of online use.
In recent months, schools have reported a general increase in students using VPNs for various purposes. To avoid confusion, it’s important to note that Blackout’s VPN permissions are solely for the app’s functionality. Blackout cannot see, monitor, or record the use of any other VPNs that a student may install on their device.
Blackout's VPN is what is known as a "Black Hole VPN". No traffic is sent via Blackout's servers, we simply drop all unallowed data from being able to reach the internet.
No. Blackout Technologies does have a location-based solution that uses the same app but for different use cases. For schools, we have recommended using a schedule-only based approach. So the app store listings may suggest that location is required but school installations will never ask for those permissions, ensuring that we can't access the data. Therefore it can not be transmitted, stored, or passed to other parties.
Yes. Apps on a device not owned by the school or Blackout-Technologies do not have those access rights. This is by design of the Android and iOS operating systems.
We only track and store what we need to provide the service. Therefore we don't need an address or phone number, for example. We don't sell or provide that data to other companies (beyond sub-processing). As we are a processor (as defined in GDPR), we don't access the information ourselves unless instructed by the client to provide training or support. All access is audited.
We have to mention our sub-processors (the services we use to provide our services). We do not sell any data. We consider ourselves a privacy-focused company and so this is an important pillar for us.
The Blackout system collects only relevant data for device registration, including: user name, email address, device type.
Blackout is just the data processor.
We do not collect or process any information regarding apps installed on your device, Internet browsing history or device usage outside a controlled zone.Device usage stats collected while in a controlled zone only include battery percentage to help us monitor and improve the performance of our App, and the number of times an App has been blocked from opening while in a controlled zone.
We have a data retention policy that is normal under GDPR and UK data laws. We can delete or provide data on request. Deletion is only possible if we do not require it to continue the provision of the service or a user is no longer active (for whatever reason). You can find our privacy policies on the footer of the Blackout-technologies.com website. For example, for the Google Play Store see https://www.blackout-technologies.com/privacy-policy-android