Does Omi record everyone around me? Privacy and consent
By the Omi Team · November 3, 2026 · 6 min read
Yes. When you wear Omi, it hears the conversations around you, not just your voice. That's what makes the notes useful, and it's why Omi is built to be visible, under your control, and easy to switch off. About 1 in 8 buyers tell us privacy almost stopped them, so here's exactly how it works.
What happens to a conversation
From voice to notes
- CaptureOmi's two microphones pick up the conversation near you.
- SendAudio goes to the Omi app on your phone, then to Omi's cloud, encrypted in transit (TLS).
- Write upIt becomes a transcript, summary, memories and tasks in your account.
- StoreSaved encrypted at rest (AES-256). Only you can see it unless you share a summary.
- DeleteRemove one conversation, one memory, or everything, whenever you want.
How your data is protected
| How Omi handles it | |
|---|---|
| Compliance | SOC 2 and HIPAA compliant |
| Encryption | In transit (TLS) and at rest (AES-256) |
| Who sees it | Only you. Others see a summary only if you share it. |
| Deleting | One conversation, one memory, or your whole account from Settings |
| Export | Export your recordings on any plan |
| Code | Open source, so anyone can check how it works |
| Self-hosting | Technical users can run Omi on their own servers |
How that compares
| Omi | Plaud | Bee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security claims | SOC 2 + HIPAA | Lists SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27701, GDPR | HIPAA on Enterprise | Not listed |
| Open source | Yes | No | No | No |
| Owner | Independent | Independent | Independent | Amazon |
Using it respectfully
- Wear it where people can see it. On the chain or the wrist band, it's in plain sight.
- Say it up front. "I'm wearing Omi so I don't have to take notes."
- Mute it for private moments. Pause recording in the app and turn it back on when you're ready.
- Know the law where you are. Some countries and US states need everyone's consent before recording. When in doubt, ask.
See the reports yourself
Our SOC 2 and HIPAA documentation lives in the Omi Trust Center. You can see which controls are in place, what's been audited, and what's in progress, and request the full reports.
Frequently asked questions
Does Omi record other people?
Yes, it hears the conversations around you. Wear it openly, tell people, and check the consent rules where you live.
Is Omi safe?
Omi is SOC 2 and HIPAA compliant, encrypts data in transit and at rest, and lets you delete anything at any time.
Who can see my conversations?
Only you. Others see a summary only if you share it.
Can I pause it?
Yes. Mute recording in the app whenever you need privacy.
Can I run Omi without the cloud?
Omi is open source, and technical users can run it on their own servers.
