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With all content stored on a user’s phone, the Rumuki app helps video owners keep content safe from hacking. Rumuki is a Japanese version of the phrase “room key,” and the app acts exactly like one. To use the app, each user or pair of users must register two devices. Once the devices are registered, they each receive a “key” in the form of a QR code that must be scanned to link the pair together.

Videos then recorded on either phone require a key sent to the other device to unlock the file for viewing. Coverage of the app has focused on its potential to help prevent revenge porn. Every time a video is viewed, it requires a new playback key and the consent of the owner of the paired device. Rumuki does not store any information or files on its server. If users choose to receive the Rumuki newsletter, they can submit their email address, which is not linked to an account. No personal details are required by the app in setting up an account, and playback permission can be revoked at any time, by either party.

Privacy has become an ever-grayer issue and area as technology and connectivity expand. This app allows users to maintain ownership of their content and delete or destroy messages even after they have been sent, and devices such as Google Glass are being secured through biometric skull identification methods. How might public health campaigns be adapted to help communities improve their tech safety?