Browser Extension Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how our browser extension handles your data. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring complete transparency. We collect only anonymous analytics data to understand extension usage patterns. No personal user data is collected or stored. This policy complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Chrome Web Store policies, and other applicable data protection laws.

2. Our Privacy-First Approach

Our extension operates with minimal permissions and processes data only when you explicitly request a fact-check. We collect anonymous analytics data (via Google Analytics Measurement Protocol) to understand how many users use the extension and from which countries. No browsing history, personal data, or identifying information is ever collected or transmitted to our servers.

3. Information We Collect

• Anonymous usage analytics: We collect anonymous data about extension usage including install events, daily active users, and general geographic region (country level only)
• We do NOT collect your browsing history
• We do NOT collect personal identification information
• We do NOT collect login credentials or passwords
• We do NOT track your location precisely
• We do NOT share any data with third parties for advertising purposes.

4. How the Extension Works

• When you click to fact-check an article, only the article text is sent to our API for analysis
• The article text is processed in real-time and is NOT stored on our servers
• Results are returned directly to your browser and displayed in the extension
• No user identifiers or tracking data accompanies the API request
• Your API usage is anonymous and cannot be linked back to you.

5. Legal Basis for Processing

• Your explicit action when you click the fact-check button
• Legitimate interests in providing the fact-checking service you requested
• We process only the minimum data necessary to perform the fact-check.

6. How Article Text is Used

• Article text is sent to our AI service for fact-checking analysis
• The text is processed in real-time and immediately discarded after analysis
• Results are returned to your browser for display
• We do NOT use article text for training AI models
• We do NOT retain or log the articles you check.

7. Data Sharing and Transfers

• We do NOT sell or share your personal information
• Article text sent for analysis is processed by our secure API infrastructure
• Anonymous analytics data is sent to Google Analytics via the Measurement Protocol
• No advertising or tracking services are used
• International transfers: Our API and Google Analytics may process data through servers in various regions with appropriate security measures.

8. Data Retention

• We do NOT retain any personal information
• Article text is processed in real-time and immediately discarded
• API logs (if any) contain only anonymous technical data for service stability
• No user-identifiable data is ever stored on our servers.

9. Your Rights Under GDPR

• Right to access: Since we don't collect personal data, there is nothing to access
• Right to erasure: No personal data is stored that would need to be erased
• Right to restrict processing: You control when the extension runs by clicking the fact-check button
• Right to data portability: Not applicable as no personal data is collected
• Right to withdraw consent: Simply uninstall the extension at any time
• Right to lodge a complaint: You may file complaints with your local data protection authority.

10. Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security measures including: HTTPS encryption for all API communications, secure server infrastructure, regular security audits, and minimal data processing. Since we don't store personal data, there is no database of user information that could be compromised.

11. Children's Privacy

Our extension is not directed to individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. Since we do not collect any personal data from any users, this applies equally to all age groups.

12. Extension Permissions

• Active Tab: Required to read the current page content when you request a fact-check
• Storage: Used only to save your local preferences (like settings) within your browser
• We request only the minimum permissions necessary for the extension to function
• We do NOT request permissions to access your browsing history or data from all websites.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our extension or legal requirements. Significant changes will be posted on our website and the extension store listing with a revised 'Last Updated' date. Continued use of our extension after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact Us

For privacy-related questions about this browser extension, please contact us at: Email: 9378.6937.qc.inc@gmail.com. For data protection inquiries under GDPR, you may also contact your local supervisory authority.