Privacy Policy for WatchBuddy

Last updated: January 2025

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Anonymous Usage Statistics

We collect anonymous usage data through Google Analytics to understand how the extension is used and to improve its functionality:

• Extension Usage Events: Anonymous counts of extension installations, voice queries initiated, and subtitle loading events (by source: API/manual, cached/fresh)
• Error Reports: Anonymous error categories (e.g., "API error", "voice error") without specific content or personal details
• Anonymous Identifiers: Randomly generated, non-personal identifiers used only for statistical aggregation
• Session Information: Basic session data for analytics purposes (no personal information)

1.2 Data We Do NOT Collect

• Your voice recordings or conversation content
• Video titles, URLs, or viewing history
• Personal information or user accounts
• Browsing history outside of extension usage
• Any personally identifiable information

1.3 Local Data Storage

The following data is stored locally on your device and never transmitted:

• OpenAI API Key: Stored securely in Chrome's encrypted storage
• Voice Recordings: Temporarily processed locally and immediately deleted after transcription
• Subtitle Content: Cached locally for performance, automatically cleaned up after 30 days
• Conversation History: Stored locally for context, automatically cleaned up after 7 days
• Extension Settings: Your preferences for voice mode and analytics consent

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 Anonymous Analytics

We use Google Analytics to:

• Count daily and monthly active users (anonymously)
• Understand which features are most commonly used
• Identify and fix common error patterns
• Measure extension performance and reliability
• Make data-driven improvements to the user experience

2.2 Local Processing

Your voice recordings and conversations are:

• Processed locally or sent directly to OpenAI for transcription and AI responses
• Never stored permanently or transmitted to our servers
• Used only to provide the requested AI assistance functionality
• Immediately deleted after processing

3. Third-Party Services

3.1 OpenAI API

When you use the voice assistant feature:

• Your voice recordings are sent directly to OpenAI for transcription
• Video subtitle context and your questions are sent to OpenAI for AI responses
• This communication is governed by OpenAI's Privacy Policy
• We do not store or have access to this data

3.2 Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics 4 for anonymous usage statistics:

• Data is collected anonymously through Google's Measurement Protocol API
• No personally identifiable information is transmitted
• Data is governed by Google's Privacy Policy
• You can opt out of analytics in the extension settings

3.3 YouTube Subtitle Services

For automatic subtitle extraction:

• We access publicly available subtitle data from YouTube videos
• Subtitle content is cached locally on your device for performance
• No subtitle content is transmitted to our servers

4. Data Security

• Local Encryption: Your API key is stored using Chrome's encrypted storage system
• Secure Transmission: All external communications use HTTPS encryption
• No Central Storage: We don't operate servers that store your personal data
• Automatic Cleanup: Temporary data is automatically deleted according to retention schedules

5. Your Privacy Controls

5.1 Analytics Opt-Out

You can disable anonymous usage statistics at any time:

• Open the WatchBuddy extension popup
• Go to "Privacy Settings"
• Turn off "Anonymous Usage Statistics"
• Your choice is saved and respected immediately

5.2 Data Deletion

To remove all local data:

• Uninstall the WatchBuddy extension from Chrome
• All locally stored data will be automatically removed
• No data persists on external servers

6. Data Retention

• Voice Recordings: Immediately deleted after transcription
• Conversation History: Automatically deleted after 7 days
• Subtitle Cache: Automatically deleted after 30 days
• Analytics Data: Retained by Google Analytics for 26 months (industry standard)
• Settings: Retained until extension is uninstalled

7. Children's Privacy

WatchBuddy is not specifically designed for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information, please contact us.

8. International Users

WatchBuddy can be used worldwide. Analytics data may be processed in the United States through Google Analytics. By using the extension, you consent to this data transfer for the purpose of anonymous usage statistics.

9. Chrome Extension Permissions

WatchBuddy requests the following permissions:

• activeTab: To access YouTube pages and extract video metadata
• storage: To save your API key and cache subtitles locally
• Host permissions for YouTube: To interact with YouTube video pages
• Host permissions for OpenAI: To send requests to OpenAI API for AI responses
• Host permissions for Google Analytics: To send anonymous usage statistics (can be disabled)

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify users of any material changes by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy and, where appropriate, through the extension interface.

11. Contact Information

12. Consent

By installing and using WatchBuddy, you consent to the collection and processing of information as described in this Privacy Policy. You can withdraw consent for analytics at any time through the extension settings.