Privacy Policy for NarrateIt

Last Updated: October 7, 2025

Introduction

NarrateIt ("we," "our," or "the extension") is a Chrome browser extension that converts web articles into natural-sounding audio. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we handle your data.

Data We Collect

1. Local Storage Data

The following data is stored locally on your device using Chrome's storage APIs:

• User Settings: Your preferences including TTS provider selection, voice settings, playback speed, and feature preferences
• API Keys: Third-party API keys (OpenAI, ElevenLabs, Play.ht) that you provide for text-to-speech services
• Playlist Data: Articles you save to your playlist, including:
  • Article title, author, and URL
  • Extracted article content
  • Save timestamp
  • Estimated reading time
  • Download status

2. Sync Storage Data

The following data is stored in Chrome's sync storage (synchronized across your Chrome browsers where you're signed in):

• User ID: A unique, anonymized identifier generated using cryptographic hashing (SHA-256)
• User Tier: Your subscription level (free or pro)
• Daily Usage: Count of articles processed per day
• Last Reset Date: Timestamp for daily usage limit tracking

3. Web Content Processing

When you use NarrateIt to narrate a web page:

• Article Content: We extract text content from the current web page you're viewing
• Page Metadata: We collect the page title, author, URL, domain, publication date, and word count
• This data is processed locally on your device and stored only in your local Chrome storage

4. Data We Do NOT Collect

We do not:

• Track your browsing history beyond pages you explicitly choose to narrate
• Collect personal identification information (name, email, phone number, etc.)
• Use cookies or tracking pixels
• Share your data with third parties for advertising purposes
• Send your data to our servers (the extension operates entirely client-side)

How We Use Your Data

Local Processing Only

All data processing occurs locally in your browser. We use your data to:

1. Provide Core Functionality:
   • Extract and convert web articles to audio
   • Maintain your playlist of saved articles
   • Apply your preferred settings and voice options
2. Manage Usage Limits:
   • Track daily article conversions for free tier limits
   • Reset usage counters daily
3. Integrate with Third-Party TTS Services:
   • Send article text to your chosen TTS provider (OpenAI, ElevenLabs, or Play.ht) using your API key
   • This is only done if you provide an API key and select a third-party provider

Third-Party Services

Text-to-Speech Providers

When you use third-party TTS providers (OpenAI, ElevenLabs, or Play.ht):

• Data Shared: Only the article text you choose to convert is sent to the provider
• Your Responsibility: You provide your own API keys; please review each provider's privacy policy:
  • OpenAI Privacy Policy
  • ElevenLabs Privacy Policy
  • Play.ht Privacy Policy
• Data Processing: These providers process your text according to their own privacy policies

Browser Speech Synthesis

When using the browser's built-in TTS (fallback option):

• No data is sent to external servers
• Processing is entirely local within your browser

Permissions Explained

NarrateIt requests the following Chrome permissions:

Permission	Purpose
storage	Store your settings, API keys, and playlist locally
activeTab	Extract content from the current tab when you click "Listen"
scripting	Inject content scripts to add the floating "Listen" button
tabs	Manage audio playback state across tabs
contextMenus	Add "Narrate this page" to right-click menu
offscreen	Enable persistent audio playback across page navigation
alarms	Reset daily usage counters automatically
notifications	Show notifications when articles are saved
downloads	Allow downloading audio files when requested
<all_urls>	Enable article extraction from any website you visit

Data Security

We implement the following security measures:

• API Keys: Stored locally in Chrome's secure storage, never transmitted to our servers
• User ID: Generated using SHA-256 cryptographic hashing to ensure anonymity
• Local Storage: All data stored using Chrome's built-in storage APIs with appropriate security
• No Server Storage: We don't operate servers that collect or store your data

Data Retention

• Local Data: Retained until you manually clear it or uninstall the extension
• Sync Data: Retained in Chrome sync until you sign out or clear sync data
• Uninstallation: Some sync data (user ID, tier) may persist in Chrome sync to maintain your account if you reinstall

Your Rights and Choices

You have the right to:

1. Access Your Data: All your data is stored locally; you can view it in Chrome DevTools
2. Delete Your Data:
   • Clear playlist: Use the "Clear Playlist" button in settings
   • Remove all data: Uninstall the extension
   • Clear sync data: Sign out of Chrome sync
3. Export Your Data: Use the "Export Playlist" button to download your playlist as JSON
4. Opt-Out of Third-Party Services: Use the browser's built-in TTS instead of third-party providers

Children's Privacy

NarrateIt is not directed to individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be indicated by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy. Continued use of the extension after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Open Source

NarrateIt may be open source. You can review our code to verify our privacy practices.

Contact Information

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

• Email: 01buildzone@gmail.com

Compliance

This extension complies with:

• Chrome Web Store Developer Program Policies
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) principles
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) requirements

Data Processing Summary

Data Type	Storage Location	Retention	Third-Party Sharing
Settings	Local Chrome Storage	Until cleared	None
API Keys	Local Chrome Storage	Until cleared	Sent only to selected TTS provider
Playlist	Local Chrome Storage	Until cleared	None
User ID	Chrome Sync Storage	Persistent across reinstalls	None
Usage Stats	Chrome Sync Storage	Reset daily	None
Article Content	Temporary/Local	Until playback ends or saved	Sent only to selected TTS provider