Privacy Policy for The WithAudio Web Companion

1. Overview

The WithAudio Web Companion ("the Extension") is a browser extension that converts web page text to audio. This privacy policy explains how we handle your data when you use our extension.

2. Data Collection and Usage

2.1 Data We Access

The Extension accesses the following data from web pages you visit:

• Web Page Content: Text content, headings, paragraphs, and document metadata (title, author, publication date) from the active web page
• Page Structure: DOM (Document Object Model) structure to extract readable content
• Images: Cover images or featured images from web pages for display purposes

2.2 How Data Is Processed

• Local Processing: All text extraction and processing happens locally in your browser and on your local machine via the WithAudio desktop application
• Native Messaging: The Extension communicates with the WithAudio desktop application installed on your computer using Chrome's Native Messaging API
• No Cloud Storage: We do not store, transmit, or upload your web page content to any cloud servers or third-party services
• Text-to-Speech Conversion: All audio generation is performed by the WithAudio desktop application on your local machine

2.3 Data We Store Locally

• Extension Settings: Your preferences and configuration options are stored locally using Chrome's storage API
• Activation State: Which websites you've activated the extension on (stored locally in your browser)
• Playback Position: Your current playback position for seamless listening experience

3. Permissions Explanation

3.1 Required Permissions

• nativeMessaging: Required to communicate with the WithAudio desktop application installed on your computer. This allows the extension to send text content to the desktop app for audio conversion.
• storage: Required to save your preferences, settings, and playback state locally in your browser.
• activeTab: Required to read and extract text content from the web page you're currently viewing when you activate the extension.
• scripting: Required to inject the audio player interface into web pages.

3.2 Host Permissions (<all_urls>)

The Extension requests access to all websites (<all_urls>) to allow you to use text-to-speech functionality on any website you visit. This permission is only used when you explicitly activate the extension on a page. The extension does not automatically collect or process data from websites you visit without your explicit action.

4. Data Sharing and Third Parties

• We do not sell, trade, or share your data with third parties
• We do not transmit web page content to external servers
• We do not use analytics or tracking services
• All processing happens locally on your device

5. Data Security

Since all data processing happens locally on your device:

• Your web page content never leaves your computer
• Communication between the browser extension and desktop application uses Chrome's secure Native Messaging protocol
• No data is transmitted over the internet to our servers (we don't have any servers for content processing)

6. Data Retention

• Extension settings: Stored locally in your browser until you uninstall the extension or clear browser data
• Web page content: When you import or play content, it is stored locally on your computer in the WithAudio desktop application. This data remains on your local machine until you delete it from within the WithAudio app or uninstall the WithAudio desktop application
• Uninstalling the browser extension: Removes extension settings from your browser but does not delete content stored in the WithAudio desktop application
• All data storage is local: No data is transmitted to or stored on remote servers

7. User Rights and Control

You have complete control over your data:

• Access: All data is stored locally on your device - extension settings in your browser and content in the WithAudio desktop application
• Deletion:
  • Extension settings: Delete by uninstalling the extension or clearing browser storage
  • Imported content: Delete from within the WithAudio desktop application or by uninstalling the desktop app
• Disable: You can disable the extension at any time through your browser's extension management page
• Selective Use: You choose which websites to activate the extension on

8. Children's Privacy

The Extension does not knowingly collect or process data from children under 13 years of age. Since all processing is local and no data is transmitted to servers, we have no way to determine the age of users.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy. Continued use of the Extension after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

10. Open Source

The Extension's source code may be available for review, allowing you to verify our privacy practices and see exactly how your data is handled.

12. Summary

In short:

• ✅ All processing happens locally on your device
• ✅ No data is sent to external servers
• ✅ No tracking or analytics
• ✅ No data sharing with third parties
• ✅ You have complete control over your data