Privacy Policy

1. Overview & summary

YouScript (“the Extension”, “I”, “my”) is a Chrome extension that adds a card to youtube.com video pages. The card shows the transcript YouTube already has for the video and lets you search it, jump to a moment, switch its language, and copy or download it. It is built and maintained by an independent developer and is not affiliated with YouTube or Google LLC.

2. What YouScript handles

The only information the Extension ever works with is:

• Your settings — three on/off choices: load the transcript automatically, show timestamps, follow the video while it plays.
• The YouTube page you are looking at — the Extension reads the transcript lines and the list of caption languages that YouTube already shows or holds for the video you have open. This happens on your device and the text is shown in the card; it is not stored or sent to me.
• Diagnostic reports — if the card cannot read a transcript it offers a “Copy details” button. The report lists element names, counts and the video’s id. It stays on your screen and in your clipboard if you press the button. It is sent to nobody unless you choose to paste it into an email to me.
• Boosts (website only) — if you choose to send a tip on this website’s boost page, the amount and the optional name and message you type are stored so the boost can be recorded. The extension itself never sees or sends any of this.
• Downloads — “.txt” and “.srt” save the transcript you are viewing to your own computer through the browser’s normal download. The file never passes through any server.

3. Permissions explained

YouScript asks for only the permissions below. Each is used exclusively for the feature described and not to collect data:

YouScript does not use the tabs, history, cookies, webRequest or <all_urls> permissions, has no background service, and does not run on any site other than YouTube.

4. Network requests

The only network requests the extension causes go to YouTube itself, from your own YouTube tab:

• The language you choose. When you pick a language in the Language menu, the Extension asks YouTube’s caption service (www.youtube.com/api/timedtext) for the lines in that language. This is the same service YouTube’s own player uses for subtitles, and it uses the same short-lived token the player itself obtained.
• Turning captions on for a moment. If the player has not yet requested captions when you pick a language, the Extension switches the video’s captions button on briefly so the player obtains that token, then puts the button back as it was.

5. How data is stored

• The three settings are stored with chrome.storage.sync, which is managed by your browser.
• The developer has no access to your browser’s storage and receives nothing from it.
• The transcript itself is held in the page’s memory while the video is open and is discarded when you leave. It is never written to disk by the Extension, except when you press a download button.
• Nothing about your browsing or settings is stored on any server operated by me. The only exception is a tip you choose to send on the boost page (section 4).

6. Data sharing & third parties

I do not share, sell, rent or transfer any data to anyone. There are no analytics or telemetry libraries, no advertising networks, no data brokers, no AI services and no third-party SDKs in the Extension. The only third party involved is YouTube, which your browser already talks to when you watch a video, under YouTube’s own terms and privacy policy.

YouScript’s use and transfer of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Chrome Web Store User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.

7. Retention & deletion

• Remove everything by uninstalling YouScript from chrome://extensions. Settings kept by Chrome sync are removed from your account as part of the browser’s own sync controls.
• The developer holds no copy of anything, so there is nothing for me to delete on your behalf. If you emailed me a diagnostic report or screenshot that you want removed, write to me and I will delete it.

8. Children’s privacy

YouScript collects no personal information from anyone, including children under 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent where you live). If you are a parent or guardian and have concerns, please contact me.

9. Changes to this policy

If the Extension’s data practices ever change, I will update this page and its “Last updated” date before the change ships. The current version is always at this address.

10. Contact

Questions or concerns about this policy or the Extension’s data practices: