This policy applies specifically to the Readability Read Aloud Chrome extension published by AppBlit.
The short version
The extension does not require an account, does not include advertising or analytics, and does not sell, share, or use your data for advertising. Articles, PDFs, transcripts, summaries, speech generation, and library search are processed locally in your browser. AppBlit does not receive the pages or documents you read.
Information the extension handles
Only when you ask the extension to open content, it accesses the active page, PDF, X article, or YouTube video needed to provide reader mode, read-aloud, local summaries, and local search. This can include the page URL, title, author, article text, images, PDF contents, or YouTube transcript.
The extension stores the following on your device:
- Reader preferences, such as appearance and speech settings.
- Documents you open, their source URLs and metadata, locally generated summaries, and local search indexes.
- Downloaded AI and speech model files used for on-device features.
This information is kept in Chrome extension storage, IndexedDB, or browser caches. It is not uploaded to AppBlit.
Network requests
The extension connects to the internet only to provide features you request:
- To retrieve the page, image, or PDF you choose to open, using that content provider’s server.
- To retrieve a transcript for a YouTube video from YouTube/Google services.
- To download AI or speech model files from model hosting services such as Hugging Face. These downloads contain model files—not your articles, documents, transcripts, or summaries.
Permissions and why they are needed
- activeTab and scripting: extract readable content only from the page where you invoke the extension.
- tabs: open the reader and library, and identify the YouTube video you asked to read.
- storage and unlimitedStorage: keep your preferences, local reading library, summaries, search indexes, and downloaded models on your device.
- Host access: retrieve YouTube transcripts, download model files, and open local PDFs when you choose those features.
Data collection and disclosure
AppBlit does not collect personally identifiable information, authentication information, financial information, health information, browsing history, website content, or user activity through this extension. We do not sell or transfer extension data to third parties, use it for advertising or credit decisions, or use it for any purpose unrelated to the extension’s single purpose of making chosen content easier to read, hear, summarize, and search.
Your control and data retention
Locally saved documents remain on your device until you remove them. You can delete individual documents, clear the entire local library, and clear downloaded voice and model caches from within the extension. Uninstalling the extension also removes its Chrome-managed local data, subject to Chrome’s behavior and any browser backups or synchronization outside AppBlit’s control.
Security
Local processing reduces the need to transmit private reading material. No system can be guaranteed completely secure, but the extension limits access and data handling to what is needed for its stated features.
Children’s privacy
The extension is not directed at children under 13, and AppBlit does not knowingly collect personal information from children through the extension.
Changes to this policy
If the extension’s data practices change, we will update this page. Material changes will be reflected before the new practices apply.
Contact
Questions about this extension or policy can be sent to laurent@appblit.com.