YT ScholarBack

Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 2026

Overview

YT Scholar ("we", "our", "us") is a Chrome extension that transforms YouTube into a focused learning environment. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we handle your data.

Data We Collect

Local Data (stored in your browser)

  • Notes, bookmarks, and screenshots you create
  • Extension settings and preferences
  • Course and watch later data
  • Watch time statistics

This data is stored locally in your browser using Chrome's storage API. It never leaves your device unless you explicitly enable cloud sync or use the export feature.

Account Data (if you create an account)

  • Email address
  • Subscription status and billing information (processed by Paddle, our payment provider and Merchant of Record)
  • Synced notes, bookmarks, and other learning data

AI Feature Data

When you use AI features (summaries, flashcards, quizzes), the video's transcript is sent to our server and processed using OpenAI's GPT-4o-mini. Transcripts are not stored after processing. The generated content is returned to you and stored locally or in your cloud account.

Optional Product Analytics (opt-in)

The extension includes first-party product analytics that is off by default. It only runs if you explicitly opt in from Settings → Privacy. When enabled, anonymous usage events (such as which features are used) are stored in our own database — no third-party analytics providers are involved, and URLs are reduced to the video ID before being recorded. You can withdraw consent at any time, which also discards any queued events.

Third-Party Services

  • Supabase — Cloud database and authentication, hosted in EU (eu-west-1, Ireland)
  • OpenAI — AI content generation (transcripts processed, not stored)
  • Paddle — Payment processor and Merchant of Record for subscriptions. Your card details are entered on and processed entirely by Paddle; we never see or store them. See Paddle's privacy policy.
  • Notion API / Google Docs API — Only when you initiate an export, using OAuth authorization

What We Don't Do

  • We do not use third-party analytics or tracking scripts (our optional first-party analytics is off unless you opt in)
  • We do not serve ads or use ad networks
  • We do not sell, share, or trade your data with third parties
  • We do not track your browsing history beyond youtube.com

Data Hosting

All cloud data is hosted on Supabase in the EU (eu-west-1 region, Ireland). This ensures compliance with EU data protection standards.

Your Rights (GDPR)

You have the right to:

  • Access — Request a copy of all data we hold about you
  • Export — Export all your data at any time (Markdown export is free for everyone; Notion and Google Docs export on paid plans)
  • Delete — Delete your account and all associated data from Settings
  • Portability — All local data remains in your browser even without an account

Contact

For privacy-related questions or data requests, contact us at privacy@ytscholar.com.