Privacy Policy

Last updated:

WebNarrator is a browser extension that reads selected text aloud using your operating system’s built-in text-to-speech engine. This policy explains what the extension does and does not do with your information.

The short version: WebNarrator does not collect, transmit, sell, or share any personal data. Everything happens locally in your browser.

Data we collect

None.

WebNarrator does not collect, store, or transmit any personal information, browsing history, page content, selected text, audio, or usage analytics. There are no accounts, no servers, no telemetry, no cookies, no third-party SDKs, and no remote code.

The extension never makes a network request.

Data stored on your device

WebNarrator uses the browser’s local storage API to remember your preferences between sessions:

This data never leaves your device. Uninstalling the extension removes it.

Permissions

WebNarrator requests the minimum permissions required to do its job. Each is explained below.

Permission Why it’s needed
contextMenus Adds the “Read selected text aloud” item to the right-click menu.
storage Persists your voice and playback-speed preferences locally across sessions.
scripting Injects the content script that highlights words as they’re spoken on the active tab.
Host access (<all_urls>) Required so you can use WebNarrator on any webpage you choose. The extension reads only the text you have selected; it does not scan, store, or transmit page contents.

Text-to-speech processing

Speech synthesis is performed by the Web Speech API using voices installed on your operating system. WebNarrator does not send selected text to any external service.

Note that some operating systems ship voices explicitly labeled “Online” or “Cloud” (for example, certain Microsoft Natural voices on Windows). If you choose one of those voices, your OS may send the text to its own servers to synthesize audio. That happens at the OS level, is outside WebNarrator’s control, and is governed by your OS vendor’s privacy policy. To keep synthesis fully local, pick a voice that is not marked “Online”.

Third parties

WebNarrator does not share data with any third party because WebNarrator does not collect data in the first place.

The extension does not include:

Children’s privacy

WebNarrator is not directed at children under 13 and does not knowingly collect any information from anyone, including children. Because no data is collected, no data about children is collected.

Changes to this policy

If this policy changes, the “Last updated” date at the top of this page will change. Material changes will also be noted in a blog post on this site.

Contact

Questions about this policy? Email david@linkidex.com or join the Discord.