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# Privacy Policy
Last Updated: June 16, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how the «Word Counter – Character Counter» browser extension ("we", "us", "our") handles information when you use the extension (the "Service").
**The short version: your text never leaves your device. All counting happens locally in your browser. We never see, upload, or store your text. We collect only anonymous usage statistics to improve the product.**
## Our Principles
- Privacy policies should be human-readable and accurate.
- We collect the minimum needed to improve the product.
- Your text is yours: all counting is 100% local.
## Information We Do NOT Collect
- Your text, selections, the contents of fields you type in, or anything you paste: counting runs entirely on your device; your text is never uploaded to any server.
- Your name, email address, account credentials, or payment information: the extension requires no account.
- Your browsing history or the content of websites you visit.
## Information We Collect
### Anonymous Usage Analytics
To understand how the extension is used and to improve it, we collect anonymous usage statistics via PostHog (PostHog Inc., USA), an analytics provider. This includes:
- A randomly generated anonymous identifier stored in your browser. It is not linked to your identity and contains no personal details.
- Product events: e.g. that a count happened, where the counted text came from (a selection on the page, a text field, or pasted text), bucketed word- and character-count ranges (for example "51–200"), the interface language, and interactions with extension features (opening the side panel, copying results, the toolbar-icon mode, setting a word goal, ratings, feedback, and language changes). We never send the text itself, only these non-identifying signals.
- Cumulative usage statistics: totals computed on your device, such as how many times and how often you use the extension, attached to the anonymous identifier to help us understand usage patterns.
- Technical information: browser type and version, operating system, device type, screen size, and browser language, derived from your browser's user-agent string.
- Approximate location (country/city level) and time zone, derived by PostHog from your IP address when events are received. We do not collect precise location.
- Anonymous error reports (technical stack traces from the extension's own code) to help us fix bugs. No text content is included in error reports.
### Locally Stored Data
The extension stores your preferences (such as the toolbar-icon mode, your word goal, the interface language, and usage counters) in your browser's local extension storage. This data stays on your device and is removed when you uninstall the extension.
### Information You Provide Voluntarily
If you choose to submit feedback through our feedback form (hosted by Google Forms), we receive what you write and, only if you choose to provide it, your email address. Contacting us by email naturally shares your email address with us.
## How We Use Information
We use the collected information to:
- Understand which features are used and improve the product;
- Diagnose and fix errors;
- Decide which languages to prioritize;
- Analyze aggregate usage trends (e.g. typical text sizes counted).
We do not sell your information. We do not use it for advertising. We do not combine it with data from other sources to identify you.
## Who We Share Information With
- **PostHog Inc. (USA)**: processes the anonymous analytics described above on our behalf. PostHog's privacy policy: https://posthog.com/privacy
- **Google LLC**: only if you voluntarily submit our feedback form (Google Forms).
- **Legal requirements**: we may disclose information if required to do so by law or valid legal process.
## Your Choices and Rights
- **Stopping data collection**: analytics are an integral part of the Service. If you do not wish usage statistics to be collected, you can stop using and uninstall the extension: no data is collected when it is not installed. Locally stored preferences are removed on uninstall.
- **EEA/UK rights**: subject to applicable law, you may request access to, correction of, or deletion of data, object to or restrict processing, and lodge a complaint with your supervisory authority. Note that because our analytics identifier is anonymous and not linked to your identity, we generally cannot single out which stored analytics relate to you.
- To exercise these rights, email word.counter.ext@gmail.com.
## International Transfers
Analytics data is processed on PostHog's servers in the United States. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards for such transfers in accordance with applicable data protection law.
## Data Retention
Anonymous analytics are retained only as long as needed for the purposes above. Locally stored preferences remain on your device until you clear them or uninstall the extension.
## Security
Analytics data is transmitted over encrypted connections (HTTPS). Since your text never leaves your device, the most sensitive data, your text, is protected by not being transmitted at all.
## Children
The Service is not directed at children under 13 (or under 16 where GDPR applies). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children; the analytics we collect is anonymous for all users.
## Changes to This Policy
We may update this Policy as the Service evolves. We will post changes on this page and update the "Last Updated" date above. Material changes will be highlighted as required by law.
## Contact
Questions about this Privacy Policy: word.counter.ext@gmail.com
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