VlogMap

Privacy Policy

Last updated: March 14, 2026

Overview

VlogMap ("the Extension") is a Chrome browser extension that extracts location names from YouTube video captions and displays them on an interactive map. Your privacy is important to us. This policy explains what data is collected, how it is used, and your rights.

Data We Collect

VlogMap collects and processes the following data only when you actively use the extension:

YouTube video captions (subtitles): When you click "Extract Places," the extension reads the caption/subtitle text of the currently active YouTube video. This text is sent to our server for AI-powered location extraction.
YouTube video metadata: The video title and description may be retrieved to improve extraction accuracy.
Saved location lists: If you save locations to a list, that data is stored locally in your browser using chrome.storage.local.

Data We Do NOT Collect

We do not collect your name, email address, or any personal identity information.
We do not track your browsing history or activity outside of YouTube.
We do not collect or access your YouTube account credentials or login session.
We do not use cookies or any third-party analytics or tracking services.
We do not sell, share, or monetize any user data.

How Data Is Used

Caption text is sent to our backend server solely to extract location names, addresses, and coordinates using an AI language model. The transcript text is not stored permanently on our servers — it is processed in real time and discarded after extraction. A temporary in-memory cache (up to 24 hours) may be used to avoid redundant processing of the same video.
Extracted locations (place names, addresses, coordinates) are returned to your browser and displayed on the map. They are not stored on our servers beyond the temporary cache.
Saved lists are stored entirely in your browser's local storage and never sent to any external server.

Third-Party Services

VlogMap uses the following third-party services to provide its functionality:

Google Gemini API: Used on our backend server to analyze caption text and extract location information. Google's API usage is governed by Google's Privacy Policy. Only the video caption text is sent to this API — no personal data is included.
OpenStreetMap / Leaflet: Used to render the interactive map. Map tiles are loaded from OpenStreetMap's public tile servers. No personal data is sent to OpenStreetMap.

Permissions

The extension requests the following browser permissions, each used for a specific purpose:

activeTab: To detect the current YouTube video URL when you interact with the extension.
scripting: To inject caption-reading scripts into YouTube pages for subtitle extraction.
tabs: To auto-fill the video URL and manage YouTube tabs during extraction.
storage: To save your location lists locally in the browser.
sidePanel: To display the extension interface as a side panel alongside YouTube videos.
Host access to youtube.com: To read video captions directly from YouTube's subtitle API.

Data Retention

Server-side: Caption text and extracted locations are held in a temporary in-memory cache for up to 24 hours to avoid redundant processing. No data is written to a database or permanent storage on our servers.
Client-side: Saved location lists persist in your browser's local storage until you delete them. Uninstalling the extension removes all locally stored data.

Data Security

All communication between the extension and our backend server is encrypted using HTTPS/TLS. No personal data is transmitted or stored. The extension does not require user accounts or authentication.

Children's Privacy

VlogMap is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect any personal information from children.

Your Rights

You can stop using the extension at any time by disabling or uninstalling it from Chrome.
You can delete all locally saved data by clearing the extension's storage in Chrome settings or by uninstalling the extension.
Since we do not collect personal data or maintain user accounts, there is no personal data to request, correct, or delete from our servers.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Any changes will be reflected on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Continued use of the extension after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact

If you have any questions or concerns about this privacy policy, please contact us at:

Email: support@vlogmap.com