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Privacy Policy for ATOM - Mindful Browsing

Last Updated: January 2026

1. Introduction

ATOM - Mindful Browsing ("we", "our", or "the extension") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our Chrome Extension.

Core Principle: We do not track, sell, or transmit your personal browsing history to any external servers owned by us. Your data primarily lives on your device.

2. Information We Collect & How We Use It

A. Browsing Activity (Local Processing)

  • Data: The extension monitors the URLs of the websites you visit and the time spent on them.
  • Purpose: This data is processed locally on your device to detect "doomscrolling" patterns (extended usage duration) and to trigger interventions (such as breathing exercises or blockage screens) based on your sensitivity settings.
  • Storage: This behavioral data is stored locally using chrome.storage.local and is not transmitted to our servers.

B. User Input (Journaling)

  • Data: Text entries, emotional states (emojis), and tags you voluntarily input into the "Journal" feature.
  • Purpose: To help you reflect on your browsing habits and emotional triggers.
  • Storage: Stored locally on your device.

C. API Keys

  • Data: Your personal Google Gemini API Key.
  • Purpose: To authenticate requests sent to Google's Generative AI services for the purpose of analyzing your journal entries and providing personalized advice.
  • Storage: Stored securely in chrome.storage.local.

D. User Settings (Safe Zone / Whitelist)

  • Data: The list of specific website domains that you manually designate as "Safe Zones" (Whitelist) via the context menu.
  • Purpose: To exempt these specific websites from the extension's tracking and intervention logic, ensuring uninterrupted work or study sessions.
  • Storage: This list is strictly stored locally on your device using chrome.storage.local.

3. Third-Party Services (Google Gemini AI)

This extension uses Google Gemini API (Generative AI) to provide smart analysis and personalized advice.

  • Data Transmission: When you use the "Journal" or "Analyze" features, the text of your journal entry and strictly limited context (current website domain, duration) are sent directly from your browser to Google's servers via their API.
  • No Intermediary: This data goes directly to Google; it does not pass through any server owned by the ATOM developer.
  • Governance: The processing of this data is subject to Google's Generative AI Terms of Service and Google Privacy Policy.

4. Permissions Justification

To function effectively, ATOM requires specific permissions:

  • tabs & <all_urls>: Required to monitor active time on websites to prevent addiction and verify if a site is in your "Safe Zone" (Whitelist).
  • storage: Required to save your settings, whitelist, and journal logs locally.
  • scripting: Required to display the overlay (interventions) on top of web pages.

5. Data Retention & Deletion

  • Retention: All data is retained locally on your browser until you remove the extension.
  • Deletion: You can clear all stored data at any time by clicking the "Clear Data" (Reset) button in the extension popup or by uninstalling the extension.

6. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact the developer at: