Privacy Policy

Introduction

Essence Scholar ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our browser extension and website.

What We Collect

Information We Collect

• Academic Paper Content: Temporary access to paper content for AI analysis
• User Preferences: Extension settings and configuration choices
• Analysis Results: AI-generated summaries and insights (stored locally)

Information We Do NOT Collect

• Personal identifying information (name, email, address)
• Browsing history outside of analysis
• User credentials or login information
• Personal research notes or annotations
• Health, financial, or authentication information
• Location data or web history
• User activity tracking

How We Use Your Information

Core Functionality

• Paper Analysis: Process academic content to generate AI-powered summaries
• User Experience: Remember your preferences and settings
• Performance: Cache frequently accessed data for faster analysis

Data Processing

• Local Processing: Content analysis performed locally when possible
• Remote Processing: AI analysis sent to our secure backend service
• Temporary Storage: Paper content held only during analysis
• Secure Transmission: All data transmitted using HTTPS encryption

Data Storage and Security

Storage Practices

• Local Storage: User preferences and analysis history stored locally on your device
• No Cloud Storage: We do not store user data in cloud databases
• Temporary Processing: Paper content is deleted after analysis
• User Control: You can clear stored data at any time

Security Measures

• HTTPS Encryption: All data transmission is encrypted
• Local Processing: Sensitive data processed locally when possible
• No Tracking: We do not track your browsing behavior
• Open Source: Code is transparent and auditable

Third-Party Services

AI Backend Service

• Purpose: Provides AI analysis capabilities
• Data Shared: Only paper content for analysis
• Security: Secure HTTPS transmission
• Retention: No permanent storage of your data

No Third-Party Tracking

• We do not use advertising networks
• We do not include tracking pixels
• We do not sell or share data with advertisers

Your Rights and Choices

Data Control

• Access: View your stored preferences and settings
• Delete: Clear all stored data at any time
• Opt-out: Disable the extension to stop data collection
• Export: Request a copy of your stored data

Browser Permissions

The extension requires the following permissions:

• activeTab: To read academic paper content for analysis
• scripting: To inject analysis tools into web pages
• storage: To save your preferences and settings
• notifications: To inform you of analysis status
• host_permissions: To access SSRN and our AI backend

Data Retention

Retention Period

• Analysis Data: Deleted immediately after processing
• User Preferences: Stored locally until you clear them
• Cached Data: Automatically cleared when no longer needed

Deletion

• Automatic: Temporary data deleted after use
• Manual: You can clear all stored data anytime
• Extension Removal: All data deleted when extension is uninstalled

Children's Privacy

Our extension is designed for academic research and is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

International Users

If you are using our extension from outside the United States, please note that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States where our servers are located.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy on our website
• Updating the "Last updated" date
• Notifying users through the extension if significant changes occur

Legal Basis

This Privacy Policy is provided in compliance with:

• Chrome Web Store Developer Program Policies
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
• Other applicable privacy laws

Data Protection Officer

For privacy-related inquiries, please contact: