This policy explains how the Y2 Reader Chrome Extension handles data. It applies to the extension and supplements the website Privacy Policy.
The extension is designed to provide synchronized subtitles, translated reading, dictionary lookups, and contextual word explanations while you watch YouTube videos.
1. Where the Extension Runs
The extension is permitted to load on pages under https://www.youtube.com/*. Its Y2 Reader interface and video-processing features start only on YouTube watch pages (https://www.youtube.com/watch). It does not run its product features on other websites.
On YouTube watch pages, the extension reads the current page and player state needed to attach its interface, identify the video, obtain captions, and synchronize the displayed subtitles with playback.
2. Information Read from YouTube
The extension reads only the information needed for the features you use, including:
- The current YouTube video ID, page URL, title, channel name, thumbnail, duration, and playback position.
- The available caption-track metadata, including the track name, source language, and caption availability.
- The text and timing of the selected YouTube caption track when subtitles are needed for an active subtitle session.
- The word or phrase you select in Y2 Reader subtitles, its containing sentence, offsets within that sentence, and the related video and subtitle-segment IDs when you request a contextual word explanation.
- The data needed to save or remove a contextual-word favorite, including the selected text, source sentence, video ID, and timestamp.
The extension also observes navigation between YouTube videos so that it can remove the prior subtitle session and display the correct controls for the current video.
3. Information Sent to Y2 Reader
The extension communicates with https://api.y2-reader.com to provide Y2 Reader features. It does not send all YouTube page content to Y2 Reader.
Subtitle sessions and translation
When you open Y2 Reader subtitles, the extension sends the video ID, selected target language, and source-language information to determine whether a subtitle package is already available. If a new streaming transcription is required, it also sends the selected caption text and timing, caption language and track metadata, and available video metadata (title, channel, thumbnail, and duration) so that Y2 Reader can create and display synchronized subtitles and translations.
While an extension subtitle session is active, it sends session events such as session start/end, subtitle status, playback position, active segment index, selected language, interface language, and event time to maintain recent-video and reading-progress state.
The extension may also retrieve generated subtitle or article resources from Y2 Reader's content-delivery and storage endpoints.
Dictionary and contextual word explanations
When the basic dictionary feature processes subtitle words, the extension sends the requested words and their source and display languages. When you select text for a contextual word explanation, it sends the selected word or phrase, its complete source sentence, character offsets, video ID, subtitle-segment ID, source language, and explanation language. These requests are used to return the requested dictionary or contextual explanation.
Account, entitlement, and favorites
When you sign in, refresh your session, use a feature that requires an account, check transcription availability, or manage a contextual-word favorite, the extension sends the required authentication token and request data to Y2 Reader. This lets Y2 Reader verify your account and entitlement, provide the feature, and save or remove the favorite you requested.
To obtain YouTube captions, the extension may request YouTube timed-text resources using your active YouTube browser session. Those requests are made to YouTube and remain subject to Google and YouTube policies.
4. Information Stored Locally
The extension uses Chrome extension storage to retain the following data on your device:
- Y2 Reader plugin access and refresh tokens, token expiry times, session ID, and granted scopes, so that the extension can keep you signed in and refresh an expiring session.
- Your subtitle target language, automatic-open preference, floating-subtitle display mode, position, width, and font size.
- Your contextual dictionary pop-up layout and your right-panel tab, article font size, and translation-display preferences.
The extension also stores a basic-dictionary cache in the YouTube page's local storage. That cache contains previously requested dictionary entries or negative lookup results, their cache timestamps, and last-access times. It reduces repeat dictionary requests.
Older versions may have stored a target-language preference and contextual-dictionary layout in YouTube page local storage. The current extension reads those values once to migrate them to Chrome extension storage and then removes the old values.
5. How We Use This Information
- To display and synchronize subtitles and translations with the YouTube player.
- To provide dictionary and contextual word-explanation requests you initiate.
- To authenticate your Y2 Reader account and apply your feature entitlement.
- To save your requested favorites, reading progress, recent videos, and extension preferences.
- To operate, secure, troubleshoot, and improve the performance and reliability of the user-facing features described in this policy.
6. Data Sharing and Retention
We do not sell personal information. To provide the functions described above, Y2 Reader uses service providers acting on our behalf for cloud hosting, storage and content delivery, authentication, translation, contextual explanations, and service security. These providers may process only the data necessary to provide the feature requested by the user.
Caption text and selected sentence context may be processed by translation or AI service providers solely to return the subtitle translation or contextual explanation requested through the extension. Extension data is not shared with advertising platforms, data brokers, or unrelated third parties.
YouTube and Google receive data when the extension reads YouTube pages or requests YouTube caption resources, under their own terms and policies.
Data held in Chrome extension storage remains on your device until you remove it, clear extension data, or uninstall the extension. Server-side account, subtitle, progress, and favorite data are handled under the website Privacy Policy.
7. Security and Limited Access
Data transmitted between the extension and Y2 Reader is sent over HTTPS. Authentication tokens are stored in Chrome extension storage; the extension's content script does not read them, and they are not sent to YouTube or exposed to YouTube page scripts.
We do not use extension data for personalized advertising, creditworthiness decisions, or sale to data brokers.
8. Chrome Web Store Limited Use
The use of information received from Google APIs and YouTube through the extension will adhere to the Chrome Web Store User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.
Y2 Reader uses this information only to provide and improve the user-facing subtitle, reading, dictionary, and contextual-explanation features described in this policy.
9. Your Choices and Contact
You can remove locally stored extension data by clearing the extension's data or uninstalling the extension in Chrome. You can contact us to request deletion of your Y2 Reader account or associated server-side data.