Privacy Policy

Last updated: February 07, 2026

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your data when you use our Chrome Extension ("Focus Ex"). By installing and using Focus Ex, you consent to this policy and the Terms and Conditions.

We prioritize your privacy and are committed to transparency regarding how your data is handled to enhance your experience with Focus Ex.

Data Controller

The data controller responsible for your personal data is:

• Name: Szabolcs Vatány
• Email: [email protected]
• Location: Hungary

2. Definitions

• Account: A unique account created for you to access the Focus Ex Chrome Extension or parts of its features.
• Personal Data: Information that identifies or can identify you, such as your email address.
• Usage Data: Data collected automatically through the extension, such as interactions and session duration.
• Device: Any device capable of accessing the extension, including computers, mobile phones, and tablets.
• Service Provider: Third-party companies or individuals processing data on our behalf to enable Focus Ex’s functionality.
• Processing: Activities involving the collection, storage, and analysis of data to improve Focus Ex.

3. Product Description

Focus Ex is a Chrome Extension designed to improve online reading through features like text customization (letter size, spacing, line height, paragraph width), skimming and deep reading modes with sentence-level navigation, hiding distracting UI elements, and AI-powered features including summarization, explanation, and content search (for subscribed users). The extension also provides auto-run functionality on preferred domains and RSS feed integration for article discovery.

4. Consent Management

By installing Focus Ex, you consent to the collection and processing of data as described in this Privacy Policy. You may withdraw consent at any time by uninstalling the extension or contacting us at [email protected].

5. Data Collection and Usage

5.1 Types of Data Collected

We may collect the following data to provide and improve Focus Ex:

• Personal Data: Email address, first name, and last name (only if provided voluntarily during account creation).
• Account Data: User ID, authentication tokens, and subscription status for authenticated users.
• Usage Data: Automatically collected information, such as user interactions, feature usage, session duration, and website domain names where the extension is used.
• Device Data: A unique device identifier (UUID) generated locally and browser type.
• Reading Analytics (Paid Users): Character count, word count, and paragraph count of transformed text.
• Preference Data: Text customization settings, auto-run domains, and RSS feed preferences.
• Feedback Data: Email address and feedback text when you submit feedback through the extension.
• AI Usage Data (Paid Users): Number of AI requests made per billing period.

5.2 Usage Data

Usage Data is collected to analyze how you interact with the extension and improve its features. Data collected includes:

• Interactions with the extension (e.g., toggling features, using text transformations, slider adjustments).
• Time spent using the extension and engagement metrics.
• Domain names of websites where the extension is used (e.g., "nytimes.com"). We do NOT collect full URLs, page titles, or article content.
• Feature-specific events (e.g., skimming mode, deep reading mode, AI feature usage).

For authenticated users, Usage Data may be associated with your user ID to provide personalized analytics and support.

5.3 Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

We process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

• Consent: When you create an account, submit feedback, or enable optional features. You can withdraw consent at any time.
• Contract Performance: To provide the extension's features and fulfill subscription services you have purchased.
• Legitimate Interests: To improve the extension, analyze usage patterns, and ensure security. Our legitimate interests include product improvement and fraud prevention, balanced against your privacy rights.

Providing personal data is voluntary. You can use basic extension features without creating an account. However, certain features (AI-powered tools, reading analytics sync) require account creation and data processing.

5.4 Analytics Data Collection

Focus Ex uses Mixpanel for product analytics. We collect the following data to improve our service:

• Feature Usage: Which reading features you use (e.g., Skimming, Deep Reading, Dark Mode).
• Domain Names: The website domain (e.g., "nytimes.com") where you use text transformation, distraction hiding, or article card features. This helps us optimize our algorithms for popular news and journal sites. We do NOT collect full URLs, page titles, or article content.
• Account Information: For logged-in users, your user ID are associated with usage data.
• Device Identifier: A randomly generated ID to understand usage patterns across sessions.

We use this data solely to improve Focus Ex. We do not sell your data or use it for advertising purposes.

5.5 Browser Permissions

Focus Ex requires the following browser permissions to function:

• Tabs: To track which tab is active and apply extension features per-tab.
• Storage: To save your preferences, settings, and authentication tokens locally.
• Active Tab: To access the currently active tab for text transformation features.
• Alarms: To schedule periodic tasks such as token refresh and subscription status checks.
• Bookmarks: To display your bookmarks on the new tab page when RSS feed feature is disabled.
• Search: To provide browser search functionality on the new tab page.
• Host Permissions (All URLs): To enable text transformation features on any website you visit.

6. Data Storage and Security

Your data is processed securely. We use encryption and industry-standard security measures to protect your information. Access is restricted to authorized personnel only.

Third-Party Services

• Mixpanel: Used for product analytics to improve the extension. Data sent includes device ID, user ID (if authenticated), email (if authenticated), feature usage events, and website domain names (not full URLs, page titles, or article content) where the extension is used. We do not use Mixpanel for advertising purposes.
• Firebase Authentication: Handles user account creation, login, and authentication securely.
• Firebase Firestore: Stores user preferences, authentication data, reading analytics, auto-run domains, feedback, and subscription information securely.
• OpenAI: Processes text for AI-powered features (summarization, explanation, and content search). Article text and user prompts are sent to OpenAI for processing. No data is stored or retained by OpenAI after processing.
• Stripe: Handles secure payment processing and subscription management. Focus Ex does not store or access sensitive payment details.

International Data Transfers

Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA), including the United States, where our third-party service providers (Mixpanel, Firebase/Google, OpenAI, Stripe) operate. These transfers are protected by:

• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission
• The service providers' compliance with applicable data protection frameworks
• Additional technical and organizational security measures

By using Focus Ex, you acknowledge and consent to the transfer of your data to these countries.

7. Data Retention

We retain anonymized data only as long as necessary for improvement and analysis purposes. Personal Data, if provided, is retained until you request deletion or withdraw consent. Upon request, all data (including anonymized data) will be deleted, unless required by law.

8. User Rights

Under GDPR and other applicable privacy laws, you have the following rights regarding your data:

• Right of Access: Request a copy of your personal data we hold.
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten").
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitation of how we process your data.
• Right to Data Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent.
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: File a complaint with your local data protection authority (for EU residents, this includes the Hungarian National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information - NAIH).

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

9. Children's Privacy

Focus Ex is not intended for children under the age of 16 (or 13 in the United States). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us at [email protected], and we will delete such information.

10. Compliance with Privacy Laws

Focus Ex complies with global privacy regulations, including:

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): Provides rights to EU residents regarding their data, including access, rectification, erasure, and data portability.
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): Offers California residents the right to know what personal information is collected, request deletion, and opt out of data sales. We do not sell your personal data.
• Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA): We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13.

11. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Focus Ex does not use cookies directly. However, third-party services (e.g., Mixpanel) may use cookies or similar technologies to collect usage data. A locally generated device identifier (UUID) is stored in Chrome's local storage for analytics purposes.

12. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Changes will be posted on this page with a new "Last updated" date. If significant changes are made, we will notify you via email or a prominent notice in the extension.

13. Contact

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data rights, contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Contact Me