Last updated: 2 October 2026

Privacy Policy for Notetaker for YouTube

Notetaker for YouTube (“the extension”) is a Chrome browser extension developed by SaiThejas Manjunath (saithejas.com). It lets you take timestamped notes, with optional video screenshots, while watching YouTube videos and Shorts, keep notes from several videos in one document, and export that document as Markdown or PDF. This policy explains exactly what data the extension handles. It applies only to the extension; our website’s general Privacy Policy covers zingybear.com.

Summary

• The extension has no backend server, no accounts, and no analytics.
• It does not collect, transmit, sell, or share any personal data. Your notes and screenshots stay on your device.
• No data is sent to the developer or to any analytics, advertising, or tracking service.

What the extension handles

• Your notes. The text you type, the video timestamp recorded with each note, and your document title.
• Video details. For each video you take notes on, the extension saves its ID and link, title, channel name, and description, which it reads from the YouTube page you are viewing.
• Screenshots. If you tick “Screenshot”, the extension saves the current video frame as an image with that note.
• Your settings. Custom prompt presets and the last prompt you used for the optional ChatGPT share.

All of this is stored locally in your browser using chrome.storage.local. It never leaves your device unless you choose to export or share it (see below). Choosing Cancel or Discard in the side panel, or uninstalling the extension, deletes it.

The extension reads YouTube pages only to get the current playback time, the video’s details, and the current video frame for notes you create.

Network requests

• Video title lookup. If YouTube’s player does not provide a video’s title, the extension asks YouTube’s public oEmbed service (youtube.com) for it, sending only the video ID. This is a request to YouTube, subject to YouTube’s own privacy policy. No data is sent to us.
• Share to ChatGPT (optional). If you click this button, the extension opens chatgpt.com and places your prompt and your notes (without screenshots) into the chat box. It never submits the message; you decide whether to send it. Once you send it, it is handled under OpenAI’s terms and privacy policy, not ours.

Exports

Markdown, PDF, and clipboard exports are generated on your device and go only where you choose to save or paste them. Markdown and PDF exports can include your screenshots; copied text does not. Exported documents include a small credit line linking to saithejas.com.

Permissions

• storage, unlimitedStorage — to save your notes document locally. Screenshots can be large, so unlimited storage keeps long documents from hitting the default quota.
• sidePanel — to show the notes panel next to the video.
• scripting — to read the playback time, video details, and current frame from the YouTube tab, to jump the video to a timestamp when you click it, and to fill the ChatGPT chat box when you ask.
• Access to youtube.com — used only on YouTube pages for the purposes above, and for the title lookup described under Network requests.
• Access to chatgpt.com — used only for the optional share feature.

The extension does not execute remotely hosted code. All code is included in the extension package.

Data sale, use, and retention

We do not sell or transfer user data to third parties, do not use or transfer data for purposes unrelated to the extension’s single purpose, and do not use or transfer data to determine creditworthiness or for lending purposes. We do not retain any user data, because we do not receive any.

Children

The extension is not directed at children and collects no data from anyone.

Changes

Any changes to this policy will be published on this page with an updated “Last updated” date.

Contact

Questions about this policy: saithejas.manjunath@gmail.com.

This is an independent project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Google LLC or YouTube. “YouTube” is a trademark of Google LLC. “ChatGPT” is a trademark of OpenAI.