Privacy Policy – Hero Shield

Last Updated: June 2025

Introduction

Hero Shield (“the extension”) is a Chrome browser extension designed to provide content filtering for children. This privacy policy explains what information we collect, how it is used, and how we protect your and your child’s privacy.

Information We Collect

Our extension collects and processes the following information:

• Browsing Data: The extension analyzes URLs and page content to determine if they should be filtered.
• YouTube Content: For YouTube videos, we extract video titles, channel names, and descriptions to improve filtering accuracy.
• Extension Settings: Configuration options you set (filter strength, approved/blocked sites, etc.).
• Hero Choice Log: Records of when a child chooses to visit a site after being presented with the Hero Choice option.
• License Information: Your license key and device activation information when you activate the extension.
• Trial Usage: Days remaining and trial status for free trial users.
• Device Identifier: A unique identifier for your device that helps manage license activations.

Data Storage and Processing

Data storage and processing occurs in three locations:

• Local Storage: Most of your data (settings, browsing data, blocked/approved sites, Hero Choice logs, and cached evaluations) is stored locally on your device using Chrome’s built-in storage APIs.
• License Server: License-related information and trial status are processed through our secure server to validate and manage your subscription.
• AI Proxy Server: Content evaluation requests are temporarily processed through our secure proxy server, but no data is permanently stored there.

License Management

To provide license management services, we collect and process:

• License Key: The unique key you receive when purchasing a license.
• Device Name: The name you provide for your device during activation (e.g., “Home Laptop”).
• Device Fingerprint: A unique identifier created from your device characteristics to prevent unauthorized sharing of licenses.
• Activation Date: When you activated the license on your device.

This information is necessary to validate your license, enforce activation limits, and allow you to manage your activated devices.

AI Content Evaluation

The extension uses artificial intelligence to evaluate content appropriateness through our secure proxy server. When AI evaluation is enabled:

• Data Sent: We send URLs, page titles, YouTube video information (title, channel, description), and search queries to our proxy server for AI evaluation.
• Proxy Server: Our proxy server (hosted on secure cloud infrastructure) forwards evaluation requests to AI services and returns only the filtering decision.
• Third-Party AI: AI evaluation is performed by OpenAI’s services, subject to OpenAI’s privacy policy.
• No Personal Data: We do not send personal information, full page content, or browsing history.
• Caching: Evaluation results are cached locally for 24 hours to improve performance and reduce server requests.

COPPA Compliance (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act)

This extension is designed for use by children under parental supervision. In accordance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA):

• We collect only the information necessary for the operation of the extension.
• Browsing data is stored and processed locally on the device, not on external servers.
• The guide password feature is intended to be controlled by parents, ensuring parental consent for settings changes.
• The Hero Choice feature encourages children to make good decisions with parental guidance.
• We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent.

Data Security

• All server communications are transmitted securely using HTTPS encryption.
• Our license and proxy servers use industry-standard security practices to protect your data.
• AI evaluation requests are processed through secure, encrypted connections.
• No sensitive data is permanently stored on our proxy servers.
• We do not sell, rent, or lease your information to third parties.
• YouTube content extraction occurs locally on your device and is not transmitted unless needed for AI evaluation.

Data Retention

• Hero Choice logs are automatically purged after 4 weeks.
• Cached content evaluations expire after 24 hours.
• License information is retained for the duration of your license plus 30 days to facilitate renewals.
• All local data is cleared by uninstalling the extension.

Your Rights

As a parent or guardian, you have the right to:

• Review the information collected about your child’s browsing through the extension interface.
• Delete information by removing entries from the Hero Choice log.
• Restrict processing by adjusting filter settings or disabling the extension.
• Request deletion of your license information by contacting us.
• Deactivate licenses on devices you no longer use through the extension interface.

Important Disclaimers

• No filtering technology is 100% effective. Adult supervision remains essential.
• This extension is a tool to assist parents and educators, not a replacement for proper guidance.
• The effectiveness of content filtering depends on the filter settings you choose.
• AI evaluation has limitations and may occasionally misclassify content.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by updating the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy.

Contact Us

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

Acton Academy Rexburg
[email protected]
https://actonrexburg.org/heroshield/