CiteTrack Toolkit Chrome Extension Privacy Policy

Last updated: June 18, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how the CiteTrack SEO/AEO/GEO Toolkit Chrome extension (the “Extension”) handles information when you install and use it. The Extension is published by CiteTrack AI (“CiteTrack,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

This policy applies only to the Chrome extension. It does not replace the privacy policy for citetrackai.com, the CiteTrack AI WordPress plugin, or any paid CiteTrack AI product or service.

• Publisher: CiteTrack AI, operated by [insert legal company name if applicable]
• Website: https://citetrackai.com/
• Privacy contact: privacy@citetrackai.com

Short Version

• The Extension is designed to work as a free, no-login, local-first SEO, AEO, GEO, accessibility, speed, asset, responsive, and screenshot workflow tool.
• You do not need to create an account to use the Extension.
• The Extension does not sell user data.
• The Extension does not use user data for personalized ads, retargeting, credit decisions, or data brokerage.
• The Extension does not silently track your browsing history.
• Page audits are run only when you interact with the Extension on the current page.
• Most audit data is processed locally in your browser.
• Screenshots, blur/capture workflows, responsive previews, asset analysis, and page audit data are created for your use and are not uploaded to CiteTrack AI by default.
• Optional deeper checks may require Chrome permissions for the current site or may open third-party tools, such as PageSpeed Insights, Rich Results Test, Wayback Machine, or similar free tools.

What the Extension Does

The Extension helps users audit and document the current webpage. Features may include:

• On-page SEO checks: Title, meta description, canonical, robots, headings, schema, Open Graph, Twitter/X cards, hreflang, links, images, and word count.
• Technical SEO checks: HTTP status, redirects, response headers, X-Robots-Tag, robots.txt, sitemap discovery, llms.txt discovery, JavaScript visibility, and site stack hints.
• AEO/GEO and AI visibility readiness checks: Question/answer structure, entity signals, E-E-A-T proxy signals, AI citation readiness, and prompt workflows.
• Accessibility checks: Alt text, labels, landmarks, heading order, focusable elements, and contrast samples.
• Speed and resource checks: Browser performance data, including Core Web Vitals-style observations, resource timing, slowest resources, largest resources, and render-blocking candidates.
• Responsive QA tools: Visual responsive previews, device presets, custom viewports, workspace screenshots, and responsive evidence notes.
• Capture tools: Visible viewport screenshots, selected-area screenshots, full-page stitched screenshots, and privacy blur tools.
• Asset tools: Image inventory, missing alt text checks, per-image downloads, asset URL export, and local image optimization.
• Workflow exports: Copyable briefs, CSV exports, JSON exports, print/PDF reports, proposal prompts, developer fix prompts, and client summary prompts.

Information the Extension May Access or Handle

The Extension may access or handle the following information only to provide its user-facing features.

1. Current Page Content and Metadata

When you click the Extension and run an audit, the Extension may read information from the current page, including:

• Page URL and domain.
• Page title and meta tags.
• Canonical URL.
• Meta robots directives.
• Headings and visible text needed for word count, content, AEO/GEO, and accessibility checks.
• Links and link attributes.
• Image URLs, alt text, dimensions, lazy-loading attributes, and related asset metadata.
• Structured data, Open Graph tags, Twitter/X card tags, hreflang tags, and similar page markup.
• Browser-rendered DOM information used for JavaScript visibility and responsive checks.
• Resource timing information exposed by the browser for speed and performance analysis.

Note: This information is used solely to produce the audit shown to you in the Extension.

2. URLs, Status Codes, Headers, Robots, Sitemaps, and Link Checks

If you run deeper technical checks, the Extension may request data for the current URL, current site, robots.txt, sitemap candidates, llms.txt, same-origin internal links, or related current-site resources. These checks may include:

• HTTP status codes (e.g., 200, 301, 302, 404, or 500).
• Redirect chain and final URL.
• Response headers, including cache headers, server headers, and X-Robots-Tag.
• robots.txt and sitemap URLs.
• Same-origin internal link status checks.

Note: These checks are used to show technical SEO findings for the current site. The Extension is not designed to crawl unrelated websites in the background.

3. Screenshots and Capture Data

If you use the Capture, Blur + Capture, selected-area capture, full-page capture, or responsive workspace capture features, the Extension may create screenshots of the visible page or selected page area.

• Screenshots may contain website content, personal information, account information, client information, or other sensitive information if that content is visible on the page at the time of capture. The Extension includes blur tools so you can hide sensitive details before capturing.
• By default: Screenshots are generated locally in your browser, downloaded or copied for your own use, and are not uploaded to CiteTrack AI. We do not review your screenshots unless you intentionally send them to us (e.g., in a support request).

4. Asset and Image Data

If you use the asset tools, the Extension may read image URLs, file names, dimensions, alt text, and browser-accessible image data from the current page. If you choose to optimize images, optimization is performed locally in your browser where possible. Downloaded or optimized images are saved to your device at your direction and are not uploaded to CiteTrack AI by default.

5. Responsive Workspace Data

If you use the responsive workspace, the Extension may store device presets, custom viewport sizes, zoom settings, and recent workspace state in Chrome storage so the workspace is easier to reuse. Responsive previews depend on the target site’s framing and security settings; some sites may block previews.

6. Local Extension Settings

The Extension may store limited settings in Chrome storage, such as:

• Popup size preference.
• Device presets or custom responsive viewport settings.
• Temporary audit or workspace state.
• User interface preferences needed to operate the Extension.

These settings are stored locally in your browser unless a future version clearly states otherwise and asks for any required permission or consent.

7. Optional Cache-Clearing Data

If you use the Clear Cache feature, the Extension may request Chrome’s optional browsingData permission to clear selected browser data, such as cache, according to the action you choose. The Extension uses this permission only when you invoke the cache-clearing feature. CiteTrack AI does not receive a copy of your browser cache.

8. Third-Party Tool Links

The Extension may provide buttons or links to free third-party tools, such as Google PageSpeed Insights, Google Rich Results Test, Google Search Console, schema validation tools, W3C HTML validation tools, and the Wayback Machine.

When you click a third-party tool link, your browser may open that third-party website with the current page URL or domain included in the destination URL. Those third-party services may receive your IP address, browser information, referrer information, and the URL or domain you ask them to analyze. Their own privacy policies govern their handling of that data.

Information We Do Not Intentionally Collect

The Extension does not intentionally collect or transmit the following to CiteTrack AI:

• Your name, email address, or phone number.
• Payment information or government identification numbers.
• Passwords or authentication cookies.
• Complete browser history, keystrokes, form submissions, or personal communications.
• Screenshots, page captures, or page audit data (unless you intentionally send them to us or a future version explicitly adds an opt-in cloud feature).

The Extension is intended to inspect page structure and visible page content for audit purposes, not to collect private credentials or unrelated browsing history.

How We Use Information

The Extension uses the information it handles to provide and improve its user-facing features, including:

• Showing SEO, AEO, GEO, technical, accessibility, content, speed, asset, responsive, and citation-readiness findings.
• Creating screenshots, blur/capture evidence, exports, briefs, reports, prompts, and developer fix plans at your request.
• Checking current-site headers, statuses, redirects, robots.txt, sitemaps, llms.txt, and internal links when you ask for those checks.
• Saving local preferences and device presets.
• Opening third-party diagnostic tools when you choose to use them.
• Troubleshooting or supporting you, but only if you voluntarily provide information to us.

We do not use Extension-handled data for personalized advertising, retargeting, data brokerage, or credit-worthiness decisions.

How We Share Information

• No Sale of Data: The Extension does not sell user data.
• No Default Cloud Sync: The Extension does not share Extension-generated audit data, screenshots, page content, or browsing activity with CiteTrack AI servers by default.

Information may be shared only in these situations:

• At your direction: For example, if you copy an audit brief into another tool, download a report, open a third-party diagnostic URL, or send screenshots to a client, developer, AI assistant, or CiteTrack AI support.
• With third-party tools: Tools you choose to open may receive the URL or domain you ask them to analyze.
• Legal/Security: For legal, security, or abuse-prevention reasons, if necessary and permitted by law.
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, bankruptcy, or sale of assets, subject to applicable law and any required user notice or consent.

Chrome Permissions We Use

The Extension requests only the permissions needed for its current user-facing features:

• activeTab: Used so the Extension can analyze the page you are currently viewing after you click the Extension.
• scripting: Used to run audit, blur, capture, responsive, asset, and page-inspection scripts on the current page when you request those features.
• storage: Used to store local Extension settings, device presets, workspace preferences, and temporary audit/workflow state.
• browsingData (optional): Used only if you choose the Clear Cache utility. This permission is optional and is requested only when needed for that feature.
• Optional host permissions for http://*/ and https://*/: Used only when a feature needs permission to fetch current-site headers, robots.txt, sitemaps, llms.txt, same-origin link statuses, or similar technical data. The Extension attempts to use the least access possible and may request optional access when you ask for deeper checks.

Local Storage and Retention

Most Extension data is processed in your browser and is not sent to CiteTrack AI by default. Local data may remain in your browser until:

• You clear Extension data.
• You clear browser storage.
• You uninstall the Extension.
• You manually delete downloaded screenshots, reports, JSON files, CSV files, optimized images, or other files saved to your device.

If you contact CiteTrack AI support and send us screenshots, reports, audit exports, or other materials, we may retain those support materials as needed to respond to your request, maintain business records, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and comply with legal obligations.

Security

We design the Extension to minimize data access and keep audit workflows local where possible. If a future version of the Extension transmits personal or sensitive user data to CiteTrack AI or another service provider, that transmission will use modern secure transport such as HTTPS, and this policy will be updated to describe the data flow.

No method of electronic storage or transmission is completely secure. You should avoid capturing or sharing screenshots that contain passwords, authentication tokens, private client data, financial data, health data, or other sensitive information unless you have a legitimate reason and have taken appropriate precautions.

Human Review of User Data

CiteTrack AI personnel do not review Extension-handled page content, screenshots, or audit exports unless:

• You intentionally send the material to us for support or feedback.
• Review is necessary for security, fraud, abuse prevention, or legal compliance.
• The information has been aggregated and anonymized for internal operations in a way that does not identify a user or website.

Your Choices and Controls

You can control your data in several ways:

• Do not click the Extension on pages you do not want audited.
• Do not grant optional permissions if you do not want deeper header, link, cache, or current-site checks.
• Use the blur tools before capturing screenshots that contain sensitive information.
• Delete downloaded screenshots, reports, JSON files, CSV files, optimized images, or other exported files from your device.
• Clear Extension storage through Chrome settings.
• Uninstall the Extension at any time.

Children

The Extension is intended for SEO, marketing, development, website QA, and professional website audit workflows. It is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children through the Extension.

International Users

If you use the Extension outside the United States, you understand that any information you voluntarily send to CiteTrack AI support or through citetrackai.com may be processed in the United States or other countries where we or our service providers operate.

Future CiteTrack Account or Cloud Features

The current Extension is designed as a free, no-login, local-first tool. If a future version adds optional CiteTrack account login, cloud sync, AI prompt tracking, citation tracking, analytics, client reporting, or server-side processing, we will update this policy and the Chrome Web Store disclosures to explain what information is collected, how it is used, and what choices you have.

Limited Use Disclosure

To the extent the Extension receives information from Google APIs, Chrome extension APIs, or Chrome permissions, our use of that information will adhere to the Chrome Web Store User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.

We use Extension-handled data only to provide or improve the Extension’s user-facing features. We do not sell this data, use it for personalized advertising, transfer it to advertising platforms, transfer it to data brokers, or use it to determine credit-worthiness.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the “Last updated” date above and, where required, provide additional notice or request consent. Your continued use of the Extension after a policy update means you accept the updated policy, to the extent permitted by law.

Contact

For privacy questions about the Extension, contact:

CiteTrack AI

Website: https://citetrackai.com/

Email: privacy@citetrackai.com

Chrome Web Store Disclosure Checklist

(Use this checklist when completing the Chrome Web Store Developer Dashboard so the listing matches this policy.)

Single Purpose

• Free, no-login page audit and workflow toolkit for SEO, AEO, GEO, technical SEO, accessibility, speed, assets, responsive QA, screenshot evidence, and AI visibility readiness on the current page.

Suggested Data-Use Disclosures

• Website content: Yes. The Extension reads current-page content and markup to generate audits.
• Web browsing activity: Limited. The Extension uses the current page URL/domain and current-site technical resources only for user-facing audit features.
• User activity: Limited. The Extension may store local Extension preferences and workspace state.
• Authentication information: No, not intentionally collected.
• Personal communications: No, not intentionally collected.
• Financial/payment information: No.
• Health information: No.
• Location: No.
• Personally identifiable information: No account or email is required for the Extension. Support communications are separate and only occur if the user contacts CiteTrack AI.

Permissions Explanation

• activeTab: Inspect the page the user chooses to audit.
• scripting: Run audit, blur, capture, responsive, asset, and page-inspection features after user interaction.
• storage: Save local preferences, device presets, and temporary workspace state.
• browsingData: Optional, used only when the user runs Clear Cache.
• optional host permissions: Used only when the user requests deeper current-site headers, robots, sitemap, llms.txt, or same-origin link checks.

Developer Certification

• Data is not sold.
• Data is not used or transferred for personalized advertising.
• Data is not used or transferred for credit-worthiness or lending.
• Data is used only for the Extension’s user-facing audit and workflow features.