# Privacy Policy for Cite a Website

Effective date: 06.10.2026 (June 10th, 2026)

Cite a Website helps users create APA 7 and MLA 9 citations from webpages they choose to cite. This Privacy Policy explains what information Cite a Website processes, why it is processed, and how users can control it.

## Information We Process

### Webpage information for citation generation

When you click the Cite a Website extension icon on a webpage, the extension reads information from the active tab to generate a citation. This may include page title, URL, author metadata, publication date, site name, DOI, and other bibliographic metadata available on the page.

Cite a Website does not read every page you visit in the background. The extension processes the active page when you use the extension to create a citation.

### CrossRef metadata lookup

If a DOI is detected, Cite a Website may send the DOI to CrossRef (`api.crossref.org`) to retrieve bibliographic metadata such as title, authors, journal name, date, volume, issue, pages, publisher, or ISBN.

This lookup is used only to improve citation accuracy.

### Local storage

Cite a Website may store the following data locally in your browser using Chrome local storage:

- saved reference list entries;
- citation style preference, such as APA 7 or MLA 9;
- other settings needed for the extension to work.

This data is stored on your device/browser and is used to provide the extension’s citation workflow.

### Product analytics

Cite a Website may collect product analytics to understand how the extension is used and where it fails or causes friction. This may include events such as installs, page visits to our website or welcome page, conversion events, feature usage, errors, and performance information.

We use analytics to improve the product, fix problems, understand conversion funnels, and make better product decisions. We do not use this data to sell user data or for personalized advertising.

### Accounts and paid features

In the future, Cite a Website may offer paid features, user accounts, registration, and authentication. If you create an account or purchase a paid feature, we may process information such as:

- name or display name;
- email address;
- login or authentication identifiers;
- subscription status;
- billing history;
- payment status;
- information required to provide customer support.

Payment processing may be handled by third-party payment providers. Depending on the payment provider and implementation, Cite a Website may store billing records, subscription status, and payment-related metadata. Full payment card details may be processed by the payment provider rather than stored directly by Cite a Website.

## How We Use Information

Cite a Website uses information to:

- generate APA 7 and MLA 9 citations;
- save and manage reference list entries;
- remember user preferences;
- improve citation quality;
- perform DOI-based bibliographic lookup through CrossRef;
- provide, maintain, and improve the extension;
- understand usage, conversions, and product performance;
- provide account, subscription, billing, and support features if paid features are introduced;
- prevent abuse, debug issues, and comply with legal obligations.

## Data Sharing

Cite a Website does not sell user data.

We may share limited information with service providers only when needed to operate the product, such as:

- CrossRef, for DOI metadata lookup;
- analytics providers, for product analytics;
- authentication providers, if account features are introduced;
- payment providers, if paid features are introduced;
- hosting, infrastructure, and support providers.

These providers may process information on our behalf according to their own terms and privacy practices.

## Chrome Web Store Limited Use

Cite a Website uses information obtained from Chrome extension APIs only to provide and improve its citation-related functionality.

We do not use information obtained from Chrome extension APIs for personalized advertising. We do not sell this information to third parties. We do not transfer this information except as necessary to provide or improve the extension, comply with the law, protect against abuse, or as otherwise permitted by the Chrome Web Store User Data Policy.

## User Controls

You can delete saved references from the extension’s reference list page.

You can remove locally stored extension data by uninstalling the extension or clearing extension site data in Chrome.

If account features are introduced, users may be able to manage account information, subscription status, and related data through account settings or by contacting us.

## Data Retention

Locally stored citation data remains in your browser until you delete it, clear extension data, or uninstall the extension.

Analytics, account, support, and billing-related data may be retained as long as needed to operate the product, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, prevent abuse, and maintain business records.

## Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect information processed by Cite a Website. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we work to protect information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration.

## Children

Cite a Website is intended for students, researchers, writers, and other general users. It is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

## Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the effective date and, when appropriate, provide additional notice.

## Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, contact us at: useful.extensions.lab@gmail.com