SideWatch Privacy Policy

Effective date: 2026-02-19

This Privacy Policy explains how SideWatch (the "Extension" and the related SideWatch service at https://devolt.voda.network/tools/streaming/sidewatch/api/v1, the "Service") collects, uses, and shares information. It applies to the SideWatch browser extension, its popup/options UI, and the Service APIs.

1. Information We Collect

Information you provide

• Profile details: username and display name.
• Avatar image: if you upload one.
• Social features: friend usernames, friend requests, group names, and group member usernames.
• Comments: comment text and the timestamp within a video where the comment applies.
• Account key: if you paste an existing key to sign in.

Information processed by the Extension

• Video identifier: the current page URL (with the hash removed) is used as the video key for comments.
• Playback timing: current playback time to display comments at the right moment.
• Settings and state: overlay enabled/disabled, selected friend/group scope, cached friends/groups, and local account lists.
• Authentication key: a locally generated key used to authenticate requests to the Service.

Network data

• When the Extension talks to the Service, the Service receives standard web request data (e.g., IP address and user agent).
• When the Extension fetches a video page to read public metadata (title/preview image), the destination website receives a standard web request. These metadata requests are made without cookies (credentials are omitted).

2. How We Use Information

• Provide and sync time-based comments for videos.
• Identify your account and authenticate requests using the local key.
• Manage your profile, friends, groups, and comment visibility scopes.
• Show a list of commented videos with titles and preview images.
• Store preferences so your settings persist across browser sessions.

3. How We Share Information

• With the Service: profile data, friend/group data, comments, and video keys are sent to the SideWatch Service to provide functionality.
• With other users you choose: your display name, avatar, and comments are visible to the friends or groups you select.
• With video websites: when fetching page metadata, the request goes directly to that website without cookies.

4. Storage and Retention

• Local storage: the Extension uses browser local storage to keep your profile, friends, groups, selected scope, overlay setting, account list, and authentication key.
• Remote storage: the Service stores your profile, friends/groups, and comments so they can be retrieved across devices.
• You can remove local data by deleting accounts inside the Extension or by uninstalling the Extension. For removal of data stored on the Service, contact us.

5. Security

We use reasonable safeguards to protect data in transit and at rest. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure.

6. Your Choices

• You can enable/disable the overlay at any time.
• You can manage friends, groups, and scopes from the Extension UI.
• You can copy or revoke your local key by removing the local account; treat the key as sensitive.
• You can stop all Extension activity by disabling or uninstalling the Extension.

7. Children's Privacy

SideWatch is not intended for children under 13 (or the age required by your local law), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The effective date at the top indicates the latest version.

9. Contact

If you have questions or requests about this policy, contact us at: contacts@voda.network