Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 7 July 2026

VeriZone Companion is a browser extension designed to help users verify claims, headlines, selected text, and webpage URLs using VeriZone's source-backed misinformation analysis service.

This Privacy Policy explains how VeriZone Companion handles information when users interact with the extension.

1. Information Processed

VeriZone Companion may process the following information only when a user explicitly uses an extension feature.

Current Webpage URL

When a user opens VeriZone Companion, the extension may access the URL of the currently active browser tab and prefill it in the extension interface for optional verification.

The extension does not continuously monitor or collect the user's browsing history.

User-Selected Website Content

When a user selects text on a webpage and explicitly chooses the "Check on VeriZone" context-menu option, the selected text may be submitted to VeriZone for verification.

VeriZone Companion does not automatically read or collect webpage content in the background.

User-Submitted Claims or Content

Users may manually enter claims, headlines, text, or URLs for verification. Such content is processed only for the purpose of providing the requested misinformation analysis and verification functionality.

2. How Information Is Used

Information submitted through VeriZone Companion is used solely to:

• process user-requested verification queries;
• analyse claims, selected text, headlines, or URLs;
• provide source-backed misinformation analysis and verification results;
• operate and maintain the core functionality of VeriZone Companion and VeriZone.

User-submitted information is not used to determine creditworthiness or for lending purposes.

3. Browser Access and Permissions

VeriZone Companion uses limited browser permissions necessary to provide its functionality.

activeTab

The activeTab permission allows VeriZone Companion to temporarily access the URL of the currently active tab when the user explicitly opens the extension.

This permission is used to prefill the current webpage URL for optional verification. VeriZone Companion does not use this permission to continuously monitor browsing activity.

contextMenus

The contextMenus permission enables the "Check on VeriZone" right-click option.

The extension accesses selected text only when the user explicitly invokes this option.

VeriZone Companion does not request broad host permissions and does not automatically inject content scripts across websites.

4. Data Storage

VeriZone Companion does not use Chrome's chrome.storage API to store browsing data, webpage content, selected text, or user profiles within the extension.

Information submitted for verification may be processed by the VeriZone service as necessary to provide the requested verification functionality.

5. Data Sharing and Sale

VeriZone does not sell user data.

User information is not transferred or used for purposes unrelated to VeriZone's verification functionality, except where processing by service providers or technical infrastructure is necessary to operate the service.

Information may also be disclosed where required by applicable law or a valid legal obligation.

6. Browsing Activity

VeriZone Companion does not:

• continuously monitor browsing activity;
• collect a complete browsing history;
• track websites visited in the background;
• record browsing behaviour for advertising purposes;
• build browsing profiles;
• inject scripts into all webpages.

The current webpage URL is accessed only through the user-initiated extension workflow.

7. Advertising and Profiling

VeriZone Companion does not use submitted webpage URLs or selected content for targeted or behavioural advertising.

The extension does not use browsing information to create advertising profiles.

8. Data Security

Reasonable technical and organisational measures are used to protect information processed through VeriZone and VeriZone Companion.

However, no internet-based system or method of electronic transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

9. Children's Privacy

VeriZone Companion is not designed to knowingly collect personal information from children in violation of applicable privacy laws.

Where legally required, users should use the service with appropriate parental or guardian supervision.

10. Third-Party Services

VeriZone may rely on third-party technical infrastructure, APIs, search services, hosting providers, or AI services to provide its verification functionality.

Information submitted for verification may be processed through such services where technically necessary to fulfil the user's verification request.

Such processing is limited to operating and providing VeriZone's intended functionality.

11. User Choices

Users control when VeriZone Companion processes content.

Users may choose not to:

• open the extension on a webpage;
• submit the current webpage URL;
• enter a claim or headline;
• select the "Check on VeriZone" context-menu option.

Users may uninstall VeriZone Companion at any time through their browser's extension management settings.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated to reflect changes to VeriZone Companion, VeriZone's services, applicable requirements, or data-handling practices.

Any updated policy will be made publicly available with a revised effective date.

13. Contact