PRIVACY POLICY FOR SONICEQ
Last Updated: October 2026
1. INTRODUCTION & CORE PRINCIPLE
SonicEQ ("we", "our", or "the extension") is an audio equalizer and bass boost extension designed for Google Chrome. We believe your privacy is fundamental. SonicEQ operates under a strict Zero-Data-Collection policy: we do not collect, store, record, transmit, monitor, or sell any personal data, audio streams, or browsing information. All audio manipulation happens 100% locally on your computer inside your browser's private memory.
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2. PERMISSIONS REQUESTED & WHY THEY ARE NEEDED
To function as a real-time audio equalizer under Google Chrome's Manifest V3 architecture, SonicEQ requests four specific permissions. Below is an honest, transparent breakdown of exactly what each permission does:
• "tabCapture":
Purpose: Allows the extension to capture the audio output of the specific browser tab where you turn on the equalizer (e.g., YouTube or Spotify).
How it is used: It feeds the audio into the Web Audio API filter graph so that frequency gains (bass, treble, mid) and volume amplification can be applied. The audio is immediately passed to your speakers. Audio is never recorded, never saved to disk, and never streamed outside your device.
• "offscreen":
Purpose: Manifest V3 service workers do not have access to DOM elements, speakers, or the Web Audio API. Chrome requires extensions to use an "offscreen document" to run audio processing in the background.
How it is used: SonicEQ opens a hidden, background offscreen document to host the AudioContext, BiquadFilterNodes (equalizer bands), and DynamicsCompressor (limiter) while audio is playing.
• "storage":
Purpose: Allows the extension to save your preferences locally.
How it is used: We use chrome.storage.local solely to save your custom equalizer presets, current sound profile selection, and volume levels. This data is stored entirely on your local hard drive and is never uploaded anywhere.
• "activeTab":
Purpose: Grants temporary access to the currently focused tab only when you deliberately click on the SonicEQ extension icon in the toolbar.
How it is used: It identifies which tab you want to equalize so that audio capture can be started on that specific tab.
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3. ARE ALL THESE PERMISSIONS TRULY NECESSARY?
YES. This is the absolute minimum, most restrictive set of permissions possible under Chrome Manifest V3 to build a functional tab audio equalizer.
Here is why none of them can be omitted:
1. Without "tabCapture": The browser will block any attempt to equalize or amplify audio coming from tabs.
2. Without "offscreen": Audio processing would immediately crash or terminate because background service workers in Manifest V3 are headless and terminate after a few seconds without audio output support.
3. Without "storage": Every slider adjustment, custom preset, and volume level you set would be wiped out the moment you close the popup window.
4. Without "activeTab": The alternative would be requesting broad host permissions like "<all_urls>" or "*://*/*", which would grant the extension access to all websites at all times. By using "activeTab", we intentionally restrict our access strictly to the single tab you interact with, protecting your privacy.
What we deliberately DO NOT request:
✗ NO "<all_urls>" or broad website permissions
✗ NO browsing history permissions ("history")
✗ NO cookie access ("cookies")
✗ NO web request inspection ("webRequest")
✗ NO identity or account permissions ("identity")
✗ NO microphone permissions (we capture tab sound output, never your microphone input)
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4. ZERO DATA COLLECTION & THIRD-PARTY SHARING
• No Telemetry or Analytics: SonicEQ does not include Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, Mixpanel, or any third-party tracking scripts.
• No External Network Calls: SonicEQ makes zero requests to external servers. If you inspect the network tab, you will see zero outgoing HTTP/HTTPS calls.
• No Personal Information: We do not know who you are, what websites you visit, what videos you watch, or what music you listen to.
• No Data Selling: Because we collect zero data, we have nothing to monetize or share with advertisers, data brokers, or third parties.
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5. SECURITY & AUDIO SAFETY
• All equalization is performed in transient browser RAM using the native W3C standard Web Audio API.
• Once you close a tab or click the Master Power switch to OFF, the audio stream is instantly terminated and released.
• Our built-in dynamic compressor/limiter ensures that amplified volume remains digitally safe, preventing extreme signal clipping.
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6. USER CONTROL & DELETION
You retain full control over your settings at all times:
• You can reset all equalizer curves to neutral with a single click ("Reset Flat").
• You can delete any saved custom preset directly from the popup menu.
• Uninstalling the extension completely removes all locally stored preferences from your computer with zero trace.
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7. COMPLIANCE & CONTACT
SonicEQ complies fully with the Google Chrome Web Store Developer Program Policies, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
If you have any questions, feedback, or concerns regarding this policy, you can contact the developer directly via the support links provided on the Chrome Web Store extension page.