Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Better Stream (the "Extension", "we", "us", or "our"), a browser extension for Chrome and Edge, handles information in connection with your use of the Extension.

Contact e-mail: privacy@betterstream.app
Data-protection contact: privacy@betterstream.app

We built Better Stream to be private by design. In short:

• We do not collect, transmit, sell, or share your personal data. The Extension has no user accounts and no sign-in.
• Everything stays on your device. Your settings, installed plugins, watch history, "My List", and preferences are stored locally in your browser and never sent to us.
• No analytics or tracking. The Extension contains no advertising, no analytics SDKs, and no telemetry.
• You bring your own sources. Better Stream ships with no media content. Any catalogs, streams, subtitles, or live channels come from third-party plugins you choose to install — and those third parties have their own privacy practices we do not control.

This summary is for convenience only; the full terms below govern.

This policy applies only to the Better Stream browser extension. It does not apply to:

• Third-party plugins, add-ons, playlists, or repositories you install into the Extension
• Third-party websites, streaming sources, or services those plugins connect to
• Metadata providers or any external service you or your plugins choose to use

You are responsible for reviewing the privacy policies and terms of any third-party plugin or service you add.

4.1 Information we do NOT collect

We do not collect, receive, or have access to any of the following: your name, e-mail address, phone number, physical address, IP address, precise location, government identifiers, payment or financial information, authentication credentials, health information, or your personal communications. The Extension does not require or offer an account and does not ask you to register.

4.2 Information stored locally on your device

To function, the Extension stores data on your own device using the browser's extension-storage APIs (chrome.storage.local and chrome.storage.session). This data remains in your browser profile, is not transmitted to Better Stream, and includes:

• App settings & preferences — theme, interface scale, language, subtitle and playback preferences.
• Installed plugins / playlists — the plugin manifests, catalogs and repositories you add.
• "My List" / favourites — titles and channels you save.
• Continue Watching / history — playback positions so you can resume; recently viewed items.
• Live TV favourites & filters — channels and filters you choose.
• Session data — temporary state for the current browsing session.

You can view, export where supported, and erase this data at any time (see Section 11). Because it is stored locally, we cannot access it and cannot retrieve it for you.

4.3 Data handled transiently to make the app work

When you browse or play content, the Extension makes network requests so features work. These requests are made from your browser directly to the relevant service; we do not operate a server that logs them. They include:

• Metadata & artwork providers — e.g. The Movie Database (TMDB) and Cinemeta (strem.io) — to display titles, descriptions, posters and related information.
• Plugin/add-on endpoints — the servers of the third-party plugins you installed — to fetch catalogs, streams, subtitles or live channels.
• Subtitle sources — to search for and download subtitle files you request.
• Optional proxy — if, and only if, you configure it, network requests may be routed through a proxy you specify.

These third parties may receive technical information inherent to any internet request (such as your IP address and the resource requested) and are governed by their own privacy policies, not this one.

Locally stored data is used solely to operate features you invoke — remembering your settings, resuming playback, showing your saved lists, and displaying media information. We do not use your data for advertising, profiling, or any purpose unrelated to the single purpose of the Extension.

Where the EU/UK General Data Protection Regulation applies, and to the limited extent any processing occurs, we rely on:

• Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f)) — operating and securing the Extension's core features that you have chosen to use.
• Consent (Art. 6(1)(a)) — for optional features you explicitly enable (e.g. installing a specific plugin or configuring a proxy). You may withdraw consent by disabling the feature.

Because data is stored locally and not transmitted to us, most GDPR obligations that presuppose a controller holding your data are addressed by the fact that you retain sole custody of the data on your device.

The Extension requests the minimum permissions needed for its features. Chrome may prompt you for optional permissions only when you use the feature that needs them.

• storage — save your settings, plugins, lists and playback positions locally on your device.
• tabs — open and manage the Extension's own tab/player and navigate within the app.
• declarativeNetRequest — apply request rules needed for playback and, if you enable it, the optional proxy — using declarative rules that do not send your browsing to us.
• scripting (optional) — only when required by a feature you enable; used to run the app's own scripts in the necessary context.
• webNavigation (optional) — only when required by a feature you enable, to coordinate navigation for playback.
• Host access (<all_urls>) — so plugins you install can reach the sources they need and media can load from arbitrary hosts. This access is used to fetch content you request — not to monitor your browsing.

We do not sell, rent, trade, or share personal information, because we do not collect it. We do not transfer data to advertisers, data brokers, or any third party for their own purposes. The only "sharing" that occurs is the direct, technical communication between your browser and the metadata providers, subtitle sources, and plugins you choose to use, as described in Section 4.3.

Legal disclosure: As we do not hold your data, we generally have nothing to disclose. If we ever receive a lawful request, we can only provide what we actually possess — which does not include your local Extension data.

Better Stream includes no media content or sources of its own. It is a player and a shell. Plugins, add-ons, playlists and repositories are provided by third parties. When you install one:

• You are choosing to connect to that third party's services
• That third party's privacy policy and terms govern its handling of your data
• You are solely responsible for the plugins you install and for ensuring your use complies with all applicable laws and the rights of content owners

Better Stream does not endorse, control, host, or verify third-party plugins or the content they provide, and disclaims responsibility for them to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Your Extension data lives in your browser's protected extension storage on your device. Its security therefore depends on the security of your device and browser profile. We retain no copy of it. Data persists locally until you delete it, uninstall the Extension, or clear your browser data.

Because your data is stored locally and under your control, you can exercise the following at any time:

• Access / view — your data is visible within the Extension's settings and library.
• Delete — remove individual items (lists, history, plugins) in-app, use any "reset" option provided, or uninstall the Extension to remove all local data.
• Control features — enable or disable optional features and permissions.

If you are in the EEA/UK, you may have rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability and objection under the GDPR. If you are a California resident, you may have rights under the CCPA/CPRA. Because we do not collect or hold your personal data, these requests are generally satisfied by your own local control; to raise a request or ask a question, contact us at privacy@betterstream.app.

The Extension is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or the minimum age required in your jurisdiction), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. As we collect no personal information from any user, no special collection from children occurs. If you believe a child has provided personal information through a third-party plugin, address it with that third party.

Better Stream is operated from the operator's principal place of business. Because the Extension stores data on your own device and does not transmit personal data to us, no international transfer of your personal data to us takes place. Any data flows arising from plugins or metadata providers you use occur directly between your browser and those services.

We comply with the Chrome Web Store Developer Program Policies, including the User Data Policy. In particular:

• We handle user data consistent with the Extension's single, narrow purpose
• We request the minimum permissions necessary and justify each above
• We do not sell user data, and do not use or transfer it for purposes unrelated to the Extension’s single purpose, for advertising, or for creditworthiness/lending
• We do not use or transfer user data to determine advertising, and we do not transfer data to data brokers
• Any data used is limited to what is required for user-facing features, and is stored locally on the user's device

We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by updating the "Last updated" date above and, where appropriate, through a notice in the Extension or on our website at betterstream.app. Your continued use of the Extension after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.