SearchGate Privacy Policy
In short: SearchGate looks at the files you own in Google Drive (and Dropbox, if you connect it) to find duplicates. It does not sell your data, show ads, or keep copies of your files. File contents leave your browser only if you run the optional AI Deep Scan. Anonymous usage statistics are off unless you turn them on.
Who we are
SearchGate (“the extension”) is a Chrome extension published by Saint Joseph School (Naga City), Inc.'s representatives for EDUtech Asia (nicknamed "BYTE"). Questions about this policy can be sent to xaamanse@gmail.com.
What SearchGate does
The extension finds duplicate and similar files in your cloud storage and helps you move them to the trash. It never deletes files permanently, and it never trashes anything without your confirmation.
Information the extension accesses
- Google Drive: after you sign in with Google, the extension reads the names, sizes, types, creation dates, checksums, and links of files you own, so it can match duplicates. It also moves files to or from the trash when you ask it to.
- Dropbox (optional): if you connect Dropbox, it reads file names, sizes, dates, and content hashes, and trashes or restores files when you ask.
- AI Deep Scan (optional): when you choose to run it, the content of selected Google Drive files (text, documents, images, or PDFs, up to a small file limit) is sent to Google’s Gemini API, which compares them and returns which files look related. Dropbox file contents are not sent.
- Settings on your device: your preferences, your Dropbox sign-in token, and the result of your last scheduled scan are stored locally in your browser using Chrome storage.
Anonymous usage statistics (optional)
Only if you turn on “share usage” in the extension, it sends anonymous counts to the developer: the type of action (for example, a scan, trash, or restore), the number of files involved, approximate storage space freed, and a random install ID. These statistics contain no file names, file contents, or account details. You can turn this off at any time.
How information is used
Your data is used only to provide SearchGate’s single purpose: finding duplicate files and helping you clean them up. Anonymous statistics, if you enable them, are used only to understand how much the extension is used and to improve it.
What we do not do
- We do not sell or rent your data.
- We do not use your data for advertising, profiling, or credit decisions.
- We do not store your files or file contents on our servers.
- We do not transfer your data to anyone except as described above (Google Drive API, Google Gemini API for Deep Scan, Dropbox API, and the optional statistics form).
- Humans do not read your files, except where you ask us for support and share them, or where the law requires it.
Google API Services and Limited Use
SearchGate’s use and transfer of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements. Data from Google APIs is used only to provide the user-facing features described above.
Third parties
When you use the features above, your data is handled by Google (Drive and Gemini) and Dropbox under their own privacy policies. We do not control how they process data.
Your choices and control
- Revoke Google access: visit your Google Account permissions and remove SearchGate.
- Disconnect Dropbox: use the disconnect option in the extension, or remove it from your Dropbox connected apps.
- Stop usage statistics: turn off the sharing option in settings.
- Remove local data: uninstalling the extension deletes everything it stored in your browser.
- Restore trashed files: use the restore button in the extension, or open your Drive or Dropbox trash.
Data retention
Scan results and settings live in your browser until you change them or uninstall the extension. Anonymous statistics, if enabled, are kept only as long as needed to understand overall usage. Files sent to Gemini for Deep Scan are processed to produce a result and are not stored by SearchGate.
Security
All connections to Google, Dropbox, and Gemini use HTTPS. Sign-in uses OAuth, so SearchGate never sees your passwords.
Children and schools
SearchGate is a general-purpose tool and is not directed at children under 13. If you use it with a school account, your school’s own policies and administrator settings also apply.
Changes to this policy
If we change this policy, we will update the date at the top. If a change affects how your data is used, we will also note it in the extension’s store listing.
Contact
SJS BYTE
xaamanse@gmail.com