Last updated: August 19, 2026
SimpleReads is a nonprofit educational reading, note-taking, and research platform designed to help students stay focused while reading online and organize information across multiple sources.
We take privacy seriously, especially because SimpleReads may be used by students and in educational environments.
This Privacy Policy applies to simplereads.org , the SimpleReads Chrome browser extension, and related SimpleReads services and features.
This policy explains what information SimpleReads accesses and collects, how that information is used, where information may be stored, how Google user data is handled, how data is protected, when information may be shared, and how users may request deletion of their data.
SimpleReads uses Google OAuth and Google Sign-In functionality to authenticate users.
When you sign in with Google, SimpleReads may receive basic Google account profile information made available under the permissions you approve. This may include:
SimpleReads uses this information to authenticate your account, determine whether you are authorized to use SimpleReads, and provide the service.
SimpleReads does not receive or store your Google account password.
After Google authorization, SimpleReads may temporarily store your Google OAuth access token and basic account information in Chrome extension local storage on your device so that SimpleReads can maintain your authenticated session and make authorized Google API requests.
When you sign out of SimpleReads, the extension removes locally stored account and token information and attempts to revoke the associated Google authorization token.
SimpleReads allows users to create, edit, organize, and delete notes while reading online.
Saved note information may include:
Saved notes may be stored in Google Cloud Firestore so that users can access and manage their SimpleReads content.
SimpleReads stores source URLs in connection with notes so users can preserve the context and source of their research. The current SimpleReads application does not use these URLs to build advertising profiles.
Notes that have not yet been added to a saved SimpleReads document may be temporarily stored in browser local storage on the user's device.
A draft note may include information such as:
After draft notes are successfully added to a document, SimpleReads clears those draft notes from its local draft storage.
SimpleReads uses authorization records to determine whether a user is permitted to access the service.
SimpleReads may process information such as:
Schools and organizations may be authorized by email domain. When a domain is approved, SimpleReads uses the domain portion of a user's Google email address to determine whether that user is eligible for access.
This allows eligible students and staff to use an approved school or organization Google account without SimpleReads manually approving every account individually.
If a user is not already authorized, SimpleReads may allow the user to request access.
When an access request is submitted, SimpleReads may store the user's email address, a pending request status, and the date or time the request was submitted.
The current SimpleReads administrative dashboard is used for account, domain, and access management.
The administrative dashboard displays account information such as a user's name and email address for access-management purposes.
The current administrative dashboard does not display users' note content or general browsing history.
SimpleReads integrates with Google Drive and Google Docs so users can organize SimpleReads notes into Google documents.
Google API access is used to provide user-facing SimpleReads features and to perform actions initiated through the SimpleReads application.
SimpleReads searches the user's Google Drive for a folder named SimpleReads.
If a SimpleReads folder does not already exist, SimpleReads may create the folder in the user's Google Drive.
The folder is used to organize Google Docs created or managed through SimpleReads.
SimpleReads requests Google Drive metadata access so the application can locate the SimpleReads folder and identify Google Docs associated with that folder.
The current SimpleReads implementation uses Drive metadata to retrieve information such as:
SimpleReads uses this information to locate the SimpleReads folder and display Google Docs from that folder in the SimpleReads My Documents interface.
The https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.metadata.readonly permission is a Google Drive metadata permission and may authorize visibility into Drive file metadata. The current SimpleReads application uses this access to locate the SimpleReads folder and retrieve identifiers and names needed for its document-management features.
This metadata permission does not itself provide file-content access. Google Docs content is accessed separately through the Google Docs permission described below.
At the user's direction, SimpleReads may create and manage Google Drive files used with SimpleReads.
SimpleReads may:
These actions are performed to provide SimpleReads' user-facing document-management functionality.
When a user intentionally creates, opens, edits, or synchronizes a Google Doc through SimpleReads, SimpleReads may read and modify the contents of that Google Doc as necessary to perform the requested action.
SimpleReads may use the Google Docs API to:
SimpleReads reads Google Doc content as needed to perform these synchronization operations. The current application does not intentionally store a complete copy of a user's Google Doc in Cloud Firestore simply because the document was read through the Google Docs API.
SimpleReads does not use Google Docs content for advertising, advertising profiles, or unrelated purposes.
The current SimpleReads Chrome extension requests the following Google OAuth scopes:
https://www.googleapis.com/auth/userinfo.email
Used to receive the user's Google email address for authentication and SimpleReads account-authorization purposes.
https://www.googleapis.com/auth/userinfo.profile
Used to receive basic Google profile information used by SimpleReads during authentication and within the user experience.
https://www.googleapis.com/auth/documents
Used to access and modify Google Docs when required for SimpleReads' user-facing note and document synchronization functionality.
This includes reading document content and using Google Docs update operations to insert, update, format, or remove SimpleReads content at the user's direction.
https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.metadata.readonly
Used by the current SimpleReads implementation to locate the SimpleReads Google Drive folder and retrieve identifiers and names for Google Docs contained within that folder so those documents can be displayed and managed in SimpleReads.
https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.file
Used to create and manage Google Drive files and folders used with SimpleReads, including creating the SimpleReads folder, creating Google Docs, and performing user-requested management actions on SimpleReads files.
SimpleReads uses Google API permissions only to provide or support user-facing SimpleReads functionality.
SimpleReads uses information described in this policy for purposes including:
SimpleReads uses technical and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information and Google user data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or loss.
SimpleReads relies on secure HTTPS connections when communicating with Google APIs and Firebase services.
Google Firebase and Cloud Firestore protect supported network communications using HTTPS and Transport Layer Security (TLS).
SimpleReads uses Google Cloud Firestore for application data storage.
Cloud Firestore automatically encrypts stored data at rest using encryption provided and managed by Google Cloud unless a different supported encryption configuration is selected.
SimpleReads uses Google's OAuth authentication mechanisms. SimpleReads does not receive or store users' Google account passwords.
Google OAuth access tokens used by the Chrome extension may be stored locally within Chrome extension storage for the duration of the authenticated session.
SimpleReads checks authorization records before providing access to protected application functionality.
Access may be granted based on an individually authorized account or an approved school or organization email domain.
Administrative access to SimpleReads systems and account data is limited to authorized individuals who require access to operate, maintain, secure, or support SimpleReads.
SimpleReads does not permit routine human access to Google Workspace API data for unrelated purposes.
No internet-based service or method of electronic storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Although SimpleReads uses safeguards designed to protect information, SimpleReads cannot guarantee absolute security.
SimpleReads does not sell personal information or Google user data.
Information may be processed or disclosed only in limited circumstances such as the following:
SimpleReads does not allow humans to read Google Workspace API user data except where such access is permitted under applicable Google policies, such as when a user has provided appropriate consent for a specific purpose, when access is necessary for security or abuse investigation, or when required by applicable law.
SimpleReads' use and transfer of information received from Google APIs will adhere to the Google API Services User Data Policy , including the Limited Use requirements.
The use of information received from Google Workspace APIs will adhere to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.
Google Workspace API data is used only to provide or improve appropriate user-facing SimpleReads functionality.
SimpleReads does not use Google Workspace API data for:
Account and authorization information may be retained while a SimpleReads account remains active, while access authorization remains necessary, or as otherwise reasonably required to provide and secure the service.
Saved notes and associated information may remain stored while the user's SimpleReads account is active so the user can continue accessing and managing their research.
Unsaved draft notes may be stored locally in the user's browser. SimpleReads clears its local draft-note list after those notes are successfully added to a saved document.
Google Docs created through SimpleReads are stored in the user's own Google Drive.
Removing data from SimpleReads does not necessarily delete a Google Doc from the user's Google Drive unless the user specifically uses a SimpleReads feature that deletes that Google Drive file or the user deletes the file directly through Google.
Users may request deletion of their SimpleReads account and associated SimpleReads-stored information at any time by contacting:
Upon a verified account-deletion request, SimpleReads will delete applicable account information and SimpleReads-stored Google user data from active SimpleReads databases within 30 days, except where retention is required by law or reasonably necessary for security, fraud prevention, or other legitimate operational purposes.
Where applicable, temporary residual copies may remain for a limited period in service-provider backup or logging systems until those systems complete their normal retention or deletion cycle.
Users may revoke SimpleReads' access to their Google Account through their Google Account security and third-party permissions settings.
SimpleReads also attempts to revoke its Google OAuth token when a user signs out through the SimpleReads extension.
Revoking Google authorization prevents future authorized access to Google APIs but does not necessarily delete information already stored in SimpleReads or Google Docs already created in the user's Google Drive.
To request deletion of SimpleReads-stored data, contact simplereadsinc@gmail.com .
The SimpleReads Chrome extension uses browser permissions and browser storage required to provide extension functionality.
This may include Chrome extension local storage and webpage local storage for:
SimpleReads may access the URL of the active webpage as part of its note-taking and source-context functionality.
SimpleReads does not use this information to create advertising profiles.
SimpleReads.org or related SimpleReads services may use cookies, local storage, or similar browser technologies when necessary for essential functionality.
SimpleReads does not use third-party advertising cookies to create behavioral advertising profiles.
SimpleReads is designed for educational use and may be used by students, including minors.
We seek to minimize personal information collected from students and process information only as reasonably necessary to provide SimpleReads functionality, authenticate users, manage authorized access, maintain research content, provide Google integrations, and protect the service.
Schools and educational organizations considering deployment of SimpleReads should review this Privacy Policy and SimpleReads' privacy and security practices before enabling student access.
Additional consent, privacy, contractual, or data-protection requirements may apply depending on a student's age, location, school, and applicable law.
This Privacy Policy should not be interpreted as a claim that SimpleReads automatically satisfies every school, district, state, federal, or international student-data requirement.
SimpleReads is willing to work with participating educational organizations to address applicable privacy and security requirements for a deployment.
A parent, guardian, school, or student with questions regarding personal information or deletion may contact simplereadsinc@gmail.com .
Users have choices regarding their information and Google account access.
SimpleReads may update this Privacy Policy when the product, technology, legal obligations, or data practices change.
When this Privacy Policy is updated, the Last updated date at the top of this page will be changed to reflect the effective date of the revision.
If a change materially affects how SimpleReads accesses, uses, stores, protects, or shares Google user data, SimpleReads will update its disclosures and obtain additional user consent where required before using Google user data for a materially different purpose.
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, Google user data, SimpleReads security practices, account information, or a data-deletion request, please contact:
Email: simplereadsinc@gmail.com
Website: simplereads.org
SimpleReads