Scout Online Accountability ("Scout," "we," "our," or "us") provides browser-based accountability tools that allow users to intentionally share browsing information with recipients they choose and, when enabled, automatically send notifications when user-defined monitoring rules are triggered.
This Privacy Policy explains what information Scout processes, how it is used, and the choices available to users and accountability recipients. For privacy questions or data requests, contact brettmariani923@gmail.com.
1. Information Scout Processes
1.1 Account and Contact Information
Scout may process email addresses and names provided by users for purposes including:
- Identifying the Scout user and accountability recipient
- Establishing accountability relationships
- Sending accountability communications
- Verifying subscription status
- Managing recipient preferences
- Providing billing or service-related communications
- Supporting optional integrations such as Gmail or Discord
Some settings are stored locally using browser extension storage. Information necessary to operate accountability relationships and server-side functionality may also be stored by Scout's backend services.
1.2 Accountability Relationships
Scout uses a consent-based accountability relationship system. A user may designate another person as an accountability recipient. Scout may store information necessary to maintain that relationship, including:
- Recipient email address
- Sender name
- Relationship status
- Relationship identifiers
- Authentication or authorization tokens in protected or hashed form where appropriate
- Recipient communication preferences
- Timestamps related to creation, approval, revocation, or other relationship events
Recipients may accept or decline relationship requests and may end an existing relationship.
1.3 Screenshots and Browsing Information
Scout can capture the visible content of the active browser tab in two circumstances:
Intentional sharing: A user may manually select "Send Screenshot" to share the page they are currently viewing with a recipient.
Automatic monitoring: If monitoring is enabled and a page matches a website, URL, or keyword rule configured by the user, Scout may automatically capture the visible browser tab and send an accountability notification.
Depending on the notification, information may include:
- A screenshot of the visible browser tab
- Page URL
- Page title
- Timestamp
- An optional message entered by the user
- Information identifying the applicable accountability relationship
Scout does not maintain a general browsing-history database. Screenshots are processed for delivery and are not retained as a permanent browsing archive by Scout.
1.4 Settings and Preferences
Scout may process settings including monitoring rules, monitoring enabled/disabled state, user and recipient email addresses, display name, recipient communication preferences, theme and interface preferences, subscription-related state, and connected communication services.
Some of this information is stored locally in browser extension storage, while information necessary for server-side services may be stored on Scout's backend.
2. How Scout Uses Information
Scout processes information as necessary to provide its user-facing features, including:
- Sending manual screenshot communications
- Sending automatic monitoring notifications
- Sending monitoring enabled/disabled notices
- Sending settings-change notifications
- Establishing and maintaining accountability relationships
- Providing recipient controls
- Creating daily notification summaries when selected by the recipient
- Delivering notifications through supported communication channels
- Verifying subscriptions and providing billing functionality
- Processing support and bug reports
- Maintaining service security and preventing abuse
Scout does not sell personal information. Scout does not use browsing activity or Google user data for advertising or advertising profiles.
3. Google Account and Gmail Integration
Scout allows users to optionally connect a Google account so supported accountability communications can be sent from the user's own Gmail account.
Scout requests only the Google permissions necessary to provide this functionality. Scout uses the Gmail sending permission to send messages authorized by Scout's user-facing features.
Scout does not use Gmail authorization to read the contents of the user's inbox, browse their email history, modify existing email messages, or delete email messages.
When a Google account is connected, Scout may process information necessary to maintain the connection, such as the connected Google email address, OAuth authorization information or tokens necessary to send authorized messages, and connection status.
OAuth credentials are used only to provide the connected Gmail functionality and are not sold or used for advertising. Recipients of messages sent through Gmail necessarily receive the information contained in those messages because sending that information is the purpose of the feature.
Users may disconnect their Google account from Scout and may also revoke Scout's access through their Google Account settings.
4. Recipient Communication Preferences
Accountability recipients can manage how supported Scout communications are delivered. Depending on available features, recipients may be able to receive notifications immediately, receive eligible notifications in a daily summary, manage supported communication channels, and end an accountability relationship.
Manual screenshots or other intentionally sent communications may be delivered immediately regardless of daily-summary preferences. If no eligible monitoring activity occurs, Scout does not need to send a daily monitoring summary.
5. Third-Party Services
Scout relies on third-party service providers to operate certain features.
| Service | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Google / Gmail API | Optional user-authorized email delivery |
| SendGrid | Scout email delivery and fallback email delivery |
| Stripe | Subscription billing and subscription verification |
| Discord | Optional accountability notification delivery |
| Browser platform services | Extension functionality and local/synchronized storage |
| Hosting/database providers | Backend API and data-storage infrastructure |
Information is provided to these services only as necessary to provide the applicable Scout functionality, subject to their respective terms and privacy practices.
6. Data Storage and Security
Scout uses reasonable technical measures designed to protect information processed by the service, including HTTPS encryption for network communications and protected authentication mechanisms. Sensitive authentication credentials are not intentionally exposed to accountability recipients.
No internet-connected system can guarantee absolute security, and Scout cannot guarantee that unauthorized access will never occur.
7. Data Retention
Scout does not maintain screenshots as a permanent browsing archive.
Information associated with accountability relationships, recipient preferences, subscriptions, integrations, abuse prevention, support requests, or other server-side functionality may be retained for as long as reasonably necessary to provide Scout, maintain security, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, or enforce applicable agreements.
Users may request deletion of personal information associated with Scout by contacting brettmariani923@gmail.com. Certain information may be retained when required by law, necessary for security or fraud prevention, or otherwise permitted by applicable law.
8. Uninstall and Feedback
Scout may direct a user to an uninstall page after the extension is removed. The uninstall experience may allow the user to provide optional feedback about why Scout was removed. Scout may store submitted uninstall feedback for product-support and improvement purposes.
Scout does not maintain a history of browsing communications merely because the extension is uninstalled.
9. User and Recipient Controls
Depending on the applicable feature, users and recipients can enable or disable monitoring, add/edit/remove monitoring rules, change an accountability recipient, accept or decline an accountability relationship, end an accountability relationship, manage recipient notification preferences, connect or disconnect supported communication services, uninstall Scout, and request deletion of applicable personal information.
10. Children's Privacy
Scout is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 in violation of applicable law.
Users are responsible for ensuring their use of Scout, including use involving minors, complies with applicable consent, privacy, and parental-supervision requirements.
11. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as Scout changes or as legal or platform requirements evolve. The current version will be published on Scout's website with its effective date.
12. Contact
For privacy questions or data requests:
Email: brettmariani923@gmail.com
Website: scoutonlineaccountability.com