Chrome Web Store Privacy Practices Tab

Chrome Web Store privacy practices tab explained

Short answer

The Chrome Web Store privacy practices tab shows the data types a publisher declares they collect or use, why each is handled, and whether data collection is optional, shared or tied to your identity. The disclosures are publisher declarations rather than measurements, so treat them as a starting question and compare the declared categories against what the package's permissions and code actually allow.

Drop an extension package hereor choose a file from your deviceChoose a fileSupported: CRX, XPI, ZIP, manifest.json. Maximum size: 25 MB.

Processed locallyCode is never executed

Your file stays in this browser. Parsing happens in a Web Worker; the extension code is read, never executed.

What the scan checks

Permissions, host access, content scripts, background scripts, CSP, externally_connectable, web-accessible resources, JavaScript patterns, referenced domains and risk categories.

MV3MV2CRXXPIZIPJSON

Static analysis shows references and patterns. It cannot prove that network activity happened or that an extension is malicious.

Compare two versions

See permission, domain and finding changes between two packages.

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What the tab shows

The privacy practices tab lists declared data types such as location, identifiers, user activity and communications, each with a featured reason like app functionality, analytics or advertising. Labels can state that data is shared with third parties, collected by third parties or linked to an identity.

Publishers answer a standardized questionnaire when they submit or update the listing; the tab renders those answers.

How the disclosure relates to the package

A declaration that data is not collected should be consistent with the package: extensions that declare no user activity collection usually should not depend on webRequest-heavy reading, analytics endpoints or behavioral advertising domains.

Conversely, a scary-sounding declaration does not confirm misuse. A password manager correctly declares credentials it stores. The comparison between declared purpose and declared capability is where review starts.

Limits to keep in mind

The questionnaire is self-reported and reviewable only by the store, not by you. It does not timestamp changes, and it can lag behind a package that already updated.

Use the tab as one input alongside publisher reputation, the privacy policy and static analysis of the package itself. If declarations change after an update, re-check the package diff.

Declarations are not measurements
No package-level diff is shown by the store
Changed data types after update deserve a package review

Frequently asked questions

Who writes the privacy practices tab?

The publisher, by answering the Chrome Web Store privacy questionnaire. The store renders the answers; it does not verify them against behavior.

Can a no-data declaration be wrong?

Yes. Declarations can be incomplete or stale. Compare the declaration with the package's permissions, content scripts and external domains.

Does a collected-data declaration mean the extension is not private?

No. It means the publisher discloses a data type. Evaluate whether the declared purpose is proportionate to the feature.

Last reviewed: November 4, 2026