Privacy

Privacy policy for the website, web app and browser extension

Last updated: July 2026

VeraLinear helps you read foreign-language content through interlinear translations, the iSpicker, context suggestions, personal corrections and reading trails. We only process data to the extent necessary for the feature being used, secure operation and support.

Controller

The controller is the operator of VeraLinear named in the legal notice:

Tobias C. Koch
Gabriele-Münter-Straße 7
65197 Wiesbaden
Deutschland

Data protection requests can be sent to privacy@veralinear.com.

Browser extension: clear disclosure before activation

Without prior consent, the browser extension remains paused and does not read any page text. Only after active consent does it process visible content and page information in order to provide the translation and reading features requested by the user on the page visited.

Consent can be withdrawn at any time in the extension settings. After that, no new page texts are transmitted and the extension's local word and text-block caches are deleted.

What data the extension processes

Depending on the feature used, the following may be processed:

  • selected or visible text, individual words, sentences, headings, paragraphs and limited linguistic context;
  • URL, canonical URL, domain, page title and technical content identifiers;
  • detected source language, selected target language and activated features;
  • account ID, login status and a local connection token;
  • browser, browser version, platform and extension version;
  • if the personal reading trail is enabled: sources, times, word encounters, language directions and frequencies;
  • voluntary corrections, private translations, suggestions, review requests and error reports.

The extension does not transmit your entire browsing history across the board. Page information is only processed in connection with the visible VeraLinear features. Complete article texts are not stored as a personal copy of the article. However, the text blocks required for a translation may be transmitted temporarily to the VeraLinear backend and to one of the translation services described below.

Preparing and caching translations

So that translations appear faster when the iSpicker is opened or the interlinear view is switched on, VeraLinear may pre-process visible article blocks of an activated page in the background and cache the results locally. This serves solely the activated translation and reading feature.

Sensitive pages and input fields

VeraLinear does not process content from password, credit card, payment or comparable form input fields. On detected login, registration, account, banking, checkout, payment and password pages the extension pauses automatically. In addition, a secure mode can be used in which only individually approved domains are processed.

Websites can be built in technically unusual ways. Automatic detection can therefore not be guaranteed in every individual case. VeraLinear should not be activated on pages where confidential, highly personal or secret information is visible.

Purposes and legal bases

Page text, context, URL, domain, page title and language settings are processed in order to provide the expressly activated translation and reading features. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR. Where a feature is expressly based on voluntary consent, Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR is the legal basis.

We process technical usage and security data on the basis of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. Our legitimate interests are system security, error diagnosis, abuse prevention, cost control and reliable operation.

Account and personal features

For registration, login and account management we process in particular name, email address, encrypted password, language settings, login times, session data and connection tokens.

Personal reading trails, source metadata, word encounters, private corrections and learning notes are stored when these features are used. This data can be deleted in your account or is removed when the account is deleted, unless statutory obligations prevent this.

Translation and AI service providers

Translation requests are first transmitted to the VeraLinear backend. Depending on the language and feature, the required words, text excerpts or text blocks, together with the language direction and limited context, may be transmitted to the following services:

OpenAI

OpenAI Ireland Ltd. is used for context-based translations, interlinear text, expressions and quality checks. OpenAI receives the text required for the respective request, the language direction and technical request metadata. VeraLinear's use of the API does not serve to use or sell user data for personalised advertising.

DeepL

DeepL SE may be used for certain translation suggestions and context checks. The requested term or text excerpt, the language direction and, where necessary, limited context are transmitted.

Google Cloud Translation

Google Cloud EMEA Limited may be used for certain machine translation suggestions. The requested term or text excerpt and the language direction are transmitted.

Transmission only takes place where it is necessary for the requested feature. Providers may change; in the event of a material change to the processing, this policy will be updated and, where necessary, consent will be obtained again.

Hosting and technical infrastructure

Website, web app, API, database and background processing are operated on infrastructure of Hetzner Online GmbH. In this context, in particular IP address, time, requested resource, HTTP status, browser identifier and technical error data are processed.

Technical email and delivery service providers may be used for system, account and support emails. They only receive the data required for sending, delivery, error analysis and abuse protection. A change of a purely technical processor does not change the purpose of the processing.

Local storage

The extension stores locally in the browser in particular:

  • connection token and account status;
  • consent version and time of consent;
  • language, display and feature settings;
  • security mode and approved domains;
  • feature and compatibility configuration;
  • limited word and text-block caches.

Storage takes place via the local extension storage and remains in place until deletion, reset or uninstallation. Translation caches are additionally overwritten subject to a size limit.

Storage period

We only store data for as long as this is necessary for the respective feature, secure operation, support, billing or statutory obligations:

  • account and profile data generally until the account is deleted;
  • connection tokens until logout, withdrawal of consent or account deletion;
  • personal reading trails, source metadata, word encounters and private corrections until deleted by the user or until the account is deleted;
  • technical logs and security data only for the period necessary for error analysis, cost control or abuse prevention;
  • support and error reports until the case has been concluded and any necessary follow-up has been completed;
  • contract and billing data subject to statutory retention requirements for the respective statutory period.

Suggestions voluntarily submitted for general review may, after the review, remain part of the general vocabulary without any direct attribution to a user.

Categories of recipients and transfers to third countries

Where necessary, recipients may be hosting and infrastructure service providers, translation and AI service providers, technical email service providers, future payment service providers and bodies authorised by law.

For processing outside the European Economic Area we use, where necessary, an adequacy decision, the EU standard contractual clauses or another safeguard recognised by law. Information on the recipients and safeguards used in a specific case can be requested at privacy@veralinear.com.

We do not sell personal data and do not pass browser data on to data brokers or advertising networks.

Chrome Web Store – Limited Use

The use and transfer of information received through the VeraLinear browser extension complies with the Chrome Web Store User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.

In particular, this means:

  • page and browser data are only used to provide or improve the translation and reading features described, and for directly related operation, security and reliability;
  • data are only passed on where this is necessary for those purposes, to comply with legal obligations or to defend against security and abuse incidents;
  • the data are not used for personalised advertising, retargeting, credit checks or sale to data brokers;
  • humans do not read page texts, unless the user expressly requests support for specific content, this is necessary to defend against a security or abuse incident or because of a legal obligation, or the data have previously been aggregated and anonymised.

Cookies and similar technologies

The website and web app use technically necessary cookies and storage techniques for login, session, security, language and expressly requested features. Optional analytics or convenience technologies are only activated after the required selection has been made. Details and options for withdrawal can be found in the cookie settings.

The privacy consent for the browser extension is separate from this and is managed within the extension.

Automated processing

VeraLinear automatically generates translations, language notes, quality ratings and learning suggestions. These operations have no legal effect and do not similarly significantly affect users. Automated decision-making within the meaning of Art. 22 GDPR does not take place.

Rights of data subjects

Subject to the statutory requirements, data subjects have the right to access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, data portability and objection. Consent can be withdrawn at any time with effect for the future.

Requests can be sent to privacy@veralinear.com. There is also the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority.

Changes

We update this privacy policy when features, categories of data or material processing operations change. In the case of a material new processing operation by the extension, an updated disclosure will be shown before it begins and, where necessary, active consent will be obtained again.

VeraLinear privacy policy, last updated July 2026.