Kerning Logo KERNING

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: November 16, 2025

1. Introduction

Kerning AI ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our products and services, including our CLICK Chrome extension and related AI-powered tools (collectively, the "Services").

By accessing or using our Services, you consent to the data practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use our Services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

We collect information that you voluntarily provide when using our Services, including:

  • Input Data: Text, content, and context information you submit for AI processing
  • Account Information: Email address, name, and other registration details
  • User Preferences: Settings, configurations, and customization choices
  • Communication Data: Messages sent to our support team

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you use our Services, we automatically collect certain information, including:

  • Usage Data: Features accessed, frequency of use, interaction patterns
  • Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device identifiers
  • Log Data: IP address, access times, pages viewed, referring URLs
  • Performance Data: Error reports, response times, service reliability metrics

2.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to enhance user experience, analyze usage patterns, and improve our Services. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

  • Service Provision: To provide, maintain, and improve our AI-powered Services
  • AI Processing: To process your input through third-party AI model providers
  • Personalization: To customize responses based on your context and preferences
  • Communication: To respond to inquiries and provide customer support
  • Analytics: To understand usage patterns and optimize performance
  • Security: To detect, prevent, and address technical issues and fraudulent activity
  • Compliance: To comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms
  • Development: To develop new features and improve existing functionality

4. Third-Party AI Service Providers

Important Disclosure: Our Services utilize third-party artificial intelligence model providers to process your input and generate responses. By using our Services, you expressly consent to your data being transmitted to and processed by these third-party AI providers.

4.1 AI Provider Partnerships

We work with leading AI laboratories and service providers, which may include but are not limited to:

  • Anthropic (Claude API)
  • Google DeepMind and Google AI services
  • OpenAI and other state-of-the-art language model providers
  • Other AI service providers as we integrate additional capabilities

4.2 Data Sharing with AI Providers

When you use our Services, the following information may be shared with third-party AI providers:

  • Your input text and content submissions
  • Context information necessary for accurate AI responses
  • Page content and surrounding context when using browser-based features
  • User preferences and settings relevant to response generation

4.3 Third-Party API Terms

Each AI provider has its own privacy policy and terms of service that govern their use of data. We encourage you to review these policies. We select AI providers based on their commitment to data protection and privacy, but we cannot control their data practices once information is transmitted to them.

4.4 Data Processing Purpose

Third-party AI providers process your data solely for the purpose of generating AI responses to your requests. Some providers may use data to improve their models, subject to their own policies. We contractually require providers to maintain confidentiality and use data only as specified, but ultimate data handling is subject to their terms.

4.5 Kerning Click Chrome Extension Data Flow

When you use our Kerning Click Chrome extension, your selected text and related context are sent directly from your browser to the AI provider (such as OpenAI or Anthropic) using your own API keys. Kerning AI does not act as an intermediary for these extension requests and does not receive, log, or store your extension input data or API keys.

  • The extension uses your locally stored API keys to make direct HTTPS requests from your browser to the AI provider.
  • Only content you explicitly select or input for processing is transmitted; no background monitoring or page-wide tracking is performed.
  • Kerning AI does not have access to your API keys or extension usage data and cannot view or retrieve them.

For additional details about how the Kerning Click extension handles data, permissions, and security, please refer to the Chrome Extension Specific Privacy Practices (Kerning Click) section below.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Input data may be temporarily cached to improve performance but is regularly purged according to our data retention schedule.

6. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical security measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. These measures include:

  • Encryption of data in transit using industry-standard protocols (TLS/SSL)
  • Secure authentication and access controls
  • Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
  • Employee training on data protection practices

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Your Rights and Choices

7.1 Access and Correction

You have the right to access and update your personal information. You may do so by contacting us at support@kerning.ai.

7.2 Data Deletion

You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions required by law or legitimate business purposes.

7.3 Opt-Out Rights

You may opt out of certain data collection and processing activities. However, some opt-outs may limit your ability to use certain features of our Services.

7.4 GDPR Rights (European Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area, you have additional rights under GDPR, including:

  • Right to data portability
  • Right to restrict processing
  • Right to object to processing
  • Right to withdraw consent
  • Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

7.5 CCPA Rights (California Users)

If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act, including:

  • Right to know what personal information is collected
  • Right to know if personal information is sold or disclosed
  • Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information
  • Right to deletion of personal information
  • Right to non-discrimination for exercising CCPA rights

8. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws different from those in your country. By using our Services, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and other countries where we or our service providers operate.

9. Children's Privacy

Our Services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on our website and updating the effective date. Your continued use of our Services after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

11. Chrome Extension Specific Privacy Practices (Kerning Click)

This section provides additional privacy disclosures specific to the Kerning Click Chrome extension (the "Extension") and supplements the rest of this Privacy Policy. If there is any conflict between this section and the more general provisions above, this section governs for your use of the Extension.

11.1 Extension Data Handling

The Kerning Click Chrome extension is designed with privacy as a core principle and operates primarily on your local device.

  • Local API Key Storage: Your API keys for AI providers (such as OpenAI and Anthropic) are stored exclusively on your device using Chrome's secure local storage APIs. They are not transmitted to Kerning AI servers.
  • No Kerning AI Access: Kerning AI does not have access to, cannot view, and does not collect your API keys or your extension usage data.
  • Direct Provider Calls: When you use the Extension, your selected content is sent directly from your browser to the AI provider using your local API key. Kerning AI does not proxy or route these requests.
  • Local Processing: All UI rendering and feature orchestration occur on your device. The Extension does not perform background tracking or monitoring of your browsing activity.
  • No Analytics or Tracking: The Extension does not implement analytics, tracking pixels, telemetry, or advertising beacons.
  • Data Minimization: The Extension only accesses and transmits text and context that you explicitly select or invoke through an extension feature. It does not collect your full browsing history, unrelated page content, or other data beyond what is necessary to provide the requested functionality.

11.2 Extension Permissions Explained

The Kerning Click Chrome extension requests certain browser permissions. Below we explain what each permission does and how it is used:

  • contextMenus: Used to add right-click (context menu) items so you can invoke Kerning Click actions on selected text. This permission does not itself read or store any data.
  • scripting: Used to inject interface elements (such as modals, result panels, and progress indicators) into the current page when you trigger an extension action. It only accesses the text you select or content required for the specific operation.
  • activeTab: Allows the Extension to access content in the currently active tab only when you initiate a feature (for example, summarizing a page or selected text). It is not used for continuous background monitoring or tracking.
  • storage: Used to store your API keys and extension preferences (such as selected provider) locally on your device. The Extension only reads and writes data that it stores itself.
  • host_permissions (api.openai.com, api.anthropic.com): Allows the Extension to make HTTPS requests directly from your browser to these AI providers in order to process your prompts and display responses.

11.3 What Data is Shared with Third Parties

When you use the Kerning Click Chrome extension, data is shared with third-party AI providers solely to provide the requested functionality.

  • Shared Data: Text you select or input for processing, page content when you explicitly choose features such as "Summarize Page" or similar, and your API key (which you provide and which is stored locally).
  • Trigger-Driven: Data is transmitted only when you actively invoke an extension feature; there is no passive or continuous data transmission.
  • Direct Transmission: Data is sent directly from your browser to the AI provider. Kerning AI does not receive, store, or otherwise access this data.

Your relationship with each AI provider is also governed by that provider's own terms and privacy policy. You should review those documents carefully, including for:

The Extension does not share data with any advertising networks, analytics services, data brokers, or other third parties beyond the AI providers you configure.

11.4 Data Retention for the Extension

The Extension itself does not maintain server-side logs or store copies of the text you send to AI providers. Data persistence is limited to what is stored locally in your browser.

  • Local Storage: API keys and user preferences are stored indefinitely in Chrome's local storage on your device until you delete them or uninstall the Extension.
  • Transmitted Data: The Extension does not keep separate copies of text sent to AI providers. Retention of that data is governed by each provider's policies.

You can clear all Extension data at any time by resetting its settings or uninstalling the Extension through your browser.

11.5 Security Measures for the Extension

We implement technical and design safeguards to reduce risks associated with use of the Kerning Click Chrome extension.

  • API Key Protection: Keys are stored using Chrome's local storage mechanisms, are not synchronized across devices by the Extension, and are transmitted only over HTTPS directly to the AI provider.
  • No Remote Code Execution: The Extension does not execute remote code or load external JavaScript from arbitrary third-party servers. All core logic is bundled with the Extension package reviewed by the Chrome Web Store.
  • XSS and Content Safety: User-generated content rendered in Extension UI elements is sanitized and escaped to reduce the risk of cross-site scripting (XSS) or injection attacks.

11.6 Browser Restrictions

Due to Chrome's security model, the Extension cannot access or run on certain types of pages, including:

  • Chrome Web Store pages
  • Chrome internal pages (e.g., URLs beginning with chrome://)
  • Extension management pages and other restricted browser pages

11.7 User Rights and Control in the Extension

You maintain full control over your use of the Kerning Click Chrome extension.

  • You may install, disable, or uninstall the Extension at any time through your browser settings.
  • You may add, update, or delete your API keys and preferences at any time within the Extension's settings.
  • You may control which websites the Extension can access using Chrome's site access controls.
  • No Kerning AI account is required to use the Extension; you use your own API keys from providers you choose.

11.8 Children's Privacy and the Extension

The Kerning Click Chrome extension is intended for use by adults and is not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information via the Extension from children. If you become aware that a child is using the Extension with personal data, please contact us so we can take appropriate action.

11.9 Changes to Extension Privacy Practices

If we materially change how the Kerning Click Chrome extension handles data, we will update this Privacy Policy and may also update the Extension listing in the Chrome Web Store and any in-product notices where appropriate. Your continued use of the Extension after such changes are effective constitutes your acceptance of the updated practices.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Email: support@kerning.ai

Mailing Address: Kerning AI, Legal Department