Zero Startpage - Newtab Replacement
To facilitate compliance with Chrome Web Store Developer Program Policies, the following declarations describe the extension's single purpose and permission usage.
1Single Purpose Description
Overview
Startpage replaces Chrome's new tab page with a customizable personal dashboard. It provides local bookmark management, clock/calendar widgets, search shortcuts, optional background and visual effects, and optional media controls/visualization for active audio tabs. Its single purpose is to give users a personalized and productivity-focused new tab experience.
2Permission Justification
search
The extension overrides the New Tab page and includes an omnibox search bar. In strict compliance with the Chrome Web Store Single-Purpose and Quality Guidelines (Single Purpose / Red Argon policy), the search feature must respect the user's default browser search provider. The search permission is required to invoke chrome.search.query() to execute search queries using the user's actively configured default search engine without modifying or hijacking their search provider settings.
bookmarks
Used only when the user chooses to import bookmarks into Startpage. The extension reads the bookmark tree via Chrome Bookmarks API so users can select and import items into their local Startpage view. No data is sold or shared.
scripting
Used to execute short in-page scripts in the currently detected media tab to read playback metadata and to perform user-requested media controls. Scripts are packaged with the extension and are not remotely loaded.
tabs
Used to locate audible/media tabs and read tab URL/title context needed to identify supported media pages (e.g. YouTube) and show current playback information. Not used for advertising or profiling.
storage
Required to synchronize user settings (theme, layouts) across different devices via chrome.storage.sync. It also tracks extension version updates and persists user-generated content like todo lists and notes.
identity
Required to authenticate users securely with their Google Account using OAuth2. It is exclusively used to obtain an access token to interact with the Google Drive API for backing up and syncing user settings.
tabCapture
Required to capture audio streams from active media tabs only when the user enables the Audio Visualizer widget on the Startpage. The audio stream is analyzed locally in real-time to generate visual wave/bar animations and is never recorded, stored, or transmitted to any server.
offscreen
Used to create a lightweight, headless offscreen document to process real-time Web Audio frequency analysis for the visualizer without degrading the performance or responsiveness of the main new tab interface.
Host permission
Required for: requesting search suggestions from Google, reading media state/controls on supported sites, and supporting optional media detection. All access is feature-scoped and initiated by extension functionality.
3Google API Services Usage Disclosure
Google Drive API
Zero Startpage uses Google Drive API to backup and sync your settings. The extension only creates, reads, and modifies files created by the extension itself in your Google Drive. We do not have access to your personal files, and we do not store, share, or transmit your Google Drive data to any third-party servers. Your data stays between your browser and your Google account.
4Source Code & Contact
Source Code
The extension source is public for transparency. You can review implementation details and release history on GitHub (ChickenSoup269/Zero-Start-Page).
Contact Email
For compliance or privacy questions, contact: thientran01345@icloud.com