Privacy Policy — Read in Phloem

Effective 4 September 2026 · applies to the "Read in Phloem" browser extension, known as "Read in Carrel" before this date.

The short version: this extension collects nothing, stores nothing permanently, and sends nothing anywhere. It downloads only the web PDF you explicitly asked for, or reads a local PDF only after you choose it or enable Chrome's file-access switch.

What the extension does

When you right-click a link and choose “Read link in Phloem” (or click the toolbar button while viewing a PDF), the extension downloads that one PDF and hands it to the Phloem reading app at houfu72.com/reading.html, where it opens for reading. The same action can open a PDF stored on your computer after you enable Chrome's standard “Allow access to file URLs” setting, or after you explicitly choose it on the extension's local-file page. That is the extension’s single purpose.

Data collection

None. The extension does not collect, log, transmit, sell, or share any user data — no browsing history, no analytics, no identifiers, no page content. There is no server: the developer never receives anything from your browser.

Network requests

The extension makes exactly one kind of network request: fetching the PDF you explicitly chose, from the website that hosts it. The request is made with your own browser session, which means a paper you can access through your institution downloads the same way it would if you clicked it normally. If a supported publisher requires a browser verification page, the extension may briefly open that paper's article page in a background tab and retry the selected PDF from the same publisher. The helper tab is closed immediately; the extension does not collect or retain its page content. No developer server or unrelated third party is involved.

Local files

Chrome requires you to explicitly enable “Allow access to file URLs” on the extension’s details page. The extension checks that setting only when you ask it to open a local PDF. As a fallback, you can select the PDF directly on the extension's local-file page without enabling that setting. In both cases the file is read on your device, its filesystem path is not passed into Phloem metadata or optional sync, and no network request is made for it.

Storage

The downloaded PDF is held briefly in the extension’s local storage while it is handed to the Phloem tab, then deleted after Phloem confirms that it opened. Nothing else is stored by the extension.

The Phloem web app

Phloem itself is local-first: papers, highlights, and notes are stored in your own browser (IndexedDB and localStorage) on your device. Optional sync features (Google Drive, GitHub) only run if you set them up, and connect your browser directly to your own accounts. Phloem has no analytics and no server of its own.

Changes

If this policy ever changes, the new version will be published at this address with an updated date. Since the extension collects nothing, meaningful changes are unlikely.

Contact

Questions: houfuchen0702@gmail.com or the message box at houfu72.com/msg.