ForReal Privacy Policy

Last Updated: February 10, 2026

Overview

ForReal is a Chrome extension that provides real-time fact-checking for X (formerly Twitter) posts. This privacy policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights.

Data Collection

What We Collect

Anonymous User ID:

• A random UUID generated locally in your browser
• Used only for rate limiting (25 fact-checks per day)
• Stored in your browser's local storage
• Cannot be used to identify you personally

Tweet Content:

• Text from tweets you choose to fact-check
• Sent to our backend API for analysis
• Not stored permanently on our servers
• Processed temporarily to generate fact-check results

What We Don't Collect

• Names, email addresses, or personal information
• Browsing history
• Twitter/X account information
• IP addresses (beyond temporary rate limiting)
• Location data
• Any data from tweets you don't fact-check

How We Use Your Data

Fact-Checking Service:

• Tweet text is sent to Google Gemini AI for analysis
• Search queries sent to Brave Search API to find sources
• Results returned to you instantly
• No long-term storage of your queries

Rate Limiting:

• Anonymous user ID tracks your daily usage (25 fact-checks/day)
• Resets automatically at midnight UTC
• Prevents API abuse and manages costs

Third-Party Services

ForReal uses the following third-party APIs:

1. Google Gemini AI
   • Purpose: Analyze claims and synthesize information
   • Data shared: Tweet text only
   • Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
2. Brave Search API
   • Purpose: Find credible sources for fact-checking
   • Data shared: Search queries derived from tweet content
   • Privacy policy: https://brave.com/privacy/

Data Storage and Retention

• Your browser: Anonymous user ID stored in Chrome's local storage
• Our servers: No permanent data storage
• Processing: Tweet text processed in memory and discarded after response
• Logs: Minimal server logs kept for 7 days for debugging purposes

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Stop using ForReal at any time by uninstalling the extension
• Clear your anonymous user ID by clearing browser storage
• Request information about our data practices (contact below)

Children's Privacy

ForReal does not knowingly collect data from users under 13. The extension is intended for general audiences.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date.

Security

• All API communications use HTTPS encryption
• No passwords or credentials stored
• Anonymous user IDs cannot be traced to individuals
• Backend hosted on secure Digital Ocean infrastructure

Permissions Explained

ForReal requests the following Chrome permissions:

• activeTab: To read tweet text when you click the fact-check button
• scripting: To inject the fact-check button into X.com pages
• contextMenus: For right-click menu options (if enabled)
• storage: To save your anonymous user ID locally
• host_permissions (*://*/*): To work on all X.com/Twitter.com URLs

Contact

For questions about this privacy policy or ForReal's data practices:

• GitHub Issues: [Your GitHub Repo URL/issues]
• Email: [Your contact email]

Open Source

ForReal is open source. You can review our code at: [Your GitHub Repo URL]