Privacy policy
Couchwave is a Chrome extension for watching videos together. We collect as little as possible, never sell data, run no ads and use no analytics or tracking.
What we collect and why
| Data | Why | Where & how long |
|---|---|---|
| Display name you choose | Shown to people in your party | Your device. Sent to our server while you're in a party, held in memory only. |
| Random install ID and secret key | Lets the party recognise you when you reconnect and stops others impersonating you | Your device. The server keeps a hash in memory while a party is live. |
| Party details you enter (title, note, time, video link, whether it's public) | To run, schedule and (if you choose) list your party | Our server's database, deleted 30 days after the party's date, or earlier when you cancel it. |
| Chat messages and reactions | To show them to your party | Relayed through our server and kept in memory (last 200 messages) only while the party is live. Discarded about 10 minutes after everyone leaves. Never written to disk. |
| Playback state of the synced tab (play/pause, position, the video's address) | To keep everyone in sync and let guests follow the host to the next video | Shared with your party through our server, in memory only. |
| Voice and screen-share audio/video | To let you talk and share | Sent directly between participants over encrypted WebRTC (DTLS-SRTP). If a direct connection isn't possible, it passes through a relay that cannot decrypt it. Never recorded. |
| IP address | Needed to connect, used for abuse protection (rate limits) | Not stored, except when you report a party: the report records your IP to prevent duplicate reports, and is deleted with the party. |
Using a different server
You can point Couchwave at another party server in Settings, or accept a switch when joining a party on another server. In that case, the data described above goes to that server's operator instead of us, under their own policies. Switching back to the default is one click.
What stays on your device
Your settings, display name, the secret keys that prove you host a party, and reminders for scheduled parties are stored in Chrome's extension storage on your device. Uninstalling Couchwave removes them.
What we never do
- We don't sell, rent or share your data with advertisers or data brokers.
- We don't read your browsing. Couchwave runs on the streaming sites listed in its permissions and on other sites only after you allow it for that site, and it only looks at the video player on a tab you've chosen to sync.
- We don't use analytics, crash trackers, cookies or third-party scripts in the extension or on this website.
- We don't record voice, video or screens.
Public parties
Parties are private by default. If you tick "List publicly", the title, note, time, platform, your display name and the number of people watching appear on this website for anyone to see and join. You can switch it off at any time from the lounge's host controls.
Permissions the extension asks for
- Access to video sites (YouTube, Netflix and others listed at install, plus any site you approve): to find the video player and keep it in sync. Nothing else on the page is read.
- activeTab, tabCapture: to share the tab you're on when you click Share. Only on your click.
- offscreen: keeps your party connection, voice and sharing running when the popup closes.
- Microphone (asked by Chrome): only while you're in voice chat.
- storage, alarms, notifications: settings, and reminders before scheduled parties.
- sidePanel, scripting: the party lounge, and connecting to a video tab you choose to sync.
Chrome Web Store user data policy
Couchwave's use of information complies with the Chrome Web Store User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements. Data is used only to provide the features described here.
Children
Couchwave is not directed at children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect data from them.
Your choices
- Cancel a party you host from the extension's Lineup tab to delete it immediately.
- Leave a party at any time. Your name disappears from it straight away.
- Email us to ask about or delete any data related to you: .
Hosting
This website is hosted on Vercel, which may log visitors' IP addresses for security and abuse prevention under Vercel's privacy policy. The party server runs on infrastructure we rent; it receives the data described above and nothing more.
Changes
If we change this policy we'll update the date at the top, and for material changes we'll mention it in the extension's release notes.