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Chrome Extension Privacy

Manusights Reference Sentry — Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 16, 2026

What the extension does

Manusights Reference Sentry reads the reference list on bioRxiv paper pages, extracts the DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) of the cited works, and asks the Manusights reference-integrity service whether any of those works are retracted, have a published expression of concern, or have been corrected.

What we collect

The extension sends the following to https://manusights.com/api/tools/reference-integrity:

  • DOIs extracted from the reference list of the bioRxiv page you are viewing.
  • A randomly generated install identifier (a UUID created when you first install the extension; never linked to your name, email, or browsing history). The identifier persists across browser sessions and is removed when you uninstall.
  • A non-personal source tag indicating the request came from the extension (used to scope rate limits and aggregate usage; not used for individual tracking).

What we do NOT collect

  • No page content beyond the reference list DOIs. We do not send the paper's title, authors, abstract, or text.
  • No browsing history. We only run on https://www.biorxiv.org/content/* URLs you actively visit.
  • No personal information. The extension does not ask for, store, or transmit your name, email, or any account credential.
  • No tracking across sites. The extension activates only on bioRxiv paper pages.
  • No third-party advertising or analytics SDKs. The extension does not load any analytics, ad, or tracking script.

Where the data goes

DOIs are sent over HTTPS to manusights.com, which then queries (a) the Retraction Watch database via Crossref Labs, and (b) Crossref's public metadata API. The Manusights server caches results by content hash for 24 hours to reduce repeat lookups. We do not log requesting IP addresses for any purpose beyond standard server-access logs, which are rotated every 30 days.

Local storage

The extension uses Chrome's storage APIs to:

  • Cache the per-DOI results for the duration of your current browser session (cleared when you close Chrome).
  • Store the random install identifier locally.

Nothing else is stored.

Permissions explained

  • host_permissions: https://manusights.com/* — required to send DOI lookups to the reference-integrity API.
  • permissions: storage — required for the local caches described above.
  • content_scripts matching https://www.biorxiv.org/content/* — required to read the rendered reference list.

Uninstall

When you uninstall the extension, all local storage is cleared by Chrome. The extension opens a debrief page (manusights.com/extension/uninstall) once on uninstall. You are not required to fill out anything; the page exists to optionally collect feedback.

Contact

Erik Jia · erik@manusights.com · manusights.com

Changes

We will revise the date at the top of this document if the data flow changes and post a notice on the Chrome Web Store listing.