Last updated: October 1, 2026
CtrlKid is built to run on your own computer. This policy explains what the CtrlKid desktop app, the CtrlKid for YouTube browser extension (Chrome and Firefox) and this website (ctrlkid.com) do with information.
The short version
- Your child’s typing, browsing, videos and logs stay on your computer. We never receive them.
- We do not sell, share or rent personal information, and we do not use it for advertising.
- The only things we receive are: your order details when you buy Pro, and a license key plus an anonymous computer ID when Pro is activated.
CtrlKid for YouTube (browser extension)
- Stored on your computer only: your approved topics and channels, approved categories, settings, a weekly count of blocked videos, and your settings password and parent-pause PIN (stored only as one-way hashes). This uses the browser’s local extension storage.
- YouTube pages: to decide whether a video is approved, the extension reads the video’s title, category, tags and channel from YouTube’s own pages, inside your browser. This information is not sent to us.
- Optional desktop-app sync: if you turn it on, the extension talks only to the CtrlKid desktop app running on the same computer (address 127.0.0.1, port 8765) to share the topic list and parent pause. Nothing leaves your computer.
- No analytics, no tracking, no remote code, and no data sent to CtrlKid or anyone else.
CtrlKid desktop app
- Keyword matching, logs, screen-time tracking and browser-history reading all happen on the computer. Logs are stored on that computer only.
- Pro activation: once, when you activate Pro, the app sends your license key and an anonymous computer ID (a one-way hash, not your name or hardware details) to ctrlkid.com, so the key can be linked to one computer.
- Notifications you set up: if you turn on phone notifications (ntfy.sh, Telegram, Discord or Slack), alerts are sent directly from your computer to the service you chose, under that service’s own privacy policy.
- Local-network dashboard: if you turn it on, it is available only on your home network.
Buying Pro on ctrlkid.com
- When you buy, we keep your order details: name, email, billing address and what you bought, plus your license key and (after activation) the anonymous computer ID. We use them to deliver your key, provide support and keep records required by law.
- Payments are processed by PayPal. We never see or store your card or bank details. See PayPal’s privacy statement for how they handle your data.
- Order emails are sent from this website.
This website
- The website uses cookies needed for the shop and checkout to work. Any optional cookies are only used if you accept them in the cookie banner.
- Our hosting provider keeps standard server logs (such as IP address and browser type) for security.
Children
CtrlKid is used by parents on their children’s computers. We do not collect information from children: activity data stays on the family’s computer and is never sent to us.
Keeping and deleting data
Data stored on your computer is removed when you uninstall the app or extension (or clear it in Settings). Order and license records are kept as long as needed for your license and for legal record-keeping. To ask about, correct or delete your information, contact us through our contact form.
Changes
If this policy changes, we will update this page and the date at the top.
Questions? Use our contact form.