Privacy Policy

PaidScope ("we", "us", "our") operates paidscope.com (the "Site"). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. PaidScope is a free public reference site for paid media operators — we do not require accounts and we do not sell user data.

1. Information we collect

PaidScope is intentionally minimal. We do not ask you to register or submit personal data to use the tools. The information we may receive falls into three categories:

• Server logs: Standard web request data (IP address, user agent, referrer, requested URL, timestamp) captured by our hosting provider for security and reliability.
• Analytics: Aggregated usage statistics (page views, referrers) stored in our database without cookies, plus Google Analytics 4 (measurement ID G-VTX17B8GQJ) with regional Consent Mode — in the EEA, UK, and Switzerland, analytics cookies are granted only if you accept non-essential cookies; elsewhere, analytics is enabled by default.
• Advertising: When you accept non-essential cookies, Google AdSense (publisher ID ca-pub-9186052588785078) and its partners may set cookies and process identifiers to serve ads. If you reject, we do not load AdSense. See "Cookies and advertising" below.

2. How we use information

• To operate, maintain, and improve the Site and its tools.
• To detect abuse, prevent fraud, and keep the Site secure.
• To measure aggregate usage and prioritize new features.
• To display advertising that helps fund the project (only after cookie consent).

3. Cookies and advertising

PaidScope uses essential cookies (for example, remembering your cookie-consent choice). Google Analytics 4 loads on every page with regional Consent Mode (measurement ID G-VTX17B8GQJ). In the EEA, UK, and Switzerland, analytics cookies are granted only if you click "Accept all." Elsewhere, analytics is enabled by default. Google AdSense loads only after you accept. Our AdSense publisher ID is ca-pub-9186052588785078; authorized sellers are listed at paidscope.com/ads.txt. If you choose "Reject non-essential," we do not load AdSense or grant analytics/advertising cookies.

When you accept, Google and its partners may use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this Site or other sites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to this and other sites on the Internet.

You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings or aboutads.info. For details on how we use cookies, see our Cookie Policy.

PaidScope Identify browser extension

The PaidScope Identify Chrome extension adds Identify badges on Google Search sponsored ad sections. It is optional — the Site works without it.

• What runs locally: The extension reads the Google Search page DOM to detect sponsored sections and injects Identify badges. Your enable/disable preference is stored in Chrome local storage on your device.
• What we receive when you interact with an unknown format: If you click an Identify badge for a section we cannot classify, the extension may send the search results URL, a section label, a short DOM hint, and an optional cropped screenshot of that ad section only (not your full screen or unrelated page content) to paidscope.com for human review. No PaidScope account is required.
• What we do not collect by default: No name, email, or account identifier from extension use. We do not sell extension report data.
• Storage: Section screenshots are stored in a private server bucket for operator review (typically up to 90 days via signed admin links) and used only to improve the placement catalog.

Extension permissions are limited to Google Search (badge injection and optional section capture) and paidscope.com (report submission). See the extension popup or Chrome Web Store listing for the current permission list.

4. Third-party services

We rely on a small set of vendors to run PaidScope. These may include our hosting provider, a content delivery network, Google Analytics 4 and Google AdSense (after you accept non-essential cookies), and our hosting database for first-party page-view counts. Each vendor processes data under its own privacy terms.

5. Data retention

Server logs are retained for a limited period (typically 30–90 days) for security and debugging. Aggregated analytics may be retained longer in a non-identifying form.

6. Your rights

Depending on where you live (e.g., EEA, UK, California), you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or restrict processing of your personal data, and to object to certain processing. To exercise these rights, email us at privacy@paidscope.com.

7. Children

PaidScope is a professional reference tool and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

8. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected in the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.

9. Contact

Questions about this policy? Email privacy@paidscope.com.