A browser extension by The Writing Project
Effective Date: July 6, 2026 | Last Updated: July 6, 2026
Overview
Scholar Rank is a browser extension that displays academic journal quality rankings (ABDC 2025, ABS/AJG 2024, and Scopus CiteScore 2025 quartiles) alongside Google Scholar search results. This privacy policy explains what information the extension accesses, how it is used, and your rights.
We are committed to transparency and minimal data collection. The extension is designed to function with the least amount of data access necessary.
Information We Access
1. Google Scholar Page Content
The extension reads the content of Google Scholar result pages to identify journal names, article titles, and author information displayed in search results. This data is processed locally in your browser to match journals against the built-in ranking databases. No page content is transmitted to our servers.
2. Crossref API Requests
When a journal name on Google Scholar is truncated or cannot be matched locally, the extension sends the article title and source text to the Crossref API (api.crossref.org) to resolve the full journal name and ISSN. This is a third-party public scholarly metadata service. These requests include article titles and author names visible on the Google Scholar page — no personal data is sent. See Crossref’s privacy policy at crossref.org/privacy.
3. Basic Usage Analytics
The extension may collect anonymous, aggregated usage statistics such as the number of Scholar pages processed and badge display counts. This data contains no personally identifiable information, no browsing history, and no search queries. It is used solely to understand how the extension is used and to improve its features.
Information We Do Not Collect
We do not collect, store, or transmit any of the following:
| Category | Collected? |
|---|---|
| Personal information (name, email, address) | No |
| Browsing history or URLs visited | No |
| Search queries | No |
| Authentication or login credentials | No |
| Financial or payment data | No |
| Health information | No |
| Communication content | No |
| Location data | No |
| Web browsing activity outside Google Scholar | No |
| User identifiers or device fingerprints | No |
Data Storage
All journal ranking data (ABDC, ABS/AJG, Scopus CiteScore quartiles) is bundled within the extension and stored locally on your device. No ranking data is fetched from external servers at runtime, except for the Crossref API lookups described above.
The extension does not use cookies, local storage, or any server-side databases to store user data.
Data Sharing
We do not sell, trade, or transfer any user data to third parties. The only external communication the extension makes is to the Crossref API for journal name resolution, as described above.
Permissions Explained
| Permission | Why It’s Needed |
|---|---|
activeTab | Allows the extension to read the current Google Scholar page to identify and annotate journal results with ranking badges. |
host_permissions: api.crossref.org | Required to make API calls to Crossref for resolving truncated or ambiguous journal names to their full titles and ISSNs. |
Third-Party Services
The extension uses the following third-party service:
Crossref API (crossref.org) — A free, open scholarly metadata service operated by the nonprofit Publishers International Linking Association. Used only for journal name resolution when local matching is insufficient. No user credentials or personal data are sent.
Children’s Privacy
Scholar Rank is an academic research tool and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect any information from children.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Changes will be reflected on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. Continued use of the extension after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
Contact
If you have questions or concerns about this privacy policy, please contact us:
The Writing Project
Website: thewritingproject.me
Email: thewritingproject25@gmail.com