# Privacy Policy for Instagram DM Sidebar Hider

Last Updated: March 12, 2025

## Overview

Instagram DM Sidebar Hider is a Chrome extension designed to enhance your Instagram messaging experience by allowing you to hide the Direct Messages sidebar. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparency about how our extension operates.

## Data Collection

**We do not collect any user data.** The Instagram DM Sidebar Hider extension:

- Does not collect, store, or transmit any personal information
- Does not track your browsing activity
- Does not use cookies or similar tracking technologies
- Does not access your Instagram account data or messages

## Local Storage

The only data stored by this extension is your sidebar visibility preference (shown/hidden), which is saved locally in your browser's storage using Chrome's Storage API. This preference is:

- Stored exclusively on your device
- Never transmitted to any external servers
- Used solely to remember your sidebar visibility setting between browser sessions

## Permissions

The extension requires the following permissions, which are used only for the stated purposes:

- **Host Permission** (`https://www.instagram.com/*`): Required to detect and modify the sidebar element on Instagram's website
- **Storage Permission**: Required to save your sidebar visibility preference locally
- **ActiveTab Permission**: Required to communicate between the popup interface and the content script running on Instagram

## Third-Party Services

This extension does not integrate with or use any third-party services, analytics, or APIs beyond what is provided by the Chrome browser.

## Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy in this repository and updating the "Last Updated" date.

## Contact

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please open an issue in our GitHub repository or contact us directly.

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This extension operates fully locally and only modifies the appearance of Instagram's DM interface within your browser. We are committed to maintaining this privacy-focused approach in all future updates.