Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 31, 2025
Last Updated: January 31, 2025

1. Overview

This Privacy Policy explains how Claude Code Chat ("Extension", "we", "our") handles your information when you use our Visual Studio Code extension. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparency about our data practices.

2. Analytics and Telemetry (Optional)

When telemetry is enabled (user consent required), we collect minimal, privacy-respecting analytics using Umami:

• • Website Usage: Page views, clicks, and navigation patterns on our website
• • GDPR Compliant: Fully compliant with European privacy regulations
• • No Cookies: Cookie-free analytics that respect user privacy
• • No Personal Data: No tracking of personal information or identifiers
• • User Control: Only active when VS Code telemetry is enabled

3. Information We Do NOT Collect

We do not collect, store, or transmit any of your personal or sensitive data. Specifically, we do not collect:

• • Personal identification information
• • Your source code or project files
• • Conversation content or chat history
• • Device information or system details
• • IP addresses or precise location data
• • Keystroke logging or screen recordings

4. Local Data Storage

All data generated by the Extension is stored locally on your machine within your VS Code workspace:

• • Conversation History: Stored in .claude/ directory within your workspace
• • Session Data: Including message count, cost tracking, and token usage
• • User Preferences: Model selection, settings, and configuration options
• • Image Files: Uploaded images stored in .claude/claude-code-chat-images/
• • Backup Data: Git-based backup repository for checkpoint functionality
• • Permission Settings: Tool execution permissions and security preferences

5. Third-Party Services

The Extension integrates with external services that have their own privacy policies:

Claude AI (Anthropic)

• • Your conversations with Claude AI are processed by Anthropic
• • Data transmission occurs directly between your machine and Anthropic's servers
• • Subject to Anthropic's Privacy Policy
• • Requires your Claude API key or subscription credentials

Claude Code CLI

• • Required dependency for Extension functionality
• • Handles authentication and communication with Claude AI
• • Subject to Anthropic's terms and privacy policies

Umami Analytics (Optional)

• • Privacy-first analytics platform for website usage only
• • Only active when VS Code telemetry is enabled by user
• • GDPR compliant and cookie-free by design
• • Collects anonymous website usage statistics only
• • Does not track personal information or cross-device activity
• • Learn more: Umami Privacy Documentation

6. Data Processing Activities

The Extension performs the following data processing activities locally:

• • Conversation Management: Saving and loading chat history
• • File Context Processing: Reading workspace files when referenced with @
• • Image Processing: Handling uploaded images and screenshots
• • Backup Creation: Git-based snapshots for checkpoint functionality
• • Usage Tracking: Local monitoring of costs, tokens, and requests
• • Settings Management: Storing user preferences and configuration

7. Permissions and Access

The Extension requires certain VS Code permissions to function:

• • Workspace Access: To read and write files in your project
• • Terminal Access: For executing Claude CLI commands
• • File System Access: For creating backups and storing conversation data
• • Clipboard Access: For paste functionality and image handling
• • Configuration Access: For reading and writing Extension settings

8. Telemetry Control

You have complete control over analytics collection:

• • VS Code Telemetry Setting: Analytics only work when VS Code telemetry is enabled
• • Easy Disable: Turn off in VS Code settings → "Telemetry: Telemetry Level" → "off"
• • No Tracking: When disabled, absolutely no analytics data is collected
• • Transparent: Setting clearly indicated in VS Code preferences

9. Security Measures

We implement several security measures to protect your data:

• • Local Storage Only: No data transmission to our servers
• • Permission Controls: Granular tool execution permissions
• • YOLO Mode Option: User-controlled security level settings
• • Secure Communication: Direct encrypted communication with Anthropic
• • Git Integration: Version control for safe code experimentation

10. Data Retention

Since all data is stored locally on your machine, you have complete control over data retention. You can delete conversation history, clear backups, or uninstall the Extension at any time to remove all associated data.

11. Your Rights and Controls

You have full control over your data:

• • Access: All data is stored locally and accessible to you
• • Modification: Edit or delete conversation history and settings
• • Deletion: Remove all Extension data by deleting the .claude/ directory
• • Portability: Copy or move your data as needed
• • Transparency: All data locations are documented and accessible

12. Children's Privacy

The Extension is not intended for use by children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of the Extension after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Open Source Transparency

Claude Code Chat is open source software. You can review our data handling practices by examining the source code on GitHub. The Extension is licensed under the MIT License, ensuring transparency and community oversight.

15. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

• • GitHub Issues: Claude Code Chat Issues
• • VS Code Marketplace: Extension Page