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Privacy Policy

Last updated: November 8, 2026

Who runs this site

Steven B. Combs, Ph.D. publishes this site as retroCombs at retrocombs.com.

The retroCombs Channel Companion app (YouTube API)

retroCombs Channel Companion is a private tool that Steven B. Combs built for his own use. It runs on Steven’s own server in the Google Cloud project youtube-and-companion and uses YouTube API Services (the YouTube Data API and the YouTube Analytics API). Its only user is Steven, signed in to his own Google accounts, and it works only with his two channels, retroCombs and retroCombs Tech. It does not access any visitor’s or anyone else’s Google or YouTube data.

What it accesses. With Steven’s permission through Google sign-in, the app accesses:

  • channel and video information, including titles, descriptions, tags, and publish status;
  • caption track lists and caption files for his videos;
  • YouTube Analytics reports, including views, watch time, audience metrics, estimated revenue, and CPM;
  • the list of his channel membership levels.

What it does with that data. The app shows Steven reports about his channels and drafts suggested changes to his own video titles, descriptions, and tags. The app changes nothing on YouTube until Steven has reviewed the exact change and approved it. It never changes a video’s privacy setting unless Steven specifically tells it to.

Storage and security. Google sign-in tokens and any downloaded data are kept only on Steven’s private server. Files are readable only by his account (file permission 0600), and all traffic to Google uses HTTPS. Analytics reports may be kept as long as Steven finds them useful, and the app re-checks at least every 30 days that its access is still authorized. Other YouTube data, such as captions and video metadata, is refreshed or deleted within 30 days.

Sharing. The app does not sell, rent, or share YouTube data with anyone. It doesn’t use the data for advertising, and it doesn’t use it to train or improve general-purpose AI models. The data is processed only by software that runs on Steven’s behalf, including AI assistant software he uses to read reports and draft changes, and only Steven sees the results.

Limited Use. retroCombs Channel Companion’s use and transfer of information received from Google APIs will adhere to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.

YouTube and Google policies. The app uses YouTube API Services. By using it, you agree to be bound by the YouTube Terms of Service. Google’s handling of your data is described in the Google Privacy Policy.

Revoking access and deleting data. You can revoke the app’s access at any time in your Google security settings. After access is revoked, or after a deletion request to retrocombs@icloud.com, the app deletes the sign-in tokens and stored YouTube data for that account within 7 days (and in every case within 30 days). Deleting data held by this app does not delete anything on YouTube. To delete content on YouTube itself, use YouTube or YouTube Studio.

Questions. Email retrocombs@icloud.com.

What this website uses

This is what the site actually loads. It does not load Google Fonts. Typefaces (Inter, JetBrains Mono, Press Start 2P, and VT323) are files hosted with the site.

Google Analytics. Every page loads Google Analytics 4, measurement ID G-GMC3C0FD4Z, through gtag.js. Google uses cookies, including cookies named _ga, to recognize a browser and count visits. See the Google Privacy Policy.

Google AdSense. On pages that do not turn ads off, the site loads the AdSense script adsbygoogle.js for publisher ca-pub-4132959196132899. Posts place units in the article, after the article, and in the desktop sidebar. Content pages use those same positions: in the page, after the page, and in the desktop sidebar when the page is not a full-width layout. Full-width content pages place units in the page and after the page, and do not add a sidebar. The homepage places one unit between the blog rows. Those units can set advertising cookies. This page turns ads off and does not load the script. See the Google Privacy Policy and How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services.

Comments. Posts load giscus from giscus.app. If you comment, you sign in with GitHub, and the comment is stored in GitHub Discussions on the stevencombs/retrocombs.github.io repository under the GitHub Privacy Statement.

YouTube videos. The site’s video player asks YouTube for a thumbnail image from i.ytimg.com when the page loads. The player itself comes from youtube-nocookie.com and loads only after you press play. See the Google Privacy Policy. A few older posts also embed a Vimeo video, Flickr galleries, Google Slides, or an Amazon banner. Those load only on the posts that include them: Vimeo, Flickr, Google, and Amazon.

Search. Search runs in your browser. It downloads this site’s own index at /search.json. It does not send your query to a third party, and it does not set a cookie.

Hosting. GitHub Pages serves the site. GitHub may keep ordinary server logs, such as an IP address and the page requested. See the GitHub Privacy Statement.

When you click links to merchants on this site and make a purchase, this site can earn a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, Amazon, the eBay Partner Network, and others. Those merchants have their own privacy policies.

Children

This site is not directed at children under 13, and it does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Changes to this policy

Steven may update this policy. The date at the top of this page will change when he does.

Contact

Email retrocombs@icloud.com.