Updated 6 October 2026 · Notice version 2
About Video Channel Lens
Video Channel Lens is an independent research tool using YouTube API Services to retrieve public channel and video information. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by YouTube or Google. Outlier scores, medians, ranks and views/day are calculations made by Video Channel Lens, not metrics supplied or approved by YouTube.
Data stored on your device
Your API key, saved channel names and IDs, recent video metadata (including titles, publication dates, view counts and thumbnail URLs), lookup aliases, saved timestamps, last selected channel and acceptance of this notice are stored in this browser’s local storage. They support channel research, reopening saved results and exports. The key is not encrypted. Local storage is shared by pages on the same origin. Data is not synced between devices; private-browsing data may be temporary.
Requests to Google and YouTube
When you request new research or choose Refresh, your API key and the necessary searches, video IDs, channel IDs and playlist IDs are sent directly to Google’s YouTube Data API. Google also receives connection information such as your IP address. API requests omit cookies and referrers. We request no Google login, OAuth authorization or private account data. Saved results and exports require no API requests. Opening a video or an external policy link takes you to the relevant external site.
Tracking and hosting
This website is hosted on Cloudflare Pages. Cloudflare processes normal website requests to deliver the page and operate and protect its services. Information processed may include IP addresses, request URLs and times, browser/device information and traffic-routing data. Cloudflare may provide traffic or security information through its service dashboard. Its processing and retention are described in the Cloudflare Privacy Policy, including its Data retention section. Retention varies by the applicable service and configuration and operational or legal requirements; we do not promise a fixed deletion period for Cloudflare’s records.
The app itself includes no analytics, advertising, telemetry, tracking cookies, remote scripts or research backend, and maintains no separate visitor-log database. It does not upload your API key, channel searches, saved research or exports to Cloudflare or the site operator; YouTube API requests go directly from your browser to Google. Hosting request processing is separate from your locally stored research. Questions about this site’s privacy practices can be sent to the operator below.
Retention and your controls
When the app is open, it checks all saved channels for data more than 30 days old. Expired records must be refreshed or deleted before research and export can continue. Refresh replaces the saved snapshot with current API data and consumes your API quota. If refresh fails, the dialog remains available so you can retry or delete the remaining expired records. A static page cannot refresh or delete browser storage while it is closed.
Use Remove saved channel to delete one snapshot, Remove key to delete the key, or Settings → Reset all data to delete all of this app’s local data, including notice acceptance. Clearing this site’s browser data also removes it. These actions do not delete anything on YouTube. API keys can be revoked in Google Cloud Console. Downloaded Markdown/CSV files contain research data but no API key; they remain wherever you save them and must be deleted separately. Revoking OAuth access is not applicable because this app does not use OAuth.
Terms and external policies
By using Video Channel Lens, you agree to be bound by the YouTube Terms of Service. Google’s handling of information is described in the Google Privacy Policy. You are responsible for your API key, quota and downloaded files. Research reflects public data at the saved time and is not a prediction of future performance.
Operator and contact
Video Channel Lens is operated by Alessandro Baroni. For privacy questions or requests, contact me@alessandrobaroni.com. Website: www.alessandrobaroni.com.
If data practices change materially, this notice will be updated and you will be asked to agree again.