Privacy policy

Last updated: 31 October 2026

Who we are

The Grey Swan Editorial (“The Grey Swan”, “we”) is an independent project run by Harsh Maan in India, offering free tools for authors and editorial teams at thegreyswan.in. Contact: harsh@thegreyswan.in.

Manuscripts and files you check

The Manuscript Pre-Submission Checker and the Reference Integrity Checker run entirely in your web browser. The files you add are read on your own device and are not sent to us or to anyone else, and they are not saved after you close the page.

Reference lookups

To check references, the Reference Integrity Checker sends each reference's DOI, or its text when there is no DOI, directly from your browser to Crossref, the non-profit DOI registration agency, and downloads a public list of retracted papers. Nothing else from your file is sent. Crossref's own privacy policy applies to those requests.

Data saved in your browser

The tools save your work (for example, the reviewer tracker and your checker settings) in your browser's local storage, on your device. We cannot see it. Clearing your browser data removes it.

Signing in with Google (optional)

You can use every tool without an account. If you choose to sign in with Google:

• What we ask Google for: your name, email address and profile picture (to show who is signed in), and permission to use a private app folder in your Google Drive (“See, create and delete its own configuration data in your Google Drive”). This permission only gives access to files The Grey Swan itself creates in that hidden folder; it cannot see, open or change any of your other Drive files.
• What is saved there: your reviewer tracker data, your profile details, your saved journal profiles and preferences, and summaries of past checks (file names, results and dates, but never the manuscripts themselves).
• Where it goes: straight between your browser and Google. It does not pass through, and is not stored on, any server of ours. Your sign-in is kept in your browser for up to an hour at a time.
• Other people's details: the reviewer tracker may hold reviewers' names and email addresses that you enter. They are stored only in your browser and your own Google Drive, under your control. Please make sure your use of them is allowed by your journal or employer.

Google API Services User Data Policy

The Grey Swan's use and transfer of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements. Data from your Google account is used only to provide the saving and syncing features you see in the tools. It is not used for advertising, is not sold, is not transferred to anyone else, is not read by people, and is not used to train AI or machine learning models.

Your choices

• Download everything: “Download all my data” in My account.
• Delete everything: “Delete all my data” in My account removes it from your Google Drive and your browser.
• Remove access: sign out, or remove The Grey Swan in your Google Account settings.

Cookies, analytics and hosting

We don't set advertising or tracking cookies and don't use analytics at present. If that changes, this page will say so first. Google's sign-in window may set its own cookies, under Google's policies. Like any website, our hosting provider may keep standard technical logs (such as IP address and pages requested) for security and reliability. Web fonts are loaded from Google Fonts.

Children

The tools are meant for researchers, authors and editorial professionals and are not directed at children.

Changes

If this policy changes, the new version will be posted here with a new date.