Privacy Policy — TNC Keyword Research
TNC Keyword Research ("the Application") is an internal research tool operated by True North Communications ("TNC", "we"), an advertising agency based in Montreal, Canada. The Application reads keyword search-volume statistics from Google Ads through the Google Ads API. This policy explains what data the Application accesses, how it is used, stored and shared.
Who uses the Application
The Application is a command-line program run by TNC staff on TNC-controlled computers. It is not offered to the public and has no end users other than TNC.
What Google data the Application accesses
When a TNC team member authorizes the Application with their Google account, it requests the Google Ads API scope (https://www.googleapis.com/auth/adwords). With that permission the Application performs read-only requests against Google Ads accounts owned by TNC:
- Keyword Planner historical metrics (average and monthly search volumes, competition, top-of-page bid estimates) for keyword lists supplied by TNC.
- The account's currency code.
The Application does not create, modify or delete anything in Google Ads. It does not access Gmail, Drive, Calendar, contacts, or any personal data of the authorizing user beyond the OAuth tokens needed to call the Google Ads API.
How the data is used
Search-volume statistics are used solely for TNC's own market and keyword research on behalf of its clients. They are saved as spreadsheet files in TNC's internal project folders.
How the data is stored and protected
OAuth credentials (client ID, client secret, refresh token) are stored in a local configuration file on the TNC computer that runs the Application. They are never committed to source code repositories, written to logs, or sent to any server other than Google's.
Sharing
We do not sell, rent or share Google user data or Google Ads data with third parties. Data is transmitted only between the TNC computer and Google's API servers. Aggregated keyword statistics may appear in research deliverables TNC prepares for its clients; those deliverables contain no personal data.
Google API Services User Data Policy
The Application's use of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.
Revoking access
A TNC team member can revoke the Application's access at any time at https://myaccount.google.com/permissions. Deleting the local configuration file also removes the stored credentials.
Changes to this policy
If the Application's data use changes, this page will be updated and the effective date revised.
Contact
True North Communications
rodion@true-north-communications.com