Google launches Chrome extension to collect feedback about its browser via user experience surveys

Google today released a new Chrome extension dubbed “Chrome User Experience Surveys” on the Chrome Web Store. As its name implies, the extension will prompt users with user experience surveys (in English) as they use the company’s browser.

“Once installed from the Chrome Web Store, the extension will occasionally ask you for event-specific feedback about your Chrome experience, like when you see a notification or a malware warning,” a Google spokesperson told VentureBeat. “This is the first-ever survey of its kind, where we are asking for in-the-moment feedback about specific Chrome features and plan on using the anonymous feedback to directly improve Chrome.”

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Google already asks for input regarding Chrome via various channels, including a “Report an issue” button right on the browser’s about page. Yet the company recognizes that survey prompts are intrusive, so this is an opt-in experience “for a few bold Chrome users” willing to try out “a new way to give Google feedback.” After you install the extension, a form will appear asking to join the program.

You’ll then “occasionally” be asked to give event-specific feedback about your Chrome experience; more specifically, surveys can be shown a maximum of twice per day (capped at four per week), though the company estimates most users will see a survey once a month. These in-moment surveys are non-mandatory and will take “about 2-3 minutes,” Google said.

Here is an example of a survey:

If you’re worried about privacy, Google promises it doesn’t collect any of your browsing data:

Don’t worry, your information is safe and sound and we’re not monitoring your browsing history. The only data this extension sends to Google is when these infrequent events occur and your survey responses.

Still, installing Chrome User Experience Surveys is a commitment. The feedback period lasts 120 days, after which the extension will uninstall itself. Put another way: If you want to whine about Chrome to Google, and are willing to deal with popups for four months, this is for you.