Feature request: built-in live closed captions + translation overlay in Edge #751

Hi Microsoft Edge extensions team,

I built a working Edge extension that adds live closed captions and translation on any webpage or video, and I would like Edge to consider this as a built-in (or first-party) accessibility feature.

Repo (MIT, ready to load unpacked): https://github.com/ar-fullsend/live-cc-translate

Problem

Edge already translates pages and has limited real-time video translation, but there is still no simple, always-available overlay that:

1. Translates existing closed captions on YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, and generic <track> subtitles
2. Translates the full page and selected text
3. Optionally captions live speech
4. Shows bilingual captions (original + translation) without installing a third-party store extension

This is an accessibility and language-access gap. Users currently have to hunt for third-party add-ons, many of which require accounts, paid ASR, or send audio to unknown backends.

Prototype behavior

Live CC Translate is a Manifest V3 Edge extension:

• Overlay CC bar on every page (Alt+C toggle, Alt+T translate page)
• Auto-translates on-screen captions and YouTube timedtext
• Uses Microsoft Translator via Edge auth (edge.microsoft.com/translate/auth + Cognitive Translator), with a fallback translator
• Optional microphone live captions via Web Speech API
• Works in fullscreen, including YouTube

I am offering this prototype to the Edge team. Happy to transfer the repo, help with a Partner Center listing, or walk through the implementation.

Why this belongs in Edge

• Complements existing page translate and on-device video translation
• Accessibility: captions for video with no CC track, plus translation for non-native speakers
• Privacy: can stay on Microsoft Translator / on-device APIs instead of random extension backends
• Matches Windows Live Captions, but inside the browser tab where people actually watch video

Thanks for considering it.

Andrew Rester
https://github.com/ar-fullsend
andrew.rester@gmail.com