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Privacy policy

Meta

Meta Privacy Policy - How Meta collects and uses user data

C

Risk score

45of 100

Open the original (new tab)Company page

In short

  • Meta collects extensive personal, location, and device data to run Facebook, Instagram, and related services.
  • You accept personalized advertising and data sharing across Meta companies and with integrated partners.
  • Data is kept indefinitely based on Meta's internal needs for safety, analytics, and legitimate interests.

What you accept

If you use this site

Everyday words for the material promises and rights you give up. Each line includes a quote from the document.

Fineprint cannot see whether you agreed. This page is posted on their site. Open the original if you need to know how they say it applies.

  1. 01

    You are agreeing that Meta shares your information across the Meta Companies to provide a seamless experience and personalize ads.

    Other products, stores, or brands

    “We share information we collect, infrastructure, systems and technology with the other Meta Companies.”
  2. 02

    You are agreeing that Meta keeps your information as long as it needs to for various purposes, including its own legitimate interests.

    This product

    “If we need it for other legitimate purposes, such as to prevent harm; investigate possible violations of our terms or policies; promote safety, security and integrity; or protect ourselves, including our rights, property or products”

What it can cost you

Downsides we could quote

Quoted clauses that can affect your privacy, money, or right to go to court — including terms that follow you to other products.

Highest-cost clauses first

High cost

Terms follow you to parks, stores, and other products

You are agreeing that your data from different apps like WhatsApp and Facebook can be combined and shared across all Meta services.

“We are part of the Meta Companies that provide Meta Company Products. Meta Company Products include all the Meta Products covered by this Policy, plus other products like WhatsApp and more.”

What that means: Your data activity on one app like Instagram can be linked to your WhatsApp account and used across all Meta properties.

The policy defines 'Meta Company Products' broadly, covering Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and explicitly mentions WhatsApp. Information is shared across these brands under one unified privacy framework.

High cost

Tracking you across apps

You are agreeing that your activity on other websites and apps using Meta ad services is collected and used to tailor ads you see on Meta.

“We’ll use information that advertisers, businesses and other partners provide us about activity off the Meta Company Products that we have associated with you to personalize ads that we show you on our Products, and on websites, apps and devices that use our advertising services.”

What that means: Your browsing and activity on outside websites are tracked to show you personalized ads on Meta products.

Meta collects and uses data from third-party websites and apps that integrate its advertising tools to build user profiles and serve targeted ads even when users are not on Meta platforms.

High cost

Indefinite retention

You are agreeing that Meta decides how long to keep your data without a set time limit, potentially holding it forever.

“We keep information as long as we need it to provide our Products, comply with legal obligations or protect our or other’s interests. We decide how long we need information on a case-by-case basis.”

What that means: Your personal information may be stored indefinitely as long as Meta claims a business or legal justification for keeping it.

Data retention periods are determined solely by Meta's needs and internal criteria, with no fixed expiration date for general data usage.

People also accept these terms in

The same company terms often apply on these apps or devices. This is a lookup aid, not a claim we caught this company.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Whatsapp
  • Meta Quest
  • Oculus

If these terms already apply to you

Keep this list. Fineprint cannot undo or cancel something you already agreed to at the company.

We cannot see Agree on their site. With Premium, tap “I accepted these terms” if you already agreed to what Meta asks.