Meta

You are agreeing to allow Meta to track your usage on other apps and websites through their Audience Network to show you targeted ads.

“When we show you ads through Meta Audience Network when you visit other apps, our systems automatically process the information we have collected and stored about you and others to identify you as a Meta Product user and tailor the ads you see.”

What that means: Your online behavior on other sites and apps is monitored and used to build a profile that influences the ads you see, linking your off-platform activity back to your social identity.

Meta uses your identity and activity data from its apps to serve personalized advertisements on entirely separate third-party apps and websites outside of its own ecosystem.

You are agreeing to the collection and use of off-platform data from third-party partners to personalize advertising shown to you.

“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 private browsing habits and interactions on other platforms are harvested to increase the precision of advertising directed at you on Meta services.

The company collects data from external sources about your activities outside of Meta's apps and combines it with your existing profile to refine ad targeting.

You are agreeing to Meta using your data to influence recommendations and ad experiences on platforms outside of Meta's direct control.

“Personalizing the ads people see... Make suggestions for you... on and off our Products.”

What that means: Your digital footprint extends beyond Facebook and Instagram, with Meta influencing what you see and are recommended on the open web and other apps.

Meta explicitly states it uses collected data to make suggestions and personalizations not just within its own products but on external platforms.

You are agreeing that data collected on Meta properties will be shared with sister brands like WhatsApp across the entire family of companies.

“Meta Company Products include all the Meta Products covered by this Policy, plus other products like WhatsApp and more. We share information we collect, infrastructure, systems and technology with the other Meta Companies.”

What that means: Using one service like Instagram may result in your data being shared with WhatsApp, merging your identities across distinct platforms under one corporate umbrella.

Accepting this policy binds you to data-sharing practices that extend to other major brands owned by Meta, specifically naming WhatsApp as part of the interconnected data ecosystem.

You are agreeing to allow Meta to retain your personal data for an indefinite period based on their own evaluation of necessity.

“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 without a guaranteed deletion timeline, subject only to Meta’s discretionary decision-making.

There is no fixed expiration date for your data; retention is determined solely by Meta's internal assessment of their business and legal needs.

You are agreeing to let Meta process sensitive personal data such as health or political views if you choose to provide it.

“Any information with special protections that you choose to provide, such as your religious views, your sexual orientation, political views, health, racial or ethnic origin, philosophical beliefs or trade union membership...”

What that means: If you disclose highly personal details about your health or beliefs, Meta retains the right to use and process this sensitive information alongside your standard data.

The policy confirms that if you choose to provide sensitive categories like health or political views, Meta processes this data to provide and improve products.

You are agreeing to grant Meta the right to access, store, and utilize your creative content for product improvement and analysis.

“Content you create, like posts, comments or audio... Content you provide through our camera feature... Information from cookies and similar technologies”

What that means: Your original posts, photos, and audio are not kept private from the platform itself, which utilizes them to fuel its product development and AI training.

By listing specific types of created content under processing categories, the policy implies a broad license to store, analyze, and potentially distribute this material for improvement and analytics purposes.

You are agreeing that Meta can access and hold your data without strict limitation to ensure the safety and integrity of its platform and property.

“To promote safety, security and integrity of Meta Products, users, employees, property and the public. We may access or preserve your information for an extended amount of time.”

What that means: Your privacy expectations are secondary to Meta's security protocols, allowing them to intercept and hold data broadly to protect their own infrastructure.

The policy asserts broad rights to monitor and preserve communications to protect the company's interests and property, often shielding the platform from liability regarding how data is handled during these security interventions.

You are agreeing that your data may be transferred to a third-party buyer if Meta sells or transfers its business assets.

“And if we sell or transfer all or part of our business to someone else, in some cases we’ll give the new owner your information as part of that transaction, but only as the law allows.”

What that means: In the event of a corporate sale, your data could be passed to a new owner who may have different privacy practices than Meta currently does.

While the document prohibits selling data directly to brokers, it retains the right to transfer your personal data to a successor entity during a merger or acquisition.