Meta uses de-identified, aggregated or anonymized third-party data without trying to re-identify individuals
In some cases third parties de-identify, aggregate or anonymize information so that it no longer identifies individuals before making it available to Meta. Meta says it uses this information as described in the Policy without trying to re-identify individuals.
Supporting quotations
In some cases information is de-identified, aggregated, or anonymized by third parties so that it no longer identifies individuals before it’s made available to us. We use this information as described below without trying to re-identify individuals.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies to information de-identified by third parties before Meta receives it.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Non-account data is used for security, safety and integrity, advertising and performance
Meta gives examples of why it collects information from people without accounts. Security: monitoring attempted attacks such as overloading servers, and detecting someone without an account loading too many pages who may be scraping the site in violation of its terms, so it can act to prevent it. Safety and integrity: it can act under its Community Standards against a non-account holder, and can share information with law enforcement when it believes there is a genuine risk of death or imminent bodily harm. Advertising: you may see ads for Meta Company Products through Meta Audience Network on other apps if Meta cannot recognize you as a registered user. Performance: it measures how fast pages load in different countries and whether they work properly, to identify and fix local network issues.
Supporting quotations
For example, we collect information to monitor attempted attacks on our systems, such as overloading our servers with traffic.
our site in violation of our terms. Then we can take action to prevent it.
We can take action according to our Community Standards against someone without an account interacting with Meta Products. For example, we can share information with law enforcement when we believe there is a genuine risk of death or imminent bodily harm.
when you visit other apps if we can’t recognize you as a registered user of the Meta Products.
For example, we collect information when people use our Products, even if they don’t have an account, to measure how fast our pages load in different countries and whether they're working properly. This helps us identify and fix issues with local networks.
Qualifications & exceptions
Law enforcement sharing in this example is tied to a genuine risk of death or imminent bodily harm.
Audience Network ads apply when Meta cannot recognize you as a registered user.
Not stated here
The Community Standards and Audience Network pages are linked but not supplied.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Camera features collect usage data; filters and masks process faces or bodies but are not used to identify you
Meta collects information about how you use the camera feature, for example the background effect chosen so it can apply it. If you use the camera or allow access to photos and videos, certain Meta Products let you add filters, effects, masks or avatars; some of these process parts of faces or bodies within the camera frame, photo or video, for example to fit a mask over the eyes, nose and mouth. Meta states that the information used for this process is used to create the feature and is not used to identify you.
Supporting quotations
We collect information about how José uses the Camera feature.
If you use our camera or allow access to photos and videos, on certain Meta Products you can add filters, effects, masks or avatars. Some of these features process parts of faces or bodies within the camera frame, photo or video.
The information we use for this process is used to create the feature. It’s not used to identify you.
Qualifications & exceptions
Face and body processing applies on certain Meta Products when you use the camera or allow photo and video access.
Meta commits that this information is not used to identify you.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Meta uses third-party datasets to stop scraping, protect safety and integrity, and improve AI
Meta gets datasets from publicly available sources, research institutions, data providers and professional and non-profit groups. It uses them to detect and stop scraping in violation of its terms, to take other actions promoting the safety, security and integrity of its Products, users, the public and its personnel and property, and, as the list continues in the next packet, to improve its AI technologies and support AI research and product development.
Supporting quotations
We get datasets from publicly available sources, research institutions, data providers and professional and non-profit groups. We use these datasets to:
in violation of our terms
Take other actions to promote the safety, security and integrity of our Products, our users, the public and our personnel and property
Use & Processing · Company practice
Third-party datasets are also used to improve AI, run analytics and follow up with survey respondents
Continuing the list of dataset uses, Meta uses datasets from public sources, research institutions, data providers and non-profit groups to improve its AI technologies and support AI research and product development, such as translations, computer vision, content understanding, natural language processing and tools for people and businesses to create content; to undertake analytics; and to engage with research survey respondents who choose to participate in additional conversations.
Supporting quotations
Improve our AI technologies and support AI research and product development, such as translations, computer vision, content understanding, natural language processing, and tools for people and businesses to create content
Undertake analytics
Engage with research survey respondents who choose to participate in additional conversations
Qualifications & exceptions
Survey follow-up applies to respondents who choose to participate further.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Highlights: personalization, product improvement, safety, messages if you allow, and research
The highlights of how Meta uses information: it personalizes your experience, such as suggesting reels, communities or more relevant AI at Meta responses; improves its Products using what you do with them and what else is happening on your device when the app crashes; works to prevent harmful behavior and keep people safe; sends you messages about Products you use or might like, if you let it; and conducts research for the good of people around the world, such as advancing technology or helping in a crisis.
Supporting quotations
Here are some of the ways we use your information:
We personalize your experience, like by suggesting reels to watch, communities to join, or providing more relevant responses from
We improve our Products by applying information about what you use them to do, and what else is happening on your device when our app crashes
We work to prevent harmful behavior and keep people safe on our Products
We send you messages about the Products you use or ones you might like, if you let us
We research for the good of people around the world, like to advance technology or to help out in a crisis
Qualifications & exceptions
Product messages are sent only if you let Meta.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Meta uses data across Products and devices, mostly automatically with some manual review, and de-identifies some
Meta uses the information it collects to provide a personalized experience including ads, along with the other purposes detailed in the section. For some purposes it uses information across its Products and across your devices. The information is automatically processed by its systems, but in some cases it also uses manual review to access and review your information. To use less information connected to individual users, it sometimes de-identifies, aggregates or anonymizes information so it no longer identifies you, and uses that information in the same ways described in the section.
Supporting quotations
We use information we collect to provide a personalized experience to you, including ads, along with the other purposes we explain in detail below.
For some of these purposes, we use information across our Products[26] and across your devices[27]. The information we use for these purposes is automatically processed by our systems. But in some cases, we also use manual review[28] to access and review your information.
To use less information that’s connected to individual users, in some cases we de-identify or aggregate information or anonymize it so that it no longer identifies you. We use this information in the same ways we use your information as described in this section.
Here are the ways we use your information:
Qualifications & exceptions
Manual review applies in some cases; examples are in a footnote carded in a later packet.
Cross-Product and cross-device use applies for some purposes.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Meta uses information to provide, personalize and improve Products; special-protection data is not used for ads
Meta uses the information it has to provide and improve its Products, including checking that they work correctly and troubleshooting, and personalizing features, content and recommendations such as Facebook Feed, Instagram Feed, AI at Meta, Stories and ads. It uses information with special protections that you choose to provide for these purposes, but not to show you ads.
Supporting quotations
We use information we have to provide and improve our Products[29]. This includes:
Seeing if our Products are working correctly, such as troubleshooting, and fixing it when it’s not working
Stories and ads.
We use information with special protections you choose to provide for these purposes, but not to show you ads.
Qualifications & exceptions
Information with special protections (for example religious views, health, sexual orientation) is used for these purposes but not to show ads.
Not stated here
The linked recommendations and feed explanations are not supplied.
Meta picks ads using profile, on- and off-Meta activity, content, AI interactions, inferences and connections' data
When you use Meta's Products you see ads and sponsored or commercial content, such as product listings in Shops; Meta personalizes ads on and across Meta Company Products, and you also see ads through Meta Audience Network or commercial content on other apps. Meta uses your information to show ads paid for by advertisers, businesses and organizations. To decide what to show you and others it uses your profile information; your activity on and off its Products, including information received through cookies and similar technologies, according to your settings; content you create or interact with across Facebook and Instagram; interactions with AI at Meta; things it infers about you, such as topics it thinks you may be interested in; and information about your friends, followers or other connections, including their activity or interests. It also uses de-identified, aggregated or anonymized information to show ads, and a linked page describes ad selection including machine learning. Elsewhere in this section Meta states that information with special protections is not used to show you ads.
Supporting quotations
When you use our Products, you see ads and sponsored or commercial content, like product listings in Shops. Meta personalizes your ads on and across Meta Company Products.
We use your information to show you ads paid for by advertisers, businesses, and organizations.
To decide what to show you and others, we use information we have about you, including:
Your profile information
Your activity on and off our Products, including information we receive through cookies and similar technologies, according to your settings
Content you create or interact with across Facebook and Instagram
Interactions with
Things we infer about you, like topics we think you may be interested in
Information about your friends, followers or other connections, including their activity or interests
We also use information that's been de-identified, aggregated, or anonymized so that it no longer identifies individuals, to show you ads.
about some of the ways we show you ads that we think may be interesting to you, including using machine learning.
but not to show you ads.
Qualifications & exceptions
Use of off-Meta activity for ads is subject to your settings.
Information with special protections you provide is not used to show ads (stated in the provide-and-improve subsection).
Not stated here
How the ads system ranks ads; the linked explanation and examples are not supplied here.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Meta uses your information to develop, test and research new products and features
Meta says it is always trying to make Meta Products better and create new ones, and information collected from you helps it learn how. Examples: developing and improving products and features; building and testing new products and features; getting feedback on its ideas; and conducting surveys and other research on what it can do better for Meta Products and brands.
Supporting quotations
We’re always trying to make Meta Products better and create new ones with the features you want. Information we collect from you helps us learn how.
For example, we use information we collect to:
Develop and improve products and features
Build and test out new products and features to see if they work
Get feedback on our ideas for products or features
Conduct surveys and other research on what we can do better for Meta Products and brands
Use & Processing · Company practice
Meta uses location from Location Services if on, and IP, activity and profile location even when it is off
Meta uses location-related information you allow it to receive if you turn on the Location Services device setting, such as GPS location and, depending on your operating system, other device signals. Even if Location Services is off, it still receives and uses some location-related information: IP addresses, used to estimate your general location and, where necessary to protect the safety and security of you or others, your specific location; your and others' activity on its Products, such as check-ins and events; and information you give directly, like your current city on your profile or your address in Marketplace. It uses location-related information such as your current location, where you live, places you like to go and the businesses and people you are near for the purposes in the use section, including providing, personalizing and improving Products and ads for you and others, and detecting suspicious activity to keep your account secure. Location settings links are provided but not supplied.
Supporting quotations
We use location-related information that you allow us to receive if you turn on the Location Services device setting. This includes things like your GPS location and, depending on the operating system you're using, other device signals[31].
We also receive and use some location-related information even if Location Services is turned off. This includes:
IP addresses[32], which we use to estimate your general location. We can use IP addresses to estimate your specific location if it’s necessary to protect the safety and security of you or others.
Your and others' activity on our Products, like check-ins and events
Information you give us directly, like if you enter your current city on your profile, or provide your address in Marketplace
We use location-related information, such as your current location, where you live, the places you like to go and the businesses and people you're near, to do the things described in the “How do we use your information?” section of the Policy, like:
Provide, personalize and improve our Products, including ads, for you and others.
Detect suspicious activity and help keep your account secure.
Qualifications & exceptions
GPS and device-signal location requires Location Services turned on.
IP-based specific location is used only if necessary to protect the safety and security of you or others.
Some location use happens even with Location Services off.
Not stated here
The example and security notes linked from this subsection.
Information is also used for safety, business measurement, communicating with you, and research for social good
Meta uses the information it collects to help protect people from harm and provide safe, secure Products; to help businesses and others measure how well their ads, content, products and services are working; to communicate with you using information you have given, such as contact information on your profile; and, together with information from researchers and datasets from publicly available sources, professional groups and non-profit groups, to conduct and support research. Each purpose has a Learn more subpage expanded in later packets.
Supporting quotations
We use information we collect to help protect people from harm and provide safe, secure Products.
Lots of people rely on our Products to run or promote their businesses or share content. We help them measure how well their ads and other content, products and services are working.
We communicate with you using information you've given us, like contact information you've entered on your profile.
We use information we have, information from researchers and datasets from publicly available sources, professional groups and non-profit groups to conduct and support research.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Meta uses data across your accounts to give partners audience, interaction and performance measurement
To provide measurement and analytics services, Meta uses the information it collects about you across your accounts on its Products. These services help partners and users understand how many people see and interact with their products, services or content (posts, videos, Pages, listings, Shops and ads, including ads shown through Meta Audience Network apps); how people interact with their content, websites, apps and services; what types of people interact with their content or use their services; and how people use partners' products and services to connect to Meta Products, including connection and network performance. Meta also uses collected information to provide business services.
Supporting quotations
To provide measurement and analytics services, we use the information we collect about you across your accounts on our Products.
Our measurement and analytics services help our partners[35] and users understand things like:
How many people see and interact with their products, services or content, including posts, videos, Facebook Pages, listings, Shops and ads (including those shown through apps using
How people interact with their content, websites, apps and services
What types of people[36] interact with their content or use their services
How people use our partners' products and services to connect to Meta Products, the performance of their connection and networks and users' experience with them
We also use the information we collect to provide business services.
Qualifications & exceptions
Uses information across your accounts on Meta Products.
Not stated here
What 'types of people' covers; a footnote is linked.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Meta messages you about Products, marketing per your settings, research, policies and support, and tracks opens
Meta communicates with you in several ways: it sends messages about Products it knows you use, using the email registered to your account; depending on your settings, it sends marketing communications about Products you might like; it asks you to participate in research based on things like how you use its Products; it tells you about its policies and terms of service; it replies to your email when you contact it; and it facilitates customer support communications when you have told it, directly or through a third party, that you have questions or concerns. It also uses information about how you interact with its messages, such as whether you open an email, to understand the best way to reach you and whether its communications are helpful.
Supporting quotations
We communicate with you in a few different ways. For example:
We send messages about the Products we know you use, using the email you register to your account
Depending on your settings, we send marketing communications about Products you might like
We ask you to participate in research based on things like how you use our Products
We let you know about our policies and terms of service
When you contact us with questions, we reply to your email
We facilitate customer support communications with you when you've told us, either directly or through a third party[37], that you have questions or concerns about our Products
We also use information about how you interact with our messages, like if you open an email from us. This helps us understand the best way to reach you and whether our communications are helpful.
Qualifications & exceptions
Marketing communications depend on your settings; a Communication preferences control is linked.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Meta researches for social good, technology, safety and health, including crisis maps and election studies
Meta researches and innovates with goals of contributing to social good and public-interest areas, advancing technology, and improving safety, health and well-being. Examples: analyzing where groups of people go during crises to help relief organizations; working with independent researchers on social media's impact on elections and democratic processes; collaborating with academics and industry experts to improve rural internet access; and supporting research in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Supporting quotations
We research and innovate to help people around the world. Our goals include:
Contributing to social good and areas of public interest
Advancing technology
Improving safety, health and well-being
Here are some examples of our research:
about where groups of people go during crises. This helps relief organizations get aid to the right places.
We work with independent researchers to better understand the impact social media might have on elections and democratic processes
We’ve collaborated with academics and industry experts to help improve internet access and quality in rural areas
We support research in areas like artificial intelligence and machine learning
about our research programs
Qualifications & exceptions
Examples only; the research programs page is linked but not supplied.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Manual reviewers at Meta, Meta Companies or trusted providers review content, offer support and train algorithms
Meta's reviewers help promote safety, security and integrity: they can look for and remove content that violates its terms and policies and keep compliant content available, supplementing violation-detecting technology; when algorithms detect that someone might need help, a reviewer can review the post and offer support; and manual review is used to analyze content to train algorithms to review content the way a person would, improving automatic processing. Reviewers work at Meta, for Meta Companies or for a trusted service provider, and Meta requires every reviewer allowed access to your information to meet privacy and security standards. A linked page on how content is prioritized for review is not supplied.
Supporting quotations
Our reviewers help us promote safety, security and integrity across our Products. For example, reviewers can look for and remove content that violates our terms and policies and keep content that doesn’t break our terms and policies available.
a reviewer can review their post and offer support if needed.
We also use manual review to analyze content to train our algorithms to review content the same way a person would. This improves our automatic processing, which in turn helps us improve our products.
Our reviewers work at Meta, for
or for a trusted service provider[41]. We require every reviewer who's allowed access to your information to meet privacy and security standards.
about how Meta prioritizes content for manual review.
Qualifications & exceptions
Reviewers may be employees of Meta, Meta Companies or trusted service providers.
Not stated here
The privacy and security standards reviewers must meet are not described.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Ad examples: check-ins, off-Meta purchases shared via Business Tools, inferred interests and friends' activity
Meta's examples of ad personalization: a check-in at a bakery on Facebook can lead to ads on Instagram for other bakeries; a purchase from an online shoe store shared with Meta through its Business Tools, subject to the Business Tools Terms, can lead to a discount ad on Instagram, which the user can hide in the Advertisers setting or stop entirely by turning off ads based on activity on other websites and apps in Ad preferences; liking Pages about musicians can create an inferred interest in music used for ads, manageable in ad topics; and a friend liking an art fair account can lead to an ad for that fair. The Business Tools Terms and settings pages are not supplied.
Supporting quotations
For example, William checks into a local bakery on Facebook, so later we might show him ads on Instagram for other local bakeries.
The seller shares Jane’s activity with us using our Business Tools, subject to our Business Tools Terms.
Later, Jane sees an ad on Instagram for a discount on her next shoe purchase from the online store.
If she doesn't want to see ads from this shoe store again, she can hide them in her
Or if she doesn’t want us to show her any ads based on her activity on other websites and apps, she can make sure that this setting is turned off in her
For example, Jon likes several Facebook Pages about famous musicians, so we think he has an interest in "music."
Based on this interest, we might show him an ad for a local record shop or an online music publication.
Jon can manage his interests in his
For example, Fiona’s friend likes an Instagram account for a local art fair. Based on her friend’s activity, we might show Fiona an ad for the art fair.
Qualifications & exceptions
Off-Meta activity ads depend on your settings and can be turned off in Ad preferences.
Partner sharing through Business Tools is subject to the Business Tools Terms, not supplied.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Example: GPS with Location Services on serves nearby ads; IP estimates location after it is turned off
Meta's example: with Location Services on and location access allowed for the Facebook app, it uses GPS to help find public Wi-Fi and also to show ads for local businesses nearby. After Location Services is turned off it no longer collects GPS information, but when the app is opened it can use the received IP address to estimate general location and show ads for nearby businesses.
Supporting quotations
He has turned on Location Services on his device and allowed location access on the Facebook app, so we can use his GPS information to help him find the most relevant public Wi-Fi networks. We’ll also use this information to show him ads for local businesses near the airport.
Later, Marcus turns off Location Services before he lands, so we don’t collect his GPS information anymore. Later on his trip, he opens the Facebook app, and we can use the IP address we receive to estimate Marcus’ general location and show him ads for businesses nearby.
Qualifications & exceptions
GPS use requires Location Services on and app location access.
IP-based general location is used even after Location Services is off.
Use & Processing · User right or choice
You can opt out of Meta tailoring its own off-Meta ads with your activity, via Ad preferences or industry opt-outs
Meta advertises its own products and services on non-Meta ad platforms using marketing vendors. If it uses your activity on its Products to tailor those ads, you can opt out of that use: with an account, through Ad preferences; without an account, through the Digital Advertising Alliance industry opt-out platform in your browser (or the Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada if you live in Canada) and your mobile device settings, where manufacturers provide different opt-out methods. Meta warns that certain ad blockers and cookie-restriction tools can interfere with opting out. Ads on Meta's own Products are managed in Ad preferences.
Supporting quotations
Visit your
We advertise our own products and services on non-Meta ad platforms. We use marketing vendors to deliver these ads. If we use your activity on our Products to tailor these ads, you can opt out of this type of use.
If you have an account:
to opt out.
If you don't have an account:
industry opt-out platform on your web browser. If you live in Canada, you can use the
industry opt-out platform. Certain ad blockers and tools to restrict cookies can interfere with your ability to opt out.
Check your mobile device settings. Device manufacturers provide different ways to opt out.
Qualifications & exceptions
The opt-out covers tailoring Meta's own off-Meta ads with your on-Product activity.
Ad blockers and cookie restrictions can interfere with the browser opt-out.
Use & Processing · User right or choice
Opt-out of tailored Meta ads off its Products is repeated: Ad preferences, DAA platforms, device settings
The ad management footnote is repeated here: ads on Meta Products are managed in Ad preferences; Meta advertises its own products on non-Meta platforms through marketing vendors and, if it uses your on-Product activity to tailor those ads, you can opt out via Ad preferences with an account, or without one via the Digital Advertising Alliance browser opt-out (Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada in Canada) and mobile device settings. Ad blockers and cookie-restriction tools can interfere with opting out.
Supporting quotations
Visit your
We advertise our own products and services on non-Meta ad platforms. We use marketing vendors to deliver these ads. If we use your activity on our Products to tailor these ads, you can opt out of this type of use.
If you have an account:
to opt out.
If you don't have an account:
industry opt-out platform. Certain ad blockers and tools to restrict cookies can interfere with your ability to opt out.
Check your mobile device settings. Device manufacturers provide different ways to opt out.
Qualifications & exceptions
Ad blockers and cookie restrictions can interfere with the browser opt-out.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Personalization: automated processing of your and others' data to tailor content, ads and suggestions across Meta
In the section setting out why and how information is processed by category, Meta explains personalization: its systems automatically process information collected and stored about you and others to assess your interests and preferences and provide personalized experiences on and across the Meta Company Products in accordance with its terms. This is how it personalizes features and content such as Facebook Feed, Instagram Feed, AI at Meta and Stories, personalizes the ads people see, and makes suggestions such as people you may know, groups or events, or topics to follow, on and off its Products. Its ads system prioritizes which ad to show based on the audience advertisers want to reach, then matches the ad to people who might be interested; linked explanations are not supplied.
Supporting quotations
The categories of information we use, and why and how information is processed, are set out below:
Personalizing Meta Products
Why and how we process your information:
Personalizing the Meta Products[86]: Our systems automatically process information we've collected and stored associated with you and others to assess and understand your interests and your preferences and provide you personalized experiences on and across the Meta Company Products in accordance with our terms. This is how we:
Personalize features and content (such as your
Personalize the ads people see, and
Make suggestions for you (such as people you may know, groups or events that you may be interested in or topics that you may want to follow) on and off our Products.
Our ads system prioritizes what ad to show you based on what audience advertisers want to reach. Then we match the ad to people who might be interested.
about how we choose the ads that you see.
Qualifications & exceptions
Personalization uses information about others as well as you.
Suggestions are made on and off Meta's Products.
Not stated here
The linked ad-selection explanation.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Personalization may draw on your activity, connections, device and partner data, depending on your circumstances
For personalization, the information categories Meta uses depend on your factual circumstances but could include your activity and information you provide (content you create, camera and voice content, content metadata, AI at Meta interactions and metadata, content you view and how, apps and features used, purchases and transactions, hashtags, and the time, frequency and duration of activities); friends, followers and other connections; app, browser and device information (device characteristics and software, what you are doing on the device, identifiers, device signals, device-settings data like GPS, location-related information, network information, performance reports and cookies); and information from partners, vendors and third parties. WhatsApp users are referred to a help article on what WhatsApp shares with Meta, not supplied.
Supporting quotations
The actual information we use depends on your factual circumstances, but could include any of the following:
Your activity and information you provide:
Content you create, like posts, comments or audio
Content you provide through our camera feature or your camera roll settings, or through our voice-enabled features
about content
Interactions with AI at Meta and related metadata. For example, information you or others exchange with AI at Meta like content and messages
Types of content you view or interact with, and how you interact with it
Apps and features you use, and what actions you take in them
Purchases or other transactions you make
Hashtags you use
The time, frequency and duration of your activities on our Products
Friends, followers and other connections
App, browser and device information:
Information from partners, vendors and third parties
about what information is shared with Meta.
Qualifications & exceptions
The actual information used depends on your factual circumstances.
Not stated here
What WhatsApp shares with Meta; the linked article is not supplied.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Device categories used for personalization: characteristics, activity, identifiers, signals, location, network, cookies
The app, browser and device categories listed for personalization are device characteristics and software; what you are doing on your device, such as whether the app is in the foreground or your mouse is moving, which can help tell humans from bots; identifiers that tell your device apart; device signals; information shared through device settings like GPS location; location-related information; information about the network you connect to; reports about product performance on your device; and information from cookies and similar technologies.
Supporting quotations
characteristics and device software
What you’re doing on your device, like whether our app is in the foreground or if your mouse is moving (which can help tell humans from bots)
Identifiers that tell your device apart from other users’
Device signals
Information you’ve shared through your device settings (like GPS location)
Location-related information
Information about the network you connect your device to
Reports about our products’ performance on your device
Information from cookies and similar technologies
Use & Processing · Company practice
Providing the Products involves collecting, storing, sharing, profiling, reviewing and curating, including human review
Meta describes providing and improving the Meta Products as including collecting, storing and, where relevant, sharing, profiling, reviewing and curating information, and in some instances manual (human) reviewing as well as automated processing, for purposes listed in the next packet, beginning with creating and maintaining your account and profile.
Supporting quotations
Providing and improving Meta Products
Why and how we process your information:
Providing and improving our Meta Products: The provision of the Meta Products includes collecting, storing, and, where relevant, sharing, profiling, reviewing and curating, and in some instances not only automated processing but also manual (human) reviewing, to:
Qualifications & exceptions
Human review applies in some instances.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Providing Products: accounts, partner sign-in, sharing, messaging and calls, ads, AI content, analytics, payments, fixes
Providing and improving the Meta Products covers processing to create and maintain your account and profile; connect your Meta account, including public profile information, to an integrated partner to sign in or share; facilitate sharing of content and status; provide and curate features; provide messaging and voice and video calls; provide advertising products; understand and enable creation of text, audio, images and videos including through AI at Meta; undertake analytics; facilitate purchases and payments on Meta Pay or other Meta checkout; and check that Products work correctly. Meta also uses information to develop, research and test improvements: developing and improving products and features, building and testing new ones, getting feedback on ideas, and conducting surveys and research about what you like and what it can do better.
Supporting quotations
Create and maintain your account and profile,
Connect your Meta Products account, including your public profile information, to an integrated partner to sign in or share your information,
Facilitate the sharing of content and status,
Provide and curate features,
Provide messaging services, the ability to make voice and video calls and connect with others,
Provide advertising products,
Understand and enable creation of content like text, audio, images and videos, including through
Undertake analytics,
Facilitate your purchases and payments on Meta Pay or other Meta checkout experiences, and
See if our Products are working correctly, such as troubleshooting, and fixing it when it’s not working.
We also use information to develop, research and test improvements to Meta Products. We use information we have to:
Develop and improve products and features,
Build and test out new products and features to see if they work,
Get feedback on our ideas for products or features, and
Conduct surveys and other research about what you like about our Products and brands and on what we can do better for Meta Products and brands.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Providing Products may use activity, messages, public profile, truncated card data, selfies, connections and device data
For providing and improving the Products, the categories Meta may use, depending on your factual circumstances, include content you create; your public profile information (name, username and profile picture); camera, camera roll and voice content; messages you send and receive including content, and metadata about content and messages, both subject to applicable law; AI at Meta interactions and metadata; content you view and how; apps and features used; purchases and transactions including truncated credit card information; hashtags; time, frequency and duration of activities; your photo or video selfie if provided for account support; friends, followers and connections; app, browser and device information (characteristics and software, device activity, identifiers, signals, device-settings data, location, network including IP address, cookies); and information from partners, vendors and third parties.
Supporting quotations
The actual information we use depends on your factual circumstances, but could include any of the following:
Your activity and information you provide:
Content you create, like posts, comments or audio
Your public profile information (including your name, username and profile picture)
Content you provide through our camera feature or your camera roll settings, or through our voice-enabled features
Messages you send and receive, including their content, subject to applicable law
Metadata about content and messages, subject to applicable law
Interactions with AI at Meta and related metadata. For example, information you or others exchange with AI at Meta like content and messages
Types of content you view or interact with, and how you interact with it
Apps and features you use, and what actions you take in them
Purchases or other transactions you make, including truncated credit card information
Hashtags you use
The time, frequency and duration of your activities on our Products
Your photo or video selfie if you provide it when you contact us for account support
Friends, followers and other connections
Information from partners, vendors and third parties
Qualifications & exceptions
Message content and metadata use is subject to applicable law.
Card information in this category is described as truncated.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Device categories for providing Products include identifiers, signals, settings, location, IP address and cookies
The app, browser and device categories for providing and improving the Products are device characteristics and software; what you are doing on your device, such as app foreground state or mouse movement used to tell humans from bots; identifiers; device signals; information shared through device settings; location-related information; network information including your IP address; and information from cookies and similar technologies.
Supporting quotations
App, browser and device information:
Device characteristics and device software
What you’re doing on your device, like whether our app is in the foreground or if your mouse is moving (which can help tell humans from bots)
Identifiers that tell your device apart from other users’
Device signals
Information you’ve shared through your device settings
Location-related information
Information about the network you connect your device to, including your IP address[90]
Information from cookies and similar technologies
Use & Processing · Company practice
Meta develops AI at Meta for its Products and for third parties using public content, AI interactions and partner data
Meta processes information to develop and improve AI at Meta for Meta Products and for third parties. The categories it may use, depending on your circumstances, are public content you or others create or share on Meta Products, such as posts, comments or audio; interactions with AI at Meta and related metadata, including content and messages you or others exchange with it; and information from partners, vendors and third parties. No opt-out is stated in this section.
Supporting quotations
Developing and improving AI at Meta
Why and how we process your information:
for Meta Products and for third parties.
The actual information we use depends on your factual circumstances, but could include any of the following:
Your activity and information you provide:
Public content you or others create or share, like posts, comments or audio on Meta Products
Interactions with AI at Meta and related metadata. For example, information you or others exchange with AI at Meta like content and messages.
Information from partners, vendors and third parties
Qualifications & exceptions
AI development serves third parties as well as Meta Products.
The listed inputs are public content, AI interactions and partner data; nonpublic content is not listed here.
Not stated here
Whether any control over AI training use is available; none is stated in this section.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Meta uses your contact details to email or notify you about Products, issues, research and policies, and to reply
To communicate with you, Meta uses information you gave it, such as contact information on your profile, to send communications like email or in-product notices: it will contact you via email or in-product notifications about the Meta Products, product-related issues, research, or its terms and policies, and it uses contact information like your email address to respond when you contact it. The categories it may use include contact information on your profile and your communications with Meta, content you create, camera and voice content, and app, browser and device information including device characteristics and software, device activity, identifiers, signals, device-settings data, location, network including IP address, and cookies.
Supporting quotations
Communicating with you
Why and how we process your information:
To communicate with you: We use information you’ve given us (like contact information on your profile) to send you a communication, like an e-mail or in-product notice, for example:
We’ll contact you via email or in-product notifications in relation to the Meta Products, product-related issues, research or to let you know about our terms and policies.
We also use contact information like your email address to respond when you contact us.
The actual information we use depends on your factual circumstances, but could include any of the following:
Your activity and information you provide:
Contact information on your profile and your communications with us
Content you create, like posts, comments or audio
Content you provide through our camera feature or your camera roll settings, or through our voice-enabled features
App, browser and device information:
Device characteristics and device software
What you’re doing on your device, like whether our app is in the foreground or if your mouse is moving (which can help tell humans from bots)
Identifiers that tell your device apart from other users’
Device signals
Information you’ve shared through your device settings
Qualifications & exceptions
Marketing communications are governed by settings described elsewhere; this section covers product, issue, research and policy notices.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Communication processing also lists location, network and IP address, and cookies as device categories
The communication purpose's device categories conclude with location-related information, information about the network you connect to including your IP address, and information from cookies and similar technologies.
Supporting quotations
Location-related information
Information about the network you connect your device to, including your IP address
Information from cookies and similar technologies.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Special-protection data you provide with explicit consent is used to share, personalize, improve and analyze
Meta processes information subject to special protections under applicable laws that you provide, so it can share it with those you choose, provide, personalize and improve its Products and undertake analytics; it will collect, store, publish and apply automated or sometimes manual human processing for these purposes. The category is any special-protection information you choose to provide, such as religious views, sexual orientation, political views, health, racial or ethnic origin, philosophical beliefs or trade union membership, or as part of surveys you choose to join, and where you have given your explicit consent. Elsewhere the Policy states such information is not used to show you ads.
Supporting quotations
Processing information with special protections
Why and how we process your information:
Processing information subject to special protections under applicable laws that you provide so we can share it with those you choose, to provide, personalize and improve our Products and to undertake analytics. We’ll collect, store, publish and apply automated, or sometimes manual (human), processing for these purposes.
The actual information we use depends on your factual circumstances, but could include any of the following:
Your activity and information you provide:
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, or as part of surveys you choose to participate in, and where you have given your explicit consent
Qualifications & exceptions
Limited to information you choose to provide and where you have given explicit consent.
The use section states special-protection information is not used to show you ads.
Not stated here
Which laws define the special protections; depends on your jurisdiction.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Off-Meta activity from advertisers and partners personalizes ads on Meta and on sites using its ad services
Meta uses information that advertisers, businesses and other partners provide about activity off Meta Company Products that it has associated with you to personalize ads on its Products and on websites, apps and devices that use its advertising services. It receives this information whether or not you are logged in or have an account. The categories include information and content you provide, such as your name or email address, and information from partners, vendors and third parties. The Cookies Policy is referenced but not supplied.
Supporting quotations
Using information from third parties for personalizing ads
Why and how we process your information:
Receiving and using information from third parties to tailor the ads you see: We’ll use information that advertisers, businesses and other partners provide us about activity off 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. We receive this information whether or not you’re logged in or have an account on our Products.
The actual information we use depends on your factual circumstances, but could include any of the following:
Your activity and information you provide:
Information and content you provide, such as your name or email address
Information from partners, vendors and third parties
Qualifications & exceptions
Received whether or not you are logged in or have an account.
Use of off-Meta activity for ads is subject to your settings, as stated in the use section.
Not stated here
The Cookies Policy terms.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Measurement services: automated and some human processing of your and others' data for partner insight reports
To provide measurement, analytics and business services, Meta's systems automatically, and with some manual human processing, process information collected and stored about you and others. It uses this to provide insights and measurement reports to businesses, advertisers and other partners on the effectiveness and distribution of their or their clients' ads, content and services, the kinds of people seeing them and how they perform on and off Meta Products; and to provide aggregated user analytics and insights reports that help users, businesses, advertisers and partners understand audiences, the types of people who use their services and how people interact with their content, websites, apps and services.
Supporting quotations
Why and how we process your information:
Providing measurement, analytics and business services:
Our systems automatically, as well as with some manual (human) processing, process information we have collected and stored about you and others. We use this information to:
Provide insights and measurement reports to businesses, advertisers and other partners to help them measure the effectiveness and distribution of their or their clients’ ads, content and services, to understand the kinds of people who are seeing their content and ads, and how their content and ads are performing on and off Meta Products, and
Provide aggregated user analytics and insights reports that help users, businesses, advertisers and other partners better understand the audiences with whom they may want to connect, as well as the types of people who use their services and how people interact with their content, websites, apps and services.
Qualifications & exceptions
Analytics reports to partners are described as aggregated.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Measurement services may use content, AI interactions, viewed content, app use, purchases, hashtags, timing, connections
For measurement, analytics and business services, the activity categories Meta may use depending on your circumstances include content you create, camera and voice content, AI at Meta interactions and metadata, content viewed and how, apps and features used, purchases and transactions, hashtags, the time, frequency and duration of activities, and friends, followers and other connections.
Supporting quotations
The actual information we use depends on your factual circumstances, but could include any of the following:
Your activity and information you provide:
Content you create, like posts, comments or audio
Content you provide through our camera feature or your camera roll settings, or through our voice-enabled features
and related metadata. For example, information you or others exchange with AI at Meta like content and messages
Types of content you view or interact with, and how you interact with it
Apps and features you use, and what actions you take in them
Purchases or other transactions you make
Hashtags you use
The time, frequency and duration of your activities on our Products
The device categories for measurement, analytics and business services are device characteristics and software; what you are doing on your device, such as foreground state or mouse movement used to tell humans from bots; identifiers; device signals; device-settings data; location-related information; network information including IP address; and cookies and similar technologies.
Supporting quotations
Device characteristics and device software
What you’re doing on your device, like whether our app is in the foreground or if your mouse is moving (which can help tell humans from bots)
Identifiers that tell your device apart from other users
Device signals
Information you’ve shared through your device settings
Location-related information
Information about the network you connect your device to, including your IP address
Information from cookies and similar technologies
Use & Processing · Company practice
Business intelligence: Meta analyzes aggregate usage across Products to count people and businesses
For business intelligence and analytics, Meta processes information to understand, in aggregate, your usage of and across its Products and to accurately count people and businesses; the purpose continues in the next packet with validating related metrics for product direction and reporting obligations.
Supporting quotations
Business intelligence and analytics
Why and how we process your information:
Business intelligence and analytics:
To understand, in aggregate, your usage of and across our Products, to accurately count people and businesses; and
Qualifications & exceptions
Described as aggregate analysis.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Business intelligence validates metrics for product direction and shareholder reporting using broad data categories
Business intelligence and analytics also validate metrics directly related to aggregate usage, to inform and improve product direction and development and to adhere to shareholder and earnings reporting obligations. The activity categories Meta may use include content you create, camera and voice content, metadata about content and messages subject to applicable law, AI at Meta interactions and metadata, content viewed and how, apps and features used, purchases, hashtags, timing of activities, and friends, followers and other connections.
Supporting quotations
To validate metrics directly related to these, in order to inform and improve product direction and development and to adhere to (shareholder/earning) reporting obligations.
The actual information we use depends on your factual circumstances, but could include any of the following:
Your activity and information you provide:
Content you create, like posts, comments or audio
Content you provide through our camera feature or your camera roll settings, or through our voice-enabled features
Metadata about content and messages, subject to applicable law
and related metadata. For example, information you or others exchange with AI at Meta like content and messages
Types of content you view or interact with, and how you interact with it
Apps and features you use, and what actions you take in them
Purchases or other transactions you make
Hashtags you use
The time, frequency and duration of your activities on our Products
Friends, followers and other connections
Qualifications & exceptions
Metadata use is subject to applicable law.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Business intelligence device and partner categories: identifiers, signals, location, IP, cookies, partner data
The device categories for business intelligence are device characteristics and software; device activity such as foreground state or mouse movement used to tell humans from bots; identifiers; device signals; device-settings data; location-related information; network information including IP address; and cookies and similar technologies; plus information from partners, vendors and third parties.
Supporting quotations
App, browser and device information:
Device characteristics and device software
What you’re doing on your device, like whether our app is in the foreground or if your mouse is moving (which can help tell humans from bots)
Identifiers that tell your device apart from other users'
Device signals
Information you’ve shared through your device settings
Location-related information
Information about the network you connect your device to, including your IP address
Information from cookies and similar technologies
Information from partners, vendors and third parties
Use & Processing · Company practice
On other apps, Meta Audience Network identifies you as a Meta user and tailors ads from your and others' data
When Meta shows you ads through Meta Audience Network on other apps, its systems automatically process the information collected and stored about you and others to identify you as a Meta Product user and tailor the ads you see. The activity categories it may use include information you provide, content you create, camera and voice content, metadata about content, AI at Meta interactions and metadata, content viewed and how, apps and features used, purchases, hashtags, timing of activities, and friends, followers and other connections.
Supporting quotations
Personalizing ads on Meta Audience Network
Why and how we process your information:
Identifying you as a Meta Product user and personalizing the ads we show you through
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.
The actual information we use depends on your factual circumstances, but could include any of the following:
Your activity and information you provide:
Information you provide
Content you create, like posts, comments or audio
Content you provide through our camera feature or your camera roll settings, or through our voice-enabled features
Metadata about content
and related metadata. For example, information you or others exchange with AI at Meta like content and messages
Types of content you view or interact with, and how you interact with it
Apps and features you use, and what actions you take in them
Purchases or other transactions you make
Hashtags you use
The time, frequency and duration of your activities on our Products
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies when you visit other apps showing Audience Network ads.
Not stated here
The Audience Network help page is linked but not supplied.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Audience Network personalization also uses connections and device data including identifiers, IP and cookies
For Audience Network ad personalization, Meta may also use friends, followers and other connections and app, browser and device information: device characteristics and software, device activity such as foreground state or mouse movement, identifiers, device signals, device-settings data, network information including IP address, and cookies and similar technologies.
Supporting quotations
Friends, followers and other connections
App, browser and device information:
Device characteristics and device software
What you’re doing on your device, like whether our app is in the foreground or if your mouse is moving (which can help tell humans from bots)
Identifiers that tell your device apart from other users'
Device signals
Information you’ve shared through your device settings
Information about the network you connect your device to, including your IP address
Information from cookies and similar technologies
Use & Processing · Company practice
Marketing communications depend on your settings and applicable law, using contact details and device identifiers
Depending on your settings and subject to applicable law, Meta will share marketing communications with you; it collects and stores your information and uses it to send marketing communications such as email, subject to applicable laws. The categories used are information and content you provide, including contact information like your email address, and device identifiers.
Supporting quotations
Providing marketing communications
Why and how we process your information:
Providing marketing communications to you:
Depending on your settings and subject to applicable law, we’ll share marketing communications with you.
We’ll collect and store your information and use it to send marketing communications to you, like an email, subject to applicable laws.
The actual information we use depends on your factual circumstances, but could include any of the following:
Your activity and information you provide:
Information and content you provide, including your contact information like email address
App, browser and device information:
Device identifiers
Qualifications & exceptions
Depends on your settings and applicable law.
Use & Processing · Context
Research and innovation for social good is a stated processing purpose
Meta lists research and innovation for social good as a processing purpose; its description of surveys and research on social welfare, technology, public interest and health continues in the next packet.
Supporting quotations
Undertaking research and innovation for social good
Why and how we process your information:
Research and innovate for social good:
Use & Processing · Company practice
Social-good research uses surveys, collaborator data, aggregation and human review, and may share information
Meta carries out surveys and uses information, including from researchers it collaborates with, to conduct and support research and innovation on general social welfare, technological advancement, public interest, health and well-being, for example analyzing migration patterns during crises to help relief organizations. It collects, stores, combines, analyzes and applies automatic processing such as aggregation as well as manual human review, and shares information as necessary for this research. It also supports research in artificial intelligence and machine learning; its research programs page is linked but not supplied.
Supporting quotations
We carry out surveys and use information (including from researchers we collaborate with) to conduct and support research and innovation on topics of general social welfare, technological advancement, public interest, health and well-being.
For example, we analyze information that we have about migration patterns during crises. This helps relief organizations get aid to the right places.
We collect, store, combine, analyze and apply automatic processing techniques like aggregation of information as well as manual (human) review, and share information, as necessary to research and innovate for social good in this way.
We support research in areas like artificial intelligence and machine learning.
about our research programs.
Qualifications & exceptions
Sharing for research is described as 'as necessary' for the stated purpose.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Social-good research may use content, metadata, AI interactions, viewed content, app use, purchases, timing, connections
For social-good research, the activity categories Meta may use depending on your circumstances include content you create, camera and voice content, metadata about content and messages subject to applicable law, AI at Meta interactions and metadata, content viewed and how, apps and features used, purchases, hashtags, timing of activities, and friends, followers and other connections.
Supporting quotations
The actual information we use depends on your factual circumstances, but could include any of the following:
Your activity and information you provide:
Content you create, like posts, comments or audio
Content you provide through our camera feature or your camera roll settings, or through our voice-enabled features
Metadata about content and messages, subject to applicable law
and related metadata. For example, information you or others exchange with AI at Meta like content and messages
Types of content you view or interact with, and how you interact with it
Apps and features you use, and what actions you take in them
Purchases or other transactions you make
Hashtags you use
The time, frequency and duration of your activities on our Products
Friends, followers and other connections
Qualifications & exceptions
Metadata use is subject to applicable law.
Use & Processing · Company practice
Social-good research device and partner categories: identifiers, signals, location, IP, cookies, partner data
The device categories for social-good research are device characteristics and software; device activity such as foreground state or mouse movement used to tell humans from bots; identifiers; device signals; device-settings data; location-related information; network information including IP address; and cookies and similar technologies; plus information from partners, vendors and third parties.
Supporting quotations
App, browser and device information:
Device characteristics and device software
What you’re doing on your device, like whether our app is in the foreground or if your mouse is moving (which can help tell humans from bots)
Identifiers that tell your device apart from other users’
Device signals
Information you’ve shared through your device settings
Location-related information
Information about the network you connect your device to, including your IP address
Information from cookies and similar technologies
Information from partners, vendors and third parties
Use & Processing · Company practice
Meta sometimes anonymizes your on- and off-Product activity and uses the result to provide and improve Products and ads
In some cases Meta anonymizes information associated with you, such as your activity on and off its Products, and uses the resulting information for example to provide and improve Meta Products, including ads. The activity categories it may anonymize include content you create, camera and voice content, metadata about content, AI at Meta interactions and metadata, content viewed and how, apps and features used, purchases, hashtags, timing of activities, and friends, followers and other connections.
Supporting quotations
Anonymizing your information
Why and how we process your information:
In some cases, we anonymize information we have associated with you, such as your activity on and off our Products, and use the resulting information, for example, to provide and improve our Meta Products, including ads.
The actual information we use depends on your factual circumstances, but could include any of the following:
Your activity and information you provide:
Content you create, like posts, comments or audio
Content you provide through our camera feature or your camera roll settings, or through our voice-enabled features
Metadata about content
and related metadata. For example, information you or others exchange with AI at Meta like content and messages
Types of content you view or interact with, and how you interact with it
Apps and features you use, and what actions you take in them
Purchases or other transactions you make
Hashtags you use
The time, frequency and duration of your activities on our Products
Friends, followers and other connections
Qualifications & exceptions
Anonymization happens in some cases, not for all information.
The device categories for anonymization are device characteristics and software; device activity such as foreground state or mouse movement used to tell humans from bots; identifiers; device signals; device-settings data; location-related information; network information including IP address; and cookies and similar technologies; plus information from partners, vendors and third parties.
Supporting quotations
App, browser and device information:
Device characteristics and device software
What you’re doing on your device, like whether our app is in the foreground or if your mouse is moving (which can help tell humans from bots)
Identifiers that tell your device apart from other users’
Device signals
Information you’ve shared through your device settings
Location-related information
Information about the network you connect your device to, including your IP address
Information from cookies and similar technologies
Information from partners, vendors and third parties