Cookies Policy

Data Access & Collection · Context

What the policy means by “cookies”

Pinterest says it collects information through cookies and similar technologies such as pixels, local storage and software development kits (SDKs). The policy then uses the single word “cookies” to cover these other technologies too, because they work similarly and collect data about your browsing activity. So later statements about “cookies” apply to those technologies as well, not only to browser cookies.

Supporting quotations

and similar technologies, such as pixels, local storage and software development kits (SDKs)

Other technologies function similarly to collect data about your browsing activity.

This policy refers to these technologies collectively as “cookies.”

Qualifications & exceptions

• The policy's use of “cookies” is a collective label; a Help Center article is linked for more on the other technologies.

Not stated here

• The linked Help Center article on other technologies is not part of this saved document, so its detail is not covered here.

Use & Processing · Company practice

Session and persistent cookies

Pinterest uses two lifetimes of cookie: session cookies, which last until you close your browser, and persistent cookies, which last until you or your browser delete them. As an example, persistent cookies store your language preferences or other settings so you do not have to set them up each visit.

Supporting quotations

We use session cookies (that last until you close your browser) or persistent cookies (that last until you or your browser delete them).

we use persistent cookies to store your language preferences or other settings

Qualifications & exceptions

• The language and settings use is given as an example, not a full list of what persistent cookies do.

Not stated here

• The policy does not say how long any particular persistent cookie lasts.

Linking & Identification · Company practice

Some cookies are tied to your account

Pinterest says some of the cookies it uses are associated with your Pinterest account, including information about you such as the email address you gave it, while other cookies are not associated with an account.

Supporting quotations

Some of the cookies we use are associated with your Pinterest account (including information about you, such as the email address you gave us) and other cookies are not.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Applies to “some” cookies only; the rest are described as not associated with your account.

Not stated here

• The policy does not say which cookies or categories are account-linked, or what information beyond email address is included.

Data Access & Collection · Context

Four categories of cookies Pinterest may use

The policy sorts the cookies Pinterest may use into four categories: essential, analytics, personalization and marketing. The wording is “may use,” so it describes what Pinterest might use rather than promising that every category is set for every person. The later sections explain what each category is for.

Supporting quotations

There are four categories of cookies we may use:

Qualifications & exceptions

• Framed as categories Pinterest “may” use.

Cross-references

• referred to by (model-proposed): EU and UK users can manage and revoke cookie consent — The EU/UK revocation right is stated for categories of non-essential cookies, which refers back to the four categories listed.

Security & Safeguards · Company practice

Essential cookies: login, settings and security

Pinterest describes essential cookies as required so Pinterest works the way you expect, with login cookies that keep you logged in as an example. It says it may use them to remember settings and preferences such as your preferred language and privacy settings, to let you log in and out, and to detect when someone might be trying to hack your account or spam the community.

Supporting quotations

Essential cookies are required so Pinterest works in the way you expect.

We may use essential cookies to remember your settings and preferences, like the language you prefer and your privacy settings.

Essential cookies let you log in and out of Pinterest.

we use them to detect when someone might be trying to hack your Pinterest account or spam the Pinterest community

Qualifications & exceptions

• The settings use is stated as “may”; the other uses are stated as practices.

Not stated here

• This document does not say whether or how you can turn essential cookies off.

Use & Processing · Company practice

Analytics cookies: how Pinterest is used

Pinterest uses analytics cookies for internal analytics, to make Pinterest better. Examples it gives are counting how many people use a feature and how popular it is, and whether people open an email Pinterest sends.

Supporting quotations

Analytics cookies which are used for internal analytics

We use analytics cookies to make Pinterest better. For example, these cookies tell us how many people use a certain feature and how popular it is, or whether people open an email we send.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The examples are illustrations, not an exhaustive list.

Use & Processing · Company practice

Cookies that help advertisers measure their ads

Under analytics, Pinterest also says it uses cookies to help advertisers understand who sees and interacts with their ads, and who visits their website or purchases their products. This is measurement for advertisers, listed alongside Pinterest's own analytics.

Supporting quotations

We also use cookies to help advertisers understand who sees and interacts with their ads, and who visits their website or purchases their products.

Not stated here

• The policy does not say what information is given to advertisers or in what form.

Sharing & Disclosure · Company practice

Third-party analytics and security vendors may use cookies

Pinterest says it sometimes hires security vendors or uses third-party analytics providers to understand how people use Pinterest, and that these providers may use cookies just as Pinterest does. Google Analytics is named as an example of an analytics provider. A separate Pinterest Help Center page lists the third-party providers it uses. You can also use your browser settings to block third-party cookies, meaning cookies from sites other than the one you are visiting, although the options differ by browser.

Supporting quotations

Sometimes we hire security vendors or use third-party analytics providers to help us understand how people are using Pinterest. Just like we do, these providers may use cookies.

include cookies from providers like Google Analytics

most browsers let you block “third-party cookies,” which are cookies from sites other than the one you’re visiting. Those options vary from browser to browser

Qualifications & exceptions

• Provider cookies are described as something providers “may” use.
• Browser blocking of third-party cookies depends on the browser and is not a Pinterest control.

Not stated here

• The list of third-party providers is on a linked page that is not part of this saved document.
• The policy does not say what data these providers receive or retain.

Cross-references

• qualified by (model-proposed): Browser settings can block third-party cookies — Browser settings can block third-party cookies, which is the user-side limit on third-party providers' cookies.

Inference & Profiling · Company practice

Personalization cookies: your activity and related content

Pinterest may use cookies to remember your preferences, and to remember which Pins, boards, people or websites you have interacted with so it can show you related content you might like. Personalization cookies are described as customizing content, including ads.

Supporting quotations

Personalization cookies for customizing content, including ads.

We may use cookies to help us remember your preferences, or which Pins, boards, people or websites you’ve interacted with so we can show you related content you might like.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Stated as “may”; described as customizing content, including ads.

Not stated here

• The policy does not say how long this interaction history is kept.

Sharing & Disclosure · User right or choice

Personalization cookies for partner advertising, and how to opt out

Pinterest may also use cookies to help an advertising service it partners with show you ads. Its example: if you bought a tent from an advertiser that uses a Pinterest partner's service, the advertiser could ask Pinterest to show you an ad for a camping stove. You can opt out of these services in your privacy settings. In the Personalization section of your settings you can also decide whether Pinterest uses information from its partners and other services to personalize Pinterest for you. The policy says Pinterest supports the browser “Do Not Track” setting, which it describes as another way to decide whether it uses information from partners and other services to customize Pinterest for you.

Supporting quotations

We may also use cookies to help an advertising service we partner with show you interesting ads.

If you’d like to opt-out of these services you can do so in your settings.

you can decide whether we use info from our partners and other services to personalize Pinterest for you

Some browsers also have a privacy setting called “Do Not Track,” which we support.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Stated as “may”; the camping-stove scenario is an example.
• The opt-out is for “these services,” via your Pinterest settings.

Not stated here

• The policy does not name the partner advertising services or say what purchase data they pass on.
• What “Do Not Track” support means in practice is explained only on a linked Help Center page not included here.

Cross-references

• qualified by (model-proposed): Personalization settings and opt-outs in your Pinterest settings — The Personalization settings choice limits whether Pinterest uses partner information to personalize Pinterest for you.
• qualified by (model-proposed): Pinterest supports the Do Not Track browser setting — Do Not Track support is described as another way to decide whether Pinterest uses partner information to customize Pinterest for you.

Sharing & Disclosure · User right or choice

Marketing cookies: advertising Pinterest off Pinterest

Marketing cookies are used for advertising Pinterest to you off of Pinterest. Pinterest says it sometimes hires advertising vendors to market its products on other websites and apps, and these vendors may use cookies to provide the service. You can opt out of these services in your privacy settings. In the Personalization section of your settings you can also decide whether Pinterest uses information it learns about you on Pinterest to market Pinterest to you on other sites and apps. Your mobile device may also have a setting for ad partners (on Android, “Opt out of Ads Personalization”; on Apple devices, Privacy then Tracking) that controls how they use information about your use of mobile applications to show ads.

Supporting quotations

Marketing cookies which are used for advertising Pinterest to you off of Pinterest.

Sometimes we hire advertising vendors so that we can market Pinterest products on other websites and apps. These providers may use cookies to provide this service to us.

If you’d like to opt-out of these services you can do so in your settings.

whether we use information we learn about you on Pinterest to market Pinterest to you on other sites and apps

your mobile device has settings that allow you to control how ad partners can use information about your use of mobile applications to show ads to you

Qualifications & exceptions

• Vendors “may” use cookies; the marketing is of Pinterest's own products.
• The mobile device setting is controlled through the device's operating system, not Pinterest.

Not stated here

• The policy does not name the advertising vendors or say what information they receive.

Cross-references

• qualified by (model-proposed): Personalization settings and opt-outs in your Pinterest settings — The Personalization settings choice limits how Pinterest uses what it learns on Pinterest to market to you on other sites and apps.
• qualified by (model-proposed): Mobile device settings control ad partners' use of app information — Mobile device ad settings are a further control over ad partners' use of app information, alongside the marketing opt-out.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Where cookies are used, including partner sites

Pinterest says it uses cookies on pinterest.com, in its mobile applications, and in its products and services such as ads, emails and applications. It also uses them on the websites of partners who use Pinterest's Save button, Pinterest widgets or ad tools like conversion tracking, so cookies may be set when you visit those partner sites.

Supporting quotations

We use cookies on pinterest.com, in our mobile applications, and in our products and services (like ads, emails and applications).

We also use them on the websites of partners who use Pinterest’s Save button, Pinterest widgets or ad tools like conversion tracking.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The ad tools are given as examples (“like conversion tracking”).

Not stated here

• The policy does not name the partner websites or say what is collected there.

Data Access & Collection · User right or choice

EU and UK users can manage and revoke cookie consent

If you are located in the EU or UK, you can change your cookie preferences at any time through your Privacy settings by editing your Cookies Preferences. If you consented to a category of non-essential cookies and later change your mind, you can revoke that consent immediately by turning that cookie category off in your settings.

Supporting quotations

If you’re located in the EU or UK you can adjust your cookie preferences at any time by visiting your Privacy settings and editing your Cookies Preferences.

If you’ve consented to a category of non-essential cookies and later change your mind, you can immediately revoke consent by turning off that cookie category in your settings.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Stated for people located in the EU or UK.
• Revocation applies to categories of non-essential cookies you consented to.

Not stated here

• This section does not say which of the four categories count as non-essential, and does not say whether people outside the EU or UK get the same category-by-category control in Cookies Preferences.

Cross-references

• refers to (model-proposed): Four categories of cookies Pinterest may use — The EU/UK revocation right is stated for categories of non-essential cookies, which refers back to the four categories listed.

Use & Processing · User right or choice

Personalization settings and opt-outs in your Pinterest settings

In the Personalization section of your settings you can decide whether Pinterest uses information from its partners and other services to personalize Pinterest for you, and whether it uses information it learns about you on Pinterest to market Pinterest to you on other sites and apps. The policy also points to your privacy settings for opting out of the partner advertising services and of the advertising vendors that market Pinterest on other websites and apps.

Supporting quotations

In the Personalization section of your settings, you can decide whether we use info from our partners and other services to personalize Pinterest for you or whether we use information we learn about you on Pinterest to market Pinterest to you on other sites and apps.

If you’d like to opt-out of these services you can do so in your settings.

If you’d like to opt-out of these services you can do so in your settings.

Qualifications & exceptions

• These are choices made in Pinterest settings; the policy points to a Help Center page for more on the options.

Not stated here

• The Help Center page on personalization and data is linked but not part of this saved document, so its detail is not covered.

Cross-references

• qualifies (model-proposed): Marketing cookies: advertising Pinterest off Pinterest — The Personalization settings choice limits how Pinterest uses what it learns on Pinterest to market to you on other sites and apps.
• qualifies (model-proposed): Personalization cookies for partner advertising, and how to opt out — The Personalization settings choice limits whether Pinterest uses partner information to personalize Pinterest for you.

Data Access & Collection · User right or choice

Industry opt-out tool for online advertising cookies

The policy mentions online tools such as the Digital Advertising Alliance's Browser Check site, which let you choose how cookies are used across the web based on the device and browser you are using. This is a third-party tool outside Pinterest, offered as another way to control cookies.

Supporting quotations

There are also online tools such as Digital Advertising Alliance's Browser Check site which allow you to choose how cookies are used throughout the web based on the device and browser you are using.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The tool is run by someone other than Pinterest; “such as” means it is an example of online tools.
• Choices apply based on the device and browser you use.

Not stated here

• The policy does not say whether Pinterest honors choices made on that site.

Data Access & Collection · User right or choice

Browser settings can block third-party cookies

Your browser probably gives you cookie choices. For example, most browsers let you block third-party cookies, meaning cookies from sites other than the one you are visiting. The options vary from browser to browser, so you need to check your own browser's settings. This is relevant to the third-party analytics providers the policy says may use cookies.

Supporting quotations

Your browser probably gives you cookie choices. For example, most browsers let you block “third-party cookies,” which are cookies from sites other than the one you’re visiting. Those options vary from browser to browser, so check your browser settings for more info.

Just like we do, these providers may use cookies.

This policy refers to these technologies collectively as “cookies.”

Qualifications & exceptions

• Options vary by browser.
• Stated as “most browsers” and “probably,” not as a guarantee.

Not stated here

• The policy does not say whether browser settings also affect the other technologies it counts as “cookies” (pixels, local storage, SDKs), or what happens to Pinterest features if cookies are blocked.

Cross-references

• qualifies (model-proposed): Third-party analytics and security vendors may use cookies — Browser settings can block third-party cookies, which is the user-side limit on third-party providers' cookies.

Use & Processing · Company commitment

Pinterest supports the Do Not Track browser setting

Some browsers have a privacy setting called “Do Not Track,” which Pinterest says it supports. The policy describes it as another way to decide whether Pinterest uses information from its partners and other services to customize Pinterest for you. A Help Center article is linked for more.

Supporting quotations

Some browsers also have a privacy setting called “Do Not Track,” which we support. This setting is another way for you to decide whether we use info from our partners and other services to customize Pinterest for you.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Applies to browsers that offer the Do Not Track setting.
• The policy ties it to customization using information from partners and other services, not to every kind of tracking.

Not stated here

• What “support” means in practice is explained only in a linked Help Center article that is not part of this saved document.

Cross-references

• qualifies (model-proposed): Personalization cookies for partner advertising, and how to opt out — Do Not Track support is described as another way to decide whether Pinterest uses partner information to customize Pinterest for you.

Sharing & Disclosure · User right or choice

Mobile device settings control ad partners' use of app information

Your mobile device has settings that let you control how ad partners can use information about your use of mobile applications to show you ads. On Android this is called “Opt out of Ads Personalization.” On Apple devices you choose Privacy and then Tracking. A Help Center article is linked for more.

Supporting quotations

Finally, your mobile device has settings that allow you to control how ad partners can use information about your use of mobile applications to show ads to you. On Android devices, this setting is called “Opt out of Ads Personalization.” On Apple devices you can adjust your choice by selecting Privacy and then Tracking.

Qualifications & exceptions

• These are device operating-system settings, not Pinterest account settings.
• Names and steps are given for Android and Apple devices only.

Not stated here

• The policy does not say whether the device settings are the only control for mobile app ad personalization, or how Pinterest responds to them.

Cross-references

• qualifies (model-proposed): Marketing cookies: advertising Pinterest off Pinterest — Mobile device ad settings are a further control over ad partners' use of app information, alongside the marketing opt-out.

Legal Rights & Agreement Rules · Context

Effective date and last-updated date

The saved page gives two dates: an effective date of September 28, 2019 and a last-updated date of July 1, 2021. This analysis covers the text as saved, under the September 28, 2019 effective date.

Supporting quotations

Effective date: September 28, 2019

Last updated: July 1, 2021

Qualifications & exceptions

• Both dates appear on the page; the document is registered under its September 28, 2019 date.

Not stated here

• The page does not say what changed in the July 1, 2021 update.