What you're agreeing to
Facebook can use any content you post, including your name and photo, in ads shown to your friends. You can be suspended for any reason without appeal. Continued use after any policy update counts as acceptance, even if you never read the change.
Privacy in plain English
Facebook tracks you across the entire internet even when you are not logged in, using invisible tracking pixels embedded in other websites. It combines your off-platform browsing, purchase history, and location data with your on-platform activity to build one of the most detailed behavioral profiles in existence. This data powers the ad targeting system that is Facebook's entire business.
Terms of Service: Breakdown
This means your face can appear in a sponsored post promoting a product you never endorsed.
Key Clauses- Social ads: Facebook can pair your profile photo and name with ads for products your friends use, making it look like a personal endorsement.
- Content removal: Facebook can delete any post, photo, or video you've uploaded at any time without explanation or a way to recover it.
- Unilateral changes: Facebook can rewrite these terms at any time. Your continued use automatically means you agree.
- your behavioral data is shared with thousands of ad partners via Facebook's Audience Network.
Privacy Policy: Breakdown
This means Facebook knows what you searched for on Amazon, what news sites you visited, and what you almost bought but didn't.
Red Flags- Off-platform tracking: Facebook's pixel is embedded in over 8 million websites. It records your browsing activity and sends it back to Facebook whether you have an account or not.
- Shadow profiles: Facebook builds profiles on people who have never signed up, using contact data uploaded by people who have.
- Facial recognition history: Facebook used facial recognition on user photos for years without disclosure and settled a class-action for $650 million in 2021.
- data brokers, political organizations, and ad networks all purchase targeting segments built from your Facebook behavior.
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