Common Sense Privacy Program

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Privacy Evaluation for Snapchat

Last updated
Applications and services with a Warning rating do not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices. Applications and services with a Warning rating have issues narrowly focused around data use related to creating profiles that are not associated with any educational purpose, selling data, and/or using data to target advertisements.

64%

Warning

Learn how we rate

Overview

Snapchat lets you easily talk with friends, view live stories from around the world, explore news, and now chat with "My AI" which is an AI chatbot. The terms of Snapchat say that social interactions are available between any users and any personal information or content may be made publicly visible to others. The terms say that Snapchat does not sell personal information to third parties, but the terms do say that Snapchat and third-party partners may display targeted advertising on the service and within My AI. In addition, Snapchat's terms say they take reasonable steps to protect the confidentiality and security of personal information collected from users of the service. Lastly, Snapchat's terms say they allow users to access, modify, delete, and download their data at any time through the service.

Snapchat can be accessed through its website, and is available for download at the iOS App Store, and the Google Play Store. The Privacy Policy and Terms of Use used for this evaluation can be found on Snapchat’s website. This evaluation only considers policies that have been made publicly available prior to an individual using the application or service.

Additionally, other policies used for this evaluation include:

Safety

The terms of Snapchat disclose that social interactions are available between users and any personal information or content may be made publicly visible to others. Snapchat says users should keep in mind that other users can view their Snaps, Chats, and any other content and can always save that content or copy it outside the app. The terms say that in order to participate in social interactions a user must share information about themselves, such as their username, name, profile picture, and Bitmoji avatar. Users should also be aware story submissions are set to be viewable by everyone and any content that they submit may be publicly visible to others. A user's content may be viewed and shared by the public at large both on and off Snapchat's services, including through search results, on websites, in apps, and in online and offline broadcasts. Lastly, the terms say that social interactions are logged which include how users communicate with other Snapchatters, such as their names, the time and date of their communications, the number of messages they exchange with their friends, which friends they exchange messages with the most, and their interactions with messages (such as when they open a message or capture a screenshot).

Privacy

Snapchat's terms say they collect personal information such as name, username, password, email address, phone number, date of birth, and other information collected automatically when users visit the service. The terms say that Snapchat does not sell personal information to third parties, but the terms do say that Snapchat and third-party partners may place targeted advertising on the services. The terms say Snapchat may also collect information about a user's activity on third-party services that use cookies provided by the service. Snapchat's terms state they may use this information to improve their advertising services, including measuring the performance of ads and showing users more targeted ads on other apps and services across the internet. The terms also say users can opt-out from having certain device identifiers used for interest-based advertising.

The terms say that targeted ads that are displayed in "My AI" work a bit differently from other ads on Snapchat because they are determined by the context of a user's My AI conversation over time and whether, for example, they are looking for recommendations for products or services. The terms say "My AI" also uses additional context, including a user's age and general location (city/region), to help provide targeted ads to users. Snapchat's terms also say they may use tracking technologies to collect information when a user interacts with offers through one of their partners, such as advertising and marketing features. For example, Snapchat may use information collected on other websites to show a user more targeted ads on Snapchat. Lastly, Snapchat's terms say third-party advertising partners may use tracking cookies to build a profile of a user's interests and deliver relevant advertising on other third-party sites across the internet.

Security

Snapchat's terms state they take reasonable steps to protect the confidentiality and security of personal information collected from users of the service, but do not provide additional information about how they secure personal information. In addition, Snapchat's terms do not disclose whether they use encryption to protect personal information collected by the service, and do not disclose whether they provide notification to users in the event of a data breach.

Compliance

Snapchat's terms say they allow users to access, modify, delete, and download their data at any time through the service. Snapchat's terms also state no one under 13 years old is allowed to create an account and the services are not intended for—and Snapchat does not direct them to—anyone under 13, but teens may use the product with parental consent.

Rating

This product received a Warning rating based on the following details:
  • Personal information is not sold or rented to third parties.
  • Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
  • Personalised advertising is displayed.
  • Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • User's information is used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Data profiles are created and used for personalised advertisements.
Data Collection
SCORE: 65%

What data does it collect?

  • Personally identifiable information (PII) is collected.
  • The categories of collected personally identifiable information are indicated.
  • Collection or use of data is limited to product requirements.
  • Geolocation data are collected.
  • Biometric or health data are collected.
  • Interactions, behaviors, or usage analytics data are collected.
  • Sensitive data are collected.
  • Data is automatically collected.
  • Opt-in consent is requested from users at the time personal information is collected.
  • Personal information of users is collected by a third party.
Data Sharing
SCORE: 80%

What data does it share?

  • Collected information is shared with third parties.
  • The categories of information shared with third parties are indicated.
  • The purpose for sharing a user's personal information with third parties is indicated.
  • The categories of third parties that receive data are indicated.
  • Data are shared for analytics.
  • Data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
  • Third-party services are used to support the product.
  • The roles of third-party service providers are indicated.
  • Unclear whether this product supports third-party login.
  • Contractual limits are placed on third-party data use.
Data Security
SCORE: 45%

How does it secure data?

  • A user's identity is verified with additional personal information.
  • Account creation is required.
  • Unclear whether managed accounts are available.
  • Multi-factor account protection is available.
  • Third-parties with access to information are required to provide the same security protections as the company.
  • Reasonable security practices are used to protect data.
  • Unclear whether this product limits employee or physical access to user information.
  • Unclear whether this product encrypts all data in transit.
  • Unclear whether all data are stored in an encrypted format.
  • Unclear whether this product provides notice in the event of a data breach.
Data Rights
SCORE: 85%

What rights do I have to the data?

  • Users can create or upload content.
  • Users retain ownership of their data.
  • Processes to access or review user data are available.
  • Processes to modify data are available for authorized users.
  • A data-retention policy is available.
  • Processes for authorized users to delete data are available.
  • A user's data are deleted upon account cancellation or termination.
  • Data are deleted when no longer necessary.
  • Unclear whether methods are available to restrict who has access to data.
  • Processes to download user data are available.
Data Sold
SCORE: 40%

Is the data sold?

  • Personal information is not sold or rented to third parties.
  • Users can opt out from the disclosure or sale of their data to a third party.
  • User information can be transferred to a third party in the event of a merge, acquisition, or bankruptcy.
  • Unclear whether users are notified if their information is transferred to a third party.
  • Unclear whether user information can be deleted prior to its transfer to a third party.
  • Unclear whether third-party transfers are contractually required to use the same privacy practices.
  • User information that is shared is shared in an anonymous or de-identified format.
  • Unclear whether the company describes their de-identification process of user information.
  • Data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
  • Unclear whether contractual limits prohibit third parties from reidentifying or de-identified information.
Data Safety
SCORE: 55%

How safe is this product?

  • Users can interact with trusted users.
  • Users can interact with untrusted users, including strangers and/or adults.
  • Profile information must be shared for social interactions.
  • Personal information can be displayed publicly.
  • Users can control how their data are displayed to others.
  • User-created content is reviewed, screened, or monitored by the company.
  • Unclear whether user-created content is filtered for personal information before being made publicly visible.
  • Unclear whether social interactions between users are moderated.
  • Social interactions of users are logged.
  • Unclear whether users can report abuse or cyberbullying.
Ads & Tracking
SCORE: 55%

Are there advertisements or tracking?

  • Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
  • Traditional or contextual advertisements are displayed.
  • Personalised advertising is displayed.
  • Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • User's information is used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Data profiles are created and used for personalised advertisements.
  • The company can send marketing messages.
  • Unclear whether this company provides promotional sweepstakes, contests, or surveys.
  • Users can opt out of contextual, or personalised advertising.
  • Users can opt out or unsubscribe from marketing communications.
Parental Consent
SCORE: 45%

Can I provide parental consent?

  • Not intended for children under 13.
  • Personal information from children under 13 years of age is collected.
  • Unclear whether intended for parents or guardians.
  • Company does not have actual knowledge that personal information from users under 13 years of age is collected.
  • The company does not provide a section, heading, or separate policy for children in their policies.
  • Parental consent is required before personal information is collected or disclosed.
  • Unclear whether this product limits parental consent with respect to third parties.
  • Unclear whether this product allows parents to withdraw consent for the further collection of their child's information.
  • Children's personal information is deleted if collected without parental consent.
  • Unclear whether this product provides parental consent notice and method for submission.
School Purpose
SCORE: 0%

Is the product intended for school?

  • Unclear whether intended for students.
  • Unclear whether personal information or education records are collected from preK-12 students.
  • Unclear whether intended for teachers.
  • Unclear whether this product is primarily used by, designed for, and marketed toward students in grades preK–12.
  • Processes to enter education records into the product are not described.
  • Unclear whether additional rights or protections may be provided with an additional school contract.
  • Unclear whether the company is designated as a school official.
  • Unclear whether this product transfers parental consent obligations to the school or district.
Individual Control
SCORE: 55%

Can I control the use of my data?

  • Users can control the use of their information through privacy settings.
  • Unclear whether use of information is limited to the purpose for which it was collected.
  • The context or purpose for which data are collected is indicated.
  • Company may combine data with additional data from third-party sources.
  • Unclear whether this product treats combined information as personally identifiable information (PII).
  • Notice is provided if the context in which data are collected changes.
  • Unclear whether consent is obtained if the practices in which data are collected change.
  • A grievance or remedy mechanism is available for users to file a complaint.
  • Users can request to know what personal information has been shared with third parties.
  • Unclear whether notice is provided in the event the company receives a government or legal request for a user's information.

Common Sense Standard Privacy Report (SPR)

The standard privacy report (SPR) displays all the privacy practices from a product's policies in a single, easy-to-read outline. The report shows a green check mark for better privacy practices and an orange alert for risky or unclear practices. This alert indicates that more time should be focused on these particular details prior to use.

Learn more about the SPR Read the report

About Privacy Evaluations

The privacy evaluations have been designed with the help and support of a consortium of schools and districts across the United States. These evaluations are designed to help educators make informed decisions about the potential privacy implications of educational technology used to support teaching and learning.

Our core evaluation criteria will always be freely available. People are encouraged to read the questions we use and our information security primer. Vendors are encouraged to use our questions and the information security primer to self-evaluate. You can also learn more about our evaluation process. Please be in touch with any questions or feedback.