Standard Privacy Report for Messages

81%

Warning

Overview

Messages by Google allows users to send text messages (SMS, MMS) and chat (RCS) to stay in touch with friends and family, send group texts, and share their favorite pictures, GIFs, emoji, stickers, videos and audio messages. Google’s terms say they use information to help improve the safety and reliability of the services. Many of their services let users share information with other people, and users have control over how they share. The terms say Google does not sell users' data to third parties. However, the terms also say Google may display targeted advertisements to users based on their personal information and app activity or activity on other Google services. The terms say Google allows third-party partners to track a user's browser or device for advertising on other sites across the internet. In addition, Google’s terms say they are fully committed to the security and privacy of users’ data and protecting users from attempts to compromise it. Google claims its systems are among the industry’s most secure and they vigorously resist any unlawful attempt to access customers’ data. Lastly, Google’s terms say they allow users to access, modify, delete, and export their data using the service at any time.

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

Additionally, other relevant policies used for this evaluation include:

Overall Score

Every privacy rating includes an overall score. A higher score (up to 100%) means the product provides more transparent privacy policies with better practices to protect user data. The score is best used is as an indicator of how much additional work a person will need to do to make an informed decision about a product.

	Basic Score	Full Score
Comprehensive Assessment	81	75

Concerns

The privacy evaluation process summarizes the policies of an application or service into concern categories based on a subset of evaluation questions that can be used to quickly identify particular practices of a vendor’s policies. These concerns are composed of evaluation questions that can be used to calculate scores relative to that concern.

Concern	Basic Score	Full Score
Data Collection: Protecting personal information	75	65
Data Sharing: Protecting data from third parties	100	90
Data Security: Protecting against unauthorized access	100	95
Data Rights: Controlling data use	88	95
Data Sold: Preventing sale of data	75	60
Data Safety: Promoting responsible use	38	65
Ads & Tracking: Prohibiting the exploitation of users' decision making process	58	50
Parental Consent: Protecting children’s personal information	100	80
School Purpose: Following student data privacy laws	100	45

Statutes

Each statute or regulation is associated with one or more evaluation questions. As such, we can calculate scores for each statute or regulation using only those questions associated with the statute or regulation. Each specific statute or regulation's score serves as an indirect proxy indicating the likelihood of the application or service satisfying all of its compliance obligations.

Statute	Basic Score	Full Score
California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA)	75	79
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)	74	71
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)	89	63
Student Online Personal Information Protection Act (SOPIPA)	81	69
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)	93	87

Privacy Policy Details

1: Transparency

1.1: Policy Version

Privacy policies do indicate a version or effective date.
Privacy policies indicate a changelog or past policy version is available.

1.2: Policy Notice

Users are notified if there are any material changes to the policies.
Privacy policies indicate the method used to notify a user when policies are updated.

1.3: Policy Changes

Users are notified prior to any material changes to the policies.
Changes to the policies are effective immediately and continued use of the product indicates consent.

1.4: Policy Coverage

Privacy policies indicate the products that are covered by the policies.

1.5: Policy Contact

Users cannot contact the vendor about any privacy policy questions, complaints, or material changes to the policies.

1.6: Policy Principles

Privacy policies do indicate any privacy principles, layered notices, or a table of contents.

1.7: Policy Language

Privacy policies are available in multiple languages.

1.8: Intended Use

Intended for children under 13.
Intended for teens.
Intended for adults over 18.
Intended for parents or guardians.
Intended for students.
Unclear whether intended for teachers.

2: Focused Collection

2.1: Data Collection

Personally identifiable information (PII) is collected.
The categories of collected personally identifiable information are indicated.
Geolocation data are collected.
Biometric or health data are collected.
Behavioral data are collected.
Sensitive data are collected.
Non-personally identifiable information is collected.
Unclear whether free or reduced lunch status is collected.

2.2: Data Source

Unclear whether personal information or education records are collected from preK-12 students.
Personal information from children under 13 years of age is collected online.

2.3: Data Exclusion

Unclear whether specific types of personal information are not collected.
Specific types of collected information are excluded from the privacy policy.

2.4: Data Limitation

Collection or use of data is limited to product requirements.

3: Data Sharing

3.1: Data Shared With Third Parties

Collected information is shared with third parties.
The categories of information shared with third parties are indicated.

3.2: Data Use by Third Parties

The purpose for sharing a user's personal information with third parties is indicated.
Data are shared for analytics.
Data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
Data are not shared for third-party advertising and/or marketing.

3.3: Data Not Shared With Third Parties

Specific categories of information are not shared with third parties.

3.4: Data Sold to Third Parties

Data are not sold or rented to third parties.

3.5: Third-Party Data Acquisition

Personal information from users is acquired from third parties.

3.6: Third-Party Links

Links to third-party external websites are not age-appropriate.

3.7: Third-Party Data Access

Third parties are authorized to access a user's information.

3.8: Third-Party Data Collection

Personal information of users is collected by a third party.

3.9: Third-Party Data Misuse

Personal information can be deleted from a third party if found to be misused.

3.10: Third-Party Service Providers

Data are shared with third-party service providers.
The roles of third-party service providers are indicated.

3.11: Third-Party Affiliates

The categories of third parties that receive personal information are indicated.

3.12: Third-Party Policies

Links to privacy policies of third-party companies are available.

3.13: Third-Party Data Combination

Data can be combined with data from third-party sources.
Unclear whether data shared with third parties can be combined by third parties for their own purposes.

3.14: Third-Party Authentication

Social or federated login is supported.
Personal information from social or federated login providers is collected.
Personal Information is shared with social or federated login providers.

3.15: De-identified or Anonymized Data

User information is shared in an anonymous or deidentified format.
Unclear whether the vendor describes their deidentification process of user information.

3.16: Third-Party Contractual Obligations

Contractual limits are placed on third-party data use.
Unclear whether contractual limits prohibit third parties from reidentifying deidentified information.

4: Respect for Context

4.1: Data Use

Use of information is limited to the purpose for which it was collected.
The purpose for which data atr collected is indicated.

4.2: Data Combination

Combined information is treated as personally identifiable information (PII).

4.3: Data Notice

Notice is provided if the context in which data are collected changes.

4.4: Data Changes

Consent is obtained if the practices in which data are collected change.

4.5: Policy Enforcement

Accounts may be terminated if users engage in any prohibited activities.

5: Individual Control

5.1: User Content

Users can create or upload content.

5.2: User Consent

Opt-in consent is requested from users at the time personal information is collected.

5.3: Remedy Process

A grievance or remedy mechanism is available for users to file a complaint.

5.4: Data Settings

Users can control their information through privacy settings.

5.5: Data Disclosure

Users can opt out from the disclosure or sale of their data to a third party.
Unclear whether users can request to know what personal information has been shared with third parties for commercial purposes.
Notice is provided in the event the vendor receives a government or legal request for a user’s information.

5.6: Intellectual Property

Users retain ownership of their data.
A copyright license is claimed to data or content collected from a user.
Any copyright license to a user's data is limited in scope or duration.
Notice is provided to users when their content is removed or disabled because of an alleged copyright violation.

6: Access and Accuracy

6.1: Data Access

Processes to access and review user data are available.
Permissions, roles, or access controls are available to restrict who has access to data.
Processes to review data are available for the school, parents, or students.

6.2: Data Integrity

The vendor does maintain the accuracy of data they collect.

6.3: Data Correction

Processes to modify inaccurate data are available.
Processes for the school, parents, or students to modify data are available.
The time period for the vendor to modify inaccurate data is indicated.

6.4: Data Retention

A data-retention policy is available.
The retention time period of a user's data can be changed upon a valid inspection request.

6.5: Data Deletion

Data are deleted when no longer necessary.
A user's data are deleted upon account cancellation or termination.
Processes to delete user data are available.
Processes for the school, parents, or students to delete data are available.
The time period for the vendor to delete data is indicated.

6.6: Data Portability

Processes to download user data are available.
A user can assign an authorized account manager or legacy contact.

7: Data Transfer

7.1: Data Handling

User information can be transferred to a third party.
Unclear whether notice is provided to users if the vendor assigns its rights or delegates its duties to another company.
Users are notified if their information is transferred to a third party.

7.2: Transfer Request

Unclear whether user information can be deleted prior to its transfer to a third party.

7.3: Onward Contractual Obligations

Third-party transfer is contractually required to use the same privacy practices.

8: Security

8.1: User Identity

A user's identity is verified with additional personal information.

8.2: User Account

Account creation is required.
Parental controls or managed accounts are available.
Two-factor account protection is available.

8.3: Third-Party Security

Third-party contractual security protections are required.

8.4: Data Confidentiality

Industry best practices are used to protect data.
Employee or physical access to user information is limited.

8.5: Data Transmission

All data in transit are encrypted.

8.6: Data Storage

All data at rest are encrypted.
Personal information of users is not stored with a third party.

8.7: Data Breach

Notice is provided in the event of a data breach.

8.8: Data Oversight

Data-privacy and security-compliance audits are performed.

9: Responsible Use

9.1: Social Interactions

Users can interact with trusted users and/or students.
Users can interact with untrusted users, including strangers and/or adults.
Profile information is shared for social interactions.

9.2: Data Visibility

Personal information is displayed publicly.
Users can control how their data are displayed.

9.3: Monitor and Review

User-created content is reviewed, screened, or monitored by the vendor.
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.

9.4: Report Content

Users can filter or block inappropriate content.
Users can report abuse or cyberbullying.

9.5: Internet Safety

The vendor provides links to tools or processes that support safe and appropriate social interactions.

10: Advertising

10.1: Vendor Communications

A user can receive service- or administrative-related communications from the vendor.

10.2: Traditional Advertising

Traditional or contextual advertisements are displayed.

10.3: Behavioral Advertising

Behavioral or targeted advertising is displayed.

10.4: Ad Tracking

Data are collected by third-party advertising or tracking services.
Data are used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
Data profiles are created and used for data enhancement, and/or targeted advertisements.

10.5: Filtered Advertising

Children do not receive any inappropriate advertisements.

10.6: Marketing Communications

The vendor can send marketing messages.
Unclear whether this vendor provides promotional sweepstakes, contests, or surveys.

10.7: Unsubscribe

Users can opt out of traditional, contextual, or behavioral advertising.
Unclear whether this product provides users the ability to opt out or unsubscribe from marketing communications.

10.8: Do Not Track

Unclear whether this product responds to Do Not Track or other opt-out mechanisms.
The vendor does provide a method for users to opt-out from third-party tracking.

11: Compliance

11.1: Children Under 13

Vendor does have actual knowledge that personal information from users under 13 years of age is collected.
Children's privacy is applicable.
Account creation is restricted for users under 13 years of age.
Unclear whether this product restricts in-app purchases for users under 13 years of age.
Unclear whether the vendor participates in an FTC-approved COPPA safe harbor program.

11.2: Students in K–12

Product is not primarily used by, designed for, and marketed toward students in grades preK–12.
Product does create education records.
Notification of a contract or additional rights is provided.
Unclear whether this product designates the vendor as a school official.

11.3: Parental Consent

Parental consent is required.
Parental consent is limited with respect to third parties.
Parents can withdraw consent for the further collection of their child's information.
Unclear whether this product deletes children's personal information if collected without parental consent.
Parental consent notice and method for submission are provided.
Unclear whether the vendor can use collected information to support the “internal operations” of the product.
Unclear whether this product indicates COPPA parental consent exceptions.
Unclear whether the vendor indicates FERPA parental consent exceptions.
Unclear whether this product discloses directory information.
Parental consent obligations are transferred to the school or district.

11.4: Legal Requirements

The legal jurisdiction that applies to the laws governing any dispute is indicated.
Unclear whether a user is required to waive the right to a jury trial, or settle any disputes by arbitration.
Unclear whether a user is required to waive the right to join a class action lawsuit.
A vendor will disclose personal information to law enforcement.

11.5: Certification

The vendor has signed a privacy pledge or received a privacy certification.

11.6: International Laws

A user's data are subject to International data transfer or jurisdiction laws, such as the GDPR.
The vendor has indicated it is a Data Controller or Data Processor.

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