Ancestry states it automatically collects device identifiers including IP addresses and cookie identifiers, browsing and clickstream activity, search terms, pages visited, and IP-derived general location data from users of its services.
This analysis describes what Ancestry's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
Automatic collection of device identifiers, browsing activity, and location-derived data is disclosed as occurring across Ancestry's services, and this data is used to support advertising, analytics, and personalization functions in addition to service delivery.
The updated Privacy Statement no longer displays a dedicated 'Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information' link in the footer, which was previously accessible to California residents under CCPA requirements. This link allowed users to exercise data-sharing opt-out rights. The footer now lists 'Consumer Health Privacy' as a separate item but does not explicitly direct users to their CCPA controls. California residents may need to locate their opt-out rights through alternative navigation paths on the Ancestry site.
View change record →The updated privacy policy removes the 'Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information' link from the footer navigation. This link previously provided direct access to Ancestry's data-sharing opt-out mechanism, which is a required disclosure under California's CCPA. While the removal does not eliminate the opt-out right itself, it may make the opt-out control less easily discoverable from the privacy policy page. Affected users may need to locate the opt-out mechanism through alternate navigation or search methods.
View change record →The updated Privacy Statement clarifies what uses of Ancestry services are permitted and prohibited, establishes that photo face-grouping in your gallery requires your express consent, and introduces SMS messaging as a communication channel for future opt-in communications. The statement now covers Ancestry, AncestryDNA, and Related Brands under a unified framework while noting that other services operated by the company use separate privacy statements. The removal of 'uploaded DNA data' from the account creation section reflects a narrowing of that specific provision's scope, though genetic information processing remains described elsewhere in the policy. You can review the full updated statement to understand how your personal information will be processed and manage your communication preferences when SMS opt-ins become available.
View change record →Newly detailed provision explicitly documenting automatic collection of tracking data across multiple categories that could enable comprehensive user profiling beyond genetic ancestry services.
View full change record →Under this provision, Ancestry collects device identifiers, clickstream data, and general location information automatically during use of its platform, and this data is used for purposes including targeted advertising and analytics. Users who have opted out of advertising data sharing or who have adjusted browser or device cookie settings may limit some but not all of this collection.
How other platforms handle this
To stop us collecting your location information, you can update your device settings, stop using the Service, or uninstall our mobile apps.
to request that your data be transferred to a third party (data portability)
Your organization may allow you to access and export your data in order to back it up or transfer it to a service outside of Google.
"We automatically collect certain information when you use our Services, including device identifiers (such as IP address, cookie identifiers, and device type), browsing and clickstream activity, search terms, pages visited, and general location information derived from your IP address.Excerpt from Ancestry's Privacy Statement
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Automatic collection of device identifiers and browsing data for advertising and analytics purposes engages GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive for EU and UK users, requiring valid consent for non-essential cookies and tracking technologies.
Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.
Ad personalization controls removed. Contact scanning added. Advertiser data partnerships quietly dropped. A timeline of every change.
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Automatic collection of device identifiers, browsing activity, and location-derived data is disclosed as occurring across Ancestry's services, and this data is used to support advertising, analytics, and personalization functions in addition to service delivery.
Under this provision, Ancestry collects device identifiers, clickstream data, and general location information automatically during use of its platform, and this data is used for purposes including targeted advertising and analytics. Users who have opted out of advertising data sharing or who have adjusted browser or device cookie settings may limit some but not all of this collection.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 290 platforms. See the full comparison.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Ancestry.