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
The updated policy introduces new data collection and processing practices. Ancestry now explicitly discloses that it collects information from interactions with AI-powered support assistants, in addition to human communications. The policy adds a new photo face-grouping feature that creates abstract numerical representations of images to organize your photo gallery, available with your express consent; Ancestry states it does not retain these representations. The policy also adds SMS messaging as a communication channel, available if you expressly opt in. You can decline the face-grouping feature and SMS messaging by not providing express consent.
View change record →How other platforms handle this
Where you have provided your consent, you have the right to withdraw your consent. If you withdraw your consent, we may continue processing your Data to the extent permitted by applicable laws and/or set out in this Policy.
The right to withdraw consent previously provided for consent-based handling of information (without affecting the lawfulness of prior use and disclosure of the information).
If you are a parent or guardian who believes your child under 13 has provided us with Personal Information, please contact us using the information below to request its deletion.
"When you consent to processing of your Personal Information for a specified purpose, you may withdraw your consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.Excerpt from Ancestry's Privacy Statement
Ad personalization controls removed. Contact scanning added. Advertiser data partnerships quietly dropped. A timeline of every change.
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The clause states: “When you consent to processing of your Personal Information for a specified purpose, you may withdraw your consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.”
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 277 platforms. See the full comparison.
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