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
Ancestry holds account and profile Personal Information indefinitely unless the user takes the affirmative step of deleting their account.
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 →Your account and profile Personal Information remains in Ancestry's possession for the entire life of your account.
How other platforms handle this
We may continue to retain some information even after you delete your account if we are required to do so in order to comply with applicable laws.
After you submit a request to delete your account, we initiate a deletion process to safely and completely remove your data from our servers or retain it only in anonymized form.
If you close your account, we will delete your account data within 180 days...
"Ancestry will retain the Personal Information you provide while creating your account and your profile until such time as you delete your account.Excerpt from Ancestry's Privacy Statement
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Ancestry holds account and profile Personal Information indefinitely unless the user takes the affirmative step of deleting their account.
Your account and profile Personal Information remains in Ancestry's possession for the entire life of your account.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 268 platforms. See the full comparison.
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