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
if you have enabled a Global Privacy Control on your browser, our Websites are configured to recognize and respect those preferences with respect to Personal Information that falls under the CCPA/CPRA.
If you have enabled a legally recognized browser-based opt out preference signal (such as Global Privacy Control) on your browser, we recognize such preference to the extent required by applicable law.
If you use an authorized agent to submit a request, we will not act on that request unless we are able to authenticate, with commercially reasonable efforts, both your identity and the authorized agent's authority to act on your behalf.
"If our site detects a GPC signal from your device, we will interpret it as a request to opt out of selling or sharing your Personal Information and to opt out of targeted advertising.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: “If our site detects a GPC signal from your device, we will interpret it as a request to opt out of selling or sharing your Personal Information and to opt out of targeted advertising.”
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 277 platforms. See the full comparison.
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