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 prohibition covers both automated scraping and any downstream use of Services data for AI development, closing two distinct pathways for large-scale data extraction and model training.
Interpretive note: The canonical claim merges two independent prohibitions because they appear in the same clause and the instruction permits noting others in uncertainty_notes. The primary proposition is the excess-access prohibition; the AI training prohibition is a second independent legal effect stated here in the claim due to its distinct significance. Both are grounded in explicit language.
The updated Terms footer no longer includes a direct link to 'Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information,' a disclosure mechanism required under California's CCPA. California residents retain the legal right to direct Ancestry not to sell or share their personal information, but the footer no longer provides a prominently placed navigation point to exercise that right. Ancestry's privacy notice continues to reference CCPA compliance and provides other disclosure language, but the specific footer link has been removed.
View change record →The updated terms reduce the out-of-pocket costs consumers must pay to arbitrate disputes against Ancestry. Previously, consumers and Ancestry shared filing fees, arbitrator fees, and hearing expenses equally unless an arbitrator found the arbitration frivolous; now, if an arbitrator determines the arbitration is non-frivolous, Ancestry covers all JAMS-invoiced fees. Separately, the revised terms establish that Ancestry will pay all mediation fees, whereas both parties previously shared this cost. The removal of language describing alternative AAA procedures narrows the stated dispute resolution pathway.
View change record →California residents who rely on the Terms and Conditions footer to find the option to request that Ancestry not sell or share their personal information will no longer see that link in that location. While the underlying CCPA right to opt out likely remains available, the removal of this navigation path from the terms page makes the right less discoverable. California residents should verify that they can still access opt-out functionality through Ancestry's website or contact the company directly if they cannot locate the feature.
View change record →You may not use any manual, automated, or programmatic method exceeding standard human use to access or copy the Services, and you may not use any Services data or content to train, develop, or fine-tune any machine learning model, algorithm, or AI system.
How other platforms handle this
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Mailchimp uses a combination of automated and human detection review processes to ensure that Members are complying with our Standard Terms of Use and this Acceptable Use Policy.
We may (but are not obligated to) use automated systems and human reviewers to record, monitor, analyse, modify, disable and, store and review use of our Interactive Features...
"Not to access, acquire, copy, or monitor any portion of the Services by any manual, automated, or programmatic method that exceeds the intended standard human use...or to use any data or content from the Services to train, develop, or fine-tune any machine learning model, algorithm, or artificial intelligence systemExcerpt from Ancestry's Terms and Conditions
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The prohibition covers both automated scraping and any downstream use of Services data for AI development, closing two distinct pathways for large-scale data extraction and model training.
You may not use any manual, automated, or programmatic method exceeding standard human use to access or copy the Services, and you may not use any Services data or content to train, develop, or fine-tune any machine learning model, algorithm, or AI system.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 217 platforms. See the full comparison.
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