Anthropic · Anthropic Privacy Policy · View original document ↗

Automated Collection of Device and Location Data

Medium severity Unique · 0 of 343 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

Every time you use Claude or visit Anthropic's website, your approximate location (from your IP address), device type, browser, and unique device identifiers are automatically collected without any action on your part.

This analysis describes what Anthropic'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

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

This provision establishes the scope of technical data collection that occurs automatically during service access and use. The authorization is conditioned on device or browser permissions, which means the collection mechanism operates within the permission framework users have already established at the operating system or browser level.

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
3
Months Monitored
Apr 28, 2026
First Seen
Apr 28, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 967 other provisions on other platforms.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Anthropic automatically collects your device advertising identifiers, probabilistic identifiers, IP-derived location, and browsing history within its services every time you use Claude, building a technical profile of your usage patterns that persists across sessions regardless of whether you are logged in.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
  • Opt Out of Arbitration
    Visit Anthropic's Cookie Policy page at anthropic.com/legal/cookies to access opt-out controls for non-essential tracking technologies and advertising identifiers.

How other platforms handle this

TaskRabbit Medium

We rely on our legitimate interests or those of a third party where they are not outweighed by your interests and fundamental rights, to process the following information: Contact Information, Identity Information, User-Generated Content Information, Booking Information, Job Applicant Information – ...

OpenAI Medium

We automatically collect certain information from your device, including information about your web browser, IP address, time zone, and some of the cookies that are installed on your device. Additionally, as you browse the Service, we collect information about the individual web pages or products th...

Microsoft Azure Medium

Location data. Data about your device's location, which can be either precise or imprecise. For example, we collect location data using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) (e.g., GPS) and data about nearby cell towers and Wi-Fi hotspots. Location can also be inferred from a device's IP address...

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
Device and Connection Information. Consistent with your device or browser permissions, your device or browser automatically sends us information about when and how you install, access, or use our Services. This includes information such as your device type, operating system information, browser information and web page referers, mobile network, connection information, mobile operator or internet service provider (ISP), time zone setting, IP address (including information about the location of the device derived from your IP address), identifiers (including device or advertising identifiers, probabilistic identifiers, and other unique personal or online identifiers), and device location.

— Excerpt from Anthropic's Anthropic Privacy Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

1. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: GDPR Art. 6(1)(f) (legitimate interests) is the likely basis for technical data collection; Art. 25 (data protection by design) requires minimisation of identifiers collected. The EU ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC, as amended) governs cookie and device identifier collection in the EU/EEA. CCPA §1798.140(o) defines 'personal information' broadly to include device identifiers and IP addresses. Illinois BIPA (740 ILCS 14) could be implicated if biometric-adjacent identifiers are collected. FTC Act Section 5 standards on unfair/deceptive tracking apply. The collection of advertising identifiers specifically implicates Google and Apple platform policies on tracking. 2.

Full compliance analysis

Regulatory citations, enforcement risk, and due diligence action items.

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has authority over commercial surveillance practices including passive collection of device identifiers and location data under FTC Act Section 5 unfair/deceptive practices standards.
    File a complaint →

Applicable regulations

EU AI Act
European Union
BIPA
Illinois, USA
California AB 2013 AI Training Data Transparency
US-CA
CCPA/CPRA
California, USA
Connecticut Data Privacy Act Amendments
US-CT
CAN-SPAM
United States Federal
ePrivacy Directive
European Union
FTC Act Section 5
United States Federal
GDPR
European Union
Indiana Consumer Data Protection Act
US-IN
Kentucky Consumer Data Protection Act
US-KY
UK GDPR
United Kingdom
Universal Opt-Out Mechanism Expansion 2026
US

Provision details

Document information
Document
Anthropic Privacy Policy
Entity
Anthropic
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 6, 2026
Last verified
April 28, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-003866
Document ID
CA-D-00012
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
55f589f5c2a5a187a9d045dc6c7e4954a2dbf9ac00fb6e3ea782dbcf9ad69387
Analysis generated
March 6, 2026 20:00 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Anthropic
Document: Anthropic Privacy Policy
Record ID: CA-P-003866
Captured: 2026-03-06 20:00:36 UTC
SHA-256: 55f589f5c2a5a187…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/anthropic/anthropic-privacy-policy/automated-collection-of-device-and-location-data/
Accessed: June 15, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Anthropic's Automated Collection of Device and Location Data clause do?

This provision establishes the scope of technical data collection that occurs automatically during service access and use. The authorization is conditioned on device or browser permissions, which means the collection mechanism operates within the permission framework users have already established at the operating system or browser level.

How does this clause affect you?

Anthropic automatically collects your device advertising identifiers, probabilistic identifiers, IP-derived location, and browsing history within its services every time you use Claude, building a technical profile of your usage patterns that persists across sessions regardless of whether you are logged in.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Anthropic?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Anthropic.