Provision record
Betterment · Betterment Privacy Policy · View original document ↗

Advertising Data Sharing as Potential 'Sale' Under State Law

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Document Record

What it is

The policy discloses that Betterment shares identifiers, commercial information, and internet and electronic network activity data with advertising and marketing networks for targeted advertising, and acknowledges this may constitute a 'sale' or 'share' under certain state privacy laws including CCPA.

This analysis describes what Betterment'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 that Betterment's advertising technology practices involve sharing three categories of personal data with advertising networks, and the policy explicitly acknowledges this activity may meet the legal definition of 'sale' or 'sharing' under state privacy laws, triggering opt-out rights for eligible residents.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium Jul 1, 2026

The updated policy discloses a new Fully Paid Securities Lending program through Apex Clearing, under which Betterment will share customer personal information and account details with Apex if customers choose to participate. The revised terms also establish that generative AI service providers have committed that personal information will not be used for model training. For customers participating in promotional offers requiring offline fulfillment, the policy now explicitly states that personal information including mailing address may be shared with third-party partners. You can review the FPSL Program supplemental disclosures for details about the securities lending arrangement, or choose not to participate in the program.

View change record →

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
5
Months Monitored
Jul 9, 2026
First Seen
Jul 9, 2026
Last Seen

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

The agreement authorizes disclosure of identifiers, commercial information, and internet activity data to advertising and marketing networks, and states residents of qualifying states may opt out of this sharing through Betterment's website privacy controls at any time.

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
    Navigate to Betterment's website and access the privacy controls to opt out of targeted advertising and behavioral data sharing with advertising networks.

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle Advertising Data Sharing as Potential 'Sale' Under State Law and similar clauses.

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
We do not and will not sell consumer personal information in the traditional and colloquial sense of the word 'sale.' We do use advertising technology on our website, which under some State Privacy Laws may be considered a 'sale' or 'share' of your information. We do not exchange our clients' personal information for monetary payments. As discussed below, you may opt-out of targeted advertising at any time on our website. We disclose the following categories of personal information to third parties for the purpose of engaging in targeted advertising and other marketing activities, including to expand the reach and effectiveness of our marketing campaigns. These disclosures may be considered 'sales' or 'sharing' or use of personal information for 'targeted advertising' under certain State Privacy Laws. Categories of personal information 'shared,' 'sold,' or used for targeted advertising categories of third parties: Identifiers; Commercial information; Internet and electronic network activity information (including information from cookies). Categories of third parties: Advertising and marketing networks.

Excerpt from Betterment's Privacy Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision directly engages CCPA as amended by CPRA, which grants California residents the right to opt out of the 'sale' or 'sharing' of personal information, including for cross-context behavioral advertising.

Insight

Unlock the full institutional analysis

Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.

Applicable agencies

  • Federal Trade Commission (ftc)
    Oversees unfair or deceptive business practices and can investigate companies that mislead consumers about data collection, sharing, or use.
    Who can file: Anyone affected by the company's practices (US or international)
    What you need: Your account details, a timeline of relevant events, and a description of the specific issue
    What to expect: Complaints inform FTC enforcement priorities and investigations but do not result in individual resolution or compensation
    File a complaint →
  • State Attorney General
    State AGs in California, New York, Texas, and other states can investigate violations of state consumer protection and privacy laws, including CCPA (California), SHIELD Act (New York), and equivalents.
    Who can file: Residents of states with comprehensive privacy laws — primarily California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah
    What you need: Evidence of the violation, explanation of how your state rights were affected, and your account or contact information with the company
    What to expect: Outcomes vary by state. May result in investigation, enforcement action, or requirement for the company to change practices. No direct individual compensation in most cases.

    Search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint" to find your state's direct complaint form

Provision details

Document information
Document
Betterment Privacy Policy
Entity
Betterment
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
July 9, 2026
Last verified
July 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-014970
Document ID
CA-D-00212
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
df9007de0116b44d59a962d403db6317e4d20f0524c8a751245d816e233a75d6
Analysis generated
July 9, 2026 06:49 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Betterment
Document: Betterment Privacy Policy
Record ID: CA-P-014970
Captured: 2026-07-09 06:49:57 UTC
SHA-256: df9007de0116b44d…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/betterment/betterment-privacy-policy/provision/CA-P-014970/advertising-data-sharing-as-potential-sale-under-state-law/
Accessed: Sept. 8, 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 Betterment's Advertising Data Sharing as Potential 'Sale' Under State Law clause do?

This provision establishes that Betterment's advertising technology practices involve sharing three categories of personal data with advertising networks, and the policy explicitly acknowledges this activity may meet the legal definition of 'sale' or 'sharing' under state privacy laws, triggering opt-out rights for eligible residents.

How does this clause affect you?

The agreement authorizes disclosure of identifiers, commercial information, and internet activity data to advertising and marketing networks, and states residents of qualifying states may opt out of this sharing through Betterment's website privacy controls at any time.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Betterment?

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