Coinbase · Coinbase Privacy Policy · View original document ↗

Government ID and Biometric Data Collection

High severity Medium confidence Explicitdocumentlanguage Unique · 0 of 325 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

Coinbase collects your name, address, date of birth, government-issued ID, and biometric data such as facial recognition information when you sign up and verify your identity.

This analysis describes what Coinbase'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)

The collection of biometric data for identity verification is subject to specific state laws including Illinois BIPA, which imposes strict notice, consent, and deletion requirements, and the policy's retention of this data may interact with those obligations.

Interpretive note: The exact scope of biometric data collected and the specific retention periods are not fully detailed in the truncated document, creating some uncertainty about precise compliance obligations.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Users who complete identity verification on Coinbase provide biometric data, which the policy states Coinbase collects and retains; the handling of this biometric data is subject to varying legal protections depending on the user's state of residence.

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.
  • Delete Your Data
    Navigate to Coinbase's privacy request page and submit a data deletion request specifying biometric data. Select the appropriate request type and follow the verification steps.

How other platforms handle this

PlanetScale Medium

When you visit the Careers portion of our websites, we collect the information that you provide to us in connection with your job application. This includes but is not limited to business and personal contact information, professional credentials and skills, educational and work history and other in...

American Airlines Medium

American does not knowingly collect personal information directly from children – persons under the age of 13, or another age if required by applicable law – other than when required to comply with the law or for safety and security reasons. Due to the nature of our Services, we may collect travel i...

GOAT Medium

We may collect information about your location, including precise geolocation information, when you use our Services. We use this information to provide location-based services, such as showing you products available in your area, and for other purposes described in this Privacy Policy.

See all platforms with this clause type →

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
We collect personal information you provide to us such as your name, address, phone number, email address, date of birth, and government-issued identification. We may also collect biometric information from you, such as facial recognition data, to verify your identity.

— Excerpt from Coinbase's Coinbase Privacy Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Biometric data collection engages the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, Texas CUBI Act, and Washington My Health MY Data Act, each of which imposes distinct notice, written consent, and retention schedule requirements. The FTC Act's Section 5 unfair or deceptive practices authority is also relevant. Where collection involves EU or UK users, GDPR Article 9 treats biometric data as a special category requiring explicit consent or another enumerated legal basis. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: High. Biometric data has the highest sensitivity classification under most US state privacy frameworks, and failures to comply with BIPA specifically have resulted in significant class action litigation. The policy's retention provisions tied to regulatory recordkeeping may create tension with BIPA's requirement to delete biometric data within defined periods. JURISDICTION FLAGS: Illinois residents have private rights of action under BIPA. Texas and Washington impose state AG enforcement. EU and UK users require explicit consent or a documented Article 9 exemption. California CPRA classifies biometric data as sensitive personal information with opt-out rights. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Third-party identity verification vendors processing biometric data on Coinbase's behalf must have data processing agreements specifying retention limits, security standards, and sub-processor controls consistent with GDPR Article 28 and equivalent state requirements. Procurement teams should assess whether vendors have BIPA-compliant written policies. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Compliance teams should audit biometric data retention schedules against BIPA's destruction requirements and document the legal basis for biometric processing for each jurisdiction. A consent mechanism review is warranted to confirm that BIPA-required written release is obtained prior to collection, separate from general terms of service acceptance.

Full compliance analysis

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

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has authority over unfair or deceptive practices related to biometric data collection and consumer privacy under Section 5 of the FTC Act.
    File a complaint →
  • State AG
    State attorneys general in Illinois, Texas, Washington, and California have enforcement authority over biometric privacy statutes applicable to this data collection.
    File a complaint →

Applicable regulations

CCPA/CPRA
California, USA
Connecticut Data Privacy Act Amendments
US-CT
CAN-SPAM
United States Federal
ePrivacy Directive
European Union
FCRA
United States Federal
FTC Act Section 5
United States Federal
GDPR
European Union
GLBA
United States Federal
Indiana Consumer Data Protection Act
US-IN
Kentucky Consumer Data Protection Act
US-KY
TCPA
United States Federal
UK GDPR
United Kingdom
Universal Opt-Out Mechanism Expansion 2026
US

Provision details

Document information
Document
Coinbase Privacy Policy
Entity
Coinbase
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 9, 2026
Last verified
May 12, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-011710
Document ID
CA-D-00048
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
9f0565aa17e055fd83bf764cba2bfd8ee0bfb4068429e611e0ecdd002d63925e
Analysis generated
May 9, 2026 21:10 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Coinbase
Document: Coinbase Privacy Policy
Record ID: CA-P-011710
Captured: 2026-05-09 21:10:12 UTC
SHA-256: 9f0565aa17e055fd…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/coinbase/coinbase-privacy-policy/government-id-and-biometric-data-collection/
Accessed: May 13, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

Other risks in this policy

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Coinbase's Government ID and Biometric Data Collection clause do?

The collection of biometric data for identity verification is subject to specific state laws including Illinois BIPA, which imposes strict notice, consent, and deletion requirements, and the policy's retention of this data may interact with those obligations.

How does this clause affect you?

Users who complete identity verification on Coinbase provide biometric data, which the policy states Coinbase collects and retains; the handling of this biometric data is subject to varying legal protections depending on the user's state of residence.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Coinbase?

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