This analysis describes what Coursera'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 distinction between controller and processor determines who bears primary legal responsibility for data processing decisions and who users must direct rights requests to.
Interpretive note: The excerpt specifies 'degree program' as the condition triggering processor status, but it is unclear whether other for-credit programs trigger the same shift. Only 'degree program' is named in the excerpt and is therefore the only condition stated in the canonical claim.
The updated policy discloses that Coursera collects business contact data (name, job title, company, business email, business phone) from third-party commercial sources, employers, and public sources for marketing purposes. The policy also clarifies that voice-enabled messaging features may record and transcribe audio inputs into text. Additionally, the policy now authorizes marketing of Coursera affiliate products (including Udemy) to existing and prospective customers, content providers, partners, and instructors. You can opt out of marketing communications by using the unsubscribe mechanism in any marketing email or by changing your email preferences in your account settings.
View change record →The updated privacy notice now explicitly discloses that voice-enabled features on the platform transcribe audio inputs into text, and that users should not include unnecessary personal data or sensitive information in free-text or voice communications. The revised terms also clarify that personal data may be shared with Coursera's affiliates and subsidiaries in addition to third-party partners, and that voice and text communications are processed for service delivery and personalization purposes. You can review the updated privacy notice to understand which voice features are available and adjust your communication practices accordingly.
View change record →Your data rights and Coursera's legal obligations toward you differ depending on whether you are in a degree program, where Coursera's role shifts from controller to processor.
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"Coursera, Inc. is the data controller of the Personal Data...we determine the means and purposes of collecting, using, storing, disclosing, or otherwise processing your Personal Data. However, if you are participating in a degree program...Coursera is the data processor.Excerpt from Coursera's Privacy Notice
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The distinction between controller and processor determines who bears primary legal responsibility for data processing decisions and who users must direct rights requests to.
Your data rights and Coursera's legal obligations toward you differ depending on whether you are in a degree program, where Coursera's role shifts from controller to processor.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 285 platforms. See the full comparison.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Coursera.