Dropbox · Dropbox Privacy Policy · View original document ↗

Third-Party Data Sharing

Medium severity High confidence Explicitdocumentlanguage Uncommon · 25 of 343 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

Dropbox shares your personal data with outside companies that help run its services, with advertising partners, and potentially with a buyer if Dropbox is ever sold, among other circumstances.

This analysis describes what Dropbox'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)

Your personal data, and potentially information about your usage patterns and stored content metadata, moves to third parties beyond Dropbox itself, which expands the surface area of who holds and can act on your information.

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
3
Months Monitored
Apr 3, 2026
First Seen
May 22, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 1153 other provisions on other platforms.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Personal data including account details, usage behavior, and device information may be shared with advertising partners and an unspecified number of service providers, meaning your information is not confined to Dropbox's own systems. In the event of a business sale or merger, your data may transfer to a new entity whose privacy practices may differ.

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
    To request deletion of your personal data or to opt out of advertising-related data sharing, visit Dropbox's Privacy Request page and select the appropriate request type.

How other platforms handle this

Ledger Medium

At Ledger, earning and maintaining our users' trust is a top priority. That's why we are deeply committed not only to protecting your privacy and securing your personal data, but also to being fully transparent about how we handle it.

Skillshare Medium

We may share your information with third-party vendors and service providers that perform services on our behalf, such as payment processing, data analysis, email delivery, hosting services, customer service, and marketing assistance. We may also share your information with third-party advertising p...

Bumble Medium

We may also share your personal information with third parties that assist us in providing our services, or where we are under an obligation to report to. But rest assured: we will only ever share your personal information in the limited circumstances described in this Policy.

See all platforms with this clause type →

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
We may share information about you with third parties in the following circumstances: with service providers who assist in our operations; with advertising partners; in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets; when required by law or to respond to legal process; and with your consent or at your direction. We require our service providers to protect your information consistent with this policy.

— Excerpt from Dropbox's Dropbox Privacy Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Third-party data sharing with advertising partners engages CCPA/CPRA's definition of 'sharing' personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising, which triggers California residents' opt-out rights even if no money changes hands. GDPR Article 13 and 14 require disclosure of recipients or categories of recipients at the time of collection, and Article 28 requires formal DPAs with processors. The FTC Act applies to representations about data sharing practices. 2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The reference to advertising partners is significant for CPRA compliance, as sharing data for advertising purposes constitutes 'sharing' under CPRA even without monetary consideration. Enterprises should assess whether Dropbox's advertising-related sharing is compatible with their own obligations to employees or clients whose data may be processed. 3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: California users have a statutory right to opt out of sharing for advertising under CPRA. EEA and UK users may have rights to object to sharing based on legitimate interests under GDPR. Business transfer disclosures are standard but create heightened risk for enterprise customers whose data may transfer to a competitor or an entity with weaker privacy practices. 4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: The policy's statement that service providers are required to protect data consistent with the policy is a disclosure, not a contractually enforceable commitment available to individual users. Enterprise customers should seek specific sub-processor lists and contractual protections via the DPA. 5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Compliance teams should inventory which Dropbox-shared data categories constitute personal information under applicable law, confirm that Dropbox's advertising partner sharing is disclosed in their own privacy notices, and verify that opt-out mechanisms are surfaced clearly for California users.

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 consumer data sharing with advertising partners and third-party service providers.
    File a complaint →
  • State AG
    California's Attorney General enforces CCPA/CPRA, which grants California residents the right to opt out of sharing personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.
    File a complaint →

Applicable regulations

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

Provision details

Document information
Document
Dropbox Privacy Policy
Entity
Dropbox
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 20, 2026
Last verified
May 10, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-001036
Document ID
CA-D-00196
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
e79e0028df779e64383b66ccc3c4c5747677bf6476de9303c1206de45ecc82cc
Analysis generated
March 20, 2026 04:47 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Dropbox
Document: Dropbox Privacy Policy
Record ID: CA-P-001036
Captured: 2026-03-20 04:47:54 UTC
SHA-256: e79e0028df779e64…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/dropbox/dropbox-privacy-policy/third-party-data-sharing/
Accessed: July 4, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

Other risks in this policy

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Dropbox's Third-Party Data Sharing clause do?

Your personal data, and potentially information about your usage patterns and stored content metadata, moves to third parties beyond Dropbox itself, which expands the surface area of who holds and can act on your information.

How does this clause affect you?

Personal data including account details, usage behavior, and device information may be shared with advertising partners and an unspecified number of service providers, meaning your information is not confined to Dropbox's own systems. In the event of a business sale or merger, your data may transfer to a new entity whose privacy practices may differ.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 25 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Dropbox?

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