Hugging Face · Hugging Face Privacy Policy · View original document ↗

Automatic Collection of Session, IP, and Device Data

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

What it is

Every time you use the Hugging Face platform, it automatically records your IP address, location associated with your session, device type and operating system, browser, and cookie-based preferences without requiring any action from you.

This analysis describes what Hugging Face'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 discloses automatic collection of IP addresses and session location data, which under GDPR and other frameworks qualify as personal data; this collection occurs passively for all users regardless of account status.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

The policy states that Hugging Face automatically collects your IP address, approximate session location, device identifiers, operating system, browser type, and cookie data each time you use the Services, including when browsing without being logged in.

How other platforms handle this

Mistral AI Medium

We create aggregated or anonymized datasets or statistics based on usage and operational data related to your use of the Mistral AI Products (such as product usage events, performance metrics, billing metrics, and Feedback) (collectively, "Usage Data"). We may use the Usage Data for our business pur...

Snowflake Medium

Customer grants Snowflake the right to host, copy, transmit, display, and otherwise use Customer Data and Customer Applications as reasonably necessary to provide the Services in accordance with this Agreement.

Luma AI Medium

As between the parties, Luma owns and retains all right, title, and interest, including all related intellectual property and proprietary rights, in and to the Aggregated Data and Usage Data (including any improvements, modifications, and enhancements thereto), the know-how and analytical results ge...

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
The Company automatically records information from your use of the Services such as: information about your Use of the Services, your session (date, location), your IP address, information from cookies, especially your login information, your preferences, information about your device: type, model, version, operating system, browser

— Excerpt from Hugging Face's Hugging Face Privacy Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: IP addresses and device identifiers are classified as personal data under GDPR and many other privacy frameworks, triggering GDPR Article 13 disclosure obligations and lawful basis requirements. Session location data may also qualify as location data under applicable frameworks. The ePrivacy Directive engages for cookie-based collection in the EU context. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The policy discloses automatic data collection but does not specify retention periods for session, IP, or device data, which is a GDPR Article 13(2)(a) disclosure requirement. The absence of retention period information limits users' ability to assess the scope of ongoing data processing. JURISDICTION FLAGS: EU/EEA users are protected by GDPR for IP and location data processing. California residents may have rights under CCPA/CPRA regarding identifiers and browsing information. Illinois users may have additional considerations depending on whether biometric data is incidentally collected. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Organizations integrating Hugging Face APIs or embedding Services in their own products should assess whether this automatic collection affects their own GDPR data processing obligations as joint or independent controllers. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Data mapping exercises for organizations using Hugging Face should account for the automatic collection of IP and device data as personal data. Consent management platforms should evaluate whether cookie consent flows are aligned with ePrivacy Directive requirements for EU users.

Full compliance analysis

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

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC oversees consumer data collection practices and has authority over automated collection of identifiers and device data under unfair or deceptive practices standards.
    File a complaint →

Applicable regulations

California AB 2013 AI Training Data Transparency
US-CA
DMCA
United States Federal
DSA
European Union

Provision details

Document information
Document
Hugging Face Privacy Policy
Entity
Hugging Face
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
April 28, 2026
Last verified
May 12, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-011659
Document ID
CA-D-00332
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
497c505a01512cafb742e94806b72cf15ec677bfabc6cb905f6ed30aa2fb9b85
Analysis generated
April 28, 2026 05:39 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Hugging Face
Document: Hugging Face Privacy Policy
Record ID: CA-P-011659
Captured: 2026-04-28 05:39:29 UTC
SHA-256: 497c505a01512caf…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/hugging-face/hugging-face-privacy-policy/automatic-collection-of-session-ip-and-device-data/
Accessed: May 14, 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 Hugging Face's Automatic Collection of Session, IP, and Device Data clause do?

This provision discloses automatic collection of IP addresses and session location data, which under GDPR and other frameworks qualify as personal data; this collection occurs passively for all users regardless of account status.

How does this clause affect you?

The policy states that Hugging Face automatically collects your IP address, approximate session location, device identifiers, operating system, browser type, and cookie data each time you use the Services, including when browsing without being logged in.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Hugging Face?

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