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

Biometric Data Collection

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Document Record

What it is

The policy authorizes collection of voiceprints, facial scans, and biometrics extracted from photographs for identity verification and related purposes, and classifies this data as Sensitive Personal Information under California law.

ⓘ

This analysis describes what Mercury'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 authorizes collection of biometric identifiers that are subject to distinct statutory frameworks in several U.S. states, including Illinois BIPA, Texas CUBI, and Washington state law, which impose written consent, retention schedule, and data destruction requirements beyond what this policy's general language specifies.

⚠

Interpretive note: The extent to which Mercury's general consent and retention language satisfies state-specific biometric privacy statute requirements depends on jurisdiction-specific enforcement interpretation and the operational details of Mercury's identity verification workflows, which are not fully described in this policy.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium Aug 28, 2026

The updated policy states that Mercury may now collect personal information directly from employees, contractors, payment beneficiaries, and dependents at a business's direction, without requiring those individuals' direct consent to Mercury. This expands the pool of individuals whose data Mercury processes beyond those who directly use the service. Additionally, the revised SMS terms separate transactional messages (receipts, confirmations) from marketing messages, requiring separate consent for marketing SMS. You can manage marketing SMS consent independently from transactional message receipt.

View change record →
Medium Jul 24, 2026

The updated privacy policy now discloses that cookies from Facebook Ads, Bing Ads, Braze, Google Ads, and LinkedIn Ads serve an additional purpose: 'SaleOfInfo'. This means data collected through these cookies may be sold or shared with third-party commercial partners, beyond their existing use for advertising and analytics. Under the revised policy, Mercury treats data from these cookies as subject to potential sale or commercial sharing. You can review Mercury's full privacy policy to understand your data rights and any available opt-out mechanisms.

View change record →

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

The agreement authorizes Mercury to collect voiceprints, facial scans, and photograph-derived biometrics; under applicable state biometric privacy laws, users in Illinois, Texas, and Washington may have rights to prior written consent, defined retention periods, and data destruction that extend beyond the general rights described in this policy.

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
    Send a privacy deletion request to [email protected] referencing your biometric data. Mercury will verify your identity before processing the request.

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle Biometric Data Collection and similar clauses.

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
Biometric information , such as voiceprint, facial scan, and biometrics extracted from a photograph or image. [...] Under California law, certain information we collect may be considered Sensitive Personal Information, including: [...] Biometric information for the purposes of uniquely identifying a California resident We only use or share Sensitive Personal Information as allowed by law.

Excerpt from Mercury's Privacy Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages Illinois BIPA (740 ILCS 14), Texas Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act (CUBI), and Washington's biometric privacy provisions, each of which imposes specific written consent, retention schedule, and …

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
Mercury Privacy Policy
Entity
Mercury
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
July 9, 2026
Last verified
July 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-015750
Document ID
CA-D-00530
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
f8b49beb208e6c3f2b9fb8ddafa22b88d22bbef9e6d3e086c87840d1d5a282f8
Analysis generated
July 9, 2026 08:43 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Mercury
Document: Mercury Privacy Policy
Record ID: CA-P-015750
Captured: 2026-07-09 08:43:59 UTC
SHA-256: f8b49beb208e6c3f…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/mercury/mercury-privacy-policy/provision/CA-P-015750/biometric-data-collection/
Accessed: Sept. 26, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Mercury's Biometric Data Collection clause do?

This provision authorizes collection of biometric identifiers that are subject to distinct statutory frameworks in several U.S. states, including Illinois BIPA, Texas CUBI, and Washington state law, which impose written consent, retention schedule, and data destruction requirements beyond what this policy's general language specifies.

How does this clause affect you?

The agreement authorizes Mercury to collect voiceprints, facial scans, and photograph-derived biometrics; under applicable state biometric privacy laws, users in Illinois, Texas, and Washington may have rights to prior written consent, defined retention periods, and data destruction that extend beyond the general rights described in this policy.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Mercury?

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