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Cross-Platform Data Combination

High severity Unique · 0 of 343 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

Meta takes all the information it has about you from Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp and combines it into a single profile, which is also enriched with data from outside companies and public sources.

This analysis describes what Meta Ads'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 provision establishes the operational basis for Meta's cross-platform data integration infrastructure, enabling the company to maintain unified user profiles across its service portfolio and to derive insights from combined data sets for product and business operations.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium Apr 21, 2026

The updated Privacy Policy no longer explicitly directs US residents to the United States Regional Privacy Notice, which previously provided details about consumer privacy rights available under state laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act and similar regulations. This removal does not eliminate those rights themselves, but it makes the Privacy Policy less clear about where consumers can find information on how to exercise those rights. Consumers can still locate the Regional Privacy Notice through Meta's website or by searching for it directly, but the removal reduces the accessibility and prominence of that guidance within the primary policy document.

View change record →

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
3
Months Monitored
Apr 9, 2026
First Seen
Apr 10, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 1153 other provisions on other platforms.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Your activity on Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Messenger is merged into one unified advertising profile, meaning data you share in one context (such as a health-related Facebook group) can shape your experience across all Meta platforms.

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.
  • Opt Out of Arbitration
    Go to facebook.com/off_facebook_activity, click 'Clear History' to disconnect past off-Facebook browsing data from your profile, then select 'Manage Future Activity' and turn off future off-Facebook activity tracking.

How other platforms handle this

Hinge Medium

We are part of the Match Group family of businesses. Match Group considers the safety and security of members a top priority. If you were banned from another Match Group service, your data can be shared with us to allow us to take necessary actions, including closing your account or preventing you f...

MetaMask Medium

We may share your personal information with our affiliates, meaning entities that control, are controlled by, or are under common control with Consensys. We also share information with service providers who assist in operating our services, subject to confidentiality obligations.

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.

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
We combine information about you from across the Meta Products and devices you use. We also combine information about you that we receive from third-party partners, and information about you that is available from public sources. We share information about you across the different Meta Products, and we use that information to provide and improve these products, for ads and measurement purposes, and to promote safety, integrity, and security.

— Excerpt from Meta Ads's Meta Privacy Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This provision implicates GDPR Art. 6(1)(f) (legitimate interests as legal basis for cross-platform combination), Art. 9 (special category data that may be inferred through combination), Art. 22 (automated profiling), and Recital 47 (legitimate interests balancing test). The Irish DPC is the lead supervisory authority; all EU/EEA DPAs retain concurrent jurisdiction. CCPA/CPRA §1798.140 (definition of 'sharing' for cross-context behavioral advertising) and §1798.120 (right to opt out of sharing) are also engaged.

Full compliance analysis

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

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has enforcement authority over Meta's data combination practices under FTC Act Section 5 and has issued enforcement actions against Meta for deceptive cross-platform data use.
    File a complaint →

Applicable regulations

CCPA/CPRA
California, USA
Connecticut Data Privacy Act Amendments
US-CT
CAN-SPAM
United States Federal
DMA
European Union
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
Meta Privacy Policy
Entity
Meta Ads
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 6, 2026
Last verified
April 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-002390
Document ID
CA-D-00021
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
b1a255c7398bbe7782a1515d8b3f44d46d84b5c925a280a05a176e2174258b1a
Analysis generated
March 6, 2026 20:46 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Meta Ads
Document: Meta Privacy Policy
Record ID: CA-P-002390
Captured: 2026-03-06 20:46:36 UTC
SHA-256: b1a255c7398bbe77…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/meta-ads/meta-privacy-policy/cross-platform-data-combination/
Accessed: June 29, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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Built from archived source documents, structured governance mappings, and historical version tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Meta Ads's Cross-Platform Data Combination clause do?

The provision establishes the operational basis for Meta's cross-platform data integration infrastructure, enabling the company to maintain unified user profiles across its service portfolio and to derive insights from combined data sets for product and business operations.

How does this clause affect you?

Your activity on Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Messenger is merged into one unified advertising profile, meaning data you share in one context (such as a health-related Facebook group) can shape your experience across all Meta platforms.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Meta Ads?

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