Meta · Meta Platform Policy

Prohibition on Sale or Transfer of Platform Data to Third Parties

High severity
Share 𝕏 Share in Share

What it is

Developers who access Facebook or Instagram data through Meta's APIs are strictly prohibited from selling that data or sharing it with data brokers, ad networks, or analytics aggregators.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Your Facebook and Instagram data accessed by third-party apps cannot legally be sold to data brokers or ad networks under these terms — but enforcement depends on Meta's ability to detect violations through audits rather than technical prevention.

How other platforms handle this

Spotify Medium

We receive data about you from certain advertising or marketing partners, including device identifiers such as hashed contact information. They also provide us with inferences, which are the partners' understanding of your interests and preferences. This allows us to deliver more relevant ads and ma...

Microsoft Medium

Microsoft complies with applicable legal requirements providing adequate protection for the transfer of personal data to countries outside of the EEA. We transfer personal data from the EEA using the European Commission approved Standard Contractual Clauses.

Apple Medium

Apple products and our many services are operated internationally. Personal data collected by Apple may be stored and processed in any country or region where Apple or its service providers operate facilities. By using Apple's products or services, or providing us with your personal data, you consen...

See all platforms with this clause type →
Need full compliance memos? See Professional →

Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

This provision directly prevents the commercialization of Meta user data through secondary markets — a significant consumer protection, but one enforced only through contractual obligation on developers rather than technical controls.

View original clause language
You must not sell, license, or purchase Platform Data. You must not transfer Platform Data to any data broker, ad network, or data aggregation or analytics provider, or any other party that collects, brokers, or sells data about people.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This provision engages CCPA/CPRA §1798.120 (right to opt out of sale of personal information) and CPRA's expanded definition of 'sharing' for cross-context behavioral advertising; GDPR Art. 6 (lawful basis — legitimate interests do not extend to unauthorized onward data sales); the FTC Act Section 5 (unfair or deceptive practices in data brokering); and the proposed American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA) which would restrict data broker activities at the federal level if enacted. The FTC is the primary US enforcement authority; EU DPAs have jurisdiction over GDPR violations. (2)

🔒

Compliance intelligence locked

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

Watcher $9.99/mo Professional $149/mo

Watcher: regulatory citations. Professional: full compliance memo.

Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    FTC has jurisdiction over unauthorized data broker transfers and deceptive data practices under FTC Act Section 5, and enforces against violations of consent decree obligations related to Meta's data sharing practices.
    File a complaint →
  • State AG
    State Attorneys General, particularly California's CPPA and AG, have enforcement authority over CCPA/CPRA violations including unlawful sale or sharing of personal information with third parties.
    File a complaint →

Applicable regulations

BIPA
Illinois, USA
CCPA/CPRA
California, USA
COPPA
United States Federal
CAN-SPAM
United States Federal
DMA
European Union
FCRA
United States Federal
GDPR
European Union
GLBA
United States Federal
HIPAA
United States Federal
UK GDPR
United Kingdom

Provision details

Document information
Document
Meta Platform Policy
Entity
Meta
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 6, 2026
Last verified
April 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-002400
Document ID
CA-D-00022
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
4374fc1ff34a2283fed483234d25489ab19318606babb2f08722353374991450
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Meta | Document: Meta Platform Policy | Record: CA-P-002400
Captured: 2026-03-06 20:43:57 UTC | SHA-256: 4374fc1ff34a2283…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/meta/meta-platform-policy/prohibition-on-sale-or-transfer-of-platform-data-to-third-parties/
Accessed: April 28, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

Other provisions in this document

Related Analysis