Meta · Meta Platform Policy · View original document ↗

Restrictions on Use of Sensitive Data

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

What it is

Developers are prohibited from using data obtained through Meta's APIs to make decisions about people's access to housing, jobs, credit, education, or insurance.

This analysis describes what Meta'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 clause establishes operational boundaries on permissible data uses by restricting application of Platform Data to consequential eligibility determinations. This provision defines categories of prohibited use cases that carry significant downstream effects on individuals' access to financial services, employment, housing, and educational opportunities.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

End users on Meta's platforms benefit from this restriction because it prohibits developers from using their profile data, social connections, or activity to determine whether they qualify for loans, jobs, housing, or insurance, which are decisions with major life consequences.

How other platforms handle this

Perplexity AI Medium

You may not use the API to: (a) develop applications that compete directly with Perplexity's core products; (b) generate content that is illegal, harmful, abusive, or violates third-party rights; (c) attempt to circumvent or reverse-engineer the underlying AI models or infrastructure; (d) use the AP...

Squarespace Medium

You are solely responsible for your User Content and the consequences of posting or publishing it. You represent and warrant that you own or have the necessary licenses, rights, consents, and permissions to use and authorize Squarespace to use all patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other ...

OpenAI Medium

Don't use AI to generate content that could unduly influence elections, including targeted political messaging, voting misinformation, or political rhetoric at scale.

See all platforms with this clause type →

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
You must not use Platform Data to discriminate against or harm people. You must not use Platform Data to make eligibility determinations about people, including housing, employment, credit, education, or insurance.

— Excerpt from Meta's Meta Platform Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Housing Act, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act in the US context, as well as GDPR Article 22 provisions on automated decision-making in EU/EEA jurisdictions. The FTC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau share jurisdiction over discriminatory uses of data in financial and credit contexts. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has authority over discriminatory housing practices. (2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: High for developers in fintech, insurtech, HR technology, and real estate technology sectors. The prohibition on eligibility determinations is broad and may affect developers who use behavioral or social data as indirect inputs to scoring or ranking systems, even where Meta data is not the primary input. (3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: EU/EEA developers face additional obligations under GDPR Article 22, which restricts automated decision-making with legal or similarly significant effects regardless of contractual terms. Illinois, California, and New York have state-level protections against discriminatory uses of personal data that may independently apply. Developers serving financially underserved populations face heightened regulatory scrutiny. (4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Developers should audit any algorithmic systems that ingest Meta platform data to confirm eligibility determination use cases are excluded. Vendor and partner agreements that involve Meta platform data should expressly prohibit downstream eligibility determination uses. This provision should be surfaced during due diligence for any acquisition of a company with Meta API integrations. (5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Compliance teams should conduct a use-case audit of all Meta platform data flows to identify any applications that could be characterized as eligibility determinations. Algorithmic fairness assessments may be warranted for any system that processes Meta data alongside decision-making outputs. Legal counsel should advise on whether any current products fall within prohibited categories.

Full compliance analysis

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

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has authority over discriminatory and unfair data practices, including uses of consumer data that result in discriminatory outcomes in credit, employment, or housing
    File a complaint →
  • CFPB
    The CFPB has authority over discriminatory uses of data in credit and financial eligibility determinations, which this provision expressly prohibits
    File a complaint →

Applicable regulations

CFAA
United States Federal
DMCA
United States Federal
DSA
European Union

Provision details

Document information
Document
Meta Platform Policy
Entity
Meta
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 9, 2026
Last verified
May 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-007824
Document ID
CA-D-00022
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
6f997ffbc38d6e5492493b90c9b049e2f1352b829211bee0e3866702ea71764d
Analysis generated
May 9, 2026 23:22 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Meta
Document: Meta Platform Policy
Record ID: CA-P-007824
Captured: 2026-05-09 23:22:41 UTC
SHA-256: 6f997ffbc38d6e54…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/meta/meta-platform-policy/restrictions-on-use-of-sensitive-data/
Accessed: May 20, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

Other risks in this policy

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Meta's Restrictions on Use of Sensitive Data clause do?

The clause establishes operational boundaries on permissible data uses by restricting application of Platform Data to consequential eligibility determinations. This provision defines categories of prohibited use cases that carry significant downstream effects on individuals' access to financial services, employment, housing, and educational opportunities.

How does this clause affect you?

End users on Meta's platforms benefit from this restriction because it prohibits developers from using their profile data, social connections, or activity to determine whether they qualify for loans, jobs, housing, or insurance, which are decisions with major life consequences.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Meta?

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