Meta · Meta Privacy Policy

Biometric and Facial Recognition Data Collection

High severity
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What it is

Depending on which of our Products you use and your settings: Your face and body: Information like your face shape or gait used for face recognition technology or for other purposes. We use facial recognition technology to suggest you or other people might want to tag someone in a photo.

Why it matters

Biometric data is among the most sensitive personal data categories — it is permanent and cannot be changed if compromised — and its collection is subject to strict laws in Illinois, Texas, and Washington as well as GDPR Article 9.

Consumer impact

Meta's policy authorizes collection of an exceptionally broad range of personal data — including location, biometric features, financial information, browsing history across third-party sites, and sensitive inferences about health and political views — primarily to serve targeted advertising. Non-users who have never created a Meta account are also subject to data collection when they visit sites using Meta's tracking tools such as the Meta Pixel. You can review and limit off-platform tracking by visiting Facebook Settings > Your Facebook Information > Off-Facebook Activity and clearing or restricting that data.

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
    Go to Facebook Settings > Face Recognition and set 'Do you want Facebook to be able to recognize you in photos and videos?' to 'No' to disable facial recognition features and request deletion of your face template.

Applicable agencies

  • State AG
    Illinois, Texas, and Washington state attorneys general have jurisdiction to enforce biometric privacy statutes (BIPA, CUBI) against Meta's facial recognition data collection.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Meta Privacy Policy
Entity
Meta
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 6, 2026
Last verified
April 4, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-001937
Document ID
CA-D-00021
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
b1a255c7398bbe7782a1515d8b3f44d46d84b5c925a280a05a176e2174258b1a
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Meta | Document: Meta Privacy Policy | Record: CA-P-001937
Captured: 2026-03-06 20:46:36 UTC | SHA-256: b1a255c7398bbe77…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/meta/meta-privacy-policy/biometric-and-facial-recognition-data-collection/
Accessed: April 4, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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