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

Cross-Product Data Combination for Advertising

High severity High confidence Explicit document language Common · 290 of 352 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

The policy states that Meta combines user data across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Meta Quest, as well as from third-party sites and apps, to build a unified profile used for personalized advertising and product recommendations.

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)

This provision establishes the legal basis and operational scope under which Meta links behavioral, interest, and activity data across its entire product family and external sources, creating a unified advertising profile that encompasses on-platform and off-platform user behavior.

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
6
Months Monitored
May 10, 2026
First Seen
May 22, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 5149 other provisions on other platforms.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Under this clause, activity on one Meta product (such as Instagram) is combined with activity on other Meta products and on third-party websites and apps to determine the advertisements shown to a user across all Meta surfaces.

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
    Navigate to Off-Facebook Activity settings. Select 'Manage Future Activity' and disable future off-platform data from being associated with your account. Note this does not delete historical data already collected.

How other platforms handle this

Square Medium

to request that your data be transferred to a third party (data portability)

Google Cloud Medium

Your organization may allow you to access and export your data in order to back it up or transfer it to a service outside of Google.

Roblox Medium

Further, you may take legal actions in relation to any potential breach of your rights regarding the processing of your Personal Information, as well as to lodge complaints before the competent data prot...

See all platforms with this clause type →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
We combine information about your interests and activity across our Products. For example, we may suggest you join a group on Facebook based on the interests you've expressed on Instagram or the Pages you follow on Facebook. We also use information about the ads you see across our Products and off our Products (such as the websites and apps you use) to personalise the ads we show you.

Excerpt from Meta's Privacy Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision implicates GDPR Article 6 (lawful basis) and Article 9 (special categories) for EU and UK users, enforced by the Irish Data Protection Commission as lead supervisory authority.

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 →

Applicable regulations

EU AI Act
European Union
BIPA
Illinois, USA
CCPA/CPRA
California, USA
COPPA
United States Federal
Colorado AI Act
US-CO
Connecticut Data Privacy Act Amendments
US-CT
CAN-SPAM
United States Federal
FTC Act Section 5
United States Federal
GDPR
European Union
Indiana Consumer Data Protection Act
US-IN
Kentucky Consumer Data Protection Act
US-KY
TCPA
United States Federal
UK GDPR
United Kingdom
Universal Opt-Out Mechanism Expansion 2026
US
VPPA
United States Federal

Provision details

Document information
Document
Meta Privacy Policy
Entity
Meta
Document last updated
July 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 20, 2026
Last verified
May 20, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-008158
Document ID
CA-D-00021
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
85a8ac13c75e9fa527c230acaa1f83ad701c5f90b31397701c7ada5c66e1e196
Analysis generated
May 20, 2026 21:21 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Meta
Document: Meta Privacy Policy
Record ID: CA-P-008158
Captured: 2026-05-20 21:21:08 UTC
SHA-256: 85a8ac13c75e9fa5…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/meta/meta-privacy-policy/provision/CA-P-008158/cross-product-data-combination-for-advertising/
Accessed: Sept. 8, 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 Cross-Product Data Combination for Advertising clause do?

This provision establishes the legal basis and operational scope under which Meta links behavioral, interest, and activity data across its entire product family and external sources, creating a unified advertising profile that encompasses on-platform and off-platform user behavior.

How does this clause affect you?

Under this clause, activity on one Meta product (such as Instagram) is combined with activity on other Meta products and on third-party websites and apps to determine the advertisements shown to a user across all Meta surfaces.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 290 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Meta?

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