Meta · Meta Privacy Policy

Location Data Collection

High severity
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What it is

Location-related information: Location information can be based on things like precise device location (if you allow us to collect it), IP addresses, and information from your and others' use of Meta Products (such as check-ins or events you attend). We may use and store information about your location to provide features and personalized content and ads for you.

Why it matters

Precise location data can reveal sensitive information about your daily routines, religious practices, medical appointments, and personal relationships — and Meta collects it both directly and by inference from your activity.

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
    Open your phone's Settings, go to Privacy > Location Services, find Facebook and Instagram, and set location access to 'Never' or 'While Using the App' to limit precise location data collection by Meta.

Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    FTC has authority over deceptive and unfair location data collection practices under Section 5 and has established precedent through enforcement actions against major platforms for location data misrepresentation.
    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-000188
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-000188
Captured: 2026-03-06 20:46:36 UTC | SHA-256: b1a255c7398bbe77…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/meta/meta-privacy-policy/location-data-collection/
Accessed: April 4, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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