What can I do about this clause?

{'method': 'WEB_FORM', 'recipient': 'https://www.facebook.com/adpreferences/', 'difficulty': 'MODERATE', 'action_type': 'OPT_OUT_ARBITRATION', 'instructions': "Go to facebook.com/adpreferences, navigate to 'Interest categories', and remove any sensitive interest categories Meta has assigned to your profile.", 'deadline_days': None, 'deadline_hours': None}

Which regulatory agencies enforce this type of clause?

{'agency': 'FTC', 'reason': 'The FTC has pursued enforcement actions regarding sensitive data inference and monetization, including in its 2023 proposed Meta order modifications addressing sensitive data use.', 'complaint_url': 'https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/'}

What is the severity of this clause?

ConductAtlas classifies this Sensitive and Inferred Data Processing for Advertising clause as high severity. Severity reflects the magnitude of rights affected, the breadth of users impacted, and the degree of discretion the platform retains.

Sensitive and Inferred Data Processing for Advertising — Meta

Share 𝕏 Share in Share 🔒 PDF

What it is

Meta infers sensitive attributes about you — including political views, religious beliefs, and health interests — from your behavior on its platforms, and uses these inferences to target advertising.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Meta may infer and process sensitive information about your political views, religious beliefs, or health interests based on your likes and content engagement, using this to categorize you for advertising targeting without you explicitly disclosing these attributes.

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

Go to facebook.com/adpreferences, navigate to 'Interest categories', and remove any sensitive interest categories Meta has assigned to your profile.

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle Sensitive and Inferred Data Processing for Advertising and similar clauses.

Compare across platforms →

Need full compliance memos? See Professional →

Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

Processing inferred sensitive category data (political views, religious beliefs) for advertising purposes is subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny under GDPR Art. 9 and has been the subject of specific DPA enforcement actions across Europe.

View original clause language

We also receive and use information from third-party partners and other sources. This may include: information about your interests, views, and opinions. Information about you from other companies' data. We may infer certain information about you based on other information we have. We may also infer certain information from what we know, for example, inferring your political, religious or other views based on the Pages you like or content you engage with.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: GDPR Art. 9 prohibits processing of special categories of personal data (political opinions, religious beliefs, health data) without explicit consent or another Art. 9(2) exception. The EDPB Opinion 8/2023 on Meta's subscription model reaffirmed that behavioral advertising involving special categories requires explicit consent. CCPA/CPRA §1798.121 establishes 'sensitive personal information' as a protected category requiring opt-out rights. Enforcement: Irish DPC, EU national DPAs, CPPA, FTC.

🔒

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

The FTC has pursued enforcement actions regarding sensitive data inference and monetization, including in its 2023 proposed Meta order modifications addressing sensitive data use.
File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information

Document

Meta Privacy Policy

Entity

Sensitive and Inferred Data Processing for Advertising