What can I do about this clause?

{'method': 'IN_APP', 'recipient': 'https://www.facebook.com/help/delete_account', 'difficulty': 'MODERATE', 'action_type': 'DELETE_DATA', 'instructions': "Go to Facebook Settings > Your Facebook Information > Deactivation and Deletion > Delete Account > Continue to Account Deletion. Deleting your account ends the content license for your posts once content is removed from Meta's systems.", 'deadline_days': None, 'deadline_hours': None} {'method': 'IN_APP', 'recipient': 'https://www.facebook.com/dyi', 'difficulty': 'EASY', 'action_type': 'EXPORT_DATA', 'instructions': "Go to Facebook Settings > Your Facebook Information > Download Your Information, select the data types and date range, then click 'Create File'. Meta will notify you when your archive is ready to download.", 'deadline_days': None, 'deadline_hours': None}

Which regulatory agencies enforce this type of clause?

{'agency': 'FTC', 'reason': 'The FTC has jurisdiction over deceptive or unfair commercial use of consumer-generated content under FTC Act Section 5, and has previously issued enforcement orders against Meta regarding data use practices.', 'complaint_url': 'https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/'}, {'agency': 'State_AG', 'reason': 'State Attorneys General, particularly in California under CPRA, have authority to enforce consumer rights regarding commercial use of personal data and content.', 'complaint_url': 'https://www.naag.org/find-my-ag/'}

What is the severity of this clause?

ConductAtlas classifies this Broad Content License Grant clause as high severity. Severity reflects the magnitude of rights affected, the breadth of users impacted, and the degree of discretion the platform retains.

Do other platforms have similar clauses?

Yes. ConductAtlas has identified similar Broad Content License Grant clauses across approximately 9 other tracked platforms. You can compare how platforms differ on this clause type in the cross-platform comparison view.

Broad Content License Grant — Meta

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What it is

When you post photos, videos, or other content on Facebook or Instagram, you give Meta the right to use, copy, modify, and share that content globally for free — including to run ads — for as long as it remains on Meta's systems.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Any photo, video, or written content you post on Facebook or Instagram can be used by Meta to generate advertising revenue without compensation to you; Meta can also sublicense this content to third-party service providers.

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.

Delete Your Data

Go to Facebook Settings > Your Facebook Information > Deactivation and Deletion > Delete Account > Continue to Account Deletion. Deleting your account ends the content license for your posts once content is removed from Meta's systems.
Export Your Data

Go to Facebook Settings > Your Facebook Information > Download Your Information, select the data types and date range, then click 'Create File'. Meta will notify you when your archive is ready to download.

How other platforms handle this

GitHub Medium

Personal Data may be shared with GitHub affiliates, including Microsoft, to facilitate customer service, marketing and advertising, order fulfillment, billing, technical support, and legal and compliance obligations. Our affiliates may only use the Personal Data in a manner consistent with this Priv...

Binance.US Medium

To Comply With Our Legal Obligations. We may disclose your information with courts, law enforcement authorities, regulators, attorneys or other parties: (A) to comply with laws and legal obligations; (B) for the establishment, exercise, or defense of a legal or equitable claim; (C) to respond to law...

Google Medium

We will share personal information outside of Google if we have a good-faith belief that access, use, preservation, or disclosure of the information is reasonably necessary to: meet any applicable law, regulation, legal process, or enforceable governmental request.

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Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

This license means Meta can use your personal photos and videos in advertising and other commercial contexts without paying you or asking for additional permission each time.

View original clause language

When you share, post, or upload content that is covered by intellectual property rights (like photos or videos) on or in connection with our Products, you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, and worldwide license to host, use, distribute, modify, run, copy, publicly perform or display, translate, and create derivative works of your content (consistent with your privacy and application settings). This means, for example, that if you share a photo on Facebook, you give us permission to store, copy, and share it with others (again, consistent with your settings) such as Meta Products or service providers that support those products and services. This license will end when your content is deleted from our systems. You can delete content individually or all at once by deleting your account.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This provision implicates GDPR Art. 6(1)(b) (processing necessary for contract performance) and Art. 6(1)(f) (legitimate interests), as well as Art. 7 on the conditions for valid consent to commercial use. The CJEU ruling in Meta v. Bundeskartellamt (C-252/21, July 2023) held that consent for personalised advertising on Facebook must be freely given and separable from platform access, casting doubt on whether this license grant satisfies GDPR standards. EU Directive 93/13/EEC on unfair terms in consumer contracts and the UK Consumer Rights Act 2015 s.62 are also engaged where the breadth of the license may constitute an unfair term. FTC Act Section 5 applies to deceptive representations about how user content is used commercially. (2)

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Applicable agencies

FTC

The FTC has jurisdiction over deceptive or unfair commercial use of consumer-generated content under FTC Act Section 5, and has previously issued enforcement orders against Meta regarding data use practices.
File a complaint →
State AG

State Attorneys General, particularly in California under CPRA, have authority to enforce consumer rights regarding commercial use of personal data and content.
File a complaint →