Meta's products are provided without direct user payment in exchange for the user's agreement to receive personalized ads on and off Meta platforms, based on personal data including activity and interests. The terms state that Meta does not sell personal data to advertisers but uses it internally to match users to advertiser-defined audience criteria.
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
This provision establishes the foundational commercial model of the agreement: free service access in exchange for personalized advertising consent. The terms authorize use of personal data including activity and interests for ad targeting on and off Meta platforms, which is operationally significant for users who did not separately review or understand the scope of off-platform ad targeting.
The updated terms establish several operational changes affecting how disputes are handled and how the Terms themselves can be modified. For consumers, the revised dispute resolution language states that consumer claims will be resolved under the laws of the consumer's own country in courts located in that country, rather than exclusively in California courts. Meta reserves the right to pursue claims against consumers in California courts. For users employing automated data collection, the updated terms require compliance with separate Automated Data Collection Terms and explicitly state that Meta may restrict or revoke permission at any time. The Terms now require Meta to provide at least 30 days' advance notice before making changes, except when changes are required by law.
View change record →The updated terms establish a jurisdictional change for consumers. Previously, all disputes had to be resolved in California courts; now, if you are a consumer or if your country requires it, disputes must be resolved in courts within your home country under your home country's laws. For Meta's own claims against you, the agreement still requires disputes to proceed exclusively in California courts. The revised terms also now require Meta to notify you at least 30 days in advance before making changes to these Terms, and you will have the opportunity to review them before they take effect, unless changes are required by law.
View change record →Under this clause, using Meta products constitutes agreement to receive personalized advertising on and off Meta platforms based on personal data including activity and interests. The agreement states Meta does not sell personal data directly to advertisers but uses it internally to match users to advertiser audience criteria, and provides advertisers with aggregate demographic and interest performance reports rather than directly identifying information.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle Personalized Advertising Data Use and similar clauses.
Compare across platforms →"Instead of paying to use Facebook and the other products and services we offer, by using the Meta Products covered by these Terms, you agree that we can show you personalized ads and other commercial and sponsored content that businesses and organizations pay us to promote on and off Meta Company Products. We use your personal data, such as information about your activity and interests, to show you personalized ads and sponsored content that may be more relevant to you. We don't sell your personal data. We allow advertisers to tell us things like their business goal, and the kind of audience they want to see their ads (for example, people between the age of 18-35 who like cycling). We then show their ad to people who we think might be interested.Excerpt from Meta's Terms of Service
1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision is central to Meta's GDPR compliance posture, as the lawful basis for personalized advertising using personal data including off-platform activity is subject to ongoing regulatory scrutiny by EU data protection …
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This provision establishes the foundational commercial model of the agreement: free service access in exchange for personalized advertising consent. The terms authorize use of personal data including activity and interests for ad targeting on and off Meta platforms, which is operationally significant for users who did not separately review or understand the scope of off-platform ad targeting.
Under this clause, using Meta products constitutes agreement to receive personalized advertising on and off Meta platforms based on personal data including activity and interests. The agreement states Meta does not sell personal data directly to advertisers but uses it internally to match users to advertiser audience criteria, and provides advertisers with aggregate demographic and interest performance reports rather than …
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