Provision record
Meta · Meta Terms of Service · View original document ↗

Use of Name and Profile Picture in Advertising

Medium severity Unique · 0 of 352 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

The agreement authorizes Meta to display users' names, profile pictures, and records of actions such as liking a page or expressing interest in an event alongside paid advertising content shown to the user's connections, without compensating users.

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 that user identity signals, specifically name, profile picture, and action records, may appear in commercial advertising contexts displayed to that user's connections on Meta Products. The terms state visibility is limited to people who already have permission to see those actions under the user's settings.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

High Aug 7, 2026

The updated terms apply unconditionally to all users regardless of residence. Meta removed the requirement to provide 30 days' advance notice before changing terms, replacing it with notification 'before' changes go into effect without specifying a notice period. More materially, the company consolidated all disputes to exclusive resolution in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California or San Mateo County state court under California law, removing the prior option for consumers to pursue claims in competent courts in their home countries. Meta also introduced an explicit $100 liability cap (or amount paid in prior 12 months, whichever is greater) and expanded damages exclusions to cover all consequential, special, indirect, exemplary, punitive, and incidental losses 'even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages', without the qualifying language 'to the fullest extent permissible by law' that previously applied.

View change record →
Medium Jul 29, 2026

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.

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High Apr 21, 2026

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 →

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 Facebook Settings, then 'Ads' and 'Ad Preferences' to review settings that control how your social actions may appear in advertising contexts. Review your broader privacy settings to manage who can see actions you take on Meta Products.

If You Do Nothing

The terms authorize Meta to use name, profile picture, and action records in advertising contexts as described, consistent with existing privacy settings

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle Use of Name and Profile Picture in Advertising and similar clauses.

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
You give us permission to use your name and profile picture and information about actions you have taken on Facebook next to or in connection with ads, offers, and other sponsored or commercial content that we display across our Products, without any compensation to you. For example, we may show your friends that you are interested in an advertised event or have liked a Facebook Page created by a brand that has paid us to display its ads on Facebook. Ads and content like this can be seen only by people who have your permission to see the actions you've taken on Meta Products.

Excerpt from Meta's Terms of Service

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages right-of-publicity statutes at the state level in the United States, which vary significantly by jurisdiction and may limit the enforceability of blanket consent to commercial use of name and …

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 →
  • State Attorney General
    State AGs in California, New York, Texas, and other states can investigate violations of state consumer protection and privacy laws, including CCPA (California), SHIELD Act (New York), and equivalents.
    Who can file: Residents of states with comprehensive privacy laws — primarily California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah
    What you need: Evidence of the violation, explanation of how your state rights were affected, and your account or contact information with the company
    What to expect: Outcomes vary by state. May result in investigation, enforcement action, or requirement for the company to change practices. No direct individual compensation in most cases.

    Search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint" to find your state's direct complaint form

Provision details

Document information
Document
Meta Terms of Service
Entity
Meta
Document last updated
July 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
July 29, 2026
Last verified
July 29, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-00020002
Document ID
CA-D-00020
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
93422a67d267ca2c45f853077683612800fde8093400fa26c76b861ec460d4c1
Analysis generated
July 29, 2026 01:36 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Meta
Document: Meta Terms of Service
Record ID: CA-P-00020002
Captured: 2026-07-29 01:36:19 UTC
SHA-256: 93422a67d267ca2c…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/meta/meta-terms-of-service/use-of-name-and-profile-picture-in-advertising/
Accessed: Sept. 8, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Meta's Use of Name and Profile Picture in Advertising clause do?

This provision establishes that user identity signals, specifically name, profile picture, and action records, may appear in commercial advertising contexts displayed to that user's connections on Meta Products. The terms state visibility is limited to people who already have permission to see those actions under the user's settings.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Meta?

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