Provision record
Perplexity AI · Perplexity Acceptable Use Policy · View original document ↗

Prohibition on Unauthorized Surveillance and Data Collection

High severity High confidence Explicit document language Common · 290 of 352 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

You cannot use Perplexity to gather other people's personal information without permission, build stalking or tracking tools, or conduct surveillance without consent.

This analysis describes what Perplexity AI'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 addresses AI-enabled privacy violations, including the use of generative AI to build surveillance or data harvesting tools targeting individuals without their knowledge.

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
3
Months Monitored
May 11, 2026
First Seen
May 20, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 5149 other provisions on other platforms.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Users who attempt to use Perplexity to build surveillance tools, harvest personal data, or enable stalking violate this policy; the prohibition covers both direct surveillance and tool development for those purposes.

How other platforms handle this

Square Medium

to request that your data be transferred to a third party (data portability)

Google Cloud Medium

Your organization may allow you to access and export your data in order to back it up or transfer it to a service outside of Google.

Roblox Medium

To stop us collecting your location information, you can update your device settings, stop using the Service, or uninstall our mobile apps.

See all platforms with this clause type →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
You may not use the Services to collect, process, or store personal information of others without authorization, to conduct unauthorized surveillance, or to build tools designed to enable stalking, tracking, or monitoring of individuals without their knowledge and consent.

Excerpt from Perplexity AI's Perplexity Acceptable Use Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages CCPA and CPRA in California, GDPR in the EU, and various US state consumer privacy laws, all of which restrict unauthorized collection and processing of personal information.

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

Applicable regulations

EU AI Act
European Union
CCPA/CPRA
California, USA
Colorado AI Act
US-CO
Connecticut Data Privacy Act Amendments
US-CT
CAN-SPAM
United States Federal
EU AI Act - High Risk Provisions
EU
FTC Act Section 5
United States Federal
GDPR
European Union
Indiana Consumer Data Protection Act
US-IN
Kentucky Consumer Data Protection Act
US-KY
UK GDPR
United Kingdom
Universal Opt-Out Mechanism Expansion 2026
US

Provision details

Document information
Document
Perplexity Acceptable Use Policy
Entity
Perplexity AI
Document last updated
May 11, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 11, 2026
Last verified
May 11, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-010548
Document ID
CA-D-00760
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
6d664bd3ce2e23b73f26f6644d636b1fb81e00cce440e455edc0bbedcc549ceb
Analysis generated
May 11, 2026 11:44 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Perplexity AI
Document: Perplexity Acceptable Use Policy
Record ID: CA-P-010548
Captured: 2026-05-11 11:44:15 UTC
SHA-256: 6d664bd3ce2e23b7…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/perplexity-ai/perplexity-acceptable-use-policy/provision/CA-P-010548/prohibition-on-unauthorized-surveillance-and-data-collection/
Accessed: Aug. 23, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Perplexity AI's Prohibition on Unauthorized Surveillance and Data Collection clause do?

This provision addresses AI-enabled privacy violations, including the use of generative AI to build surveillance or data harvesting tools targeting individuals without their knowledge.

How does this clause affect you?

Users who attempt to use Perplexity to build surveillance tools, harvest personal data, or enable stalking violate this policy; the prohibition covers both direct surveillance and tool development for those purposes.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 290 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Perplexity AI?

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