Provision record
Perplexity AI · Perplexity AI Privacy Policy · View original document ↗

Collection of Device and Usage Data

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

What it is

Perplexity automatically collects technical data about your device, location, and how you use the service every time you visit, without you needing to enter any information.

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)

Automatic collection of IP address and location data means Perplexity builds a profile of your usage patterns even if you never create an account or actively provide personal information.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium Jul 5, 2026

The updated Privacy Notice establishes more granular disclosure of data collection methods across multiple product areas. Perplexity now explicitly discloses that it collects and stores browsing history and settings in the Comet browser based on consent or legitimate interest, accesses email content through Email Assistant to analyze messages (while stating it does not train AI models on that content), and collects demographic data if users voluntarily upload it. The revised structure also clarifies that local browser data storage occurs on users' devices and that incognito mode does not fully prevent tracking by websites or Perplexity. You can review Comet privacy settings and controls as described in the updated policy.

View change record →

Clause Stability Mostly Stable

1
Change
4
Months Monitored
May 10, 2026
First Seen
May 20, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 5149 other provisions on other platforms.
This clause has changed once in 4 months of monitoring.

Change history

removed Jul 5, 2026

Removal of this detailed device collection disclosure may indicate either consolidation into another section or deliberate de-emphasis of automatic data collection practices.

View full change record →

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Every visit to Perplexity results in automatic collection of your IP address, approximate location, device type, browser, and usage behavior, which can be used to identify and profile users over time even without account registration.

How other platforms handle this

Roblox Medium

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

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.

See all platforms with this clause type →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
We automatically collect certain information when you visit, use, or navigate our Services. This information does not reveal your specific identity (like your name or contact information) but may include device and usage information, such as your IP address, browser and device characteristics, operating system, language preferences, referring URLs, device name, country, location, information about how and when you use our Services, and other technical information.

Excerpt from Perplexity AI's Privacy Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Automatic collection of IP addresses and device identifiers constitutes processing of personal data under GDPR for EU/EEA users, requiring a lawful basis even for passive technical data collection.

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 →

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 AI Privacy Policy
Entity
Perplexity AI
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 7, 2026
Last verified
May 10, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-007916
Document ID
CA-D-00096
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
b8f89229e0758b228924f310fe04628ff221f9781d50bbe6992d32bb201ff877
Analysis generated
May 7, 2026 15:10 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Perplexity AI
Document: Perplexity AI Privacy Policy
Record ID: CA-P-007916
Captured: 2026-05-07 15:10:31 UTC
SHA-256: b8f89229e0758b22…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/perplexity-ai/perplexity-ai-privacy-policy/provision/CA-P-007916/collection-of-device-and-usage-data/
Accessed: Sept. 8, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Low
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Perplexity AI's Collection of Device and Usage Data clause do?

Automatic collection of IP address and location data means Perplexity builds a profile of your usage patterns even if you never create an account or actively provide personal information.

How does this clause affect you?

Every visit to Perplexity results in automatic collection of your IP address, approximate location, device type, browser, and usage behavior, which can be used to identify and profile users over time even without account registration.

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.