Snapchat · Snapchat Privacy Policy

Account Deletion and Data Retention

Medium severity
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Why it matters

Deleting your account does not result in the immediate permanent deletion of all your data, meaning personal information can persist in Snap's systems after you have left the platform.

Consumer impact

Snapchat collects extensive personal data including precise location, device identifiers, contact lists, and behavioural data, which is used to build advertising profiles and shared with third-party advertisers and partners. Users in certain jurisdictions have enhanced rights including the right to opt out of personalised advertising and the sale or sharing of personal data. You can manage your privacy preferences and submit data access or deletion requests through Snapchat's in-app privacy settings or at https://www.snap.com/en-US/privacy/privacy-policy.

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.
  • Close Your Account
    Open Snapchat, go to Settings, scroll to Account Actions, tap Delete Account, and follow the prompts. Note that some data will be retained for a period after deletion.

Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC can investigate whether post-deletion data retention practices are consistent with consumer expectations and prior representations.
    File a complaint →
  • State AG
    State AGs enforce CCPA deletion rights and can investigate non-compliance with verified consumer deletion requests.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Snapchat Privacy Policy
Entity
Snapchat
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 15, 2026
Last verified
March 15, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-000731
Document ID
CA-D-00102
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
67dbf285233c1f3d3d78dc9fd7134692038c2b66acb7f6b967deb1bf7a8e7886
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Snapchat | Document: Snapchat Privacy Policy | Record: CA-P-000731
Captured: 2026-03-15 11:37:34 UTC | SHA-256: 67dbf285233c1f3d…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/snapchat/snapchat-privacy-policy/account-deletion-and-data-retention/
Accessed: April 4, 2026
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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