Provision record
Snapchat · Snapchat Privacy Policy · View original document ↗

Contact List Syncing

Medium severity High confidence Explicit document language Common · 289 of 352 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

If you choose to sync your contacts, Snapchat collects the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of everyone in your phone's contact list, including people who may not use Snapchat.

This analysis describes what Snapchat'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)

Contact syncing collects personal data about third parties who have not agreed to Snapchat's terms, raising privacy concerns for non-users whose information is uploaded without their knowledge.

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
5
Months Monitored
May 10, 2026
First Seen
May 22, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 5149 other provisions on other platforms.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Syncing your contacts uploads the personal information of your friends, family, and colleagues to Snap's servers, including people who have never used Snapchat and have not consented to Snap collecting their data.

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.
  • Delete Your Data
    Open Snapchat, go to Settings, select Privacy Controls, then Contact Syncing, and turn off contact syncing. You can also submit a data deletion request at https://accounts.snapchat.com/accounts/downloadmydata to request removal of uploaded contact data.

How other platforms handle this

Google Cloud Medium

You can always contact your local data protection authority if you have concerns regarding your rights under local law.

ClickUp Medium

If you are an end user in a Workspace not owned by you and wish to update, delete, or receive any information we have about you, you may do so by contacting the organization who owns your ClickUp Workspace.

Tinder Medium

If you choose to reveal any personal information about yourself to other users, you do so at your own risk. We strongly encourage you to use caution in disclosing any personal information online.

See all platforms with this clause type →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
Phone number, contacts, and other information. When you use our services, you may choose to provide us with your phone number or sync your contacts with Snapchat. If you sync your contacts, we collect information from your device's contacts, including names, phone numbers, and email addresses.

Excerpt from Snapchat's Privacy Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Collection of third-party contact information without those individuals' consent engages GDPR's principles of lawfulness and transparency, as those individuals are data subjects whose information is being processed without direct notice.

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
BIPA
Illinois, USA
CCPA/CPRA
California, USA
COPPA
United States Federal
Colorado AI Act
US-CO
Connecticut Data Privacy Act Amendments
US-CT
CAN-SPAM
United States Federal
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
VPPA
United States Federal

Provision details

Document information
Document
Snapchat Privacy Policy
Entity
Snapchat
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 10, 2026
Last verified
May 10, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-009095
Document ID
CA-D-00102
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
a616132c9be52e54b3ade183f71c87a884292fe0724d7a8941dbf2a56761b5a4
Analysis generated
May 10, 2026 14:35 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Snapchat
Document: Snapchat Privacy Policy
Record ID: CA-P-009095
Captured: 2026-05-10 14:35:50 UTC
SHA-256: a616132c9be52e54…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/snapchat/snapchat-privacy-policy/provision/CA-P-009095/contact-list-syncing/
Accessed: Sept. 8, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

Other risks in this policy

Related Analysis

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Snapchat's Contact List Syncing clause do?

Contact syncing collects personal data about third parties who have not agreed to Snapchat's terms, raising privacy concerns for non-users whose information is uploaded without their knowledge.

How does this clause affect you?

Syncing your contacts uploads the personal information of your friends, family, and colleagues to Snap's servers, including people who have never used Snapchat and have not consented to Snap collecting their data.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 289 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Snapchat?

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