Snapchat can collect your exact GPS location if you give it permission, and also estimates your general location from your IP address even without explicit permission.
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
Precise location data is among the most sensitive personal data types because it can reveal home and work addresses, religious or medical visits, and daily routines, and this data is shared with advertising partners.
Previous version had no excerpt; current version adds detailed technical methods for location collection (GPS, cell towers, Wi-Fi access points) and clarifies IP-based location inference.
View full change record →If location permissions are enabled, Snapchat collects your precise GPS location and may share this with advertising and measurement partners, enabling location-based ad targeting that reflects your real-world movements.
How other platforms handle this
To stop us collecting your location information, you can update your device settings, stop using the Service, or uninstall our mobile apps.
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.
When you are asked to provide information, you may decline to do so; but if you choose not to provide information that is necessary to provide some of our Services, you may not be able to use those Services.
"Precise location information. If you grant us permission, we collect precise location information from your device. We use various technologies to determine location, including IP address, GPS signals, device sensors, cell towers, and Wi-Fi access points. We also infer your general location based on your IP address.Excerpt from Snapchat's Privacy Policy
(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Precise geolocation is treated as sensitive personal information under the CPRA, requiring disclosure of collection purpose and the right to limit use and disclosure.
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Ad personalization controls removed. Contact scanning added. Advertiser data partnerships quietly dropped. A timeline of every change.
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Precise location data is among the most sensitive personal data types because it can reveal home and work addresses, religious or medical visits, and daily routines, and this data is shared with advertising partners.
If location permissions are enabled, Snapchat collects your precise GPS location and may share this with advertising and measurement partners, enabling location-based ad targeting that reflects your real-world movements.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 289 platforms. See the full comparison.
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