The policy establishes that users may submit requests for access, correction, erasure, restriction, portability, and objection to processing, depending on applicable law. The most recent policy update added a one-month response commitment for certain privacy rights requests and the right to object to certain types of processing. Rights are subject to legal limitations including retention obligations.
This analysis describes what Substack'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
This provision establishes the procedural framework for user privacy rights requests, with a one-month response commitment added in the May 2026 update. The provision conditions the availability and scope of rights on applicable local law, meaning the rights available to a given user depend on their jurisdiction.
Interpretive note: The provision conditions rights on applicable local law without specifying which rights apply in which jurisdictions, and the right to object provision does not enumerate the specific processing activities subject to objection.
Substack now discloses that it shares account identifiers, such as email addresses and usernames, with trusted industry child safety organizations to detect and prevent online child sexual exploitation and abuse. The policy also establishes that Substack will respond to privacy rights requests within one month, or up to three months for complex requests, providing more certainty about response timelines. Additionally, the policy clarifies that direct message recipients may retain messages even if you request deletion or delete your account, which is now explicitly stated rather than implied.
View change record →The updated policy no longer commits to responding to privacy rights requests within one month or within three months for complex requests. This removes a procedural timeline that previously bound Substack's response obligations. Additionally, the explicit disclosure that Substack shares account identifiers with child safety consortia to detect online child sexual exploitation has been removed from the policy, though the practice itself is not stated to have ended. The direct message retention language is now framed more directly: recipients may retain messages even if you request deletion or close your account.
View change record →Under this clause, users in applicable jurisdictions may submit privacy rights requests to privacy@substackinc.com, and the policy commits to a one-month response timeline for certain requests. The agreement states that rights may be limited where Substack has a legal obligation to retain data, including after account deletion.
How other platforms handle this
Depending on your location of residence, you may have the right to appeal our response to your request. In such circumstances, we will inform you of the right to appeal and the appeal process.
We try to respond to all legitimate requests within one month. Occasionally it may take us longer than a month if your request is particularly complex or you have made a number of requests. In this case, we will notify you and keep you updated.
When you use them, we'll validate your request by verifying your identity (for example, by confirming that you're signed in to your Google Account).
"Depending on applicable local laws, you may be entitled to ask Substack for a copy of your Personal Information, to correct it, erase or restrict its processing, or to ask us to transfer some of this information to other organizations. You may also have rights to object to some processing activities or to request restriction of some processing activities. Where we have asked for your consent to process your Personal Information, you may also have the right to withdraw this consent. These rights may be limited in some situations or in accordance with applicable law – for example, we cannot delete your Personal Information when we can demonstrate that we have a legal obligation to retain it.Excerpt from Substack's Privacy Policy
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This provision establishes the procedural framework for user privacy rights requests, with a one-month response commitment added in the May 2026 update. The provision conditions the availability and scope of rights on applicable local law, meaning the rights available to a given user depend on their jurisdiction.
Under this clause, users in applicable jurisdictions may submit privacy rights requests to privacy@substackinc.com, and the policy commits to a one-month response timeline for certain requests. The agreement states that rights may be limited where Substack has a legal obligation to retain data, including after account deletion.
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