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
The disclosure establishes that Substack does not warrant the security of user information and explicitly acknowledges the possibility of compromise at any time, which limits expectations of data protection.
The updated policy discloses that Substack obtains additional information from third parties and sources beyond what it directly collects from you on the platform. This third-party information is combined with platform data to provide what Substack describes as more relevant and safer experiences, and to improve platform analytics. The policy also clarifies that Substack shares account identifiers with child safety industry consortia and receives information from them to detect CSAM. You can review Substack's full privacy policy to understand which third parties may be sources of this information and how your data may be combined with external sources.
View change record →The updated policy discloses that Substack shares account identifiers (email addresses and usernames) with trusted child safety organizations to detect and prevent online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Users now have the right to object to processing of their personal information for personalization purposes on grounds relating to their particular situation, and Substack commits to responding to privacy rights requests within one month. The policy also clarifies that while recipients of direct messages may retain them independently, the platform may restrict your access to messages when other users delete or block you. You can exercise your right to object to personalization processing by contacting privacy@substackinc.com.
View change record →Users are on notice that their information held by Substack is not guaranteed to be secure and may be compromised at any time due to unauthorized access, service failure, or other factors.
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We do not provide any form of guarantee or warranty for the services provided by our affiliated companies or other third parties.
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OPENAI'S AFFILIATES, SUPPLIERS, LICENSORS, AND DISTRIBUTORS ARE INTENDED THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF THIS SECTION.
"we cannot guarantee complete security. Unauthorized entry or use, failure of the services, or other factors may compromise the security of user information at any time.Excerpt from Substack's Privacy Policy
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The disclosure establishes that Substack does not warrant the security of user information and explicitly acknowledges the possibility of compromise at any time, which limits expectations of data protection.
Users are on notice that their information held by Substack is not guaranteed to be secure and may be compromised at any time due to unauthorized access, service failure, or other factors.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 281 platforms. See the full comparison.
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