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
A sender's deletion request or account deletion does not obligate recipients to remove direct messages, meaning the sender has no enforceable right to compel removal of messages from recipients' possession.
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 →If you send a direct message on Substack, the recipient may retain it regardless of any deletion request you make or any account action you take.
How other platforms handle this
We may be unable to fulfill certain data requests for legitimate reasons, such as protecting trade secrets, intellectual property, or complying with legal obligations.
Note that fulfilment of the request may not ensure complete or comprehensive removal (e.g., if the content or information has been reposted by another user).
OPENAI'S AFFILIATES, SUPPLIERS, LICENSORS, AND DISTRIBUTORS ARE INTENDED THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF THIS SECTION.
"recipients of direct messages may keep those messages even if you request their deletion, and even if you delete your Substack account.Excerpt from Substack's Privacy Policy
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A sender's deletion request or account deletion does not obligate recipients to remove direct messages, meaning the sender has no enforceable right to compel removal of messages from recipients' possession.
If you send a direct message on Substack, the recipient may retain it regardless of any deletion request you make or any account action you take.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 281 platforms. See the full comparison.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Substack.