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 one-month deadline gives users a defined window within which Substack must act on privacy rights requests, creating an enforceable time-bound obligation.
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 who submit a privacy rights request are entitled to a response from Substack within one month of that request being received.
How other platforms handle this
We will provide you with information about the follow-up to the request without undue delay and in general, within one month of receipt of the request.
We may take reasonable steps to verify your identity before responding to your request, which may include verifying your name, email address, and other information regarding your use of our services...
If you choose to exercise any of the privacy rights described above, you will not receive discriminatory treatment from us.
"We will respond to any request to exercise your rights within one month of receipt.Excerpt from Substack's Privacy Policy
Ad personalization controls removed. Contact scanning added. Advertiser data partnerships quietly dropped. A timeline of every change.
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The one-month deadline gives users a defined window within which Substack must act on privacy rights requests, creating an enforceable time-bound obligation.
Users who submit a privacy rights request are entitled to a response from Substack within one month of that request being received.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 277 platforms. See the full comparison.
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