Get the weekly research letter
Companies change their terms quietly. We read every version and catch what actually changed. One email a week on the changes that matter and what they mean. No account.
The policy states that Venmo collects precise geolocation data including GPS, Wi-Fi, and cell site triangulation coordinates for fraud and risk purposes, and that some services may request permission to access current location to enhance service features; declining geolocation collection may result in service functionality being limited.
This analysis describes what Venmo'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 authorizes collection of precise geolocation data as a condition of service functionality, with the policy stating that Services may not function properly if users decline geolocation collection for fraud purposes. The use of geolocation data is also disclosed for location-based advertising, promotions, and business profile ranking, extending beyond fraud prevention purposes.
Interpretive note: The policy discloses geolocation use for both fraud prevention and location-based advertising; whether the advertising-adjacent use satisfies CCPA opt-in requirements for sensitive personal information depends on regulatory interpretation of the policy's described practices.
Under this clause, Venmo collects precise GPS, Wi-Fi, and cell site triangulation location data for fraud and risk purposes, and the policy states that declining this collection may limit service functionality. Users can manage device-level geolocation permissions through their device settings, but the policy indicates that doing so may affect service availability.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle Geolocation Data Collection for Fraud and Services and similar clauses.
Compare across platforms →Monitoring
Venmo has changed this document before.
Receive same-day alerts, structured change summaries, and monitoring for up to 20 platforms.
"Geolocation Information - information that identifies with reasonable specificity your location by using, for instance, longitude and latitude coordinates obtained through GPS, Wi-Fi, or cell site triangulation. We will collect this data for fraud and risk purposes. In addition, some of our Services may ask you for permission to disclose your current location within your device settings to enhance our Services. If you do not agree to our collection of Geolocation Information, our Services may not function properly when you try to use them.Excerpt from Venmo's Privacy Policy
1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages FTC authority over location data collection and use, CCPA requirements for sensitive personal information (which includes precise geolocation under California law), and potentially the Washington My Health My Data Act if location data reveals health-related information. The FTC has issued guidance on the use of precise location data for advertising purposes. 2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The policy discloses collection of precise geolocation data for fraud purposes and separately for location-based advertising and business profile ranking. Under CCPA, precise geolocation constitutes sensitive personal information requiring opt-in consent for certain uses, which may require evaluation given the policy's described advertising-adjacent uses. 3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: California requires opt-in consent for use of precise geolocation as sensitive personal information under CCPA. Washington's My Health MY Data Act may apply if location data is used in a health-adjacent context. Illinois and other states with comprehensive privacy laws may also impose geolocation-specific requirements. 4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: The policy discloses that geolocation data is shared with third-party service providers for fraud detection and similar purposes. Whether those service provider agreements adequately restrict geolocation data use to stated purposes should be evaluated. 5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Compliance teams should assess whether the use of precise geolocation for location-based advertising and business profile ranking satisfies CCPA's opt-in consent requirement for sensitive personal information, confirm that device-level permission requests are implemented consistently with platform requirements for iOS and Android, and evaluate whether the policy adequately discloses all secondary uses of geolocation data beyond fraud prevention.
This provision authorizes collection of precise geolocation data as a condition of service functionality, with the policy stating that Services may not function properly if users decline geolocation collection for fraud purposes. The use of geolocation data is also disclosed for location-based advertising, promotions, and business profile ranking, extending beyond fraud prevention purposes.
Under this clause, Venmo collects precise GPS, Wi-Fi, and cell site triangulation location data for fraud and risk purposes, and the policy states that declining this collection may limit service functionality. Users can manage device-level geolocation permissions through their device settings, but the policy indicates that doing so may affect service availability.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Venmo.