This analysis describes what Waze'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 provision defines the operational scope of data retention by linking persistence to service delivery and legal obligations, while separately authorizing prolonged retention of location and usage data as a distinct operational practice for service enhancement.
The updated policy now explicitly discloses that Waze periodically collects all phone numbers stored on your device's contact book as part of the 'find friends' feature. According to the revised terms, these phone numbers are collected in a form that is initially anonymous to Waze and are used to help create a list of other Waze users you may know. The policy clarifies that names, addresses, and other contact information are not collected from your phone book, though such information may be saved locally on your device for local searches. Additionally, the updated terms now explicitly authorize connecting your Waze account to social network accounts and sharing profile information from those networks. You can control whether to use the 'find friends' feature and whether to connect social network accounts to your Waze account.
View change record →The updated policy removes explicit language describing how Waze collects phone numbers from device contact books and integrates social network accounts. Previously, the policy stated that Waze would 'periodically collect all of the phone numbers which are stored on your device's phone contacts book' and described how this information was used for the 'find friends' feature. The revised policy no longer includes these specific disclosures. This does not necessarily mean the practices have stopped, but it means the policy provides less transparency about what data Waze collects from your device and how it uses contact information. Users who relied on these detailed descriptions to understand Waze's data practices will find the updated policy less explicit on these points.
View change record →The updated privacy policy now explicitly discloses that Waze periodically collects all phone numbers stored in your device's contact book as part of the 'find friends' feature. According to the policy, this information is collected in an anonymous form to Waze and is used to identify other Waze users you may know. The terms also clarify that social network information can be shared with Waze and other users if you choose to connect your social network account. While the policy states that names, addresses, and other contact book information are not collected, some contact information may be saved locally on your device for local search purposes. You can control whether this feature operates by not using the 'find friends' feature or by not granting the app contact access through your device settings.
View change record →Users' location history and usage data remain subject to retention by Waze beyond the immediate service period, as the terms authorize extended storage of these data categories to improve mapping and navigation functionality. The retention applies automatically upon continued use of the service.
How other platforms handle this
We retain personal data for as long as needed to provide our services, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our policies. Retention periods will vary depending on the type of data and the purposes for which we use it.
Microsoft retains personal data for as long as necessary to provide the products and fulfill the transactions you have requested, or for other legitimate purposes such as complying with our legal obligations, resolving disputes, and enforcing our agreements. Because these needs can vary for differen...
We keep information as long as we need it to provide our products and services and fulfil the purposes described in this policy. This is a case-by-case determination that depends on things like the nature of the information, why it is collected and processed, relevant legal or operational retention ...
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"We retain personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this privacy policy, or as required by law. Location history and usage data may be retained for extended periods to improve our mapping and navigation services.— Excerpt from Waze's Waze Privacy Policy
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The provision defines the operational scope of data retention by linking persistence to service delivery and legal obligations, while separately authorizing prolonged retention of location and usage data as a distinct operational practice for service enhancement.
Users' location history and usage data remain subject to retention by Waze beyond the immediate service period, as the terms authorize extended storage of these data categories to improve mapping and navigation functionality. The retention applies automatically upon continued use of the service.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 65 platforms. See the full comparison.
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