The policy states that advertising-related data processing is conducted on the basis of legitimate interests, including the interests of third-party advertising partners, with reference to unspecified safeguards applied to protect privacy.
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
This provision identifies legitimate interests, including those of third-party advertisers, as a legal basis for processing that supports the advertising model, which is a basis that requires a documented balancing test under GDPR and may be subject to user objection rights.
Interpretive note: The enforceability of legitimate interests as a basis for advertising-related processing varies by jurisdiction and is subject to ongoing regulatory guidance, particularly in the EU.
The updated policy now applies to users of any age by removing the prior 16+ requirement, but does not explicitly state whether parental consent is required for minors. The policy defines Personal Information more broadly to include location, route information, and data reasonably linked to you by Waze. The company removed documentation of the 'find friends' feature that previously collected phone numbers from device contacts, suggesting that feature is no longer active or has been redesigned. Privacy controls remain available through in-app settings where you can adjust which Personal Information Waze collects and how it is used.
View change record →Under this clause, Waze processes user data for advertising purposes using a legitimate interests legal basis, which under GDPR entitles users to object to that processing by contacting Waze at privacy@waze.com. The policy also provides an opt-out for personalized ads through in-app Privacy Settings.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle Legitimate Interests Processing Basis for Advertising and similar clauses.
Compare across platforms →"We process your information for our legitimate interests and those of third parties (such as partners including advertisers, in order to report use statistics) while applying appropriate safeguards that protect your privacy. This means that we process your information for things like: ... Providing advertising, which keeps many of our services freeExcerpt from Waze's Privacy Policy
1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Reliance on legitimate interests as a processing basis for advertising engages GDPR Article 6(1)(f), which requires that the interests of the controller or third party be balanced against the fundamental rights and …
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This provision identifies legitimate interests, including those of third-party advertisers, as a legal basis for processing that supports the advertising model, which is a basis that requires a documented balancing test under GDPR and may be subject to user objection rights.
Under this clause, Waze processes user data for advertising purposes using a legitimate interests legal basis, which under GDPR entitles users to object to that processing by contacting Waze at privacy@waze.com. The policy also provides an opt-out for personalized ads through in-app Privacy Settings.
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