Provision record
Yelp · Yelp Privacy Policy · View original document ↗

Precise Geolocation Data Collection

Medium severity High confidence Explicit document language Common · 289 of 352 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

If you grant permission, Yelp can collect your exact GPS location and use it for search results, analytics, and targeted advertising; even without permission, Yelp may estimate your location from your IP address.

This analysis describes what Yelp'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

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

Precise geolocation is a sensitive data category under several US state privacy laws and GDPR, and its use for advertising purposes beyond core service functionality is a meaningful data practice that users may not anticipate.

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
5
Months Monitored
May 10, 2026
First Seen
May 22, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 5149 other provisions on other platforms.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Granting Yelp location permissions allows the platform to collect and use your precise GPS coordinates for advertising in addition to search features; even without explicit permission, your approximate location is inferred from your IP address and used for analytics and ad targeting.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
  • Opt Out of Arbitration
    Revoke Yelp's location access in your device settings (iOS: Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Yelp; Android: Settings > Apps > Yelp > Permissions). Additionally, visit your Yelp account privacy settings to opt out of location-based advertising.

How other platforms handle this

Square Medium

to request that your data be transferred to a third party (data portability)

Google Cloud Medium

Your organization may allow you to access and export your data in order to back it up or transfer it to a service outside of Google.

Roblox Medium

To stop us collecting your location information, you can update your device settings, stop using the Service, or uninstall our mobile apps.

See all platforms with this clause type →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
We may collect and use your precise location data (including GPS and Wi-Fi networks) if you provide us with permission to do so through your device settings or through the Service. We may also derive your approximate location from other data we collect from you (such as IP address). We use location data to provide location-based services (such as search results and other personalized content), for research and analytics purposes, and for advertising.

Excerpt from Yelp's Privacy Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Precise geolocation is classified as sensitive personal information under CCPA/CPRA, giving California residents the right to limit its use.

Insight

Unlock the full institutional analysis

Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.

Applicable agencies

  • Federal Trade Commission (ftc)
    Oversees unfair or deceptive business practices and can investigate companies that mislead consumers about data collection, sharing, or use.
    Who can file: Anyone affected by the company's practices (US or international)
    What you need: Your account details, a timeline of relevant events, and a description of the specific issue
    What to expect: Complaints inform FTC enforcement priorities and investigations but do not result in individual resolution or compensation
    File a complaint →
  • State Attorney General
    State AGs in California, New York, Texas, and other states can investigate violations of state consumer protection and privacy laws, including CCPA (California), SHIELD Act (New York), and equivalents.
    Who can file: Residents of states with comprehensive privacy laws — primarily California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah
    What you need: Evidence of the violation, explanation of how your state rights were affected, and your account or contact information with the company
    What to expect: Outcomes vary by state. May result in investigation, enforcement action, or requirement for the company to change practices. No direct individual compensation in most cases.

    Search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint" to find your state's direct complaint form

Applicable regulations

CCPA/CPRA
California, USA
Colorado AI Act
US-CO
Connecticut Data Privacy Act Amendments
US-CT
CAN-SPAM
United States Federal
FTC Act Section 5
United States Federal
GDPR
European Union
Indiana Consumer Data Protection Act
US-IN
Kentucky Consumer Data Protection Act
US-KY
Universal Opt-Out Mechanism Expansion 2026
US
VPPA
United States Federal

Provision details

Document information
Document
Yelp Privacy Policy
Entity
Yelp
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 8, 2026
Last verified
May 10, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-009022
Document ID
CA-D-00240
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
51561e30af8e079800e9ac660a18e31e22bde04231b4606f56bdb8b8e3ae902f
Analysis generated
May 8, 2026 01:29 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Yelp
Document: Yelp Privacy Policy
Record ID: CA-P-009022
Captured: 2026-05-08 01:29:50 UTC
SHA-256: 51561e30af8e0798…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/yelp/yelp-privacy-policy/provision/CA-P-009022/precise-geolocation-data-collection/
Accessed: Sept. 8, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Yelp's Precise Geolocation Data Collection clause do?

Precise geolocation is a sensitive data category under several US state privacy laws and GDPR, and its use for advertising purposes beyond core service functionality is a meaningful data practice that users may not anticipate.

How does this clause affect you?

Granting Yelp location permissions allows the platform to collect and use your precise GPS coordinates for advertising in addition to search features; even without explicit permission, your approximate location is inferred from your IP address and used for analytics and ad targeting.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 289 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Yelp?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Yelp.