← Terms Directory

    Terms of Service · Comprehensively reviewed on ToS;DR

    Is Facebook's Terms of Service safe?

    E

    ToS;DR Grade E · Very serious concerns

    Updated May 18, 2026

    According to ToS;DR, Facebook is rated Grade E. Approved analysis includes 5 blockers and 23 concerning points. ToS;DR marks this service as comprehensively reviewed. Top issues: Deleted content is not really deleted; Your identity is used in ads that are shown to other users; Private messages that are not end-to-end encrypted can be read.

    Blockers

    5

    Bad

    23

    Good

    18

    Official documentTerms of Service
    Full analysisView on ToS;DR

    Top concerning points

    1. 1.

      Deleted content is not really deleted

      blocker
      High

      Content may remain in backup servers and be retained after deletion, and thus never be completely deleted. This case doesn't apply to contributions that can't be removed due to the nature of the service.

      Source quote / document
    2. 2.

      Your identity is used in ads that are shown to other users

      blocker
      High

      Ads shown to other users may include a reference to you as an implied endorsement. Might give away information about your own personal lifestyle to strangers.

    3. 3.

      Private messages that are not end-to-end encrypted can be read

      blocker
      High

      The Service is able to access, scan, review or read all user communications, including private messages, which may contain personal or sensitive data.

    4. 4.

      They store data on you even if you did not interact with the service

      blocker
      High

      Some services store data on you even if you did not provide that data yourself. For example, users might provide access to their address book, after which a service might also store the phone numbers of that person's contacts.

    5. 5.

      Your personal data is used for automated decision-making, profiling or AI training

      blocker
      High

      Personal data or content you share with the service may be processed to make decisions by automated means without human involvement. This includes profiling, which is any form of automated processing of your information to analyse or predict things like your economic situation, health, personal preferences or interests; as well as Artificial Intelligence training.

    6. 6.

      The service uses your personal data for advertising

      bad
      High

      Your interaction with the service and data you have shared with them may be gathered to create an advertising ID or profile to target ads on you, either on the website you were visiting or in third party websites.

      Source quote / document
    7. 7.

      You are tracked via web beacons, tracking pixels, browser fingerprinting, and/or device fingerprinting

      bad
      High

      Tracking technologies (such as web beacons, tracking pixels...) are employed on users and/or the service assigns a unique ID to a browser or device to track its behaviour.

    8. 8.

      This service gives your personal data to third parties involved in its operation

      bad
      High

      Your personal data is or may be given to third parties essential to the service’s operation. This could be an external spam detection service for an internet forum.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is Facebook's ToS;DR privacy grade?
    ToS;DR rates Facebook as Grade E. Grades range from A (best) to E (worst). See the full breakdown on ToS;DR.
    Is Facebook's Terms of Service safe?
    ToS;DR's Grade E means the terms raise serious concerns. Read the blocker and bad points carefully before accepting.
    What is a top concern in Facebook's terms?
    Deleted content is not really deleted — Content may remain in backup servers and be retained after deletion, and thus never be completely deleted. This case doesn't apply to contributions that can't be removed due to the nature of the service. (Source: ToS;DR approved point).
    Where can I read Facebook's official terms?
    ToS;DR tracks "Terms of Service" at https://mbasic.facebook.com/legal/terms/plain_text_terms/. Always prefer the official document over summaries.

    Analyze any terms in seconds

    Paste a privacy policy, EULA, or contract — Termwise flags risks in plain English.

    Try Termwise free

    Ratings and points from ToS;DR (open data). Termwise is not affiliated with ToS;DR. This page is informational, not legal advice. Always read the official document.