Is Vox Media's Terms of Service safe?

Top concerning points

1. 1.

   The service may use tracking pixels, web beacons, browser fingerprinting, and/or device fingerprinting on users.

   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.

   Source quote / document
2. 2.

   You waive your right to a class action.

   bad

   High

   The right to be represented in a class action (or representative action) exists in the US and some European countries. It allows people who have been similarly injured by the same accused to take legal action by a single lawsuit instead of individually. Some Terms of Service try to limit that right. By agreeing to them, you could waive (= renounce to) your right to a class action, which might reduce your chances to be successful in a case.

   Source quote / document
3. 3.

   Your personal data is used 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
4. 4.

   User content can be licensed to third parties

   bad

   High

   By posting content through the Services, users grant them a transferable and/or sublicensable right, which allows user content to be licensed to third parties.

   Source quote / document
5. 5.

   Your Personal data may be sold unless you opt out

   bad

   High

   There is a form to opt-out (typically California's CCPA) of the selling of your personal data. This is a bad a point because there are many services that don't have this form due to not selling your data in the first place.

   Source quote / document
6. 6.

   You shall not interfere with another person's enjoyment of the service

   bad

   High

   Users are asked not to interfere with another person't enjoyment in using the service. However, this statement is very vague and open to interpretation by the service itself.

   Source quote / document
7. 7.

   Per the service's terms, you may not express negative opinions about them

   bad

   High

   Criticising, questioning, making objections or complaints about the Service, its staff or anything related to it is prohibited and constitutes a breach of the Terms.

   Source quote / document
8. 8.

   You are being tracked via social media cookies/pixels

   bad

   High

   These types of cookies/pixels send information to social media sites when you interact with the service.

   Source quote / document

Frequently asked questions

What is Vox Media's ToS;DR privacy grade?

ToS;DR rates Vox Media as Grade E. Grades range from A (best) to E (worst). See the full breakdown on ToS;DR.

Is Vox Media'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 Vox Media's terms?

The service may use tracking pixels, web beacons, browser fingerprinting, and/or device fingerprinting on users. — 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. (Source: ToS;DR approved point).

Where can I read Vox Media's official terms?

ToS;DR tracks "Terms of Use" at https://www.voxmedia.com/legal/terms-of-use. Always prefer the official document over summaries.