Every time you sign up for a new service or download an app, you’re asked to accept its Privacy Policy. But few people ever read what they’re agreeing to — and yet, these policies determine exactly how your personal data is collected, used, stored, and shared. Why does it matter? It matters because your data are valuable: they can be sold for profiling, unsollicited marketing (spam) and even digtal redlining (biased and discriminatory predictions made fom your data)
Here are 10 clauses you should always look for (and understand) before clicking “I agree.”
1. What Data Is Collected
Start with the basics: what types of personal information does the service gather?
Some collect only what’s necessary to function (like your email or password), while others track location, browsing habits, or even biometric data. The broader the collection, the more you should question its necessity.
2. Purpose of Data Use
This section tells you why your data is being collected.
Is it just for account creation, or also for marketing, analytics, or partner programs?
If the purpose includes advertising or “service improvement,” it often means your data might be used beyond your direct interaction with the platform.
3. Data Sharing and Third-Party Partners
Watch for mentions of “partners,” “affiliates,” or “third parties.”
These usually refer to companies that process, analyze, or even buy user data.
For example, a finance company could use your financial data to determine creditworthiness or interest rates — without you ever realizing it. And this could determine you seeing an ad of a high interests loan for example.
4. Marketing and Profiling
Some companies explicitly state that your data can be used to create a profile about you for targeted marketing.
This might sound harmless, but it’s the foundation of behavioral advertising — and sometimes even discriminatory pricing or “digital redlining.”
5. Security Measures
Look for a clear explanation of how your data is protected.
Strong policies mention encryption, anonymization, and secure storage standards (like ISO/IEC 27001).
Vague statements such as “reasonable precautions” should raise a red flag.
6. Data Retention Period
How long does the company keep your information after you close your account?
Some keep data “as long as necessary,” which could mean indefinitely.
Responsible companies provide specific timelines or automatic deletion schedules.
7. International Data Transfers
If your data is transferred abroad (for example, to U.S. or other third-country servers), check whether proper safeguards like Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or GDPR adequacy decisions are in place. And maybe try to understand why such a trasfer is made and whether it is necessary.
8. Your Rights as a User
A solid privacy policy clearly lists your rights — like the ability to access, correct, delete, or download your data.
For EU residents, this means GDPR rights; for California, CCPA rights.
If these rights aren’t mentioned, that’s a red flag.
9. How to Opt Out
Check for clauses that let you opt out of data sharing, marketing emails, or cookies.
Some services bury this under “Contact Us” or “Manage Preferences.”
If there’s no clear opt-out, assume your data will be used as broadly as possible.
10. Policy Updates
Privacy policies change — often quietly.
Look for a clause that states how you’ll be informed about updates.
If a company can modify its terms without notice, you could suddenly be consenting to something entirely different.
Why It Matters
Reading privacy policies might not be fun, but it’s essential.
The fine print reveals how your data moves through the digital ecosystem — and who profits from it.
With tools like Termzy AI, you can instantly analyze privacy policies and understand what you’re agreeing to before you accept them.
It detects risky clauses, highlights data-sharing partners, and evaluates transparency — saving you from hours of legal reading and possible regret later.
👉 Try Termzy AI for free on Chrome: termzyai.com
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