cnet
- The documents do not say whether your data trains AI.
- Your data is used for personalized ads, including by third-party ad companies.
- Data is shared with partners and affiliates; you can opt out.
- The documents do not say who can read your content.
Ziff Davis collects lots of usage, ads, and location data, shares it for ads with an opt-out, and keeps it for the life of your account.
Agent Trust Hub uses AI and may make mistakes. Review reports and confirm their contents before relying on them.
Collected
Account info, posts, device and ad IDs, cookies, inferences, and sometimes precise location.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“If your settings choices permit, we collect and process location data that describes the precise geographic location of your device.”
Training
They use your data to run the sites, market to you, and show interest-based ads.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“Ziff Davis and third parties, subject to your privacy choices and settings, may collect data about your behavior while using our services in order to provide you with more relevant interest-based advertising”
Sharing
Other Ziff Davis companies, ad partners, processors, and merchants can get your data; you can opt out of sale.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“We also share information with other Ziff Davis Companies for the purposes of targeted advertising.”
Kept
Most data is kept for the life of your account and a later legally allowed period.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“For the life of the account and a reasonable and legally compliant time thereafter.”
Controls
You can use the Privacy Portal or email to delete data, opt out of sale, and change ad settings.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“If you would prefer not to have your data sold or shared, you can opt-out of selling or sharing by submitting a request via Privacy Portal or by emailing privacy@ziffdavis.com.”
Fine print
Policy updates can apply if you keep using the site; we were not given real terms of service.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“Your continued use of our services after the publication of a policy update constitutes your consent to the changes.”
Expand “Read the exact line” to see the source alongside the explanation.
What you can turn off
The controls and opt-outs their own documents describe, and where they say to find them.
Opt out of sale or sharing for ads
Privacy Portal or email privacy@ziffdavis.com
of your information
Privacy Portal form or privacy@ziffdavis.com
Turn off precise location
Mobile device Settings (as described under Location Based Services)
Opt out of online behavioral ads
DAA Ad Marker Icon on pages, or DAA sites linked in the policy
If a switch is not where they say, the deletion request above still applies.
Line by line
The lines that matter most, worst first.
If you allow it, they can track exactly where your phone is, not just your city.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“If your settings choices permit, we collect and process location data that describes the precise geographic location of your device.”
For example, they could log that you were at a specific store, not just in your zip code.
They and outside ad companies watch how you use the site so they can follow you with ads elsewhere.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“Ziff Davis and third parties, subject to your privacy choices and settings, may collect data about your behavior while using our services in order to provide you with more relevant interest-based advertising on other websites and applications”
For example, reading phone reviews on CNET could lead to phone ads on another app.
Your data can be passed around the whole company group to target ads.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“We also share information with other Ziff Davis Companies for the purposes of targeted advertising.”
For example, activity on CNET could be used to target ads on Mashable or PCMag.
They build guesses about who you are and what you like from what they collect.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“Inferences drawn from personal information reflecting your preferences, characteristics, predispositions, behavior, and attitudes.”
For example, they might label you as someone likely to buy gadgets even if you never said so.
They keep most personal data as long as the account exists and for extra time after.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“For the life of the account and a reasonable and legally compliant time thereafter.”
For example, closing the tab does not wipe your history; it can sit until you delete the account and then some.
If they change the rules and you keep using the site, they treat that as you agreeing.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“Your continued use of our services after the publication of a policy update constitutes your consent to the changes.”
For example, a new sharing rule could apply just because you visited CNET again after they posted it.
You can tell them not to sell or share your data for ads, but you have to file a request.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“If you would prefer not to have your data sold or shared, you can opt-out of selling or sharing by submitting a request via Privacy Portal or by emailing privacy@ziffdavis.com.”
For example, you fill out the Privacy Portal form so they stop sharing your profile with sister sites for ads.
They say they are not trying to collect health, religion, or similar sensitive details.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“We do not seek to collect or process sensitive personal information, such as, race or ethnicity, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, physical or mental health, or sex life.”
For example, they should not ask you for medical history just to read articles.
The sites are meant for adults, not kids under 18.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“These services are not intended for use by children, especially those under 18.”
For example, if they find an account belongs to a 15-year-old, they say they can remove it.
They claim they use security measures, but they do not name audits or a bug-bounty program.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unlawful destruction, loss alteration, misuse, or unauthorized access while in our possession.”
For example, they say contractors must use reasonable security, without listing encryption details.
Words to know
Legal words from the lines above, in plain English.
- precise geolocation
- Your exact position, usually from GPS, often accurate to within a few metres. For example, an app can tell not just your city but which building you are in right now.
- third parties
- Any company or person other than you and the app, such as advertisers, partners or analytics firms. For example, an analytics company that receives a record of every screen you tap is a third party.
- targeted advertising
- Ads chosen for you based on what you have done across other apps and websites, not just this one. For example, you look at shoes in one app and see shoe ads in a totally different app the next day.
- opt out
- Something is on by default and stays on until you find the setting and turn it off. For example, your chats may be used for training unless you go into settings and switch it off.
- consent
- Your clear agreement to something, given by an action like ticking a box or tapping Accept. For example, a pop-up asking if the app may use your location is asking for consent.
- profiling
- Building a picture of who you are, what you like and what you might do next from your data. For example, an app may guess your income, health or politics from what you watch and tap.
- personal data
- Any information that is about you or can be linked to you, from your name to your phone's ID. For example, your email, your IP address and the list of apps on your phone are all personal data.
- sensitive personal information
- Data that could hurt you if exposed, like health, religion, sexuality, race, exact location or bank details. For example, telling a chatbot about a medical condition creates sensitive data that some laws protect more strictly.
How we got here · grade F · score 33/100 · 15 of 15 policy answers backed by a verified quote · 7 not stated
What does the app collect beyond what it needs to work?
They collect account data, posts, device and ad IDs, cookies, inferences, third-party data, and precise location if settings allow.
Does it record your voice, face or body, and what happens to that?
Not stated in the documents.
Are your chats and uploads used to train AI models, and is that off by default?
Not stated in the documents.
Can employees or contractors read your conversations, and when?
Not stated in the documents.
Are you profiled or tracked for advertising?
They and third parties collect behavior data for interest-based ads on other sites and apps.
Do they sell or share your data, and can you opt out?
They share with Ziff Davis companies and others for ads and say you can opt out of sale or sharing.
What rights do they take over what you type and what the AI makes?
Not stated in the documents.
How long do they keep your data after you delete it, and can you delete it in the app?
Deletion is by Privacy Portal or email; they keep most data for the life of the account and a later period.
Does it build a lasting memory or profile of you, and can you see, edit or turn it off?
They draw inferences about preferences and behavior; no memory on/off controls are described.
Do they commit to basic security, and have they leaked data?
They say they use technical and organizational security measures and may email you about breaches.
Is there a real age gate, and are teens protected?
Services are not intended for people under 18; they may remove accounts if they find someone is underage.
Will they tell you when the rules change, and is the policy specific?
The policy is dated September 2024. They say they will notify you of material changes, but continued use also counts as consent.
Can they close your account without warning, and can you get your data out first?
Not stated in the documents.
If something goes wrong, who pays?
Not stated in the documents.
Do subscriptions renew on their own, and can you get a refund?
Not stated in the documents.
The privacy policy is 5,266 words at a college level (Flesch reading ease 43.7); the terms are 902 words at a college level.
