- The policy allows AI training; it does not describe an opt-out.
- 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 policy describes staff access for safety and legal checks.
Pinterest trains on your Pins, runs targeted ads on and off the app.
Agent Trust Hub uses AI and may make mistakes. Review reports and confirm their contents before relying on them.
- Uses your content for AI training with no opt-out
Collected
Account info, Pins, device and log data, inferences, partner data, and sometimes location or contacts.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“We also receive information about you and your activity outside Pinterest from our affiliates, advertisers, partners and other third parties we work with.”
Training
They personalize Pins and ads and train machine learning and generative AI on your content.
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Privacy policy
“using information to train, develop and improve our technology such as our machine learning models, regardless of when Pins were posted.”
Sharing
Public Pins are visible to anyone; ads partners and vendors also get data, with an opt-out for sale/sharing.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“Anyone can see the public content you post, such as boards and Pins you create and public profile information you give us.”
Kept
They keep data as long as they need it; deleted Pins others saved can still stick around.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“We keep your information only so long as we need it to provide Pinterest to you and fulfill the purposes described in this policy.”
Controls
You can delete your account in settings and opt out of targeted ads, sharing, or sale.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“In your settings, select “Delete your data and account” and follow the instructions.”
Fine print
Most users waive court and ; the app is as-is and is capped at $100.
Read the exact line
Terms of service
“you and Pinterest are each waiving the right to a trial by jury or to participate in a .”
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 targeted ads, sharing, or sale
Privacy and Data Settings menu
Delete your data and account
Account settings: select “Delete your data and account”
Adjust recommendation personalization
Privacy and Data Settings and Home Feed Tuner
Turn off precise location and photo access
Your device operating system settings
If a switch is not where they say, the deletion request above still applies.
Line by line
The lines that matter most, worst first.
They use your Pins and other info to train AI and other models, including old posts, and they do not describe a way to turn that off.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“using information to train, develop and improve our technology such as our machine learning models, regardless of when Pins were posted.”
For example, a photo you pinned years ago could still be used to train body-type or generative AI features.
You keep ownership, but you give Pinterest and other users a very broad license to copy, change, and even monetize what you post.
Read the exact line
Terms of service
“you grant us and our affiliates and service providers, and our users, a non-exclusive, , transferable, , worldwide license to use, store, publicly perform or display, reproduce, save, modify, create derivative works, monetize, download, translate and distribute your User Content”
For example, someone else can save your Pin and Pinterest can keep showing it even after you leave.
They send identifiers to big ad platforms so Pinterest ads can follow you on other apps and sites.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“we disclose information such as cookie IDs, your IP address, or a hashed version of your email address to third parties, such as Facebook Ads, Google Marketing Platform”
For example, after you browse tents on Pinterest, you might see Pinterest ads on Facebook or Google.
If you live outside the EEA, Switzerland, or the UK, you generally cannot sue in court with a group of other users.
Read the exact line
Terms of service
“you and Pinterest are each waiving the right to a trial by jury or to participate in a .”
For example, if many people were harmed the same way.
Images people post can be used to train tools that analyze body type.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“This includes, for example, Pinterest’s body type technology, which is trained on images in Pins posted to our Services.”
For example, a full-body outfit Pin could be used to train that body-type system.
Deleting a Pin or your account does not pull it back from people who already saved it.
Read the exact line
Terms of service
“We and our users may retain and continue to use, store, display, reproduce, save, modify, create derivative works, perform, and distribute any of your User Content that you or other users have stored or shared on Pinterest.”
For example, if a friend saved your recipe Pin, it can stay on their board after you delete your account.
If something goes wrong, they say they will not pay more than $100 in most cases.
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Terms of service
“In no event shall our for all claims relating to the Service exceed one hundred U.S. dollars (U.S. $100.00).”
For example, even if a bug caused a large loss, their contract tries to cap what they owe at $100.
Keeping using the app after they post a new privacy policy counts as agreeing, even if you missed the post.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“If you continue to use Pinterest after those changes are in effect, the new policy applies to you.”
For example, if they add a new data use and you open the app later, they treat that as acceptance.
You can turn off uses they call targeted advertising, sharing, or selling in settings.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“You may opt out at any time by following the instructions in your Privacy and Data Settings menu.”
For example, you can opt out so ads are not based on offsite data, though you will still see ads.
People at Pinterest can look at activity and messages when they think there is spam, a rule break, or a safety risk.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“Review your activity and messages on our Services to detect spam, enforce our Terms and policies, or activity that poses a risk to our community or the public.”
For example, a flagged message could be read while they check if it violates the rules.
They set a minimum age of 13, but this document does not describe a hard ID check for every user.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“Children under 13 are not allowed to use Pinterest.”
For example, a 12-year-old could still type a fake birthday unless extra checks kick in.
Words to know
Legal words from the lines above, in plain English.
- affiliates
- Other companies owned by or connected to the same parent company. For example, if you use one app, its sister apps under the same owner may also get your data.
- 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.
- model training
- Using your content and conversations as examples to teach an AI system, which can then echo them in future answers. For example, a story you write in a chatbot may be studied by the company to make the next version of the bot.
- class action waiver
- You agree not to join with other users in one lawsuit; each person must complain alone. For example, if a bug overcharges a million people, you cannot all sue together for a refund.
- service providers
- Outside companies that handle your data on the app's instructions, such as a cloud host or an email sender. For example, the company that stores the app's files in the cloud sees your data but only does what the app tells it.
- royalty-free
- The company can use your content without ever paying you for it. For example, your photo can appear in the app's ads and you get nothing.
- sublicensable
- The company can pass its rights over your content on to other companies without asking you. For example, an app can let an advertiser or a partner reuse your video under the licence you gave.
- worldwide license
- You let the company use your content anywhere on earth, usually for free and for as long as it likes. For example, a video you post can be shown in ads in any country without asking you again.
- cookies
- Small files a website saves on your device so it can recognise you and remember what you did. For example, a cookie keeps you logged in and can also tell an ad company which sites you visited.
- retention
- How long a company keeps your data before deleting it. For example, a policy might keep your messages for 30 days after you delete them, or for as long as it likes.
- limitation of liability
- A cap on what the company will ever pay you if something goes wrong, often only what you paid in the last year. For example, if a leak of your data costs you thousands, the most you may get back is a month's subscription fee.
- 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.
How we got here · grade F · score 27/100 · 14 of 15 policy answers backed by a verified quote · 0 not stated
What does the app collect beyond what it needs to work?
They collect account and Pin content plus device IDs, logs, inferences, partner and advertiser data, optional precise location, and contacts if you synced them.
Does it record your voice, face or body, and what happens to that?
They may use face matching for age checks and train body-type technology on images in Pins.
Are your chats and uploads used to train AI models, and is that off by default?
They say they train machine learning and generative AI on information including Pins, and they do not describe an opt-out.
Can employees or contractors read your conversations, and when?
They say they review activity and messages to detect spam, enforce rules, or address safety and legal risks.
Are you profiled or tracked for advertising?
They run targeted ads and send cookie IDs, IP addresses, or hashed emails to partners like Facebook Ads and Google.
Do they sell or share your data, and can you opt out?
Some ad uses may count as selling or sharing under US state law, and you can opt out in Privacy and Data Settings.
What rights do they take over what you type and what the AI makes?
You keep rights in your posts, but you grant a broad sublicensable license, and public Pins are visible to anyone.
How long do they keep your data after you delete it, and can you delete it in the app?
You can delete your account in settings, but they keep data as long as needed and others may keep copies of your Pins.
Does it build a lasting memory or profile of you, and can you see, edit or turn it off?
They build inferences about interests and even education or work, and you can tweak recommendations, but full memory controls are not described.
Do they commit to basic security, and have they leaked data?
They say they work to protect accounts but cannot guarantee security; no independent audit is described.
Is there a real age gate, and are teens protected?
Under 13 is not allowed; teens 13–18 need a parent’s permission. Age checks like face matching are only “as appropriate.”
Will they tell you when the rules change, and is the policy specific?
The privacy policy is dated, but it says continued use after they post changes means the new policy applies.
Can they close your account without warning, and can you get your data out first?
They may suspend or terminate for violations and say they will give written notice where appropriate; no export-before-close promise is in the terms.
If something goes wrong, who pays?
The service is as-is with no warranties, and their total liability is generally capped at $100.
Do subscriptions renew on their own, and can you get a refund?
These documents do not describe consumer subscriptions, auto-renewal, or refunds.
The privacy policy is 3,637 words at a college graduate level (Flesch reading ease 32.1); the terms are 4,614 words at a college graduate level.
