Scribd (Document)
- 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.
They collect account, content, device and ad-partner data, share for ads, take a lasting license, and can close you anytime.
Agent Trust Hub uses AI and may make mistakes. Review reports and confirm their contents before relying on them.
Collected
Account info, uploads, device IDs, usage, IP location, and extra data from ads and social login.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“We collect the following information that you provide to us directly: Contact information such as your name, e-mail address, street address, and phone number;”
Training
They use your data to run the service, personalize it, market to you, and show targeted ads.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“We may work with third parties to provide you with personalized ads on the Services through the automatic collection of information (e.g. cookies) or to advertise the Services on other sites and services.”
Sharing
Vendors, affiliates, business partners, and ad partners can get your information.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“We may disclose or make available information to third parties to provide ads (including targeted ads) and personalized content, or to measure and analyze ad performance, on our Services or other websites or platforms.”
Kept
They keep it as long as they decide they need it; deletion is by request, not a set deadline.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“We retain the information that we receive as described in this Privacy Policy for as long as we determine is necessary to fulfill the purpose(s) for which it was collected, provide our products and services, resolve disputes, establish legal defenses, conduct audits, pursue , enforce our agreements, and comply with applicable laws.”
Controls
You can manage your account, unsubscribe from marketing, and use a form or Privacy Choices to opt out.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“You can opt out of both activities by clicking “Your Privacy Choices” (or “Cookie Preferences” in the EU) on our website.”
Fine print
They can close your account without notice, take a lasting license, and you may pay their legal costs.
Read the exact line
Terms of service
“You agree that We, at Our sole discretion, may terminate any account You have with the Company or Your use of the Services, and remove any part of Your account, subscription, user profile, and content, at any time, with or without notice.”
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.
Turn off sale and targeted ads
Click “Your Privacy Choices” (or “Cookie Preferences” in the EU) in the website footer
Ask them to delete your personal information
Use the request form linked in the Your Rights & Choices section of the privacy policy
Stop marketing emails
Click the Unsubscribe link in marketing emails
Cancel your account or subscription
Account settings, or Customer Support via the Help Center or support@scribd.com
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 can shut your account and take down your content whenever they want, even without warning.
Read the exact line
Terms of service
“You agree that We, at Our sole discretion, may terminate any account You have with the Company or Your use of the Services, and remove any part of Your account, subscription, user profile, and content, at any time, with or without notice.”
For example, they could close your account overnight and your saved documents would disappear from the site.
Comments and other posts you send them can be used forever, even if you leave, and they can pass that right to others.
Read the exact line
Terms of service
“By submitting any User Submissions through the Services, You grant to the Company a , , , worldwide, nonexclusive, , and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, publicly perform, and publicly display such User Submissions”
For example, a review you write could still be shown or reused after you delete your account.
If someone sues them because of how you used the service, you may have to pay their legal bills.
Read the exact line
Terms of service
“You agree to , save, and hold Us, Our affiliated companies, contractors, employees, agents and Our third-party suppliers, licensors, and partners harmless from any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, including legal fees and expenses, arising out of Your use or misuse of the Services”
For example, if a document you uploaded caused a lawsuit, you might have to cover their lawyer costs.
Ad companies can get information about you so they can show ads aimed at you on Scribd and elsewhere.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“We may disclose or make available information to third parties to provide ads (including targeted ads) and personalized content, or to measure and analyze ad performance, on our Services or other websites or platforms.”
For example, what you read or click could help decide which ads you see on another site.
They can give your information to other companies they work with, not only to companies that just run their tools.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“We may also provide Personal Information to business partners with whom we may jointly offer products or services, or whose products or services we believe may be of interest to You.”
For example, a partner they think you might like could get your details for a joint offer.
They build guesses about what you like from what you do and from other companies’ data.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“We may use the information you provide, along with the information we collect automatically and from third parties, to make inferences about you, including your preferences and interests.”
For example, they might infer you like certain topics from your reading and from ad-partner data.
There is no simple “gone in 30 days” rule; they keep data until they decide they no longer need it.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“We retain the information that we receive as described in this Privacy Policy for as long as we determine is necessary to fulfill the purpose(s) for which it was collected”
For example, old account or usage records could stay after you stop using the app.
You must be 18. They do not describe extra age checks beyond that rule.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“The Services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18 (“Minors”). Minors may not access or use the Services at any time or in any manner.”
For example, a 16-year-old could still sign up if they simply say they are 18.
In many U.S. states you can turn off sale and targeted ads using a link on the site.
Read the exact line
Privacy policy
“You can opt out of both activities by clicking “Your Privacy Choices” (or “Cookie Preferences” in the EU) on our website.”
For example, you can open Your Privacy Choices in the website footer and opt out of targeted ads.
Words to know
Legal words from the lines above, in plain English.
- 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.
- 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.
- legitimate interest
- A legal reason that lets a company use your data without asking, when it decides its own need outweighs your privacy. For example, an app may analyse how you use it to improve the product, without ever asking you.
- 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.
- perpetual
- Lasting forever, with no end date. For example, a perpetual licence means the company can keep using your video years after you leave.
- irrevocable
- Cannot be taken back or cancelled once given, even if you change your mind or delete your account. For example, an irrevocable licence to your photos means you cannot withdraw it later.
- 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.
- indemnify
- You promise to pay the company's legal costs and losses if your use of the service gets it sued. For example, if you post a song you do not own and the label sues the app, you owe the app's lawyer bills.
How we got here · grade F · score 32/100 · 15 of 15 policy answers backed by a verified quote · 4 not stated
What does the app collect beyond what it needs to work?
They collect account details, uploads, payment info, device IDs, usage, IP-based location, and extra data from ads and social login.
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 work with third parties for targeted ads and tracking cookies, with an opt-out in Privacy Choices.
Do they sell or share your data, and can you opt out?
They share with affiliates, business partners, and ad partners, and some states can opt out of sale or targeted ads.
What rights do they take over what you type and what the AI makes?
You keep ownership of uploads, but you give them a lasting, worldwide license; comments get a sublicensable license that does not end when you leave.
How long do they keep your data after you delete it, and can you delete it in the app?
They keep data as long as they decide they need it. You delete personal information by submitting a request form, not a stated in-app 30-day wipe.
Does it build a lasting memory or profile of you, and can you see, edit or turn it off?
They make inferences about your preferences and interests, but the policy does not describe viewing, editing, or turning that off.
Do they commit to basic security, and have they leaked data?
They say they use technical and organizational measures, but they do not promise your data cannot be stolen.
Is there a real age gate, and are teens protected?
You must be 18. The documents do not describe extra age checks beyond that statement.
Will they tell you when the rules change, and is the policy specific?
They may notify of material changes as the law requires, but changes take effect when posted and keeping using the service means you accept them.
Can they close your account without warning, and can you get your data out first?
They can end your account and remove content at any time, with or without notice.
If something goes wrong, who pays?
The service is offered as-is with a small damage cap, and you agree to cover their legal costs if your use causes a claim.
Do subscriptions renew on their own, and can you get a refund?
Not stated in the documents.
The privacy policy is 4,837 words at a professional or legal expert level (Flesch reading ease 27.4); the terms are 7,310 words at a professional or legal expert level.
