Snapshot of the source text at fetch time, not a live mirror of the policy page.
Plain-English summary
This privacy policy indicates that Automattic may transfer user information during business changes like mergers or acquisitions (data_use-1). Publicly shared information, including profiles and posts, will be disclosed publicly, and a 'Firehose' stream of public data is available to subscribers for analysis (data_use-2, data_use-3). Additionally, support requests may be published by the company, and continued use of services after policy changes means acceptance of the updated terms (gotchas-1, gotchas-2).
88% confidence
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Risks
Not clearly stated
Potentially harmful clauses or risks to the user.
?
Not clearly stated
No cited risk flags — wording is unclear
There were no explicit risk flags found that clearly meet the criteria for classification. While data sharing and retention are present, they are explained with specific use cases and user controls are also described, making them less of a clear-cut risk flag.
Data Use & Sharing
2 findings
How the company collects, uses, and shares your data.
Not clearly stated: The policy mentions sharing hashed email addresses for customized ad campaigns, which could be a data use concern if not clearly explained that it's de-identified and doesn't reveal personal identity, but the text states it's aggregated or de-identified so it cannot reasonably be used to identify you.
medium90% confidence
Information may be disclosed without prior notice during business transfers
User information may be transferred or acquired by a third party in connection with a merger, sale of company assets, acquisition of business, or if Automattic goes out of business or enters bankruptcy.
Why it matters: Your personal information may be transferred to a new company or entity without explicit consent if the company undergoes a merger, sale, acquisition, or bankruptcy. While the policy states it would continue to apply, this represents a change in who controls your data.
In connection with any merger, sale of company assets, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business by another company, or in the unlikely event that Automattic goes out of business or enters bankruptcy, user information would likely be one of the assets that is transferred or acquired by a third party.
How We Share Information, paragraph 6 · Citation strength: strong
medium90% confidence
Public data stream available to subscribers for viewing and analysis
A "Firehose" stream of public data, including posts and comments from some sites, is provided to subscribers who may view and analyze the content, but not re-publish it publicly.
Why it matters: Public posts and comments from your site may be included in a data stream accessible to subscribers for analysis, although they do not have rights to republish it publicly. This means your public content is subject to wider distribution and analysis by third parties.
We also provide a “Firehose” stream of public data (like posts and comments) from some sites that use our Services to provide that data to Firehose subscribers, who may view and analyze the content (all subject to our Terms of Service), but do not have rights to re-publish it publicly.
Information Shared Publicly, paragraph 4 · Citation strength: strong
Cancellation & Renewal
Not clearly stated
How to cancel the service, and how renewals are handled.
?
Not clearly stated
No cited billing terms — wording is unclear
The policy mentions account closure, but does not detail how to cancel subscriptions or handle renewals. It also does not specify what happens to data after account closure, beyond stating that some information may be retained for legal or business interests.
Gotchas
2 findings
Unexpected or less common clauses that could be a disadvantage to the user.
Not clearly stated: The policy mentions that some features may not be accessible if optional information (account, profile, transaction, billing) is not provided. It also states that if a job applicant does not provide certain data, the recruitment process may not proceed. These are not explicit 'gotchas' but rather functional limitations clearly stated.
medium90% confidence
Requests for assistance may be published
If you send a request for assistance, the company reserves the right to publish it to clarify or respond to the request, or to help support other users.
Why it matters: Any support requests you submit could be publicly published by the company. This means your private communications for assistance might become public, potentially exposing details about your issue or account if not sufficiently anonymized.
If you send us a request for assistance (for example, via a support email or one of our other feedback mechanisms), we reserve the right to publish that request in order to clarify or respond to your request, or to help us support other users.
How We Share Information, paragraph 10 · Citation strength: strong
medium90% confidence
Policy changes subject to continued use
The policy may be changed, and continued use of the services after a change will mean you are subject to the updated policy.
Why it matters: The company can change its Privacy Policy, and your continued use of their services after changes are made signifies your acceptance of the new terms. This places the burden on you to regularly review the policy for updates.
Although most changes are likely to be minor, Automattic may change its Privacy Policy from time to time. Automattic encourages visitors to frequently check this page for any changes to its Privacy Policy. If we make changes, we will notify you by revising the change log below, and, in some cases, we may provide additional notice (like adding a statement to our homepage or the WordPress.com Blog, or sending you a notification through email or your dashboard). Your further use of the Services after a change to our Privacy Policy will be subject to the updated policy.
Personal information is stored only as long as there is a reason to keep it.
Why it helps: This commitment to only retaining data for as long as necessary helps limit the duration of personal information storage, reducing long-term privacy risks.
We store personal information for only as long as we have a reason to keep it.
Tools for user control over public sharing and deletion
The company aims to make it simple for users to control what information on their website is shared publicly, indexed by search engines, and permanently deleted.
Why it helps: This provides users with direct control over the visibility and deletion of their content, empowering them to manage their online presence.
We aim to make it as simple as possible for you to control what information on your website is shared publicly (or kept private), indexed by search engines, and permanently deleted.
Commitment to protecting users from government demands
The company helps protect users from overreaching government demands for personal information.
Why it helps: This offers a degree of reassurance that the company will advocate for users' privacy rights when faced with government requests for data.
We help protect you from overreaching government demands for your personal information.
The company aims for full transparency on how it gathers, uses, and shares personal information.
Why it helps: This commitment suggests that the company will clearly communicate its data practices, allowing users to understand how their information is handled.
We aim for full transparency on how we gather, use, and share your personal information.
Users can opt out of receiving promotional communications at any time by following instructions or notifying the company.
Why it helps: This allows users to control the marketing messages they receive, protecting them from unwanted solicitations.
Opt out of marketing communications: You may opt out of receiving promotional communications from us. Just follow the instructions in those communications or let us know. If you opt out of promotional communications, we may still send you other communications, like those about your account and legal notices.
Security, paragraph 7 · Citation strength: strong
Protection90% confidence
Do Not Sell My Personal Information link for opting out of data sharing/selling
Users can learn how to opt out of data sharing or selling by clicking the "Do Not Sell My Personal Information" link in the footer of websites or from app settings.
Why it helps: This provides a clear and accessible mechanism for users to exercise their right to opt out of certain data sharing or selling practices, particularly relevant under US state privacy laws.
You can learn more about this sharing and how to opt out by clicking the “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” link in the footer of our websites, or from the settings page within our apps.
US Privacy Laws, paragraph 26 · Citation strength: strong
Protection95% confidence
No knowing sale or sharing of personal information of those under 16
The company does not knowingly sell or share personal information of individuals under 16 years of age.
Why it helps: This commitment protects the privacy of minors by explicitly stating that their personal information will not be knowingly sold or shared, which is a crucial safeguard for younger users.
We don’t knowingly sell or share personal information of those under 16.
US Privacy Laws, paragraph 29 · Citation strength: strong
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