Item: Perplexity Privacy Policy
Rating: 52
Author: Privacy.Law Editorial Team

⚠ Key Privacy Concerns

Perplexity functions as an AI-powered search engine, which means it captures your search queries, follow-up questions, and browsing patterns. Every question reveals your interests, concerns, and knowledge gaps. As a VC-backed startup experiencing rapid growth, privacy practices may evolve as business pressures increase.

Data They Collect

Everything Perplexity gathers about you and your searches.

📊 Data Collection Scope (25%) 42/100

What they collect: Search queries, follow-up questions, browsing patterns, conversation threads, sources clicked, device information, and usage analytics.

👥 Third-Party Sharing (20%) 38/100

Who gets your data: Analytics partners, potential investor data access, cloud infrastructure providers, and third-party AI model providers.

🕐 Retention & Deletion (20%) 42/100

How long: Search history retained for recommendations and service improvement. Limited clarity on specific retention periods for different data types.

☑ User Control & Consent (15%) 45/100

Your control: Can delete search history, some control over personalization settings. Account deletion available but data may be retained in anonymized form.

🔒 Security & Breach (10%) 40/100

Security: Startup security concerns with rapid growth. Standard encryption practices. No public breach history but limited track record as a newer company.

🔍 Transparency & Access (10%) 38/100

Clarity: Relatively new company with policies still evolving. Limited transparency on AI training data usage and third-party data flows.

Compare With Other AI Services

⚠ Red Flags

The most concerning privacy practices in Perplexity's policy.

Search History Profiling

High Risk

Every query you make builds a profile of your interests, concerns, and knowledge gaps. Your search history reveals what you're curious about, worried about, or researching.

"We collect information about your searches and interactions to improve our services and provide personalized recommendations." Perplexity Privacy Policy — "Information We Collect"

Source Aggregation Tracking

High Risk

Perplexity tracks which sources you click and trust, building a profile of your information preferences and the outlets you consider credible.

"We analyze your interactions with search results and cited sources to improve relevance and personalization." Perplexity Privacy Policy — "How We Use Information"

Startup Data Practices

High Risk

As a VC-backed startup, Perplexity may prioritize growth metrics and monetization over privacy protections. Data practices may change as the company evolves.

"We may share information with business partners, investors, and affiliates for business purposes." Perplexity Privacy Policy — "Sharing of Information"

Pro vs Free Privacy Gap

Medium Risk

Better privacy features and controls are locked behind the paid Pro subscription tier, continuing the troubling pattern of privacy as a luxury feature.

"Pro subscribers have access to additional privacy controls and data management features." Perplexity Privacy Policy — "Your Choices"

Who They Share With

Where your data ends up beyond Perplexity.

Analytics Partners: Usage data, search patterns, engagement metrics

Cloud Infrastructure: All data processed through third-party cloud providers

AI Model Providers: Queries may be processed by third-party AI models

Investors & Affiliates: Potential access to aggregated or detailed user data

Your Rights

What you can (and can't) do about your data.

✅ You CAN: Delete search history, request account deletion, opt out of some personalization, manage cookie preferences, request data access (CCPA/GDPR)

❌ You CANNOT: Opt out of all data collection while using service, prevent data from being used for model improvements, access enhanced privacy features without Pro subscription, fully control third-party data sharing

Analysis

"Perplexity occupies an interesting middle ground - it's essentially an AI-powered search engine, which means it knows what you're curious about. Every question reveals your interests, concerns, and knowledge gaps. The search history profiling is less invasive than Google's total ecosystem approach, but Perplexity is a startup that may change practices as it grows.

The Pro tier offers better privacy controls, continuing the troubling pattern of privacy as a luxury feature. If you can't afford the subscription, you get fewer options to protect your data.

As a VC-backed startup experiencing rapid growth, Perplexity faces pressure to monetize user data. Their privacy policy leaves room for significant data sharing with investors and business partners. I'd recommend treating every search as potentially permanent and being mindful of what your queries reveal about you."

Perplexity Privacy Policy Review

⚠ Key Privacy Concerns

Data They Collect

Compare With Other AI Services

🐕 Concerned About Your Data?

⚠ Red Flags

Search History Profiling

Source Aggregation Tracking

Startup Data Practices

Pro vs Free Privacy Gap

Who They Share With

Your Rights

Analysis

Need Help With Your Privacy Rights?

Schedule a Consultation

Perplexity Privacy Policy Review

⚠ Key Privacy Concerns

Data They Collect

Compare With Other AI Services

🐕 Concerned About Your Data?

Related Resources

⚠ Red Flags

Search History Profiling

Source Aggregation Tracking

Startup Data Practices

Pro vs Free Privacy Gap

Who They Share With

Your Rights

Analysis

Need Help With Your Privacy Rights?

Schedule a Consultation