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Grade D

Bark Privacy Policy

AI-Powered Child Monitoring | Last reviewed: January 2026

Privacy Summary

Bark's AI-powered monitoring means every message, email, and social media post your child makes is processed by their algorithms. While parents only see flagged content, Bark's systems analyze everything—building comprehensive archives of children's communications. The privacy implications of AI analysis of minor communications deserve careful consideration.

Data Collection Overview

Data Type Collected Shared Sold
Text Messages All content AI Processing No
Social Media Content All content AI Processing No
Email Content All content AI Processing No
Photos/Videos Analyzed AI Processing No
Location Data If enabled Parents No

Key Privacy Concerns

Comprehensive Communication Archives

Every text, email, and social media message is processed and stored by Bark's systems. Even though parents only see alerts, the company maintains access to the complete archive of your child's digital communications.

AI Analysis of Minor Communications

Artificial intelligence analyzes the content of children's private messages, looking for patterns indicating bullying, predators, or self-harm. This means algorithms are making judgments about the most sensitive aspects of children's lives.

Social Media Credential Access

To monitor social media, Bark requires login credentials for children's accounts. This creates security risks and means Bark has ongoing access to platforms where children communicate.

Data Retention Uncertainty

The policy doesn't clearly state how long children's communications are retained. Years of message archives could exist long after monitoring stops, with unclear deletion timelines.

Positive Aspects

Limited Parent Access

Parents only see flagged content, not everything. This provides some privacy for children while still enabling safety monitoring for concerning content.

Safety-Focused Mission

Data collection is framed around child safety rather than advertising. No indication of selling data for marketing purposes.