These are the provisions that have caused real harm to Meta users. Each represents a significant risk you should understand before relying on the platform.
Under the terms, you grant Meta a worldwide, royalty-free license to use, copy, modify, distribute, and create derivative works from your content. The license is described as transferable and sub-licensable. As I read that, it can reach third parties Meta works with, which is why the license breadth matters.
The terms provide that you grant Meta "a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, and worldwide license to host, use, distribute, modify, run, copy, publicly perform or display, translate, and create derivative works of your content."
Meta Terms of Service (content license / permission to use your content)
The terms let Meta act across its products when it finds a breach. As I read that language, a single violation can put access to Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Threads at risk on the same identity, and other Meta products tied to that identity may follow. In my framework's view, that cross-product reach is the most serious exposure here.
The terms provide that "if we determine that you have clearly, seriously or repeatedly breached our Terms or Policies ... we may suspend or permanently disable your access to" Meta's products.
Meta Terms of Service (account suspension and termination section)
Meta's privacy policy describes using information it collects to develop and train its AI technologies. As I read this, your public photos, posts, and comments fall within the categories that can be used to improve Meta's AI and other machine-learning systems.
The privacy policy states Meta may use information it collects "to develop, train, and improve our artificial intelligence technologies and models."
Meta Privacy Policy (how Meta uses information)
The Oversight Board hears only a narrow set of cases. For most account actions, the terms point users to Meta's own help and appeal channels rather than guaranteeing detailed reasons. As I read the appeal language, the outcome you receive is often a short notice without a specific explanation of what triggered it.
The terms direct users to Meta's help resources to "learn more about what happens if we disable your account and how to contact us if you think we disabled your account by mistake."
Meta Terms of Service (account suspension and termination section)
Meta's privacy policy describes collecting information about other websites and apps you use, including through its business tools. As I read this, that data can be combined into a behavioral profile even when you are not actively using a Meta app.
The privacy policy states Meta collects "information about the websites and apps you visit, your use of our services on those websites and apps, as well as information the developer or publisher of the app or website provides to you or us."
Meta Privacy Policy (information Meta collects)
Under the terms, the content license ends when your content is deleted from Meta's systems, but content you shared with others can remain if they have not deleted it. As I read this, anything widely reshared can effectively outlive your own deletion.
The terms state: "This license will end when your content is deleted from our systems. However, content you delete may continue to appear if you have shared it with others and they have not deleted it."
Meta Terms of Service (content license / deletion)
As I read the terms, Meta reserves broad rights to remove or restrict access to content, which can reduce the visibility of a post without a separate notice. "Shadowbanning" as such is not a defined term in the agreement; the distribution-control rights are what enable reduced reach.
The terms state Meta "can also remove or restrict access to content, services or information if we determine that doing so is reasonably necessary to avoid or mitigate adverse legal or regulatory impacts to us."
Meta Terms of Service (removing or restricting content)
Meta has publicly described changes to its face-recognition features over time, but the privacy policy still describes broad collection of information from your content and connections. As I read the policy, it does not foreclose processing of data derived from photos for product features, so I treat biometric and image-derived data as an open question worth checking in the current policy.
The privacy policy describes collecting "information about the people, accounts, hashtags and Pages you are connected to and how you interact with them across our Products, such as people you communicate with the most."
Meta Privacy Policy (information from your connections)
The terms call for authentic names and accurate identity information, and Meta can request verification. As I read this, that requirement creates real exposure for activists, abuse survivors, and others with legitimate reasons to avoid using their legal name, because an authenticity flag can lead to a suspension.
The terms state that people "use their authentic names and identities on Facebook" and ask that "you'll provide your real name and accurate information about yourself."
Facebook Terms of Service (who can use Facebook)
Analysis