Is Facebook Safe?
An independent privacy and security review of facebook.com. All claims sourced from official privacy policies, regulatory actions, and credible research.
Facebook (Meta) collects extensive personal data including posts, messages, contacts, location, and browsing activity across millions of third-party websites via the Meta Pixel. A 2024 Consumer Reports study found that an average of 2,230 companies shared data about each participant with Facebook. In 2024, Meta paid $1.4 billion to Texas for collecting facial and biometric data without proper consent. In mid-2025, a Washington Post investigation revealed that Meta's apps were siphoning data through an undisclosed channel on Android devices.
📊 What Facebook Collects About You
Based on Facebook's privacy policy (2024 (Meta Privacy Policy)):
🔍 Tracking & Third-Party Data Sharing
Meta operates one of the most pervasive cross-site tracking networks. The Meta Pixel is installed on millions of websites, allowing Facebook to track your browsing even when you're not on Facebook. The EFF has documented that Meta tracks users across the web and even collects data from people who don't have Facebook accounts.
- The Meta Pixel tracks user behavior on millions of third-party websites, sending data back to Meta for ad targeting
- Meta tracks even users who do not have a Facebook account via embedded Like buttons, Share widgets, and the Pixel
- A Consumer Reports study found an average of 2,230 companies per participant shared data with Facebook
- In June 2025, the Washington Post reported that Meta's apps on Android were siphoning data through an undisclosed back door for months, unknown even to Google
🔓 Breach History
Facebook has experienced multiple major data breaches and privacy scandals, including the Cambridge Analytica scandal affecting 87 million users.
⚖️ Regulatory Actions & Fines
⚠️ Key Privacy Risks Specific to Facebook
🛠️ Privacy Controls Available
Meta provides some privacy controls, but critics note they are buried in complex settings menus and defaults favor maximum data collection.
- Off-Facebook Activity: View and clear data from third-party sites (does not stop future collection)
- Download Your Information: Export your data
- Account deletion: Available but with a 30-day grace period
- Ad preferences: Limited ability to control what data is used for ads
- Privacy Checkup: Guided walkthrough of settings
- Limited ability to truly opt out of Meta Pixel tracking across the web
🛡️ How to Protect Your Privacy on Facebook
1. Use a VPN — Hides your IP address and encrypts your connection, preventing Facebook from linking your activity to your real location and ISP.
2. Use a privacy browser — Firefox with strict tracking protection or Brave blocks many third-party trackers. Consider browser extensions like Privacy Badger (EFF) or uBlock Origin.
3. Check your browser fingerprint — See how uniquely identifiable you are with our Browser Fingerprint Test.
4. Check for breaches — See if your accounts have been compromised with our Email Breach Checker.
5. Review your settings — Tighten Facebook's privacy settings and disable data collection where possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Facebook safe to use in 2026?
Facebook is a legitimate service used by millions, but its data collection practices raise privacy concerns. Our analysis rates its privacy risk as "very high" based on data collection scope, tracking practices, breach history, and regulatory actions. Whether it's "safe" depends on your personal comfort with data exposure.
Does Facebook sell my data?
Most major services claim they don't "sell" data in the traditional sense. However, they may share data with advertising partners, use it for targeted advertising, or monetize it through data-driven ad platforms. The functional result for users is often similar whether data is technically "sold" or used for ad targeting.
How do I delete my Facebook data?
Most services offer a data download and deletion option in their account settings, typically under "Privacy" or "Your Data." Under GDPR (EU), you have the legal right to request full data deletion. In the US, some states (California, Virginia, Colorado, and others) offer similar rights. Check Facebook's privacy settings for data download and account deletion options.
When was this review last updated?
This review was last verified on 2026-02-16. We check the privacy policy at https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/ and update our review when significant changes occur. See our methodology page for details on our review process.
📎 Sources
- Facebook Privacy Policy (effective 2024 (Meta Privacy Policy))
- EFF — 'Don't Let Meta Collect and Monetize Your Data' (2025)
- Washington Post — 'Meta found a new way to violate your privacy' (June 2025)
- Consumer Reports study on data sharing with Facebook
- FTC fined Facebook $5 billion — the largest privacy fine in history at the time — for the Cambridge Analytica scandal and privacy violations — FTC.gov (2019)
- Irish DPC fined Meta €405 million for Instagram's handling of children's data — Irish DPC (2022)
- Irish DPC fined Meta €1.2 billion for transferring EU user data to the US without adequate safeguards — Irish DPC, record GDPR fine (2023)
- Meta paid $1.4 billion to Texas to settle claims of collecting facial and biometric data without proper user consent — Texas Attorney General (2024)
- A jury found Facebook liable for violating the privacy of users of the Flo health app by receiving sensitive health data without informed consent — Wikipedia — Privacy concerns with Facebook (2025)