PayPal Quietly Sells Private Transaction Data To Third-Party Companies In Privacy Policy Update

The following report is by Tech Radar:

As per PayPal’s policy updates page (issued on September 23 for US users), the service is set to exchange your data with third-party merchants “to help improve your shopping experience and make it more personalized for you.” Starting in early Summer 2025, the new policy will not just come at the detriment of your privacy – even if you’re using the best VPN apps – but PayPal will start gathering data as early as November 27, 2024.

Users appear to be opted in by default (see image below), which may be an issue under some privacy regulations like GDPR. After coming across some US-based accounts complaining about this on Twitter, I decided to check if that was the case also for people in the UK (where I’m based). When I accessed my privacy settings, the option was automatically toggled in.

It’s also important to bear in mind that the policy changes will not apply in the same ways across all jurisdictions and users. For instance, in the UK, the new data sharing is set to be enforced on October 10, 2024.

A policy update dated July 8 clarifies that, for the UK market, “merchants are permitted to share customer personal information provided to them by PayPal with their service providers.”

SEE: PayPal Joins Growing List Of Financial Firms Selling Your Private Transaction Data For Targeted Ad Network

I suggest checking your profile settings as soon as possible to reverse the change if you don’t wish your data to be shared.

Depending on where you’re based, you’ll find PayPal’s new data-sharing option under a different name. Remember, you may not see this at all if you’re based in a country that doesn’t allow it.

If you’re in the US, you should head to your profile Settings and tap on Data & privacy. Under Manage shared info, click on Personalized shopping. You should see the option enabled by default. Toggle off the button at the right to opt-out.

If you are in the UK like me, you’ll see something different after you head to your profile Settings and tap on Data & privacy. Under Manage your privacy settings, here you’ll see an Interest-based marketing tab – click on it. At this point, two options will appear: Interest-based marketing on PayPal and Internet-based marketing on your accounts. You have to tap on each of these and toggle off the button at the right to opt-out. These instructions can also apply if you’re based in the EU.

Read the rest of the report here.

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AUTHOR COMMENTARY

JP Morgan-Chase announced that they would be doing similarly earlier this year.

What else is new from PayPal? I’ve already covered some of their absurdities for years; and they have even censored The WP to boot.

Isaiah 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

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[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).

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