PayPal using your data to boost its ad business

May 30, 2024

By Kim Komando

Well, well, well … What do we have here? Another tech giant selling your data to make a buck? Shocking, I know.

This time, it’s PayPal. Through the new PayPal Ads network, the company plans to tap into customer transactions to supercharge targeted ads. This feels pretty darn gross if you’re using it to run a business, buy things you don’t necessarily want filling up your ad feed, or know that data being sold to who-knows-who for who-knows-why.

Let’s dive into what PayPal’s up to and how to protect your privacy.

Sorry, (Pay)Pal

PayPal is one of the most popular payment-processing apps out there. And through the PayPal Ads service, businesses can pay to access “the information PayPal knows about people” to target exactly who they want.

The tool allows them to push out discounts and promotions to users based on their spending history. Talk about invasive.

That’s right, companies will be able to pay for data about your PayPal account, including your purchase history. I don’t like the sound of that, and I bet you don’t, either.

Smart steps

You can’t just opt out. Believe me, I looked. The only way to tell PayPal to erase your data is to close your account entirely. Follow these steps to submit a PayPal “erasure request.”

• Log in to your PayPal account, and click the Settings icon.
• Select Data & Privacy > Delete your data and close account.
• Follow the on-screen prompts. Finish the process by completing the security check. You’ll receive a confirmation email.

It’s worth noting there’s some shady language in the request process. For instance, PayPal says personal info will be erased “after the required retention period has expired.”

When is that? Retention periods vary based on federal, state and local laws, so it’s as clear as mud. You might be looking at years, though.

💸 Bottom line: I can’t stand when companies take what once was protected info and sell it to anyone willing to pay. If you use PayPal, really consider whether this intrusion is worth it to you.

Speaking of, why can’t the Vatican accept Visa or Mastercard? Because it’s a Papal state. (Oof, sorry … That one even made me groan.)