You do not have to sign up for a Twitter account for certain services, such as searching and viewing public Twitter feeds, or watching a broadcast. Most activity on Twitter is considered public so you need to be careful with what you share.
Personal data collected
When you sign up for a Twitter account, you are required to share some personal information, such as a display name, username, password and email address or phone number. You can also sign up for multiple Twitter accounts if you so please, but you have to provide the same information again. Your profile information, time zone and language, account creation, tweets, version of Twitter, and application information are public. If you consent to it, your location may also be shared. People you follow and that follow you, tweets you like and retweet, lists you make, hearts given and received, broadcasts via Periscope you’ve viewed or made, being tagged on Twitter in a photo or tweet, and accounts you are a Superfan of will be public as well.
Personal data usage
Twitter uses data to:
- Combat fraud.
- Authenticate your account.
- Enable account features.
- Show ads relevant to your interests.
- Send notifications through email or mobile.
Cookies and similar tech
Twitter uses APIs and embeds to make your public information available to share with other websites, apps, and other third-parties such as displaying tweets on a news website. They also use cookies and similar technologies so you can use their services and so they can collect your device information.
Twitter account
When you log in to your Twitter account, they link that device with your account to protect you from fraud. They will also associate any other device or browser you use to log in. This way they can personalize ads for you depending on your device. Your settings from your account allow you to decide if Twitter can show you ads relevant to your interests, allow them to collect your location information, personalize your experience using their services, and track the websites you use that have Twitter content. You can read your personal data that advertisers and third-parties get on their website.
Data shared with Twitter
How to protect your privacy
You can protect your privacy on Twitter by using a fake “real” name instead of your real name. Also make sure your username is different from your real name. When you delete your account, Twitter updates everything that you have shared with this information. You can also:
- Protect your tweets so they remain only shared with friends.
- Not use the direct messages feature.
- Delete your Twitter account.
- Only use Twitter on your computer to protect your phone information.
- Disable cookies.
- Manage your user settings.
How to contact Twitter about your privacy
In America:
Twitter, Inc.
Attn: Privacy Policy Inquiry
1355 Market Street, Suite 900
San Francisco, CA 94103
Outside the US:
Twitter International Company
Attn: Data Protection Officer
One Cumberland Place, Fenian Street
Dublin 2, D02 AX07 IRELAND