Is Instructure's Terms of Service safe?

Top concerning points

1. 1.

   Your identity is used in ads that are shown to other users

   blocker

   High

   Ads shown to other users may include a reference to you as an implied endorsement. Might give away information about your own personal lifestyle to strangers.

   Source quote / document
2. 2.

   The service can delete specific content without reason and may do it without prior notice

   blocker

   High

   This service can delete specific content. Usually they will claim they reserve the right to do it at their sole discretion, which is legalese for saying they won't give a specific reason. If the terms say they will not notify you, it shall be included in the quote but if it does not explicitly say they will give you a notice, it can be reasonably inferred that they can do it without telling you.

   Source quote / document
3. 3.

   The service uses social media cookies/pixels

   bad

   High

   These types of cookies/pixels send information to social media sites when you interact with the service.

   Source quote / document
4. 4.

   This service uses third-party cookies for statistics

   bad

   High

   For instance, Google Analytics, rather than self-hosted (first-party) statistics software.

   Source quote / document
5. 5.

   This service can license user content to third parties

   bad

   High

   By posting content through the Services, users grant them a transferable and/or sublicensable right, which allows user content to be licensed to third parties.

   Source quote / document
6. 6.

   This service reserves the right to disclose your personal information without notifying you

   bad

   High

   If the Government governing the Terms requests personal data of a user of this service, they may not inform/notify the user while complying with the request.

   Source quote / document
7. 7.

   The service uses your personal data to employ targeted third-party advertising

   bad

   High

   Your Personal Information is traded and shared with advertising companies to target ads on you, either on the website you were visiting or in third party websites. Your interaction with the service and data you have shared with them may be gathered to create an advertising ID or profile.

   Source quote / document
8. 8.

   This service may use your personal information for marketing purposes

   bad

   High

   The service may use your personal data for marketing, such as sending you personalised offerings.

   Source quote / document

Frequently asked questions

What is Instructure's ToS;DR privacy grade?

ToS;DR rates Instructure as Grade E. Grades range from A (best) to E (worst). See the full breakdown on ToS;DR.

Is Instructure's Terms of Service safe?

ToS;DR's Grade E means the terms raise serious concerns. Read the blocker and bad points carefully before accepting.

What is a top concern in Instructure's terms?

Your identity is used in ads that are shown to other users — Ads shown to other users may include a reference to you as an implied endorsement. Might give away information about your own personal lifestyle to strangers. (Source: ToS;DR approved point).

Where can I read Instructure's official terms?

ToS;DR tracks "Marketing Privacy Policy" at https://www.instructure.com/policies/marketing-privacy. Always prefer the official document over summaries.