Is Snapchat ethical?

What Choice found

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1–10 of 33

Privacy & surveillance Confirmed Against

Snap sells user data for advertising

Snap sells user data for advertising as permitted by its Terms of Service.

1 sourceRead sources
courthousenews.com
Snap Terms of Service permit Snap to use content submitted by users for any purpose, including revenue generating purposes, and acknowledge Snap leverages the collection of user data to sell advertising.

Corporate conduct Confirmed Against

Snap withholds electronic communication contents

Snap withheld the contents of electronic communications.

1 sourceRead sources
reason.com
Snap withheld the contents of electronic communications, however.

Workplace equity Settlement Against

Snap Inc. reached a $15 million settlement with California’s Civil Rights Department to resolve allegations of sexual harassment

Snap Inc. and California’s Civil Rights Department have reached a $15-million settlement to resolve allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation at the Santa Monica-based company.

1 sourceRead sources
latimes.com
Snap Inc. and California’s Civil Rights Department have reached a $15-million settlement to resolve allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation at the Santa Monica-based company.

Workplace equity Proposed settlement Against

Snap Inc. reached a $15 million settlement agreement with the California Civil Rights Department over allegations of sex-based employment discrimination

The proposed settlement involving Snap Inc. concerns women at the company.

4 sourcesRead sources
calcivilrights.ca.gov
Founded in 2011, Snap Inc., which is based in Santa Monica, California, underwent a period of rapid growth, increasing its employee count from 250 in 2015 to over 5,000 in 2022.
calcivilrights.ca.gov
Women are entitled to equality in every job, in every workplace, and in every industry.” The settlement announced today resolves a more than three-year investigation into Snap Inc. over claims of employment discrimination, equal pay violations, and sexual harassment and retaliation.
SACRAMENTO – The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) today announced obtaining a $15 million settlement agreement with Snap Inc. — known for the Snapchat social media platform — over alleged discrimination, harassment, and retaliation against women at the company.
Founded in 2011, Snap Inc., which is based in Santa Monica, California, underwent a period of rapid growth, increasing its employee count from 250 in 2015 to over 5,000 in 2022.
latimes.com
Snap to pay $15 million in discrimination and harassment settlement - Los Angeles Times
sfchronicle.com
The settlement, which must be approved by the court, stems from a three-year investigation into claims of equal pay violations, sexual harassment, employment discrimination and retaliation at Snap Inc.
Women who worked at Snap in California between 2014 and 2024 may be eligible for a share of $14.5 million in monetary compensation from the settlement.

Ukraine & Russia Confirmed You decide

Snapchat donates $15 million to Ukraine

Snapchat donates $15 million in humanitarian aid to support Ukraine.

1 sourceRead sources
africa.businessinsider.com
Ukraine is home to 300 Snapchat employees. The company stated that it will continue to offer its app in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus as it's an "important communication tool," for family and friends. It said that it will, however, continue to "vigilantly" monitor platforms to prevent and remove any misinformation or misuse. It has also pledged $15 million in humanitarian aid to support organizations providing relief to people in Ukraine and has also provided emergency assistance to ensure the safe relocation of team members.
Snapchat joins other Big Tech companies in banning ad sales to Russia — and will donate $15 million in humanitarian aid to support Ukraine | Business Insider Africa

Workplace equity Allegation Against

Snap accused of promoting male friends over qualified women

Snap is accused of promoting male friends over qualified women in hiring decisions.

1 sourceRead sources
calcivilrights.ca.gov
Women at Snap reported that male managers promoted their less qualified male friends despite the candidacy of more qualified women.
COMPLAINT FOR

Corporate conduct Allegation Against

Snapchat faces legal battle in New Mexico over child exploitation allegations

Snapchat is accused of facing a legal battle in New Mexico over child exploitation allegations.

1 sourceRead sources
business-humanrights.org
"Snapchat faces legal battle in New Mexico over child exploitation allegations", July 28, 2025
New Mexico sues Snap Inc. over alleged child exploitation on Snapchat - Business and Human Rights Centre

Reproductive care Confirmed You decide

Snap covers employee travel for abortion care

Snap supports access to abortion care by covering travel expenses for employees in states where abortion is banned.

1 sourceRead sources
africa.businessinsider.com
"Snap remains committed to supporting access to important health care benefits for our team members, and have worked closely with our benefit providers to cover travel for team members seeking medical treatments, including abortion banned in their state of residence.

Corporate conduct Allegation Against

Snapchat is accused of misleading users on snap duration

Snapchat is accused of misleading users by claiming senders control snap viewing duration when in fact recipients control it.

2 sourcesRead sources
search.ftc.gov
It prohibits Snapchat from misrepresenting: (1) the extent to which a message is deleted after being viewed; (2) the extent to which it can detect and notify senders when recipients have captured screenshots; (3) the categories of covered information collected; and (4) the steps it takes to protect against misuse or unauthorized disclosure of covered information.
As alleged in the complaint , Snapchat was warned by a security researcher about this possibility, yet the company continued to misrepre sent that the sender controls how long a recipient can view a snap.
ftc.gov
As alleged in the complaint , Snapchat was warned by a security researcher about this possibility, yet the company continued to misrepre sent that the sender controls how long a recipient can view a snap.
It prohibits Snapchat from misrepresenting: (1) the extent to which a message is deleted after being viewed; (2) the extent to which it can detect and notify senders when recipients have captured screenshots; (3) the categories of covered information collected; and (4) the steps it takes to protect against misuse or unauthorized disclosure of covered information.

Corporate conduct Confirmed Against

Snap explores EU pilot age verification

Snap is exploring an EU pilot age verification system to help meet Digital Services Act obligations without sharing personal data.

1 sourceRead sources
business-humanrights.org
Reportedly Snap has cooperated with the investigation and is exploring an EU pilot age verification system that lets users prove they are over 18 without sharing personal data, which could help meet obligations under the Digital Services Act.