October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsPC HealthRecommendedCrashes, freezes, slowdowns? Check your PC nowSpot repairable issues before they interrupt work.Check PCOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
The Finance Base
data sharing

PayPal May Share Shopping Insights With Merchants—What the Policy Actually Says

PayPal may share selected shopping insights with participating merchants for personalization. Here is what the U.S. policy covers, who may receive it and how to turn the setting off.

By TheFinanceBase Team 5 min read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

PayPal’s U.S. Privacy Statement allows it to disclose selected shopping-related information to participating partners and merchants for “personalized shopping experiences.” The categories include customer insights, product recommendations, sizes, preferences and styles PayPal thinks a customer may like. The policy covers information collected after November 27, 2024, subject to legal-consent requirements and the customer’s ability to opt out in PayPal’s Data and Privacy settings.

This is not a statement that every merchant receives a complete PayPal purchase history, payment credentials or full financial record. It is a separate personalization data flow in addition to information PayPal must disclose to process a transaction.

What PayPal’s policy permits

The current U.S. Privacy Statement, last updated February 13, 2025, says PayPal may disclose information collected after November 27, 2024, to participating partners and merchants to make shopping more personalized. The examples PayPal gives include:

  • Customer insights
  • Product recommendations
  • Product sizes
  • Shopping preferences
  • Styles PayPal believes a customer may like
  • Fastlane profile information when a customer interacts with participating merchants through Fastlane

The policy does not say that all merchants receive all PayPal activity. It describes participating businesses and a defined purpose: personalization. Information disclosed to a merchant or its service providers then becomes subject to that merchant’s own privacy and security policies. PayPal says it is not responsible for those practices.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Sale
Square Reader for contactless and chip (2nd Generation)
  • Use the, easy-to-use, and customizable POS to get started.
  • Accept contactless payments, chip cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay from anywhere, with improved connectivity, extended battery life, and enhanced security. Pay one low rate for every tap or dip.
  • No long-term commitments or contracts, no monthly fees- and with offline payments, keep taking payments for up to 24 hours.
  • Safely and securely accepts payments anywhere. Plus, get data security, 24/7 fraud prevention, and payment-dispute management at no extra cost.
  • Use the, easy-to-use, and customizable POS to get started.

PayPal also says it may associate information from services such as Honey with transaction and usage experiences to personalize content and offers and improve its services. Honey has a separate U.S. privacy statement, so its controls should not be assumed to be identical to the main PayPal account setting.

Is PayPal selling your data?

PayPal says it does not sell personal information to third parties for money and does not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising. Those statements use PayPal’s legal and policy definitions; they do not mean that no shopping-related information can be provided to merchants.

“Sale,” targeted advertising, personalization and disclosures made under state privacy laws are not interchangeable terms. The policy describes sharing shopping insights and recommendations with participating merchants while denying a sale of personal information for money. Whether a particular practice is regulated differently can depend on the state, the data involved and the purpose.

Rank #2
Square Reader for magstripe (USB-C)
  • Get your money as soon as the next business day.
  • Get set up quickly with no long-term commitments. Download the Square Point of Sale app for free, create an account, and start taking payments anywhere.
  • Run your business all in one place with the free Square Point of Sale app. Track your sales, manage inventory, accept tips, send receipts digitally, and more.
  • Works with Apple devices with a Lightning connector.

The available policy does not establish that PayPal unlawfully concealed the change. It shows that the company put the permission in a privacy-policy update rather than presenting it as a major product launch.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Three different data flows

Data flow Why it happens Does the personalization opt-out stop it?
Transaction-required disclosure Payment processing, receipts, refunds, customer support, fraud prevention, dispute handling, service operation and legal compliance No
Optional shopping personalization Recommendations, inferred preferences, sizes, styles and customer insights for participating merchants and partners Yes, for this stated purpose
Product-specific processing Services such as Fastlane, Honey and other PayPal offerings may have additional or separate rules Not necessarily; check the product’s controls and statement

PayPal’s Privacy Center says it does not share a customer’s full financial information with the businesses or people the customer pays. A merchant can still receive information needed to complete a purchase or provide the purchased service.

Who is covered and when?

The policy distinguishes accounts opened before and after November 27, 2024. For existing customers, the described permission concerns information collected after that date unless the customer opts out or applicable law requires consent. Information collected earlier may be used for this purpose if the customer affirmatively consents through the relevant settings. Accounts opened after November 27, 2024 may have information associated with the account used for personalization.

Rank #3
Square Terminal - Credit Card Machine to Accept All Payments | Mobile POS
  • With Square Terminal, you can ring up sales, accept payments, and print receipts, all with one device. Use it at the counter or ring up customers anywhere in your store.
  • Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one low rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts.
  • Process chip cards in just two seconds.
  • Get your money as soon as the next business day.
  • Use it cordlessly with the built-in battery, designed to last all day.

These are U.S. policy terms. Consent rules and privacy rights vary by state, and PayPal’s statement contains jurisdictional and service-specific qualifications. It should not be treated as a worldwide rule or as proof that every participating merchant receives the same fields.

How to turn off personalized-shopping sharing

  1. Sign in to your PayPal account.
  2. Open Data and Privacy settings.
  3. Find the preference concerning sharing information with partners and merchants for personalized shopping experiences.
  4. Switch the preference off.
  5. Save or confirm the change if PayPal presents a confirmation control.

PayPal can change labels and layouts between its website, app, account types and regions. The path above reflects the route described in the U.S. Privacy Statement, not a guarantee that every screen will use identical wording.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Customers who paid as guests, closed an account or paid a merchant that used PayPal to process a payment may need PayPal’s Privacy Center rather than ordinary account settings. The center also provides privacy-management and data-request options for eligible situations.

Rank #4
Square Reader for magstripe (with Lightning connector)
  • Pay one transparent rate per swipe for Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.
  • Works in conjunction with most downloadable Square point-of-sale apps on your device. Customers can pay, tip and sign directly on your device. Track payments in cash, gift cards and more. Also lets you send receipts via e-mail or text message, makes it easy to apply discounts, keeps a data and sales history log and more.
  • Accepts magstripe credit card payments, including those from Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express (fees apply).
  • App sends deposits to your bank account within 1 to 2 business days, or enjoy instant deposits (fees apply).
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What opting out does—and does not—do

It stops the defined personalization use

PayPal says the opt-out stops disclosures to partners and merchants for personalized shopping experiences. That covers the recommendation, preference, style, size and insight sharing described in the policy.

It does not stop necessary transaction disclosures

PayPal can continue sharing information required to process a transaction initiated by the customer, prevent fraud, manage risk, resolve disputes, issue receipts or refunds, operate the service, use supporting service providers and comply with law.

It does not erase a merchant’s existing data

Turning off the PayPal setting cannot remove information a merchant already collected directly, received to process an earlier transaction or retained under its own policy. A merchant can also collect information through its website, app, cookies, loyalty program or advertising partners.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Best Value
Protective Bumper Case for PayPal Card Reader (Black)
  • COMPATIBILITY: Custom-designed protective case specifically made to fit PayPal card reader devices securely
  • PROTECTION: Durable bumper design shields against drops, scratches, and daily wear while maintaining full device functionality
  • ACCESS: Precisely cut openings ensure unrestricted access to all ports, buttons, and card slot without removing the case
  • GRIP ENHANCEMENT: Textured exterior surface provides improved handling and prevents slipping during transactions
  • PORTABLE DESIGN: Lightweight and slim profile allows for easy storage in pockets or bags while maintaining complete protection

It may not control every PayPal service

Fastlane, Honey, Venmo and other affiliated services can have separate or excluded treatment. Review the relevant product statement and settings rather than assuming one PayPal preference governs all services.

Why Global Privacy Control is not the answer

PayPal says it does not respond to the Global Privacy Control (GPC) browser signal because it does not sell or share data as those terms apply to cross-context behavioral advertising under its interpretation. GPC therefore is not a substitute for changing the PayPal account preference. Anyone seeking to stop the personalized-shopping disclosures should use the account-level setting.

Where Honey and Fastlane fit

Fastlane can involve disclosure of Fastlane profile information when a customer interacts with a participating merchant. That is a product-specific checkout experience, not proof that every PayPal merchant receives a customer’s complete account history.

Honey’s separate U.S. Privacy Statement, last updated October 1, 2025, covers its website, apps, browser extensions and rewards services. It describes controls for certain sharing and communications, as well as opting out of the rewards program or deleting an account. PayPal’s September 30, 2025 announcement also described Honey as supporting personalized offers and advertising based on cross-merchant transaction data. That commercial description provides context, but Honey’s controls should be handled under Honey’s own statement and account options.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Who should review the setting?

  • Customers who use PayPal at many unrelated retailers
  • People who do not want inferred sizes, styles or shopping interests leaving the PayPal ecosystem
  • Users of Honey or Fastlane who want to understand product-specific data flows
  • Residents of states with stronger rights concerning sale, sharing, targeted advertising or sensitive data
  • Guest users who need to use the Privacy Center instead of an account dashboard

What to check after opting out

  1. Confirm the preference shows as off, if PayPal provides a status indicator.
  2. Review Honey, Fastlane or other relevant product settings separately.
  3. Read the privacy notice for merchants where you shop; their collection and retention continue independently.
  4. Do not expect the change to revoke data already supplied for completed transactions.

The Bottom Line

PayPal’s U.S. policy permits a defined form of personalization sharing with participating merchants, including shopping insights, recommendations, sizes, preferences and styles. You can turn off that use in Account → Data and Privacy, but the setting does not block information needed for payments, fraud prevention, legal compliance or other operations, and it cannot erase data already held by merchants.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
Square Reader for contactless and chip (2nd Generation)
Square Reader for contactless and chip (2nd Generation)
Use the, easy-to-use, and customizable POS to get started.; Use the, easy-to-use, and customizable POS to get started.
$48.99
Bestseller No. 2
Square Reader for magstripe (USB-C)
Square Reader for magstripe (USB-C)
Get your money as soon as the next business day.; Works with Apple devices with a Lightning connector.
$9.88
Bestseller No. 3
Square Terminal - Credit Card Machine to Accept All Payments | Mobile POS
Square Terminal - Credit Card Machine to Accept All Payments | Mobile POS
Process chip cards in just two seconds.; Get your money as soon as the next business day.; Use it cordlessly with the built-in battery, designed to last all day.
$298.99
Bestseller No. 4
Square Reader for magstripe (with Lightning connector)
Square Reader for magstripe (with Lightning connector)
Pay one transparent rate per swipe for Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.
$9.88

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More from the Money Desk

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.