{
  "slug": "vlc-media-player",
  "category": "media-players",
  "name": "VLC Media Player",
  "description": "Cross-platform media player from the non-profit VideoLAN project that plays most audio and video formats, discs and network streams without extra codecs.",
  "website": "https://www.videolan.org/vlc",
  "source": "https://github.com/videolan/vlc",
  "license": "GPL-2.0",
  "platforms": [],
  "jurisdiction": {
    "code": "FR",
    "name": "France",
    "eyes": "Nine Eyes",
    "eu": true,
    "gdpr": true,
    "cloud_act": null
  },
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "D",
  "score": 50,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "VLC Media Player scores 50 out of 100 (grade D) on the media and podcast players criteria. It meets 2 of 4 criteria: open source and no ads or data sales. It does not meet no trackers or telemetry and independent audit. It is based in France: Nine Eyes member; EU member (GDPR).",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/media-players/vlc-media-player/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/media-players/vlc-media-player/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/videolan/vlc/blob/master/COPYING",
      "note": "GPL-2.0 and LGPL-2.1."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://www.videolan.org/privacy.html",
      "note": "VLC collects no telemetry, but the videolan.org website uses Google Analytics."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.videolan.org/contribute.html",
      "note": "Developed by the non-profit VideoLAN, funded by donations, with no ads."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No independent audit is published."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [
      {
        "name": "Google Analytics",
        "host": "inline code",
        "effect": "no"
      },
      {
        "name": "Google Tag Manager",
        "host": "www.googletagmanager.com",
        "effect": "no"
      }
    ],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T07:02:03.440Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T07:44:20Z"
}