# VLC Media Player privacy rating

Cross-platform media player from the non-profit VideoLAN project that plays most audio and video formats, discs and network streams without extra codecs.

## 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).

- Website: https://www.videolan.org/vlc
- Source code: https://github.com/videolan/vlc
- License: GPL-2.0
- Jurisdiction: France. Nine Eyes member. EU member (GDPR).
- Home page trackers: Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager
- Category: [Media and podcast players](https://privacyratings.com/media-players/)
- Grade: D (50/100)

## Criteria

| Criterion | Answer | Note | Evidence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open source | Yes | GPL-2.0 and LGPL-2.1. | https://github.com/videolan/vlc/blob/master/COPYING |
| No trackers or telemetry | No | VLC collects no telemetry, but the videolan.org website uses Google Analytics. | https://www.videolan.org/privacy.html |
| No ads or data sales | Yes | Developed by the non-profit VideoLAN, funded by donations, with no ads. | https://www.videolan.org/contribute.html |
| Independent audit | No | No independent audit is published. |  |

Source: https://privacyratings.com/media-players/vlc-media-player/
Edit: https://github.com/privacyratings/privacyratings.com/edit/main/ratings/media-players/vlc-media-player.md