# FaceTime privacy rating

Apple's audio and video calling app built into iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro, supporting group calls and call links that others can join from a web browser.

## Summary

FaceTime scores 47 out of 100 (grade D) on the video calls criteria. It meets 2 of 7 criteria: no ads or data sales and end-to-end encrypted. It partly meets no trackers or telemetry and join without an account. It does not meet open source, independent audit and self-hostable. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.

- Website: https://support.apple.com/facetime
- Jurisdiction: United States. Five Eyes member. Subject to the US CLOUD Act.
- Platforms: macOS, iOS
- Home page trackers: none found
- Category: [Video calls](https://privacyratings.com/video-calls/)
- Also rated: [iCloud Mail](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/icloud-mail/) (Email providers), [Hide My Email](https://privacyratings.com/email-forwarding/hide-my-email/) (Email forwarding and aliases), [Apple Mail](https://privacyratings.com/email-clients/apple-mail/) (Email clients), [Safari](https://privacyratings.com/browsers/safari/) (Browsers), [Apple App Store](https://privacyratings.com/app-stores/apple-app-store/) (App stores), [Apple Passwords](https://privacyratings.com/password-managers/apple-passwords/) (Password managers), [FileVault](https://privacyratings.com/file-encryption/filevault/) (File encryption), [iMessage](https://privacyratings.com/messengers/imessage/) (Messengers), [iOS](https://privacyratings.com/mobile-operating-systems/ios/) (Mobile operating systems), [macOS](https://privacyratings.com/desktop-operating-systems/macos/) (Desktop operating systems), [Spotlight](https://privacyratings.com/launchers/spotlight/) (App launchers), [Apple Notes](https://privacyratings.com/notes/apple-notes/) (Notes), [Apple Journal](https://privacyratings.com/journaling/apple-journal/) (Journaling apps), [Apple iWork](https://privacyratings.com/office-suites/apple-iwork/) (Office suites), [QuickTime Player](https://privacyratings.com/screen-recording/quicktime-player/) (Screenshots and screen recording), [Apple Books](https://privacyratings.com/ebook-readers/apple-books/) (Ebook readers), [Apple Dictation](https://privacyratings.com/speech-to-text/apple-dictation/) (Dictation and transcription), [iCloud Drive](https://privacyratings.com/cloud-storage/icloud-drive/) (Encrypted cloud storage), [Apple Maps](https://privacyratings.com/maps/apple-maps/) (Maps and navigation), [SwiftUI](https://privacyratings.com/app-frameworks/swiftui/) (Cross-platform app frameworks), [Apple Home](https://privacyratings.com/smart-home/apple-home/) (Smart home), [Apple Watch](https://privacyratings.com/wearables/apple-watch/) (Wearables and health), [Apple Health Cycle Tracking](https://privacyratings.com/period-trackers/apple-health-cycle-tracking/) (Period trackers), [Apple Music](https://privacyratings.com/music-streaming/apple-music/) (Music streaming), [iCloud Photos](https://privacyratings.com/photo-management/icloud-photos/) (Photo management)
- Grade: D (47/100)

## Criteria

| Criterion | Answer | Note | Evidence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open source | No | Closed source. |  |
| No trackers or telemetry | Partial | No third-party trackers in the app, and sharing device analytics with Apple is opt-in. Apple web pages load Apple's own analytics (ac-analytics, sent to metrics.apple.com) by default. | https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/en/device-analytics/ |
| No ads or data sales | Yes | No ads in FaceTime. Apple states it does not sell personal data. | https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/ |
| Independent audit | No | No independent audit is published. |  |
| End-to-end encrypted | Yes | One-to-one and Group FaceTime calls are end-to-end encrypted. | https://support.apple.com/guide/security/facetime-security-seca331c55cd/web |
| Join without an account | Partial | People with a FaceTime link can join from a web browser without an Apple Account; the person creating the link needs an Apple device and account. | https://support.apple.com/en-us/109364 |
| Self-hostable | No | Hosted only. |  |

Source: https://privacyratings.com/video-calls/facetime/
Edit: https://github.com/privacyratings/privacyratings.com/edit/main/ratings/video-calls/facetime.md