How event invitations work for people who are off Facebook

Meta Platforms, Inc. ("Meta", "we","our" or "us") processes your mobile phone number and/or your email address if you're invited to a Facebook event through an email or text message (SMS). We process this information even if you aren't a user of Facebook and/or don't have an account with us (a "non-user").
About off-Facebook invitations and how they work
The host of a Facebook event can send invitations to guests even if they're a non-user, by contacting them using their email address or phone number.
If you don't have a Facebook account, we'll send a link to the event invitation to your email address or phone number. You can use that link to respond to the event or opt out.
  • If you respond that you're going or may be going, we'll use the same contact information to send you event updates (e.g. time or location change).
  • There are different ways you can opt out:
    • Unsubscribe from the event: We will stop sending you updates about the event.
    • Block the host: The host will not be able to invite you to any of their future events.
    • Block Facebook events: We will not send any event invitations to that email address or phone number.
You can also create a Facebook account and log in to respond to the event. The name that you use for your account is how you'll appear to other guests. With an account, you'll have full access to the event which means that you'll be able to see who is going, see and participate in event discussions, and post and view photos or videos of the event.
What information is collected about non-users?
Event hosts can provide the mobile phone number and/or email address of non-users. If you choose to attend an event as a non-user, we will also save your RSVP status.
How do we use a non-user's information?
If a non-user responds as Going or Maybe to a Facebook event, we use their information to communicate changes about the event and to inform the host about RSVPs. Hosts may also use the guest lists of events to extend invitations to other events. This information will not be shared outside of this use case, and a non-user can delete their information or block the inviter at any time.
We will retain non-users' contact information until 180 days after the end of the event or until a non-user requests us to delete their information, as described below.
How we transfer information
We may share the information we collect globally, both internally across our offices and data centres, and externally with our partners, service providers and vendors. As Meta is global, with users, partners and employees around the world, transfers are necessary for a variety of reasons, including so we can operate and provide the services described here.
Non-user information will be transferred or transmitted to, or stored and processed in:
  • Places we have infrastructure or data centres, including the United States, Ireland, Denmark and Sweden, amongst others
  • Countries where Meta Products are available
  • Other countries where our partners, service providers and vendors are located outside the country where you live, for purposes as described here.
We rely on appropriate mechanisms for international data transfers. For example, for information we collect:
  • We utilise standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission and by other relevant authorities.
  • We rely on determinations from the European Commission, and from other relevant authorities, about whether other countries have adequate levels of data protection.
  • We use equivalent mechanisms under applicable laws that apply to data transfers to the United States and other relevant countries.
How non-users can exercise their rights
We provide non-users with the ability to exercise their rights under applicable laws. To exercise your rights, contact us using the contact information below.
You can also see if we have your contact information and request that we delete it from our address database.
We hope that we can satisfy any queries a non-user may have about the way in which we process their personal information. In some countries, you may also be able to contact the data protection officer for Meta Platforms, Inc. or Meta Platforms Ireland Limited if you are in the European Union. Depending on your jurisdiction, you may also contact your local data protection authority ("DPA") directly.
Learn more about how privacy works on Facebook, Instagram and in the Facebook Help Centre.
Privacy notice for United States residents
You can learn more about the consumer privacy rights that may be available to you by reviewing the United States Regional Privacy Notice.
Contact us
If you have questions about this notice, or have questions, complaints or requests regarding your information, please use this form.
Alternatively, if you don't have access to the form, you can also write to us at the following address:
Meta Platforms, Inc.
FAO: Privacy operations
1601 Willow Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025, US
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