CNN Terms Scorecard

Grade F — Predatory terms (score 41/100)

CNN forces binding arbitration and class action waivers, and claims a perpetual, irrevocable license to all user-generated content.

Forced arbitration, class waiver, and perpetual content license.

Terms at a glance

Sells your data
NO
Forced arbitration
YES
Trains AI on your content
LIKELY
Collects biometric data
UNCLEAR
Shares data with government
YES
Easy to cancel
YES
Tells you before changes
NO
Deletes data on request
UNCLEAR

What the terms actually say

Section 13 — Arbitration Agreement

Any arbitration under this Agreement will take place on an individual basis; class arbitrations and class actions are not permitted.

You waive your right to participate in class action lawsuits and must resolve disputes individually.

Section 2(D) — License to User Content

By submitting User Content to the Site, you automatically grant CNN... the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive right and license... to use, publish, reproduce, modify, adapt, edit, translate, create derivative works from... such User Content.

CNN claims a permanent, irrevocable license to use, modify, and exploit any content you post, without paying you.

Section 1(B) — Changes to Terms of Use

CNN may modify the Terms of Use... at any time, and such modifications... will be effective immediately upon posting.

CNN can change the rules at any time without notifying you; your continued use constitutes acceptance.

Section 2(B) — Community Guidelines

You also agree not to use any service, technology or automated system, including Artificial Intelligence, to post more User Content than an individual could upload in a given period of time.

The company restricts your use of AI tools while claiming broad rights to use your content for its own purposes.

Section 7(D) — Limitation of Liability

IN NO EVENT SHALL WBD, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR... ANY DIRECT DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF (IN THE AGGREGATE) OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100).

The company limits its total financial liability to you to $100, regardless of the harm caused.

Section 6(E) — Your right to cancel

YOU CAN CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AT ANY TIME THROUGH YOUR ACCOUNT SETTINGS BY CLICKING “MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION”.

You have a clear, self-serve mechanism to cancel your subscription.

Last reviewed 2026-07-26 under rubric v3.5.

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