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Meta Muse did not beat every competitor in Surfshark’s comparison. In an App Store snapshot collected September 22, 2026, Muse disclosed 31 of 35 data types; Meta AI disclosed 33. Surfshark published its findings on September 28, 2026. The figures describe App Store privacy labels, not a direct measurement of what each user’s device actually transmitted.
What does Meta Muse collect?
Surfshark counted 31 of 35 data types disclosed for Meta Muse in its September 22, 2026 App Store snapshot. The report compared 12 leading AI chatbots identified by Zapier, plus Meta Muse, across 35 data types in 16 categories. It considered the number of types listed, stated purposes for processing, and whether tracking was disclosed. These are developer-provided App Store disclosures, not a network-traffic test of every user’s experience. Surfshark’s September 28, 2026 report presents the results.
Surfshark says Muse interactions are used for AI training by default, with an opt-out in the app settings. The Meta policy page cited by Surfshark required a login, so that specific training and opt-out description is attributed to Surfshark rather than independently verified policy text.
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Does Meta Muse collect more data than its competitors?
No. Muse ranks near the top of Surfshark’s count, but Meta AI is ahead. The figures below are Surfshark’s counts of disclosed data types in its dated App Store snapshot, not measures of how much data each service actually receives from a particular person.
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| App | Disclosed data types |
|---|---|
| Meta AI | 33 of 35 (Surfshark, 2026) |
| Meta Muse | 31 of 35 (Surfshark, 2026) |
| Google Gemini | 24 of 35 (Surfshark, 2026) |
| ChatGPT | 17 of 35 (Surfshark, 2026) |
| DeepSeek | 14 of 35 (Surfshark, 2026) |
| Duck.ai | 6 data types; none linked to users (Surfshark, 2026) |
| Pi | 3 data types (Surfshark, 2026) |
| Average across reviewed chatbot apps | 13 of 35 (Surfshark, 2026) |
Surfshark’s report says Meta has the most extensive user-data collection practices in its comparison. That finding needs the same context as the table: Meta AI leads at 33 types and Muse follows at 31. A larger disclosure count does not by itself establish that an app is less secure, that every listed type came from a given user, or that its privacy controls are weaker.
What the App Store privacy labels do—and do not—show
Apple says App Store privacy details identify some types of data an app may collect, whether those types are linked to a user, and whether data are used for tracking. Apple defines “collected” as data transmitted off the device and accessible beyond the time needed to service a real-time request, subject to exceptions. A listed type is not proof that every user supplied it or that a particular feature transmitted it in practice. See Apple’s App privacy details on the App Store documentation.
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Apple’s definition of tracking is narrower than ordinary use of the word: it involves linking app data about a user or device with third-party data for targeted advertising or advertising measurement, or sharing it with a data broker. Surfshark reported that only Microsoft Copilot in its sample disclosed tracking under Apple’s definition. The absence of a tracking disclosure does not mean an app collects no data.
Which sensitive data and purposes matter?
Surfshark reports that Muse, Meta AI, Gemini, and Perplexity disclose precise location collection. It also says Muse, Meta AI, and Gemini disclose sensitive information categories, which can include racial or ethnic data, sexual orientation, political opinions, genetic information, or biometric data. Those category disclosures signal what the app may collect; they do not establish that it has collected each item from every user.
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To interpret a label, consider more than the total count: check which data types are listed, whether they are linked to you, the stated purposes, and whether tracking is declared. The type and purpose can matter more to an individual than the total. For example, a person who does not provide location information may weigh a precise-location disclosure differently from someone who uses location-dependent features.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to use this information before sharing data
- Open the app’s App Store product page and review its App Privacy section before installing or updating; labels can change over time.
- In Muse, review the app’s privacy and AI settings, including the training opt-out Surfshark describes, and decide whether to disable it.
- Avoid entering sensitive information into an AI conversation unless you are comfortable with the service’s applicable data practices.
- Recheck the current disclosure and settings when making a decision: Surfshark’s counts describe a snapshot collected September 22, 2026, and do not guarantee today’s labels are unchanged.
A VPN does not prevent an app from collecting information you submit or process directly in the app. It can affect network routing and visibility in other contexts, but it is not a substitute for reviewing an app’s data disclosures and controls.
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