Terms of service documents are where companies hide their most aggressive provisions.

While privacy policies explain what data is collected, terms of service govern what you can and can't do — and what the company can do to you. Here are the five clause types that FinePrint flags most often.

1. Mandatory arbitration clauses

These clauses require you to resolve any disputes through private arbitration rather than the courts. You waive your right to sue, join a class action, or have your case heard by a jury. They appear in the ToS of major banks, apps, and streaming services alike.

2. Broad intellectual property grants

When you post content to a platform — photos, videos, written work — many ToS documents grant the company a worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license to use your content however they like. Sometimes even after you delete your account.

3. Unilateral modification clauses

A common clause gives the company the right to change the terms at any time, with or without notice. "Continued use of the service constitutes acceptance" means you've agreed to terms you may not have read.

4. Auto-renewal and cancellation traps

Subscription terms often bury auto-renewal provisions and make cancellation deliberately difficult. Some require 30 days' notice before a renewal date — meaning if you miss the window, you're charged for another year.

5. Liability limitations

Many ToS documents cap the company's liability to you at $100 or your last month's payment. Even if a data breach exposes your sensitive information, your legal recourse may be severely limited.

FinePrint color-codes these clauses by severity — high, medium, and low — so you see what you're dealing with before you click agree.