diff --git a/datasette/telemetry_registry.py b/datasette/telemetry_registry.py
index 8060256b..02903140 100644
--- a/datasette/telemetry_registry.py
+++ b/datasette/telemetry_registry.py
@@ -302,11 +302,12 @@ HTTP_REQUEST = SpanName(
     "{http.request.method} {http.route}",
     "One span per HTTP request, containing spans from plugin middleware and "
     "database operations. Named for the HTTP method and matched route, or "
-    "just the method if no route matches. Incoming ``traceparent`` and "
-    "``baggage`` headers are extracted using the global propagator to "
-    "continue the caller's trace. Set ``OTEL_PROPAGATORS=none`` to disable "
-    "extraction. For public instances, strip these headers at your proxy "
-    "if callers should not supply trace context.",
+    "just the method if no route matches. Incoming ``traceparent`` headers "
+    "are extracted using the global propagator to continue the caller's "
+    "trace. Incoming ``baggage`` is not propagated into plugin or downstream "
+    "context in this release. Set ``OTEL_PROPAGATORS=none`` to disable "
+    "extraction. For public instances, strip trace context headers at your "
+    "proxy if callers should not supply trace context.",
     (
         HTTP_REQUEST_METHOD,
         HTTP_ROUTE,
diff --git a/docs/internals.rst b/docs/internals.rst
index 295195fc..6ecf5b73 100644
--- a/docs/internals.rst
+++ b/docs/internals.rst
@@ -2581,7 +2581,7 @@ A request to a table page produces a span named, in full::
 .. ]]]
 
 ``{http.request.method} {http.route}``
-    One span per HTTP request, containing spans from plugin middleware and database operations. Named for the HTTP method and matched route, or just the method if no route matches. Incoming ``traceparent`` and ``baggage`` headers are extracted using the global propagator to continue the caller's trace. Set ``OTEL_PROPAGATORS=none`` to disable extraction. For public instances, strip these headers at your proxy if callers should not supply trace context.
+    One span per HTTP request, containing spans from plugin middleware and database operations. Named for the HTTP method and matched route, or just the method if no route matches. Incoming ``traceparent`` headers are extracted using the global propagator to continue the caller's trace. Incoming ``baggage`` is not propagated into plugin or downstream context in this release. Set ``OTEL_PROPAGATORS=none`` to disable extraction. For public instances, strip trace context headers at your proxy if callers should not supply trace context.
 
     Kind: ``SERVER``.
 
@@ -2740,12 +2740,13 @@ An OpenTelemetry `exemplar <https://opentelemetry.io/docs/specs/otel/metrics/dat
 Privacy and safety
 ------------------
 
-Since telemetry may be exported to an externally hosted service, Datasette's rules are:
+Datasette does not configure a telemetry exporter itself. If you enable one, traces may contain sensitive information:
 
-- **SQL text is truncated to 2048 characters.**
-- **SQL parameter values are never recorded.** Only ``datasette.param_count``, a count of the number of parameters.
-- **No actor identifiers are recorded.** Nothing on a span identifies who made the request.
-- **The query string is never recorded.** There is no ``url.query`` attribute on the request span or on any other span.
+- **SQL text is truncated to 2048 characters.** Literal values in that text are retained. Bound SQL parameter values are not added as attributes; ``datasette.param_count`` records only their count.
+- **Request spans include URL paths, host names and User-Agent headers.** Paths can include identifying values such as row primary keys. Core does not add actor identifiers, cookies, authorization headers, client IP addresses or a ``url.query`` attribute.
+- **Exception messages and tracebacks may be recorded.** These can contain data from requests or database operations.
+
+Review what your application and plugins record before exporting telemetry to an external service. Restrict access to exported data and configure redaction or filtering where needed.
 
 .. _internals_csrf:
 
diff --git a/docs/plugin_telemetry.rst b/docs/plugin_telemetry.rst
index 8c39da90..fc6965f5 100644
--- a/docs/plugin_telemetry.rst
+++ b/docs/plugin_telemetry.rst
@@ -98,13 +98,13 @@ The example uses these optional arguments:
 Privacy and cardinality rules
 -----------------------------
 
-Core's instrumentation records **no data users put into Datasette and no identifier that ties a signal to a person** - no parameter values, no query strings, no actor identifiers, no IP addresses. Hold your plugin to the same bar:
+Core does not explicitly attach bound SQL parameter values, actor identifiers, cookies, authorization headers, client IP addresses or URL query strings as attributes. It does record SQL text, URL paths, host names, User-Agent headers and exception details, which may contain sensitive information. See :ref:`internals_telemetry_privacy`.
 
-- Attribute values should be closed enums, booleans, counts and durations. Anything echoed from user input - a name, a URL, a token, free text - does not belong on a span, and *especially* not on a metric.
-- If you time user-influenced SQL, follow core: record the SQL via ``datasette.telemetry.sql_attribute()`` (truncated, never parameters) on spans only.
-- When a value is interesting but unbounded, record a bounded proxy instead: a count, a byte size, a truncation flag, or the enum outcome.
+- Prefer closed enums, booleans, counts and durations for attribute values. Avoid recording personal information, tokens or other secrets.
+- If you record SQL, use ``datasette.telemetry.sql_attribute()`` on spans only. It truncates SQL text but does not redact literal values. Do not add bound parameter values.
+- Keep metric dimensions bounded. For user input or other unbounded values, record a count, a byte size, a truncation flag or an enum outcome instead.
 
-These rules are enforceable: see ``assert_no_forbidden_values()`` in :ref:`plugin_telemetry_testing`.
+Use ``assert_no_forbidden_values()`` in :ref:`plugin_telemetry_testing` to check for specific sensitive values in captured telemetry. This helper does not automatically identify all sensitive information.
 
 .. _plugin_telemetry_callbacks: