SmartThings Privacy Notice
Effective Date: December 10, 2024
At Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (“Samsung”), we know how important privacy is to our customers. Samsung is the data controller for SmartThings. We created this Privacy Notice to make sure you understand how we collect and use your personal information.
Our Privacy Policy at https://account.samsung.com/membership/terms/privacypolicy also applies to your use of SmartThings. Our Privacy Policy contains more information about how we use your data. It also includes information about your rights and how to contact us. Please read our Privacy Policy in addition to this Privacy Notice. However, this Privacy Notice shall always prevail over the Privacy Policy in relation to how we use your information for SmartThings.
WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?
Through SmartThings, Samsung obtains and maintains information about you in various ways.
Information You Provide Directly
- Your Account Information: SmartThings will collect your account information, which is necessary to initiate and provide the SmartThings service to you. This will include information such as your name, Samsung account ID, email address, postal address, phone number and username. Your account information will not only include the information that you enter in the SmartThings app to create a Samsung account, but also the account information in apps from third-party service partners which you allow to access SmartThings, as well as any devices registered or connected to your Samsung account (such as any mobile devices).
Information About Your Use of SmartThings
In addition to the information you provide, we will collect information about your use of our SmartThings through software on your devices and by other means. We will collect:
- App Usage Information: We will collect your usage information created during your use of the SmartThings app, such as app logs, groups, rules and location names, and your interactions and inputs with SmartThings (such as configurations, the app and web pages you visit and features you use), along with other configuration information.
- Home IoT Device Information: As SmartThings may consist of several sets of home appliances, sensors, SmartThings hubs, smart bulbs, products, home monitoring cameras and other devices connected to SmartThings (“Home IoT Devices”), SmartThings will also collect usage information related to your Home IoT Devices, such as Home IoT Device model, name, group name or nickname, location name and other settings assigned to the device, event and event settings (for example, if you set up a schedule reminder to display on your Home IoT Device), the network connection information(including SSID and password) and the surrounding network environment information, device country code, device network operator, OS version, IP address and IMEI, sensor and configuration data, error and malfunction logs, device identifier (e.g. ICCID) and the device and automation name. The main purpose for processing such information is to provide the service you have requested (though it may also be used for data analysis and to enable us to provide customised marketing communications, where you have given us your separate consent). Examples relating to the use of your information to provide you with the service are set out below. For example, when you use a motion sensor, SmartThings will collect the information detected by the sensor (such as logs indicating movement in your home, that the lights have been automatically turned on or off, or if there is unexpected movement in your home) to enable an alert to be sent. SmartThings will also collect the usage/settings information of home appliances connected to SmartThings, if you turn on these features. For example, the temperature information inside your refrigerator, the time information showing how long you have used the air conditioner, and other information about the functions you have selected will be collected not only to display the device/appliance status through your app, but also to understand your use of Home IoT Devices and thus continue to improve our services. In addition to the above-mentioned personal data, we will collect your dump logs, which are files listing the technical errors of your devices. These dump logs will only be used to provide you with the technical assistance you need and to improve the SmartThings app and Home IoT Devices.
- Images, Video Clips and Audio Clips: If you connect image, video or audio recording devices to SmartThings (including those recorded by the Home Monitoring Device), SmartThings will collect the image, video or audio clips recorded by such devices, based on your choices (including when you choose to share such media files with other SmartThings users or devices), to provide the service you request in the SmartThings app.
- Voice Information: If you use voice commands to control SmartThings, information about your conversations, including voice commands, will be relayed through SmartThings servers to process your command.
- Location Information: If you consent to the collection and use of location data, your geolocation data is collected to provide the service or feature that requires location information. If you do not want your location information to be processed, you can turn it off in the SmartThings settings.
- Smart TV Information: If you connect a Samsung Smart TV to SmartThings, information will be collected about the Smart TV content you purchase, including voucher or gift card numbers and information you provide to set reminders and calendar notifications on your Smart TV.
- SmartThings Cooking Information: If you use SmartThings Cooking, we will collect information about your use of SmartThings Cooking, including your favorite ingredients and cuisines, dietary preferences, and cooking experience, and information you receive from Family Hub such as responses, answers and content. Any information you enter into SmartThings Cooking will override the existing information in your Family Hub. For example, if you input your dietary preferences through SmartThings Cooking, your Family Hub will be updated to include those dietary preferences. You can add, remove, or change your dietary preferences using either SmartThings Cooking or Family Hub.
- SmartThings Pet Information: If you use SmartThings Pet, we will collect information about your pet’s profile, including your pet’s name, picture, sex, date of birth, breed, weight, animal registration number and vaccination history, and any activities you had with your pet such as, behaviour and walking history such as walking data, time and distance.
- SmartThings Map View Information: If you use SmartThings Map View, information related to the maps you create (such as image, address, floor plan, placement of doors, windows and devices, and the layout for rooms)
- SmartThings Clothing Care Information: If you use SmartThings Clothing Care, we will collect information about your use of SmartThings Clothing Care, including the type of clothing you are interested in and your Laundry Recipes for clothing management, such as memo display, course and option information.
- SmartThings Family Care Information
- We collect profile-related information (including emergency contacts) when you use the Family Care service and create a profile;
- We also collect event information (e.g. medication schedule and reminders, medical visits) you put into your calendar, including step count, information about medical institutions, symptoms and medication, as well as notification schedules you set up (e.g. sending notifications to other group members, receiving notifications on another device connected to the Service). Other members of your family group can input information about you and any information you put into your calendar will be seen by all other members in the group, including health information. We will collect your separate consent prior to the collection of health information; and
- With your separate consent, your device’s geolocation will be collected when you use the place notifications feature. We will collect any place notifications you set up, as well as notification schedules you set up (e.g. sending notifications to other group members or receiving notifications on another device connected to the Service).
We will also collect information about your Smart TV and other devices you add and connect to with the SmartThings app and the SmartThings Hub, and your use of these devices, in ways that we will describe to you at the time of collection or otherwise with your separate consent.
We also may collect other information about you, your devices and apps, and your use of SmartThings in ways that we describe to you at the time of collection or otherwise with your consent.
HOW DO WE USE YOUR INFORMATION?
We use the information collected for the following purposes:
- to identify and authenticate you;
- to enable you to control your Home IoT Devices in the SmartThings app;
- to provide services or features you request in the SmartThings app;
- to respond to your requests and questions, and to communicate with you about SmartThings;
- to provide assistance when you request technical support for the SmartThings app or Home IoT Devices and other maintenance services;
- to provide you with remote maintenance service for errors related to Home IoT Devices connected to SmartThings if you contact a customer service centre;
- to link your account information or otherwise interact with selected apps, devices, features and services of third-party service partners;
- to operate, evaluate and improve our business, including developing and improving new and existing products and services, managing and improving our communications, analysing our Services and customer base (including conducting market research, asking for your opinions on our products and services and carrying out customer surveys, with your separate consent if required) and aggregating and anonymising data;
- to provide customised recommendations related to Home IoT Devices and other useful services or features;
- if you turn on Customisation Service in your Samsung account, to use data collected through the SmartThings app for the purposes herein. You can learn more about our Customisation Service by clicking here;
- if you have a Samsung Smart TV, to (i) enable you to purchase Smart TV digital content, (ii) provide a history of purchased Smart TV digital content, (iii) let you set reminders for Smart TV digital content, and (iv) enable you to receive calendar notifications on your Samsung Smart TV;
- where you have separately consented to receive marketing communications from us, we may combine information about your device and the Home IOT Devices which you connect to SmartThings, with data which we have collected about you from other sources, in particular your Samsung Account, to provide you with more relevant marketing;
- to allow you to more easily access your personal data generated from the products and services associated with your Samsung Account.
- when you separately consented to the processing of your health data, to provide you with the SmartThings Family Care features that entail the processing of such data;
- when you separately consented to the processing of your geolocation data, to provide you with the SmartThings Family Care features that entail the processing of such data;
- to comply with laws, regulatory obligations, and legal processes; and
- to protect the rights, property and/or security of Samsung Electronics, or any of our affiliates, business partners and/or customers.
Samsung processes personal information for the purposes described above. Samsung’s legal basis to process personal information is outlined below:
|
Keeping our promising to you
(performance of contract)
GDPR Article 6(1)(b)
|
- Identifying and authenticating you
- Providing you with SmartThings and services and features you request in the SmartThings app, such as enabling you to control your Home IoT devices in the SmartThings app
- Providing you with customised content, such as providing recommendations
- Allowing you to interact with other Samsung and third-party content
|
|
To promote our business interests
(legitimate interest)
GDPR Article 6(1)(f)
|
- Operating, evaluating, and improving SmartThings and our business
- Responding to your requests, instructions and enquiries
- Providing you with technical support and maintenance service for errors
- Maintaining adequate security measures
- Allowing you to more easily view your personal data associated with your Samsung Account
- Protecting against liability, including complying with industry standards and enforcing our policies
|
|
To comply with the law, regulatory obligations and legal processes
GDPR Article 6(1)(c)
|
- Complying with applicable statutes and regulatory and administrative or court orders
|
|
With your consent
GDPR Article 6(1)(a)
|
- Providing marketing notifications (such as via push notifications, emails, and text messages)
- Providing you with SmartThings, such as when you choose to share audio, video and image clips
- Processing your location information to provide location-based features and services
- Providing you with customised content, such as the Customisation Service
- Allowing you to link your Samsung account with third-party content
|
|
With your consent
GDPR Article 9(2)(a)
|
- Providing you with SmartThings Family Care features that entail the processing of your health data
|
We use and combine the information we collect about you from SmartThings with data from other services or features you use, your devices and other sources such as when you use your Samsung Account to log in to other Samsung apps, as well as information about your online activities on websites and connected devices over time and across third-party websites, devices, apps and other online features and services for the purposes above.
WHO DO WE SHARE YOUR INFORMATION WITH?
We will disclose your information internally within our business and to the following entities, but only for the purposes described above.
- Affiliates: other Samsung Electronics Group companies which we control or own;
- Business partners: partners who we work together with to provide you with SmartThings, such as third-party products or services you can connect to SmartThings to control those products or services. These business partners control and manage your personal information;
- Service providers: carefully selected companies that provide services for or on behalf of us, such as cloud platform providers who maintain data on our behalf. These providers are also committed to protecting your information;
- Other parties when required by law or as necessary to protect SmartThings: for example, it may be necessary by law, legal process, or court order from governmental authorities to disclose your information. They may also seek your information from us for the purposes of law enforcement, national security, anti-terrorism, or other issues related to public security;
- Other parties in connection with corporate transactions: We may disclose your information to a third party as part of a merger or transfer, acquisition or sale, or in the event of bankruptcy; and
- Other parties with your consent or at your direction: In addition to the disclosures described in this Privacy Notice, we may share information about you with third parties when you separately consent to or request such sharing.
- Other members of your family within the provision of SmartThings Family Care services
HOW LONG DO WE RETAIN YOUR INFORMATION AND WHERE DOES IT GO?
How long your data will be retained depends on the legal basis relied upon to process your data. For example, data we process to perform our contract with you requires us to keep the data throughout the time you use SmartThings. As long as you are an active user of SmartThings, we will retain and process this data. Data such as your account information, device information and identifiers fall into this category.
Data we process to promote our business interests, such as your use of SmartThings, is only kept for as long as needed for the purposes for which they were collected. For example, this data may be collected to perform analytics so we can develop improvements to SmartThings, or we may process data to keep a record of enquiries you made through or about SmartThings to improve your customer service experience.
In addition, we may also process your data based on your consent. If you withdraw your consent, we will stop processing your data that relies on your consent, but it will not impact the processing of data collected prior to your withdrawal until the purposes for which such data were collected have been achieved.
Please note, although we aim to retain your data for the time period described above, your data may be processed longer, pursuant to applicable law. For example, if a specific statute mandates we retain a certain piece of data, we will comply and retain that data until the required retention period expires.
As long as your data is retained by us, your data will always be subject to appropriate safeguards.
Your use of SmartThings will involve the transfer, storage, and processing of your personal information to and in other countries; such countries include, without limitation, countries in the European Economic Area, the Republic of Korea, United States, Canada, India, and the Philippines. All international data transfers are subject to legal requirements to ensure that your personal information is processed safely and as you would expect.
HOW DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION SECURE?
We take data protection very seriously. We have put in place physical and technical safeguards to keep the information we collect secure. However, please note that although we take reasonable steps to protect your information, no website, internet transmission, computer system or wireless connection is completely secure.
WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS?
Your personal information belongs to you. You can ask us to provide details about what we’ve collected and you can ask us to delete it or correct any inaccuracies. You can also ask us to restrict or limit the processing, sharing or transfer of your personal information, as well as to provide you with the personal information that we’ve collected so you can use it for your own purposes. However, requesting the deletion of your personal information may also result in a loss of access to SmartThings. We won’t delete data that we’re required by law to retain.
To make a request concerning your rights or to make an inquiry, contact us using the methods outlined in the CONTACT US section.
CONTACT US
You can contact us to update your preferences, exercise your rights, submit a request or ask us questions.
You can also contact us at:
Data Controller
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
129, Samsung-ro, Yeongtong-gu,
Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do 16677, Republic of Korea
Samsung Electronics has offices across Europe, so we can ensure that your request or query will be handled by the data protection team based in your region.
The easiest way to contact us is through our Privacy Support Page at https://www.samsung.com/request-desk.
You can also contact us at:
European Data Protection Officer
Samsung Electronics (UK) Limited
Samsung House, 2000 Hillswood Drive, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 0RS, UK
You can lodge a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority if you consider that our processing of your personal information infringes applicable law. Contact details for all EU supervisory authorities can be found at https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/article29/item-detail.cfm?item_id=612080.
UPDATES TO THIS PRIVACY NOTICE
This Privacy Notice may be updated to let you know about changes in how we collect and process your information in SmartThings or changes in related laws. The date when the document was last updated is shown at the top of this Privacy Notice.
version: 1.12.0
Last version