SmartThings Privacy Notice

 



Last updated: 8th December, 2020

At Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., we know how important privacy is to our customers. We are the data controller for SmartThings and have created this Privacy Notice to ensure you understand how we collect and use your personal information.

Our Privacy Policy also applies to your use of SmartThings. Our Privacy Policy contains more information about how we use your data. It also includes information about how to contact us. Please read our Privacy Policy in addition to this Privacy Notice. However, this Privacy Notice at all times prevails over the Privacy Policy.

 




WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?

Through SmartThings, we collect and maintain information about you in various ways.


Information You Provide Directly


� Your Account Information: SmartThings will collect your account information, which is necessary to set up and provide you with the SmartThings service. This will include information such as your name, Samsung account ID, email address, mailing address and phone number, username and password. 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 of apps from third-party service partners which you allow to access SmartThings.



Information About Your Use of SmartThings


� App, Appliance and Device Usage Information:

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 other configuration information.

Device Usage Information: as SmartThings may consist of several sets of home appliances, sensors, SmartThings hubs, smart bulbs, 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 and location name assigned to the device, the network connection information and the surrounding network environment information, mobile country code, mobile 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; however we may also use the information for the purposes set out below.   For example, when you use a motion sensor, SmartThings will collect the information detected by the sensor such as logs which indicate 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.

Appliance Usage Information: SmartThings will also collect the usage/settings information of home appliances connected to SmartThings, if you turn on these features. For example, the temperature of your refrigerator, details of when you switch on and off your air conditioner and other information about the functions you have selected will be collected. We use this information to display the device/appliance status in your SmartThings mobile app but also to understand your use of Home IoT Devices and for the purposes set out below.

Logs of technical errors: in the event that you need specific technical assistance in relation to your usage of SmartThings app or Home IoT Devices, we will collect your dump logs containing details of the technical errors on your devices. These dump logs will be used to provide you with the technical assistance which you request, we may also use these logs to improve the SmartThings app and Home IoT Devices.

� Video and Audio Clips Recorded by the Home Monitoring Camera: If you connect video or audio recording devices to SmartThings, SmartThings will collect the video or audio clips recorded by such device, based on your choices, to provide the service you request in the SmartThings app.

� Images, video clips: If you choose to share your images or video clips (not recorded by the Home Monitoring Camera) stored on your device with other SmartThings users or devices, SmartThings will collect the images and video clips.

� Voice Information: If you connect Bixby to SmartThings, information about your conversations with Bixby, including voice commands, will be collected to provide you with better feedback and to improve the quality of Bixby.

� Location Information: If you consent to the collection and use of location data, your geolocation data is collected to provide advanced automation features, for example Sunrise/Sunset notifications and to wake up your Home IoT devices automatically when you arrive at home. If you wish to stop the processing of your location information, you can turn off �Use location information� in the SmartThings settings.

� Smart TV Information: If you connect a Samsung Smart TV to SmartThings, information about the Smart TV content you purchase, including voucher or gift card numbers and information that lets you set reminders and calendar notifications on your Smart TV will be collected.


We will also collect information about your Smart TV and other devices which you add to and connect 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 do not knowingly or intentionally collect any sensitive personal data from you. However, please note that we cannot guarantee that sensitive information is not unintentionally shared with us while using the SmartThings app and other Home IoT Devices, such as the content of your audio or video recordings when you connect audio or video recording devices to SmartThings. If you submit information to SmartThings that is sensitive in nature, that will also be collected and processed for the purposes listed below, however we will not use that data for marketing, to provide customized recommendations, or for the improvement of our services.




HOW DO WE USE YOUR INFORMATION?


� to enable you to control your Home IoT Devices using the SmartThings app;

� to provide you with services or features which 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 a remote maintenance service for errors related to Home IoT Devices connected to SmartThings if you contact a customer service center;

� 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 new products and services; enhancing and improving our products, services and SmartThings; analysing our products and services, aggregating and anonymizing data and performing data analytics and to perform accounting, auditing and other internal functions);

� to provide customized recommendations related to Home IoT Devices and other useful services or features;

� if you turn on the Customization Service in your Samsung account, we use data collected through the SmartThings app  to personalize the content on your device using the Customization Service. You can learn more about our Customization Service by going 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;

 � to comply with laws and regulations; and

� to protect the rights, property and/or security of Samsung Electronics, or any of our affiliates, business partners and/or customers.

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.  We process personal information for the purposes described above. Our legal basis to process personal information includes processing in order to:

(i) Keep our promises to you, such as providing you with SmartThings;

(ii) Promote our business interests (for example, to manage our relationship with you); and

(iii) Comply with the laws and regulations.




INFORMATION SHARING


We may share your personal information with (1) our subsidiaries and affiliates and (2) our service providers who perform services on our behalf. We do not authorise our service providers to retain, use or disclose your personal information except as necessary to perform services on our behalf or comply with legal requirements. In addition, we may share your personal information with wireless providers, as well as third parties that operate devices, apps and services that you connect to SmartThings. If you create a SmartThings Location Group, certain personal information you share with SmartThings, including your geolocation data, may be shared with members of your Location Group.

We also may disclose personal information about you (1) if we are required to do so by law or legal process (such as a court order or subpoena); (2) in response to requests by government agencies, such as law enforcement authorities; (3) to establish, exercise or defend our legal rights; (4) when we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to prevent physical or other harm or financial loss; (5) in connection with an investigation of suspected or actual illegal activity; or (6) otherwise with your consent. In addition, we may share personal information we collect through SmartThings at your request.

We reserve the right to transfer any personal information we have about you in the event we sell or transfer (or contemplate the sale or transfer of) all or a portion of our business or assets (including in the event of a merger, acquisition, joint venture, reorganisation, divestiture, dissolution or liquidation).




HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION AND WHERE DOES IT GO?


Subject to any applicable law which may require longer retention periods, the following outlines how long we keep your personal data. You can erase your personal data at any time by going into the SmartThings settings menu, however, please note that erasing your personal data may limit or prohibit access to some or all of the features of SmartThings.

Data type

Retention period

Account Information

(i) Until you ask us to delete it, or

(ii) Until you delete your Samsung account, whichever comes first

App, Appliance and Device Usage Information

(i) Until you ask us to delete it, or

(ii) Until you delete your Samsung account, whichever comes first

Voice Information and Smart TV Information

(i) Until you ask us to delete it, or

(ii) Until you delete your Samsung account, whichever comes first

Video and Audio Clips

Automatically delated after 30 days (unless you ask us to delete it/ you delete your Samsung Account) before that point.

Location Information

(i) Until you ask us to delete it,

(ii) Until you delete your Samsung account, whichever comes first


When you use SmartThings, your data will be transferred, stored and processed in countries in the European Economic Area, the Republic of Korea, the United States of America, Ireland, Canada, China, India and the Philippines.

 




UPDATES TO THIS PRIVACY NOTICE


This Privacy Notice may be updated to inform you about changes in how we collect and process your information in SmartThings or changes in relevant laws and regulations. The date when the document was last updated is shown at the top of this Privacy Notice.

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