Last Updated: June 7, 2019
Whirlpool Corporation Smart Appliance Mobile Apps And Services Privacy Notice
For Our Customers In The United States And Canada
Introduction
- What Types Of Information Do The Apps/Services Collect?
- How May We Use This Information?
- How May We Share This Information?
- Other Uses And Disclosures
- Choices
- California Residents: Your Privacy Rights
- Third-Party Services
- Security
- Access
- Use Of Apps/Services By Children
- Updates To This Privacy Notice
- Contacting Us
Introduction
Whirlpool Corporation including Whirlpool Canada LP (“Whirlpool”) is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, including but not limited to, our Whirlpool®, Maytag®, KitchenAid®, JennAir®, Amana®, Gladiator®, Roper®, Estate®, EveryDrop®, Swash®, Inglis®, Affresh®, WLabs™, Zera™, and Speed Queen™ (Canada only) brands. Whirlpool has developed select smart appliances that may be connected to provide users with interactive features and functionality (“Smart Appliances”) together with one or more mobile applications designed for use with the Smart Appliances (“Mobile Apps”), and that interact with Whirlpool’s related cloud-based services (“Services”). This Smart Appliance Mobile Apps and Services Privacy Notice (the “Privacy Notice”) explains the types of information we collect through the Mobile Apps and Services (collectively, the “Apps/Services”) and how we may use and share that information. By using the Apps/Services, you acknowledge that you understand and agree to this Privacy Notice.
This Privacy Notice addresses our privacy practices solely for users of the Apps/Services in the U.S. and Canada. Information collected about you outside of the Apps/Services, such as from our website or when you register an appliance that is not a Smart Appliance, is not governed by this Privacy Notice and is subject to our general Privacy Notice to our Customers in the United States and Canada located at www.whirlpoolcorp.com/privacy-notice-united-states-and-canada/ and www.whirlpoolcorp.com/privacy-notice-united-states-and-canada-french/
1. What types of information do the Apps/Services collect?
In order to provide the benefits of the Apps/Services, Whirlpool collects certain information through the Apps/Services. We collect two types of information through the Apps/Services: Personal Information and Other Information. “Personal Information” is information that identifies you specifically as an individual, such as your name or email address. “Other Information” is information that does not reveal an individual’s specific identity or does not directly relate to an identifiable individual, including information that has been de-identified or aggregated.
(a) We collect Personal Information when you set up and use Apps/Services, including through:
(i) Account creation and product registration: In order to connect your Smart Appliance to our network, you will need to download the appropriate Mobile Apps and create an account (a "Smart Appliances Account"). We will ask you to provide Personal Information including, but not limited to, your name, email address, physical address, and mobile telephone number. We also may give you the option of submitting email addresses and other Personal Information of other individuals to allow us to send an invitation to those you would like to allow to connect to the Smart Appliance through the Apps/Services, such as family members or renters in order to obtain their consent to be connected. Please ensure you have the authority to provide that information to us.
(ii) Use of services: We also may collect Personal Information during your use of the Apps/Services, such as if you submit a customer service request through Apps/Services.
(iii) Information from other sources: We may combine Personal Information collected through the Apps/Services with information that we have obtained about you from other sources, such as our websites or warranty cards. We also may receive Personal Information about you from third party sources, such as commercially-available sources, social media platforms, and providers of third-party products or Apps/Services, and combine such Personal Information with Personal Information collected through the Apps/Services. For example, we may collect information from third-party devices if you choose to connect them to the Apps/Services, such as collecting energy consumption data if you choose to connect your smart meter to the Apps/Services.
(b) In connection with the Apps/Services, we also collect Other Information, including:
(i) Smart Appliance data: We collect data based on your use of the Apps/Services, such as the following:
Appliance details and other information: When you connect a Smart Appliance to our network, we collect details about your Smart Appliance, such as the Smart Appliance ID (or "SAID") and serial and part numbers, and the IP address of your home router. We also may collect information regarding details of the local power company in your area at your request.
Status and usage data collected from Smart Appliances: We automatically collect information from the Smart Appliance on a periodic basis, including its status (such as whether the Smart Appliance is powered off or on, and details about any product cycle or function it is performing), any instructions that have been manually entered on the Smart Appliance itself, and aspects of its surrounding environment that may affect how it operates (such as input voltage, signal strength, and air temperature).
Usage data collected from Mobile Apps: We may track and collect Mobile App usage data, such as the date and time the Mobile Apps on your device accesses our servers and what information and files have been downloaded to the Mobile App, as well as the instructions that you or other users have transmitted to the Smart Appliance using the Mobile Apps (such as instructions to turn the Smart Appliance off or on, or to change its settings).
(ii) Data from third-party products or services: If you choose to connect your Smart Appliance to a third-party product or service, we may receive information from those third-party products or services. For example, if you have connected your Smart Appliance to a third-party home automation service, that third-party service might transmit data to the Apps/Services that allows corresponding adjustments to your Smart Appliance settings (such as sending a signal when no one appears to be at home, to allow your Smart Appliance to switch to a more energy-efficient mode).
(iii) Physical location: With your consent, we may collect the physical location of your mobile device by, for example, using satellite, cell phone tower or WiFi signals. We may use your device's physical location to provide you with location-based services, such as identifying the location of the nearest dealer who can provide services or support for your Smart Appliance.
(iv) Images, video, and audio: With your consent, our Smart Appliances and Mobile Apps may collect images, video, and audio to provide the expected experience and services. For example, a Smart Appliance may take an image of food, recognize it, and automatically cook it. Other examples are you submitting a photo of a suspected product issue via our Mobile Apps or us analyzing voice commands used to control your appliances to enhance the product’s ability to recognize these commands.
(v) De-identifying or aggregating information: We may de-identify or aggregate Personal Information to create data that does not personally identify you or any other user of the Apps/Services. (For example, we may aggregate Personal Information to calculate the percentage of our users who use Smart Appliances within a particular zip code/postal code.)
When Other Information is combined with your Personal Information, we will treat this combined information as Personal Information as long as it is combined.
2. How may we use this information?
We use Personal Information to provide and support the Apps/Services and Smart Appliances, for troubleshooting and maintenance (including for warranty purposes), to communicate with you about your account or appliance (including for product service and warranty issues), to improve our products and services, and, if you have consented, for research and development, to conduct surveys, and to send you marketing communications and offer you products and services from our various brands and from selected third parties. For example, we may send you a notification when your Smart Appliance needs to be replenished with a refill or replacement item and offer to direct you to a third-party business partner from which you can purchase that item. We also may use this information to provide you with customized offers, such as extended warranty terms based on your use of the Apps/Services and/or data from your Smart Appliance.
When Other Information identifies a specific device (e.g., by the SAID) or household (e.g., by home physical address), we will use that information only as we may use Personal Information. When Other Information does not identify a specific device or household, we may use that information for any purpose, unless prohibited by law.
3. How may we share this information?
We may share Personal Information:
(a) With our family of affiliated companies and brands for the purposes described in this Privacy Notice. Please note that our brands are part of Whirlpool Corporation and are not third parties for purposes of this Privacy Notice.
(b) With our third-party service providers to allow them to provide services to us (such as data analysis, surveys, data hosting, information technology, payment processing, customer support, warranty services, email delivery., and auditing).
(c) With third-party products or services you have chosen to connect with your Smart Appliance through the Apps/Services. We only connect your Smart Appliance to a third-party product or service if you have been informed of the data exchange that would occur with that third-party product or service and you have expressly consented. You may choose to disconnect your Smart Appliance from such third-party products or services at any time.
(d) With other selected third parties to allow them to send you marketing communications about their own products and services, with your consent.
(e) With other users of the Smart Appliance. For example, if you choose to allow other users to connect to your Smart Appliance or your Apps/Services, or you accept an invitation to connect to another user's Smart Appliance or Apps/Services, the other users may be able to view information related to your usage. If you sell or give away the Smart Appliance, we may share Other Information related to that Smart Appliance (but not your Personal Information) with the new owner (e.g., total number of cycles that your Smart Appliance has run).
(f) With the general public, if you choose to post comments or content (such as recipes) on message boards, blogs, or other interactive features made available through or in connection with the Apps/Services. We urge you to be very careful when deciding to make any of your Personal Information, or any Other Information, publicly available through the Apps/Services.
When Other Information identifies a specific device (e.g., by SAID) or household (e.g., by home physical address), we will share that information with third parties only as we may share Personal Information. When Other Information does not identify a specific device or household, we may share that information with any third parties at our discretion, unless prohibited by law.
4. Other uses and disclosures
In addition to the purposes listed above, we also may use or disclose Personal Information or Other Information as we believe to be necessary: (1) if we determine a policy violation has occurred, or to enforce our terms of service; (2) if we believe such disclosure is necessary to identify, contact, or bring legal action regarding injury or interference with the rights and property of Whirlpool Corporation or its affiliates, including, but not limited to, to enforce our right against unauthorized access or attempted unauthorized access to our information technology assets or against other inappropriate use of the Apps/Services; (3) to comply with laws, regulations, court orders and subpoenas or similar requests for information by authorities, or as required by law; (4) to protect your safety and the safety of others; (5) to assist us in fraud prevention or investigation; and (6) in connection with a reorganization, merger, sale, joint venture, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or any portion of our business, assets or stock (including in connection with any bankruptcy or similar proceedings).
5. Choices
We give you a number of choices regarding your information, including:
(a) Receiving notifications: You may choose to receive notifications about your Smart Appliance (such as notification of cycle completion) as part of the Apps/Services, which may include notifications through text message or email. You may select which notifications you would like to receive, or disable notifications, through the Apps/Services.
(b) Receiving marketing communications: If you have consented, Whirlpool may, from time to time, contact you with communications regarding our products or services. These communications may come from Whirlpool or one of its brands, and may involve product information, marketing or promotions, research, and/or other topics. To contact you, Whirlpool and its brands may use the information you provide to us, including email, direct (postal) mail, fax, or phone. You may, at any time, inform us that you do not want Whirlpool and its brands to send you marketing communications, by sending your request to our Privacy Office using the contact information in the Contacting Us section below. You may also unsubscribe from receiving promotional email communications from our brands by clicking on a link provided in that brand's promotional email message. However, please note that you cannot opt-out from all communications, as Whirlpool and its brands may need to send you information related to our products (e.g., warranties, service reminders, etc.), your orders or accounts, etc.
(c) Removing appliances or applications, or terminating accounts: You can use the Mobile Apps to remove a Smart Appliance from your Smart Appliances Account (such as if you sell or give it away) at any time. You can also delete our Mobile Apps from your mobile device if you no longer wish to use them on that device, or request termination of your Smart Appliances Account through the Mobile Apps if you no longer wish to use the Apps/Services. However, please be aware that these options do not prevent the continued transmission of Other Information from the Smart Appliance to our network. If you wish to terminate the transmission of Other Information from your Smart Appliance to our network, you will need to disconnect your Smart Appliance from your WiFi router as described below.
(d) Disconnecting your Smart Appliance: If you no longer want your Smart Appliance to transmit Other Information to our network, you may choose to disconnect your Smart Appliance from your WiFi router at any time, although this will prevent you from being able to use the connected features of your Smart Appliance. If you disconnect your Smart Appliance from our network, we will continue to handle and protect any information we have previously received in accordance with this Privacy Notice.
6. California residents: Your California privacy rights
If you are a California resident, you may have the right to request and receive information about disclosure of your Personal Information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes. Because it is our policy not to share your Personal Information with third parties for third-party direct marketing purposes without your consent, we are exempt from the requirement to respond to such requests. If you have any questions related to our policy, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contacting Us" section below.
7. Third-party services
The Apps/Services may contain links to websites owned by other companies. Because Whirlpool has no control over the privacy practices or content of these linked sites, we recommend that you carefully review the privacy notice of each website you visit. This Privacy Notice does not address, and we are not responsible for, the privacy, information or other practices of any third parties, including any third party operating any product or service to which the Apps/Services allow you to connect your Smart Appliance.
8. Security
We are committed to maintaining the security of the data you provide us. We use reasonable organizational, technical and administrative measures to protect Personal Information that we maintain within our organization. We also seek to use third-party service providers capable of protecting the information they maintain or process for us. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the internet or storage system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. If you have reason to believe that your interaction with us is no longer secure (for example, if you feel that the security of any account you might have with us has been compromised), please immediately notify us of the problem by contacting us in accordance with the "Contacting Us" section below. You agree that you will not hold Whirlpool Corporation liable for any damages resulting from any loss of privacy or security occurring in connection with any communications over such networks. Your personal information will be stored on Whirlpool's servers located at our corporate headquarters in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and/or at other third party facilities with which we have contracted for specific services.
9. Access
You may review, correct and update your Personal Information through your account profile in the Apps/Services. You may also use the Apps/Services to review certain historical Other Information about your usage of the Smart Appliance.
10. Use of Apps/Services by children
The Apps/Services are not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not seek to, nor do we knowingly collect, information from children under the age of 13, and we request that such individuals do not provide Personal Information through the Apps/Services.
11. Updates to this Privacy Notice
From time to time, we may update this Privacy Notice. Please take a look at the “Last Updated” legend at the top of this page to see when this Privacy Notice was last revised. If we make any material changes we will notify you by email (sent to the email address specified in your account) or by means of a notice on this website prior to the change becoming effective. We encourage you to periodically review this page for the latest information on our privacy practices. Your use of the Website following these changes means that you accept the revised Privacy Notice.
12. Contacting us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Notice, please contact us by email at whirlpool_privacy@whirlpool.com, or please write to the following address:
Chief Privacy Officer
Whirlpool Corporation
2000 N. M-63
MD 8522
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Please note that email communications are not always secure; so please do not include credit card information or sensitive information in your emails to us.
