Samsung Data Privacy Framework:

Consumer Privacy Policy

Last Updated: December 20, 2024

Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and its subsidiary Samsung Research America, Inc. (collectively, “Samsung” or the “company”), respect your concerns about privacy. Samsung participates in the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (“EU-U.S. DPF”), the UK Extension to the EU-U.S. DPF (“UK Extension”) and the Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (“Swiss-U.S. DPF”) (collectively, the “Data Privacy Framework” or “DPF”) administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Samsung commits to comply with the DPF Principles with respect to Consumer Personal Data the company receives from the EU, UK and Switzerland in connection with Consumers’ use of Services. If there is any conflict between the terms in this Privacy Policy (“Policy”) and the DPF Principles, the DPF Principles shall govern.

For purposes of this Policy:

“Consumer” means any natural person who is located in the EU, UK or Switzerland, but excludes any individual acting in his or her capacity as an Employee.

“Controller” means a person or organization which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of Personal Data.

“DPF Principles” means the Principles and Supplemental Principles of the DPF.

“Employee” means any current, former or prospective employee, contractor, intern or temporary worker of Samsung or any of its EU, UK or Swiss affiliates, or any related individual whose Personal Data Samsung processes in connection with an employment relationship, who is located in the EU, UK or Switzerland.

“EU” means the European Union and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

“Personal Data” means any information, including Sensitive Data, that is (i) about an identified or identifiable individual, (ii) received by Samsung in the U.S. from the EU, UK or Switzerland, (iii) recorded in any form, and (iv) obtained by Samsung in connection with Services.

“Processor” means any natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body that processes Personal Data on behalf of a Controller.

“Sensitive Data” means Personal Data specifying medical or health conditions, racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership (including trade union-related views or activities), sex life (including personal sexuality), information on social security measures, the commission or alleged commission of any offense, any proceedings for any offense committed or alleged to have been committed by the individual or the disposal of such proceedings, or the sentence of any court in such proceedings (including administrative proceedings and criminal sanctions).

“Services” mean devices, websites, mobile applications, software, and other related services manufactured, sold, and operated by Samsung and its affiliated companies, including all related support, updates, and features.

“UK” means the United Kingdom.

Samsung’s DPF certification, along with additional information about the DPF, can be found at https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/. For more information about Samsung’s processing of Consumer Personal Data, please visit the Samsung Privacy Policy (https://www.samsung.com/us/account/privacy-policy/).

Types of Personal Data Samsung Collects

Samsung collects Personal Data directly from Consumers when they use Services or through its business partners, third-party processors, or affiliates and subsidiaries. Samsung may use this information for the purposes described in the Samsung Privacy Policy (https://www.samsung.com/us/account/privacy-policy/).

The types of Personal Data Samsung collects from Consumers when they use Samsung Services include:

• Information Consumers directly provide:

1. Account and profile information: name, date of birth, and contact information (phone number or email address);
2. Shipping and payment information: name, address, contact information, and payment card information (including card number, expiration date, and security code) for processing orders;
3. Customer service and communication information: repair history, voice recordings, and chat or communication transcripts;
4. Demographic information: gender and age; and
5. Contact information of others: phone numbers and contact information for file sharing and messaging.

 

• Information about Consumers’ use of Services:

1. Device information: Consumers’ device information, including connected devices (such as the model and manufacturer) and software information (such as the operating system and software versions), IMEI number and other unique device identifiers (such as the mobile country code, mobile network code, MAC address, IP address, serial number, device unique IDs, advertising ID (e.g. for mobile devices, Google AD ID and Android ID, and for Samsung visual display devices, including Samsung Smart TVs, Personalized Service ID and Tizen Identifier for Advertising)), phone number, sales code, access recording, cookies, pixels and similar technologies, subscription information, and settings of the devices Consumers use to access Services.
2. Usage and Log information: Diagnostic, technical, error, and usage information such as the time and duration of Consumers’ use of Services, Services installed on devices, search query terms when entering search terms into the device in connection with a particular Service, information stored in cookies set on devices, and error reports and dump logs.
3. Location information: Information about nearby Wi-Fi access points, cell towers, and, with Consumers’ separate consent, precise geolocation, may be transmitted to the company when the Consumers use certain Services. In addition, for certain Services, postal codes and inferred locations using IP addresses may be transmitted to the company when Consumers use such Services.
4. Voice information: Recordings of Consumers’ voice that the company makes and collects on its servers when Consumers enable this function and use voice commands. The company also collects and stores recordings of Consumers’ voices when Consumers contact the company’s Customer Service team. If the company works with a third party service provider that provides speech-to-text conversion services or call center services on its behalf, this provider may also receive and store certain voice commands in accordance with the contract concluded between the company and the trusted third-party service provider.
5. Samsung Keyboard information: The words that Consumers type when they enable “Predictive text.” This feature may be offered in connection with their Samsung account to synchronize the data for use on their other Samsung mobile devices. Consumers can clear the data by going to the “Predictive text” settings.

Samsung also may obtain and use Consumer Personal Data in other ways for which the company provides specific notice at the time of collection.

Samsung’s privacy practices regarding the processing of Consumer Personal Data comply with the DPF Principles of Notice; Choice; Accountability for Onward Transfer; Security; Data Integrity and Purpose Limitation; Access; and Recourse, Enforcement and Liability.

Notice

Samsung provides information in this Policy and the Samsung Privacy Policy (https://www.samsung.com/us/account/privacy-policy/) about its Consumer Personal Data practices, including the types of Personal Data Samsung collects, the types of third parties to which Samsung discloses the Personal Data and the purposes for doing so, the rights and choices Consumers have for limiting the use and disclosure of their Personal Data and how to contact Samsung about its practices concerning Personal Data.

Relevant information also may be found in notices pertaining to specific data processing activities.

Choice

Samsung generally offers Consumers the opportunity to choose whether their Personal Data may be (i) disclosed to third-party Controllers or (ii) used for a purpose that is materially different from the purposes for which the information was originally collected or subsequently authorized by the relevant Consumer. To the extent required by the DPF Principles, Samsung obtains opt-in consent for certain uses and disclosures of Sensitive Data. Consumers may contact Samsung as indicated below regarding the company’s use or disclosure of their Personal Data. Unless Samsung offers Consumers an appropriate choice, the company uses Personal Data only for purposes that are materially the same as those indicated in this Policy.

Samsung shares Consumer Personal Data with its business partners and affiliates and subsidiaries. Samsung may disclose Consumer Personal Data without offering an opportunity to opt out, and may be required to disclose the Personal Data, (i) to third-party Processors the company has retained to perform services on its behalf and pursuant to its instructions, (ii) if it is required to do so by law or legal process, or (iii) in response to lawful requests from public authorities, including to meet national security, public interest or law enforcement requirements. Samsung also reserves the right to transfer Personal Data in the event of an audit or if the company sells or transfers all or a portion of its business or assets (including in the event of a merger, acquisition, joint venture, reorganization, dissolution or liquidation).

Accountability for Onward Transfer of Personal Data

This Policy and the Samsung Privacy Policy (https://www.samsung.com/us/account/privacy-policy/) describe Samsung’s sharing of Consumer Personal Data.

Except as permitted or required by applicable law, Samsung provides Consumers with an opportunity to opt out of sharing their Personal Data with third-party Controllers. Samsung requires third-party Controllers to whom it discloses Consumer Personal Data to contractually agree to (i) only process the Personal Data for limited and specified purposes consistent with the consent provided by the relevant Consumer, (ii) provide the same level of protection for Personal Data as is required by the DPF Principles, and (iii) notify Samsung and cease processing Personal Data (or take other reasonable and appropriate remedial steps) if the third-party Controller determines that it cannot meet its obligation to provide the same level of protection for Personal Data as is required by the DPF Principles.

With respect to transfers of Consumer Personal Data to third-party Processors, Samsung (i) enters into a contract with each relevant Processor, (ii) transfers Personal Data to each such Processor only for limited and specified purposes, (iii) ascertains that the Processor is obligated to provide the Personal Data with at least the same level of privacy protection as is required by the DPF Principles, (iv) takes reasonable and appropriate steps to ensure that the Processor effectively processes the Personal Data in a manner consistent with Samsung’s obligations under the DPF Principles, (v) requires the Processor to notify Samsung if the Processor determines that it can no longer meet its obligation to provide the same level of protection as is required by the DPF Principles, (vi) upon notice, including under (v) above, takes reasonable and appropriate steps to stop and remediate unauthorized processing of the Personal Data by the Processor, and (vii) provides a summary or representative copy of the relevant privacy provisions of the Processor contract to the Department of Commerce, upon request. Samsung remains liable under the DPF Principles if the company’s third-party Processor onward transfer recipients process relevant Personal Data in a manner inconsistent with the DPF Principles, unless Samsung proves that it is not responsible for the event giving rise to the damage.

Security

Samsung takes reasonable and appropriate measures to protect Consumer Personal Data from loss, misuse and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction, taking into account the risks involved in the processing and the nature of the Personal Data.

Data Integrity and Purpose Limitation

Samsung limits the Consumer Personal Data it processes to that which is relevant for the purposes of the particular processing. Samsung does not process Consumer Personal Data in ways that are incompatible with the purposes for which the information was collected or subsequently authorized by the relevant Consumer. In addition, to the extent necessary for these purposes, Samsung takes reasonable steps to ensure that the Personal Data the company processes is (i) reliable for its intended use, and (ii) accurate, complete and current. In this regard, Samsung relies on its Consumers to update and correct the relevant Personal Data to the extent necessary for the purposes for which the information was collected or subsequently authorized. Consumers may contact Samsung as indicated below to request that Samsung update or correct relevant Personal Data.

Subject to applicable law, Samsung retains Consumer Personal Data in a form that identifies or renders identifiable the relevant Consumer only for as long as it serves a purpose that is compatible with the purposes for which the Personal Data was collected or subsequently authorized by the Consumer.

Access

Consumers generally have the right to access their Personal Data. Accordingly, where appropriate, Samsung provides Consumers with reasonable access to the Personal Data Samsung maintains about them. Samsung also provides a reasonable opportunity for those Consumers to correct, amend or delete the information where it is inaccurate or has been processed in violation of the DPF Principles, as appropriate. Samsung may limit or deny access to Personal Data where the burden or expense of providing access would be disproportionate to the risks to the Consumer’s privacy in the case in question, or where the rights of persons other than the Consumer would be violated. Consumers may request access to their Personal Data by contacting Samsung as indicated below.

Recourse, Enforcement and Liability

Samsung has mechanisms in place designed to help assure compliance with the DPF Principles. Samsung conducts an annual self-assessment of its Consumer Personal Data practices to verify that the attestations and assertions Samsung makes about its DPF privacy practices are true and that Samsung’s privacy practices have been implemented as represented and in accordance with the DPF Principles.

Consumers may file a complaint concerning Samsung’s processing of their Personal Data. Samsung will take steps to remedy issues arising out of its alleged failure to comply with the DPF Principles. Consumers may contact Samsung as specified below about complaints regarding Samsung’s Consumer Personal Data practices.

If a Consumer’s complaint cannot be resolved through Samsung’s internal processes, Samsung will cooperate with International Centre for Dispute Resolution / American Arbitration Association (“ICDR/AAA“) pursuant to the ICDR/AAA DPF Program, which is described on the ICDR/AAA website at https://go.adr.org/dpf_irm.html. ICDR/AAA mediation may be commenced as provided for in the ICDR/AAA rules. Following the dispute resolution process, the mediator or the Consumer may refer the matter to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which has DPF investigatory and enforcement powers over Samsung. Under certain circumstances, Consumers also may be able to invoke binding arbitration to address complaints about Samsung’s compliance with the DPF Principles.

How to Contact Samsung

To contact Samsung with questions or concerns about this Policy or Samsung’s Consumer Personal Data practices:

Write to:
North America Privacy Office
Samsung Electronics America
85 Challenger Rd
Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660
E-mail: [email protected]