Privacy Policy - Pawsphere - A Community for Pet Lovers

Pawsphere Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 30 November 2018

Your privacy is very important to us. Please read below to see how Pawsphere handles information. Before you get to the details, here are a few of our fundamental privacy principles:

Public information you upload or post to Pawsphere may be seen by others.
We aggregate and de-identify certain information about our members to use for business purposes.
We give you several ways to control the privacy of your personal information and are continuously working to enhance privacy options available to you.

Pawsphere respects your privacy and shares your concern about the security of information you may submit to Pawsphere’s websites and the related mobile applications and services (collectively, the “Services”). Our privacy policy (the “Privacy Policy”) explains the information we collect, how we use and share it, how to manage your privacy settings and your rights in connection with the Services. Please also read the Terms of Service which sets out the terms governing the Services.

Pawsphere is headquartered in Vancouver and our Services are provided to you by Cleverlark Inc.

This policy was written in English. To the extent any translated version conflicts with the English version, the English version controls. Unless indicated otherwise, this Privacy Policy does not apply to third party products or services or the practices of companies that we do not own or control, including other companies you might interact with on or through the Services.

Questions or comments about this Privacy Policy may be submitted by email at pawprint@pawsphere.com.

We Collect, Use, Share and Otherwise Process Information

Pawsphere relies on a number of legal bases to collect, use, share, and otherwise process the information we have about you for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including:

as necessary to provide the Services and fulfill our obligations pursuant to the Terms of Service. For example, we cannot provide the Services unless we collect and use your location information;
where you have consented to the processing, which you can revoke at any time;
where necessary to comply with a legal obligation, a court order, or to exercise and defend legal claims;
to protect your vital interests, or those of others, such as in the case of emergencies;
where you have made the information public;
where necessary in the public interest; and
where necessary for the purposes of Pawsphere’s or a third party’s legitimate interests, such as those of visitors, members or partners.

Our Legitimate Interests

We process your information in furtherance of our legitimate interests, including:

providing and improving the Services, including any personalized Services. We do so as it is necessary to pursue our legitimate interests of providing and developing innovative and tailored offerings to our members on a sustained basis; and
keeping the Services safe and secure. We do so as it is necessary to pursue the legitimate interests of Pawsphere and its members in ensuring the Services are secure, and to protect against fraud, spam and abuse, etc.

Information Pawsphere Collects

Pawsphere collects information about you and your pet, including information that directly or indirectly identifies you, if you or your other members choose to share it with Pawsphere. We receive information in a few different ways, including when you complete or upload information using the Services. Pawsphere may also collect information about how you use the Services. There are also several opportunities for you to share information about yourself and your activities with Pawsphere. For example:

We collect basic account information such as name, email address, date of birth, gender and password that helps secure and provide you with access to our Services.
Profile and use information is collected about you when you choose to upload a picture, or post, view others’ posts, or otherwise use the Services.
We gather information from the photos, posts, comments, likes and other content you share on the Services.
To help us to provide you with the best possible service, you can choose to provide us with your contact information so we can better respond to your support requests and comments.
We collect information from your browser, computer, or mobile device, which provide us with technical information when you access or use the Services. This technical information includes device and network information, cookies, log files and analytics information.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

When you visit the Services, a cookie will be stored on your computer. Generally, cookies and similar technologies work by assigning to your browser or device a unique number that has no meaning outside of Pawsphere. Pawsphere uses these technologies to personalize your experience and to assist in delivering content specific to your interests.

Most browsers automatically accept cookies. To manage the collection of information through cookies or other equivalent technology you can use the settings on your browser or mobile device. Pawsphere is committed to providing you choices to manage your privacy and sharing. However, Pawsphere does not recognize or respond to browser-initiated Do Not Track signals, as the Internet industry has not fully developed Do Not Track standards, implementations and solutions. To learn more about Do Not Track signals, you can visit https://allaboutdnt.com. Not accepting cookies may make certain features of the Services unavailable to you. Pawsphere may also use your IP address to identify you, to administer the Services and to assist in diagnosing problems with Pawsphere’s servers.

Log Files

The Services use log files. Stored information includes IP addresses, browser type, Internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, and number of clicks. This information is used to analyze trends, administer, protect and secure the Services, track member movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses, etc., may be linked to session IDs and device identifiers.

How Pawsphere Uses Information

Pawsphere uses the information we collect and receive to administer and operate the Services and as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy.

We also use your information to analyze, develop and improve the Services. To do this, Pawsphere may use third party analytics providers to gain insights into how our Services are used and to help us improve the Services. We may also use your information to market the Services, credit or accept payments, provide support related to the Services, protect members and enforce our Terms of Service, promote safety, and communicate with you. Additionally, your information may be shared with third parties, as set forth below.

Pawsphere may de-identify or aggregate the content you make available in connection with the Services, in ways that do not personally identify you. Examples of such aggregated information or statistical data include information about usage and demographics. Pawsphere may use, sell, license, and share this information with third parties for research, business or other purposes such as to improve pet services.

We use your information to communicate with you about the Services, send you marketing communications (where you have agreed to receive such messages), or let you know about new features or updates to our Terms of Service. We also use your information to respond to you when you contact us. Pawsphere will use your information to communicate with you, for example by sending you notifications.

How Information is Shared

Service Providers

We may share your information with third parties who provide services to Pawsphere such as supporting and improving the Services, or promoting the Services. These service providers will only have access to the information necessary to perform these limited functions on our behalf and are required to protect and secure your information. We may also engage service providers to collect information about your use of the Services over time on our behalf so that we or they may promote Pawsphere or display information that may be relevant to your interests on the Services or other websites or services.

Publicly Available Information

Your public information and content will be publicly accessible.

Third Party Business via API or Other Integrations

When you choose to use third party apps, plug-ins, or websites that integrate with the Services, they may receive your information and content, including your personal information, photos, and account data. Information collected by these third parties is subject to their terms and policies. Pawsphere is not responsible for the terms or policies of third parties.

Affiliates and Acquirors of our Business or Assets

We may share your information with affiliates under common control with us, who are required to comply with the terms of this Privacy Policy with regard to your information. If Pawsphere becomes involved in a business combination, securities offering, bankruptcy, reorganization, dissolution or other similar transaction, we may share or transfer your information in connection with such transaction.

Legal Requirements

We may preserve and share your information with third parties, including law enforcement, public or governmental agencies, or private litigants, within or outside your country of residence, if we determine that such disclosure is reasonably necessary to comply with the law, including to respond to court orders, warrants, subpoenas, or other legal or regulatory process. We may also retain, preserve or disclose your information if we determine that disclosure is reasonably necessary or appropriate to prevent any person from death or serious bodily injury, to address issues of national security or other issues of public importance, to prevent or detect violations of our Terms of Service or fraud or abuse of Pawsphere or its members, or to protect our operations or our property or other legal rights, including by disclosure to our legal counsel and other consultants and third parties in connection with actual or potential litigation.

How We Protect Information

We take several measures to safeguard the collection, transmission and storage of the data we collect. Although we strive to employ reasonable protections for your information that are appropriate to its sensitivity, we do not guarantee or warrant the security of the information you share with us and we are not responsible for the theft, destruction, loss or inadvertent disclosure of your information or content. No system is 100% secure. The Services uses industry standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology to allow for the encryption of personal information.

To help ensure that these measures are effective in preventing unauthorized access to your private information, you should be aware of the security features available to you through your browser. You should use a security-enabled browser to submit your credit card information and other personal information at the Services. Please note that if you do not use a SSL-capable browser, you are at risk for having data intercepted.

Most browsers have the ability to notify you if you change between secure and insecure communications, receive invalid services identification information for the Services you are communicating with, or send information over an unsecured connection. Pawsphere recommends that you enable these browser functions to help ensure that your communications are secure. You can also monitor the URL of the services you are visiting (secure URLs begin with https:// rather than http://), along with the security symbol of your browser to help identify when you are communicating with a secure server. You can also view the details of the security certificate of the services to which you are connected. Please check the validity of any Services you connect to using secure communications.

Disclaimer

WHILE PAWSPHERE CONTINUES TO WORK HARD TO PROTECT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION, NO DATA TRANSMISSION OVER THE INTERNET CAN BE GUARANTEED TO BE ABSOLUTELY SECURE, AND PAWSPHERE CANNOT ENSURE OR WARRANT THE SECURITY OF ANY INFORMATION YOU TRANSMIT TO PAWSPHERE. TRANSMITTING PERSONAL INFORMATION IS DONE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Managing Your Settings

Adjust Notification and Email Preferences

Pawsphere offers various ways to manage the notifications you receive. You can choose to stop receiving certain emails and notifications by indicating your preference at https://pawsphere.com/account-settings. You may also unsubscribe by following the instructions contained at the bottom of each type of email. Any administrative or service-related emails (to confirm a purchase, or an update to this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service, etc.) generally do not offer an option to unsubscribe, as they are necessary to provide the Services you requested.

Updating Account Information

You may correct, amend or update profile or account information that is inaccurate at any time by adjusting that information in your account settings. If you need further assistance, please contact Pawsphere at pawprint@pawsphere.com. Pawsphere will generally respond to your request within 7-10 business days.

Deleting Information and Accounts

You may request that your account is deleted by contacting pawprint@pawsphere.com. Once deleted, your data, including your account, cannot be reinstated.

Note that content you have shared with others or that others have copied may also remain visible after you have deleted your account or deleted the information from your own profile. Your public profile may be displayed in search engine results until the search engine refreshes its cache.

Transfers

The Services are operated from servers in the United States. If you are located outside of the United States and choose to use the Services or provide information to us, you acknowledge and understand that your information will be transferred, processed and stored in the United States, as it is necessary to provide the Services and perform the Terms of Service. United States privacy laws may not be as protective as those in your jurisdiction.

Retention of Information

We retain information as long as it is necessary to provide the Services to you and others, subject to any legal obligations to further retain such information. Information associated with your account will generally be kept until it is no longer necessary to provide the Services or until you ask us to delete it or your account is deleted whichever comes first. Following your deletion of your account, it may take up to 30 days to fully delete your personal information and system logs from our systems. Additionally, we may retain information from deleted accounts to comply with the law, prevent fraud, collect fees, resolve disputes, troubleshoot problems, assist with investigations, enforce the Terms of Service and take other actions permitted by law. The information we retain will be handled in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Information about you that is no longer necessary and relevant to provide our Services may be de-identified and aggregated with other non-personal data to provide insights which are commercially valuable to Pawsphere, such as statistics of the use of the Services. This information will be de-associated with your name and other identifiers.

Privacy Policy Information

Pawsphere reserves the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Please review it occasionally. If Pawsphere makes changes to this Privacy Policy, the updated Privacy Policy will be posted on the Services in a timely manner and, if we make material changes, we will provide a prominent notice. If you object to any of the changes to this Privacy Policy, you should stop using the Services and delete your account.