VIZIO Privacy Policy
Effective as of: June 1, 2024
Introduction
Please take time to read this Privacy Policy. Your privacy is a priority to VIZIO, and VIZIO takes responsible measures to protect it.
This Privacy Policy applies to information collected by VIZIO, Inc. and its affiliates, (“VIZIO”, “we,” or “us,” interchangeably) through the following sites, products, services, devices and mobile applications:
· the VIZIO.com website (“Site”);
· the VIZIO Mobile Application (“Mobile App”);
· User services provided by VIZIO, such as ad-supported live and on-demand streaming services (known as WatchFree+), VIZIO’s Smart TV operating system, VIZIO Account, and VIZIOgram (which are collectively referred to as the “Services” unless otherwise noted); and
· smart devices – such as Smart TVs powered by VIZIO’s operating system, soundbars, displays, and other connected devices – through which VIZIO delivers its Services (which are collectively referred to as the “Smart Products” unless otherwise noted).
This Privacy Policy describes the types of information we may collect from or about you, our practices for collecting, using, maintaining, and disclosing that information, and your rights in connection with that information.
By accessing and using the VIZIO Site, Mobile App, Services, and/or Smart Products, you agree to accept the terms and conditions of this Privacy Policy, and you consent to the use and disclosure of the information collected by VIZIO according to this Privacy Policy. You also acknowledge that you are aware that this policy may change over time. The VIZIO.com website (VIZIO.com/privacy) contains the most current version of this Privacy Policy.
I. How We Collect Your Information
A. Information You Provide to Us
B. Other Information We Collect
C. Cookies and Other Similar Technologies
D. Tracking and Tailored Advertising
IV. Consumer Controls for the Handling of Information
VI. VIZIOgram Feature for Mobile Application and Smart TV
VII. Policy Revisions and Contacting VIZIO
This Privacy Policy does not apply to the practices of any company or individual that VIZIO does not control. This Privacy Policy does not apply to non-VIZIO applications, Web services, or tools that you download or access from Smart Products (including third-party services or applications accessed through your Smart Products). You should review the privacy policies of these applications and services to learn more about their privacy practices, which may differ significantly from VIZIO's.
I. How We Collect Your Information
A. Information You Provide to Us
VIZIO collects certain information that you provide to us – for example, when you visit the Site, when you purchase and/or register a Smart Product, when you sign up for Services such as VIZIO Account and when you engage with VIZIO such as interacting with Customer Support, entering a contest or sweepstakes, or submitting a privacy request.
- Making Purchases from VIZIO. If you make a purchase, such as through the Site or through apps on our Services, our payment processors collect your transaction information to fulfill your order(s). We will also collect your personal information in connection with the products you purchase.
- Registering a Product. When you register a product, either online or through your VIZIO device, we collect the information you provide to us, including your contact information and information about the product(s) you register, including product type, model number, and serial number.
- Creating a VIZIO Account. To create a VIZIO Account, we collect basic contact information such as your name, email address, zip code, and telephone number; and we ask you to create a login credential by setting a password. You may also create a VIZIO Account using social networking sites (such as Facebook, Apple, or Google) or via the Site, VIZIO Mobile App, or on other VIZIO products and services. If you sign up for a VIZIO Account with a third-party account (such as Facebook, Apple, or Google), this third-party ID will be associated with your VIZIO Account. You may also provide your login credentials for participating third-party devices, applications, or third-party services. We may collect other information as necessary to support your uses of your VIZIO Account. For instance, you can choose to associate your VIZIO Account with a payment method to facilitate purchases of third-party content or services on a Smart TV, in which case we will collect address and payment details necessary to complete the transaction.
- Interacting with Customer Support. If you contact customer support, whether through email, online chat, SMS, or by phone, we collect the information you provide to us, including your contact information and information about your customer service inquiry, which we may associate with information about your Smart Product or your purchase history to help resolve your inquiry.
- Engaging with VIZIO in Other Ways. You may interact with and provide information to VIZIO in other ways, such as when you complete a survey; enter a contest, giveaway, or sweepstakes that VIZIO has offered; post to the Site; choose to hear from us; participate in VIZIO's marketing or promotion campaigns; or inquire about warranty services. When you do so, we collect the information you provide to us such as your contact information.
- Submitting requests to us to correct, access or delete your information. If you submit a privacy request to correct, access or delete your information, we will collect your contact information and other information as needed to respond to your request.
B. Other Information We Collect
VIZIO collects certain information when you interact with the Site, the Mobile App, Services, or Smart Products. The information includes the following:
- Interacting with our Site and advertisements. We automatically collect information (such as web server logs) when you interact with our Site or advertisements. For more details about the types of information we collect, please see our section on cookies and other similar technology below.
- Operational and other technical data. VIZIO collects operational and other technical data from and about Smart Products, including device identifiers when you use the Site, Mobile App, or Services. This includes information such as IP and MAC addresses, Wi-Fi access points, product model numbers, hardware and software versions, chipset IDs, region, subscription information, language settings, and information from and about the devices you connect to your Smart Products. VIZIO collects any “friendly name” assigned by you to the Smart Product. We also collect operational data from your mobile device if you connect to our Site, use the Mobile App, or use the Services or other content.
- Activity Data. VIZIO collects data from Smart Products about your interactions with those Smart Products and Services. We refer to this data as “Activity Data”. This Activity Data will be stored on your Smart Product and on our servers; and it includes data regarding volume, channel information, picture controls, inputs, and other information – like when the Smart Product is off or on or if content was viewed live or at a later time. It also includes clicks and commands sent from your Voice Remote to the Smart TV or display, information concerning the use and performance of your Smart Products, your impressions and interactions with advertising and content on your Smart Product, your preferences and usage information collected from Smart Products, or information that may be shared with VIZIO by the select third-party applications installed on or integrated with the Smart Product (subject to their privacy policies and agreements with you).
- This Activity Data is used to suggest relevant content, and to inform relevant ad placements in some of the apps on the Smart TV.
- Activity Data is associated with identifiers for the Smart TV, such as advertising ID or IP address, but it is not associated with individual names, emails, or contact information unless you have a VIZIO Account that is opted-in to Viewing Data. For VIZIO Accounts opted in to Viewing Data, we may use Activity Data in conjunction with Viewing Data to help recommend content and services or to tailor ads to you.
- We may share impressions and click data in summary reports with select partners with whom we have a relationship. For further detail on the use and sharing of Activity Data, please refer to the information below under II. Using Your Information and III. Sharing Your Information.
- Activity Data collection is required for enabling Smart TV functionality. If you change your mind about accepting the collection of Activity Data, please see the text below under IV. Consumer Controls for the Handling of Information.
- Viewing Data. TVs powered by VIZIO’s Smart TV operating system contain technology such as Automated Content Recognition (“ACR”) that can collect data about what is being played on the Smart TV (“Viewing Data”). If you enable this Viewing Data technology, the Smart TV will use video and audio data to recognize what is playing and communicate that information to VIZIO in order to recommend content or to tailor and facilitate advertisements, as described further in this Policy under II. Using Your Information. Certain Viewing Data when enabled is also shared with third parties as described further in this Policy under III. Sharing Your Information.
- Viewing Data includes information about the audio and video programming content playing, such as television programs, advertisements, or other commercially available content. It may also include data about the Smart TV such as volume, channel information, picture controls, inputs, and other information – like when the Smart TV is off or on, or if content was viewed live or at a later time.
- Viewing Data can include the identity of your broadcast, cable, or satellite TV provider; an Over the Top (OTT) device connected to your Smart TV; other devices connected to your Smart TV; or third-party streaming services or applications that you connect to your Smart TV and related content such as movies, TV shows, episodes, and channels.
- Viewing Data is associated with a unique number that we assign and the IP address for the Smart Product. Viewing Data may also be associated with your VIZIO Account (if any) and other personal information (if collected).
- Prior to collecting Viewing Data, each Smart Product will receive (i) a notification, explaining the nature and purpose of the feature, separate and apart from this Privacy Policy (ii) an opportunity to choose whether to turn on Viewing Data and (iii) instructions on how to disable the feature.
- At any time, you may change your Viewing Data settings within the Settings menu of your Smart TV or display. Turning it off will not affect the performance of your Smart TV or display or any online services. For specific instructions on how to turn on/off Viewing Data, see the text below under IV. Consumer Controls for the Handling of Information.
- VIZIO Mobile App Data. If you use the VIZIO Mobile App on your iOS or Android mobile device, VIZIO collects information about your interactions with the Mobile App (“Mobile App Data”). Mobile App Data includes your mobile device identifier, information about your mobile device operating system and specifications, commands and selections that you make on the app, information about paired Smart TVs or other paired Smart Products (if any), and information about any VIZIO Account that is logged in to the Mobile App.
If you use the VIZIO Mobile App to stream content directly to your mobile device, VIZIO will collect information about the audio and video programming content that is streaming through the Mobile App. Prior to collecting this information about streaming content, VIZIO will present you with a separate notice explaining the information collected, the purposes of the collection, and instructions for how to disassociate your VIZIO Account from the information about the content streamed.
You can disassociate Mobile App Data from your VIZIO Account at any time within the Settings menu of the VIZIO Mobile App. You may also avoid collection of any Mobile App Data if you choose not to use the VIZIO Mobile App. The VIZIO Mobile App is not required to use your Smart TV.
- VIZIOgram Content. If you use the VIZIOgram feature of the VIZIO Mobile App, VIZIO may collect certain photographs, videos, and related data that you elect to share in VIZIOgram (“VIZIOgram Content”). VIZIO uses VIZIOgram Content strictly to fulfill the VIZIOgram service and not for advertising. For additional information, please refer to the information below in section VI. VIZIOgram Feature for Mobile App and Smart TV.
- VIZIO Voice Remote. The VIZIO voice remote lets you control your Smart TV and use many of its features with voice commands. You can activate the VIZIO voice remote either through the VIZIO Mobile App or the Bluetooth-enabled VIZIO remote. Some of your voice commands may be transmitted to a third-party service provider that will translate your voice command into text to provide the VIZIO voice remote features. We may also capture and collect voice commands and associated text(s) in order to provide the VIZIO voice remote and evaluate and improve the VIZIO voice remote features. VIZIO will only capture voice commands when you press the microphone button on your VIZIO voice remote or within the Mobile App and speak into the microphone on the remote control or mobile phone. You may disable the VIZIO voice feature for your remote at any time by unpairing your Bluetooth remote. VIZIO will not use voice data for biometric analysis. (Note that not all VIZIO remote controls have the VIZIO voice remote feature).
- Geolocation data. VIZIO collects information transmitted from your IP addresses, Wi-Fi access points, and cell towers that are utilized and accessed from Smart Products or mobile devices using the Mobile App to assist in determining the approximate location of the Smart Product or mobile device. VIZIO collects such approximate geolocation data at a zip code level, with no geolocation of devices at a more precise level. Third parties may have more specific location data if you agreed to allow location tracking for such third-party services.
C. Cookies and Other Similar Technologies on the Web
VIZIO uses cookies and similar technologies to automatically collect information from your device about your use of the Site, Mobile App, and Services, as well as your interaction with the advertisements that VIZIO places on the Site and elsewhere. VIZIO also uses cookies and other similar technologies to provide additional functionality relating to its Services.
Cookies. By using cookies, we can measure how you have interacted with the Site and our advertisements. Cookies allow us to remember that you logged into the Site using your username and password, so you are not asked to re-enter your log-in information each time you visit the Site. Our third-party partners also use cookies and similar technologies to understand how you interact with our Site and advertisements to measure audience engagement. This means that we and our partners may collect your browser type, unique identifiers, geolocation, web pages visited, duration of visit, content viewed, advertisements viewed, and other click-stream data. We and our third-party partners may use cookies to serve ads when you visit other sites. Your browser contains features to help you manage, remove, or prevent placement of cookies. Some of these service providers participate in industry-developed programs designed to provide consumers with choices about whether to receive targeted advertising. Please visit the websites operated by the Network Advertising Initiative and Digital Advertising Alliance to learn more.
Most browsers allow individuals to automatically decline cookies or be given the choice of declining or accepting a particular cookie (or cookies) from a particular website. Please refer to http://www.allaboutcookies.org/manage-cookies/index.html for more information. Declining certain cookies may cause certain parts of VIZIO’s Site and/or Services to cease working.
Pixel tags. Pixel tags (also known as web beacons and clear GIFs) may be used to, among other things, measure the success of VIZIO’s marketing campaigns and compile statistics about usage of the Site and Services and response rates (for example, recording how many e-mails in a campaign were opened). Pixel tags may also be used in connection with our third-party partners to collect similar types of information as outlined in the section on cookies, above.
Flash LSOs. VIZIO may use Flash LSOs and other technologies to, among other things, collect and store information about your use of the products / services. If you do not want Flash LSOs stored on your computer, you can adjust the settings of your Flash player to block Flash LSO storage using the tools contained in the Website Storage Settings Panel. You can also follow the instructions (which may explain, for example, how to delete existing Flash LSOs, how to prevent Flash LSOs from being placed on your computer without you being asked, and how to block Flash LSOs that are not being delivered by the operator of the page you are on at the time). Please note that setting the Flash Player to restrict or limit acceptance of Flash LSOs may reduce or impede the functionality of some Flash applications.
Site and Product Analytics. VIZIO may use third party analytics companies, such as Adobe Analytics and/or Google Analytics, which use cookies and similar technologies to collect and analyze information about use of the products / services and report on activities and trends. This service may also collect information regarding the use of other websites, apps, and online resources. Learn more about Google’s practices.
Website Functionality.
We use cookies to operate the Site and provide Site functionality, for example to enable you to browse this Site and use some of its features (like search and checkout).
We use cookies to help customers make purchases when items are no longer in-stock on the VIZIO Site. These cookies and similar technologies help us locate out-of-stock items at other locations and direct customers to those locations for purchase.
D. Tracking and Tailored Advertising on Your VIZIO Smart Product, Mobile App, or Services
VIZIO may collect or receive information from a VIZIO Smart Product, Mobile App, or Service, which may be used to provide you with advertising from VIZIO or from third parties. The advertising may be personalized and tailored to your individual interests, based upon your interactions with the device, app, or service.
For example, VIZIO may present to you customized and/or personalized ads on the Smart TV, on the Mobile App, in the Services, or on third party devices, based upon your Activity Data and your Viewing Data (if opted-in), enhanced with demographic, location, and other attribute data that we license from third-party data sources. Further, VIZIO may use pixels in connection with third parties to facilitate tailored advertising and to track the effectiveness of our advertising efforts.
Please see below under IV. Consumer Controls for the Handling of Information about your choices and technical options for limiting or managing online tracking and tailored advertising and for the exercise of other consumer privacy rights.
II. Using Your Information
VIZIO uses information collected for the following purposes:
- To fulfill your requests. We will use your information to fulfill your purchases of products and services, to fulfill your requests for information about your interactions with us, and to resolve customer support requests.
- To learn more about you. We will use your information, such as IP Address, device ID, email address, or telephone number to learn more about the users of our Site, Services, the Mobile App and Smart Products. We may use such information to receive data from other companies, such as consumer data resellers, who are in the business of collecting or aggregating information about you sourced from publicly available databases (in line with local legal requirements as applicable) or from consent you have given to their use and subsequently our use of your information. This might be information about your income level, age, gender, number of people in your household, and products you have bought on the Internet or from stores in your neighborhood. For example, we may securely match hashed email addresses or telephone numbers with third party data brokers or agencies, who can only see an email address or number if it’s already known to them, so that they can provide demographic and other attribute data associated with that record in their databases.
- To communicate with you. We will use your information to respond to you when you contact us and to communicate with you about your VIZIO products, special offers, marketing and/or services.
- To market and promote products and services to you. We will use your information to market and promote information about VIZIO products, features, events, and/or other services that may be of interest to you, both from VIZIO and VIZIO’s third-party partners, such as extended warranty services. You will always have the opportunity to “opt-out” of electronic marketing communications by unsubscribing or otherwise declining to receive further communications. You also can control certain advertising uses and disclosures through your VIZIO Account (if any) and in the Settings of your Smart TV.
- To provide for the integrity and availability of the Site and our Services. We automatically collect information about your interactions with the Site, Services, the Mobile App and Smart Products or security purposes, to facilitate navigation, and to display information more effectively on the Site, Services, the Mobile App and Smart Products.
- To maintain or support the VIZIO Site, Services, Mobile App and Smart Products. We use your information to provide and maintain the VIZIO Site, Services, the Mobile App and Smart Products. For example, we may provide firmware updates to Smart Products, assist with connecting those Smart Products to the internet or to other devices (i.e., speakers, tablets, or smartphones), and otherwise support the operation of Smart Devices.
- To improve products and services. We will use information collected to improve and enhance the VIZIO Site, Services, the Mobile App and Smart Products, and to develop new products, services, features, and functionality.
- To advertise. We use the information we have to improve our advertising and measurement systems so we can show you relevant ads on your Smart TV including when you use our ad supported WatchFree+ streaming service. We will use information collected to send tailored advertising, including via email or text messages. Advertisements shown on our Site, the Mobile App, on Smart TV, or on third party websites or applications may be tailored to your individual interests or attributes.
- To personalize our features and services to your preferences. Information about how you use our online services is then connected with other information you give us to personalize your experience. We will use your information to personalize your experience interacting with the VIZIO Site, customer support, our Mobile App, or your Smart TV, for example, recommend content we think you’ll like or show content relevant to where you live.
- To conduct analytics. We use personal information collected to measure performance and analyze key metrics relevant to our business. We sometimes enhance personal information with demographic and other attribute data to help us better understand our customers and their preferences. We use information such as IP Address, device ID, and email address when we measure the overall, aggregate effectiveness, viewership, and reach of ads and services for ourselves and our ad partners.
- To ensure security and prevent fraud. We use personal information collected to protect, investigate, and deter fraudulent, unauthorized, infringing, or illegal activity.
- To support legal functions. We will compile metrics about the requests VIZIO receives to delete, access, or correct information, or to limit the handling of information.
- As required by applicable law, legal process, or regulation.
III. Sharing Your Information
Sharing with Corporate Affiliates. Information collected from or about you may be accessed or shared within the family of VIZIO companies to operate the Site, Services, the Mobile App, and Smart Products; to perform data analytics; to design and execute advertising and marketing campaigns; to conduct product management; and/or to engineer or improve and develop new products or services.
Sharing with Service Providers and Vendors. VIZIO may share information with other companies that provide services to us, our business partners, and advertisers. For example, we may share telephone or email information to resolve customer support inquiries, payment information with our third-party payment processor to assist us in our billing efforts, and IP address and advertising identifiers with service providers to assist in our advertising and marketing efforts.
Sharing with Application Partners and Other Third Parties. VIZIO may share information such as clicks and impressions collected from Smart Products, the Mobile App, the Site, or Services with our application partners, content providers, or other third parties with whom we have a relationship.
- At Your Direction. Some of the content and applications accessible through a Smart TV, display, or service may be provided by third parties even where the items appear to be hosted by VIZIO, such as content you stream by interacting with the Mobile App or Smart Products. For instance, voice commands and data may be collected and used by the third-party apps associated with your voice activated device (subject to the third-party privacy policies and agreements with you). When you access these third parties’ online content or services, your information may be transmitted to them under the terms of your agreements or relationships with them.
The policies described in this VIZIO Privacy Policy do not apply to these parties, which may have their own privacy policies.
Sharing with Advertisers and Advertising Partners. VIZIO may share information collected from the Site, Services, Smart Products, or the Mobile App with our advertising partners to show you ads that we think may interest you. For example, VIZIO, together with third-party advertising partners, may display advertisements from other companies on Smart Products and Services and/or on other websites outside of the VIZIO platform. These advertisements may allow users to interact with them or click through them to applications or other properties owned or operated by other companies. These advertisers and their service providers may use pixel tags and similar technologies to collect information from or about you to tailor advertisements, measure advertising effectiveness, or enable other enhancements. We may also compile and provide reports, including in aggregated or de-identified forms, to advertisers about the reach, viewership, and effectiveness of their campaigns. We use information to help our ad partners to reach the desired audience and improve their ad campaigns.
Sharing with Audience Measurement Providers. VIZIO may share information collected from the Site, Services, Smart Products, or the Mobile App with advertising measurement providers to help us and our advertisers understand the effectiveness of ad campaigns, including the audience that saw their ads and how they responded. These measurement providers collect or receive information such as Ad Id, IP address, and whether you viewed or interacted with an ad.
Information Posted on VIZIO.com or corporate social media sites administered by VIZIO. Where applicable, if you post user comments or engage in similar activity, please remember that anything you post may be publicly available. In other words, publicly displayed information is public. For example, if you post a review at VIZIO.com, your username may also be available to other users or visitors. Any such postings or submissions to VIZIO will be public and will not be considered private or confidential information. VIZIO does not control, and is not responsible for, the actions of other users of the VIZIO Site with respect to any information you post. In addition, contact information if any that you post may be collected and used by others to send you unsolicited messages and for other purposes.
Sharing Viewing Data with Data Partners. VIZIO associates Viewing Data with other data about the performance, settings, or features of a particular Smart TV. Our authorized cloud service providers may store this data solely on our behalf and for no other purposes.
We may share Viewing Data with vendors, consultants and service providers who work on our behalf and make our business-to-business activities in digital advertising possible.
In addition, we also license Viewing Data to advertisers, ad agencies, analytics companies, media companies, and other ad technology companies who measure ad effectiveness or aid with the personalization of ads.
When VIZIO licenses Viewing Data to these external data partners, VIZIO prohibits them from combining or associating the Viewing Data with any information that would result in the Viewing Data becoming identifiable to individual persons, unless those data partners have received separate permissions from users (such as when users sign up with partners for audience surveys).
Viewing Data is used for the purposes listed below:
- Summary Analytics and Reports. VIZIO’s select data partners analyze Viewing Data to create summary reports to help deliver relevant information and advertising to interested groups of consumers. These summary reports are built from automated analysis of data elements, without connecting the information to any known natural person.
For example, a data partner who is an advertiser may want to measure the effectiveness of their promotions, in the aggregate. Thus, the data partner may identify another device that shares an IP address with the Smart TV and analyze: (a) whether a particular website was viewed, or commercial location was visited by a device with location tracking enabled (e.g., a smartphone) after a related promotion was viewed, and (b) whether a particular program was viewed following exposure to a promotion for that program. In addition, some data partners are authorized to use a third-party data aggregator to identify demographic or other attributes or traits (such as gender, age range, income range, or behavioral data) associated with the IP addresses that VIZIO collects, and the data aggregator may provide partners the demographic information associated with those addresses.
- Audience Measurement. VIZIO and select data partners may use Viewing Data to understand what customers watch in order to deliver more relevant content and advertising, for example, by determining which programs are most popular, how many people watch a program to its conclusion, and whether and how often people watch commercials. VIZIO and select data partners may also combine Viewing Data with other demographic and similar information, including by working with data aggregators.
- Tailored Advertisements. VIZIO also licenses Viewing Data to select data partners for the purpose of targeting and tailoring the advertising you see on your Smart TV or across various VIZIO and third-party platforms or devices, including other devices associated with your IP Address, device ID, email address, or VIZIO Account on the basis of your Viewing Data. VIZIO or its data partners are sometimes authorized to enhance Viewing Data with household demographic data and data about digital actions (e.g., digital purchases, location, and other consumer behavior taken by devices associated with the IP Address VIZIO collects), for the purpose of delivering relevant advertising that are likely to be useful or timely, including during broadcast, cable, satellite, or internet-based television programming.
Sharing Mobile App Data with Data Partners
VIZIO may share Mobile App Data with its vendors, consultants, and service providers who work on our behalf and make business-to-business activities in digital advertising possible.
VIZIO may also share Mobile App Data to analytics companies, media companies, advertisers, ad agencies, and other ad technology companies who measure ad effectiveness or aid with the personalization of ads.
When VIZIO licenses Mobile App Data to these external data partners, VIZIO prohibits them from combining or associating the Mobile App Data with any information that would result in the Mobile App Data becoming identifiable to individual persons, unless those data partners have received separate permissions from you (such as when you give permission to partners in connection with audience surveys).
Like Viewing Data, Mobile App Data may be used for summary analytics and reports, audience measurement, and tailored advertisements.
Matching of Viewing Data with Activity Data, Mobile App Data, and Other Information.
VIZIO may combine information about you collected by VIZIO (including Activity Data, Viewing Data, or Mobile App Data) with other information that you provide to VIZIO (such as your email address or your VIZIO Account information) in order to provide you with a more personalized experience on your Smart TV, your VIZIO Mobile App, or other display. For example, VIZIO may use this information to market VIZIO’s products and services and recommend content. VIZIO may also use this information to improve or modify its goods and services to better meet VIZIO’s customers’ needs.
VIZIO may also match your data with VIZIO’s partners’ data to help market VIZIO’s products or services to you and or to provide advertising tailored to your individual interests based on your viewing history or how you browse and shop online.
VIZIO will also email you targeted advertisements and personalized marketing emails based upon your Viewing Data, Activity Data, Mobile App Data, and demographic or and other attribute information.
You can change opt-out of tailored marketing or advertising at any time by following the instructions described under IV. Consumer Controls for the Handling of Information.
Other Circumstances for Disclosing Information. VIZIO will disclose information as required by law, or if any of the following applies in VIZIO’s judgment:
- It is necessary to respond to lawful governmental requests or legal processes (for example, a court order, search warrant, or subpoena).
- The information is relevant to a crime that has been or is being committed.
- An emergency exists that poses a threat to your safety or the safety of another person, or it is necessary to protect the rights or property of VIZIO or VIZIO’s employees.
- If the ownership of VIZIO, Inc. or an affiliate or their respective assets changes as a result of a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or in the unlikely event of bankruptcy, information may be transferred to another company. That company may only use information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
International Transfers. VIZIO is a company headquartered in Irvine, California in the United States. If you are located outside of the United States, please be aware that any information VIZIO collects may be processed and transferred to the United States and be subject to U.S. law. By using VIZIO products and services or providing VIZIO with any information, you consent to the collection, processing, maintenance, and transfer of such information to and in the U.S. Only US residents are eligible to create a VIZIO Account.
IV. Consumer Controls for the Handling of Information
Controlling Your Email Marketing Choices. You may choose to stop receiving marketing emails or at any time by following the instructions in those messages (often it will be a notice or link at the bottom of the message). You may also change your email preferences at any time in your VIZIO Account settings. If you opt out, we may still send you non-marketing emails, such as emails about your VIZIO Account, third party subscriptions, payments for programming or other services, customer support requests, and our business dealings with you, or, as allowed by applicable law.
Controlling Your Advertising Choices. You may choose to stop receiving personalized ads on your Smart TV by turning on the Limited Ad Tracking setting in the Settings menu.
You can also reset the Advertising Identifier of your Smart TV by choosing “Reset Advertiser ID” in the sidebar menu. If you reset the Advertiser ID on your Smart TV, the current Advertiser ID will be replaced with a new one. You will still receive personalized ads if you reset your Advertiser ID, but the ads will not be personalized based on data collected and associated with your Smart TV before you reset the TV Advertiser ID. Ads will be personalized based on data collected after you reset the Smart TV Advertiser ID.
Please note that VIZIO only controls the ads served by its platform. You may still receive tailored ads from other application partners based on your relationship with those various application partners.
To learn more about your advertising choices please visit: Ads & Privacy FAQ. You can also view Advertising & Privacy FAQ on your Smart TV by visiting the About page located in Extras.
Controlling your VIZIO Texts from VIZIO’s Short Messaging Service (SMS). You may opt to receive SMS texts from VIZIO’s Customer Support. If at any time you wish to stop receiving text messages from VIZIO, please follow the instructions provided within the text message or as described in the VIZIO SMS Terms of Service.
Controlling How Smart Products Collect Your Data.
Users of VIZIO products and services have several ways to manage the information collected from or associated with your device or account:
- VIZIO Mobile App and VIZIO Account. You may use your VIZIO Account to connect to the VIZIO Mobile App. You may also sign into VIZIO Mobile App using a social networking credential (such as Facebook, Apple ID).
- Mobile App Data. If you have agreed to the association of Mobile App Data to your VIZIO Account, you can change this in the Settings menu of your VIZIO Mobile App, which will cause any Mobile App Data we have collected to be deidentified and disassociated from your VIZIO Account.
- Activity Data. Prior to collecting Activity Data, the Smart TV applications will show a notification explaining the nature and purpose of the Activity Data collection, separate and apart from this Privacy Policy. Activity Data collection is required for enabling Smart TV functionality. If you change your mind about accepting the collection of Activity Data, you can reset your Smart TV to factory settings.
- Viewing Data. VIZIO collect Viewing Data from your Smart TV or display only if you agree to the activation of this feature on your device. Thereafter, you will have the option to change the setting for Viewing Data collection off or on from the Settings menu of your Smart TV. Turning Viewing Data off will not affect the performance of your Smart TV but will trigger the deletion of historical logs of Viewing Data for the Smart TV from VIZIO’s database. For textual as well as graphical instructions on how to turn Viewing Data off or on, visit the Viewing Data Supplement to this Privacy Policy. If you are unable to locate the Viewing Data setting on your Smart TV or display, contact VIZIO by emailing or calling (855) 472-8817. Please note that if your Smart TV or display is ever reset to factory settings, the Smart TV or display will return to its default settings, and Viewing Data will be reset to the “OFF” position. You may again turn the feature on by following the procedure described above.
- Turning the Viewing Data feature off or on will affect only the Smart TV or display where you have made that selection. When you turn off the collection of Viewing Data (if it was previously turned on), logs of Viewing Data will be deleted from our database.
- However, even if Viewing Data is turned off, Activity Data will still be collected if you wish to continue using Smart TV functionality, and information other than Viewing Data will still be collected from you when you separately provide such information, such as when you submit a support request or participate in a promotion and from other sources as described elsewhere in this Privacy Policy.
How You Can Access, Correct or Remove Information. If you desire access to view, correct or remove your personal information, please fill out our Privacy Web Form or call (855) 472-8817. If you request removal of personal information, you acknowledge that residual information may continue to reside in VIZIO’s records and archives, but VIZIO will not use that information going forward for commercial purposes. VIZIO reserves the right to maintain information if VIZIO has suspended, limited, or terminated your access to the VIZIO Site, Services, the Mobile App, or Smart Products for violating any applicable Terms of Use or Terms of Service. This paragraph does not apply to information that cannot be reasonably used to identify you. VIZIO reserves the right to refuse to process data removal requests that are impractical or jeopardize the privacy of others.
If you are a California resident, learn more about the privacy controls available to you.
If you are a Virginia resident, learn more about the privacy controls available to you.
V. Other Practices
How Long VIZIO Stores the Information Collected. VIZIO will retain information for as long as needed or permitted in light of the purpose(s) for which it was obtained. The criteria used to determine VIZIO’s retention periods include: (i) the length of time VIZIO has an ongoing relationship with the customer and provide VIZIO’s products and services; (ii) whether there is a legal obligation to which VIZIO is subject; and (iii) whether retention is advisable in light of VIZIO’s legal position (such as in regard to applicable statutes of limitations, litigation, or regulatory investigations). Please note that if or when you turn off collection of Viewing Data (if it was previously turned on), logs of Viewing Data will be deleted from our database.
How VIZIO Protects the Information Collected. VIZIO uses reasonable and appropriate measures designed and maintained to safeguard information within VIZIO’s organization. Unfortunately, no data transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. To help protect your information, we recommend consumers follow best practices for internet activities, including proactive password management and router security protocols.
Handling of Minors’ Data. VIZIO recognizes that parents, guardians, or other adults often purchase Smart Products for family use, including use by minors. VIZIO will not knowingly sell information from children under age 16 for any purpose nor will VIZIO knowingly accept account or Smart Product registration from them. In some cases, particularly where information is collected electronically, VIZIO may not know if information was collected from a child under 16. VIZIO treats this information as though it were provided by an adult. However, if VIZIO learns that it has collected information of a child under age 16, VIZIO will attempt to delete that information as soon as possible and take any other measures required under applicable law.
Audio and Written Communications with VIZIO Customer Support. VIZIO may use third-party vendors from time to time, including Artificial Intelligence tools, to capture and/or record audio and written communications between VIZIO Customer Support and users of VIZIO Customer Support for purposes of facilitating customer support communications and/or streamlining user self-help troubleshooting. By contacting VIZIO Customer Support and accepting VIZIO’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, users agree to have the information they provide to VIZIO Customer Support recorded, summarized, and analyzed by third parties for VIZIO’s use for customer support, training, and/or support-improvement purposes.
VI. VIZIOgram Feature for Mobile Application and Smart TV
VIZIO Account holders may choose to activate a photo and video sharing feature available for the VIZIO Mobile App and on Smart TVs called VIZIOgram. This feature allows sharing of content between registered VIZIO Account holders only and only on Smart TVs. As the creator of VIZIOgram Content to be shared, you control which users can access it. You can also remove connections who can access your VIZIOgram Content at any time.
The VIZIO Account holder can select VIZIOgram Content, such as photos or videos, to upload from a smartphone or tablet to VIZIOgram, via the VIZIOgram feature within the VIZIO Mobile App. As part of the feature, we store uploaded photos, videos, and related metadata (the “VIZIOgram Content”) in the cloud, temporarily so that the receiving VIZIO Account holder can view images or videos communicated through the service. As shared and stored, photos or video files themselves may also have additional metadata generated by the user or the device, such as file names; text comments or labels; or the time, date, and geographical location of the photos or videos.
This is a user-directed feature. You identify users to receive access to your VIZIOgram Content, you invite them via email or text to connect through the VIZIOgram feature, and you send them an invitation to view your VIZIOgram Content. To see your VIZIOgram content, the recipient of your message must have both a VIZIO Account and a Smart TV.
VIZIO or authorized VIZIO personnel may access your VIZIOgram Content as needed to perform system maintenance, to investigate or enforce compliance with the VIZIO Account or other applicable VIZIO Terms of Use, to protect its rights and property, and to comply with legal requirements. VIZIO does not access, use, or disclose your VIZIOgram Content for other business purposes.
Once VIZIOgram Content is uploaded, it will remain available online temporarily, until you either choose to delete the VIZIOgram Content or the time limits for your VIZIOgram Content expires. The VIZIOgram FAQ provides the specific time limits for VIZIOgram Content, as well as other instructions for using VIZIOgram.
You can also withdraw the ability of other VIZIOgram users to access your VIZIOgram Content by opening your VIZIO Mobile App and blocking those users.
If you wish to request manual deletion of your VIZIOgram Content, please contact VIZIO at privacy@vizio.com.
VII. Policy Revisions and Contacting VIZIO
Contacting VIZIO. If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy or your interactions with VIZIO, please contact VIZIO at privacy@vizio.com.
Revisions to this Privacy Policy. As VIZIO's business changes and grows, VIZIO may make changes to this Privacy Policy at any time without notice. Please check back periodically to review these changes. If VIZIO's changes significantly affect the way VIZIO uses or discloses your information, VIZIO will announce the changes more prominently. These announcements may include, for example, messaging on the screen of your Smart TV or display or prominent disclosures on VIZIO.com. VIZIO will use and disclose your information according to the latest version of the Privacy Policy. The latest version of the Privacy Policy will be available at http://www.vizio.com/privacy.