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Plain-English summary
This privacy policy outlines that the company may automatically collect browsing, device, and location information. They do not recognize do-not-track signals, and third parties can place cookies for advertising, which the company does not control. The service can also collect sensitive information, such as racial or ethnic origin, and data from third-party applications. There's a risk of data transfer to countries with less protective privacy laws, and the company cannot guarantee data security. Users also agree to indemnify the company for processing user data and automatically consent to commercial communications unless they opt out. On the positive side, the policy commits to children's privacy and COPPA compliance, offers clear parental rights over children's data, and has a data removal process. Users also retain rights to access, rectify, erase, block, and oppose the processing of their data.
85% confidence
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Follow up on findings with grounded answers from this review. Not legal advice.
Risk Flags
1 finding
Key problematic clauses that may pose significant risks.
high90% confidence
Collection of sensitive information.
The service may collect sensitive information such as racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, trade union membership, sexual orientation, criminal records, or health or genetic information.
Why it matters: Users' highly sensitive personal information could be collected and processed by the service.
This may include sensitive information such as information about racial or ethnic origin, political opinions or associations, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership or associations, sexual orientation or practices, criminal record or health or genetic information.
Bark for Schools: https://www.bark.us/schools/terms/, paragraph 10 · Citation strength: strong
Data Use & Sharing
3 findings
How your data is collected, processed, and shared.
medium85% confidence
Automatic collection of browsing and device information.
The company automatically collects information when you visit the site or use the services, including IP address, browser, operating system, site usage statistics, and unique device identification numbers for mobile devices. It may also collect information from online interactions through other websites like social media or email accounts if identified by the user.
Why it matters: The company automatically collects various types of browsing and device information, which can be used to track user activity and potentially identify users.
We automatically collect information when you visit the Site and/or use the Services, including your device's IP address, browser and operating system, and statistics about how you use the Site. If you connect to our Site using a mobile device we may also collect information about your device including the operating system and browser used and a unique device identification number. We may collect information from the online interactions of subscribers through other websites, such as social media sites, email accounts or other interactive sites when you identify those sites to us.
Bark for Schools: https://www.bark.us/schools/terms/, paragraph 4 · Citation strength: strong
medium85% confidence
Webform submissions used for marketing unless opted out.
Data submitted through webforms, including chat features that may use artificial intelligence, is collected and used for processing requests, contacting the user, and sending marketing and promotional materials, unless the user opts out.
Why it matters: Information submitted through webforms, including via AI chat, may be used for marketing purposes unless users actively opt out.
If you submit any webform to us, including through the use of our chat feature which may employ the use of artificial intelligence, we collect the data indicated in the forms indicated in and submitted through these forms by you, including name, mailing address, and email address. Required data in order to send the webform is indicated. This data is used for processing your request and contacting you for further communication, including sending marketing and promotional materials (unless you opt-out).
Bark for Schools: https://www.bark.us/schools/terms/, paragraph 8 · Citation strength: strong
medium85% confidence
Data may be transferred internationally to less protective jurisdictions.
The company is headquartered in the United States and has service providers in other countries. User data may be transferred to the United States or other locations where privacy laws may not be as protective as those in the user's jurisdiction.
Why it matters: User data may be transferred to countries with less stringent privacy laws, potentially exposing it to different data protection standards.
Bark is headquartered in the United States and has service providers in other countries. Your Data may be transferred to the United States or other locations outside of your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction where privacy laws may not be as protective as those in your jurisdiction.
Bark for Schools: https://www.bark.us/schools/terms/, paragraph 55 · Citation strength: strong
Cancellation & Renewal
Not clearly stated
Terms about account termination, data retention post-cancellation, and automatic renewals.
?
Not clearly stated
No cited billing terms — wording is unclear
The document does not clearly state information about account renewal, nor does it define the process or obligations related to cancellation other than data removal requests.
Gotchas
2 findings
Less-obvious clauses that may be detrimental or unexpected.
medium85% confidence
Consent to receive commercial communications.
By submitting webforms or registration data, users expressly consent to receive commercial communications, including alerts, notices, newsletters, offers, and promotions. Users can opt out by sending an email.
Why it matters: Users automatically consent to receive marketing communications upon form submission or registration and must actively opt out to stop receiving them.
By filling in and sending webforms and/or your Registration Data to us, you expressly consent to receive commercial communications regarding the subject matter of the Services, and other services including alerts and notices about your Account(s), and you may also receive newsletters, offers and promotions. If you do not wish to receive such information from us, you can expressly opt out by sending a notification to help@bark.us .
Bark for Schools: https://www.bark.us/schools/terms/, paragraph 22 · Citation strength: strong
medium85% confidence
You indemnify the company for user data processing.
Users agree to indemnify and hold the company harmless from claims, damages, and losses related to the processing of user data and other third-party personal data submitted during the use and provision of services.
Why it matters: Users are responsible for any legal issues or costs arising from the processing of their data and third-party data within the service.
You agree to indemnify and keep us harmless from all claims, damages and losses we may suffer relating to or arising out of the processing of User Data and other third party personal data submitted to our systems during the course of your use and our provision of the Services.
Bark for Schools: https://www.bark.us/schools/terms/, paragraph 54 · Citation strength: strong
Protections
10 findings
Safeguards and rights that benefit you.
Protection95% confidence
Explicit consent for biometric data collection.
The service requires user opt-in before collecting or enabling biometric authentication, and users can withdraw consent at any time without affecting past processing.
Why it helps: This ensures users have explicit control over the collection and use of their biometric data, with the option to revoke consent.
We require user opt-in before collecting or enabling biometric authentication. Users may withdraw consent at any time; withdrawal will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
Bark for Schools: https://www.bark.us/schools/terms/, paragraph 17 · Citation strength: strong
Protection95% confidence
No selling or renting of data to third parties.
The company states they will never sell or rent user data to third parties, and user data will never be publicly displayed by the company or its agents.
Why it helps: This protects user data from being monetized through sale or rental to third parties, and ensures it won't be publicly exposed.
We will never sell or rent your Data to third parties. Your Data will never be publicly displayed in any way by Bark or any person or entity acting on Bark’s behalf.
Bark for Schools: https://www.bark.us/schools/terms/, paragraph 21 · Citation strength: strong
Protection95% confidence
Commitment to children's privacy and COPPA compliance.
The company is committed to protecting the privacy of children under 13 and complies with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), informing parents about data collection, use, and disclosure practices.
Why it helps: This commitment provides assurances that the company adheres to regulations designed to protect the privacy of children's personal information online.
We are committed to protecting the privacy of children under 13. The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 and its rules (collectively, "COPPA") require us to inform parents and legal guardians (as used in this section, "parents") about our practices for collecting, using, and disclosing personal information from children under the age of 13 ("children").
Bark for Schools: https://www.bark.us/schools/terms/, paragraph 24 · Citation strength: strong
Protection95% confidence
No intentional collection of sensitive personal information from children.
The site is not designed for children under 13, and the company does not knowingly collect data from them without verifiable parental consent.
Why it helps: This ensures that sensitive personal information from children under 13 is not collected without proper parental consent, aligning with child protection guidelines.
This Site is not designed nor intended to be attractive to children under the age of 13 and we do not knowingly collect data from children under the age of 13 without first obtaining verifiable parental consent. If you are under 13 please do not submit any information to us.
Bark for Schools: https://www.bark.us/schools/terms/, paragraph 25 · Citation strength: strong
Protection95% confidence
Parental rights for children's personal information.
Parents have the right to review a child’s personal information, revoke consent, request deletion, and request a copy of the child’s data. The company will honor requests within a reasonable timeframe and delete data as required by law.
Why it helps: This gives parents significant control over their child's data, including access, modification, and deletion rights, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations like COPPA.
Parents may review the child’s personal information, revoke consent, request deletion, and request a copy of the child’s data. We will honor requests within a reasonable timeframe and will delete data as required by law.
Bark for Schools: https://www.bark.us/schools/terms/, paragraph 41 · Citation strength: strong
Protection90% confidence
Reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for children's data.
The company retains child-related data only as long as necessary and applies reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect children’s information, with breach notification procedures following applicable law.
Why it helps: This ensures that child-related data is protected with appropriate security measures and retained only for necessary periods, with clear breach notification protocols.
We retain child-related data only as long as necessary to provide the Service and to comply with legal obligations. We apply reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect children’s information. Breach notification procedures will follow applicable law.
Bark for Schools: https://www.bark.us/schools/terms/, paragraph 42 · Citation strength: strong
Protection90% confidence
Strong data protection measures for User Data.
As a Data Processor, the company implements appropriate technical and organizational measures to safeguard User Data against unauthorized access, loss, destruction, theft, use, or disclosure. Access to User Data is limited to employees who need it for service performance.
Why it helps: This commitment to strong security measures helps protect user data from unauthorized access or misuse, enhancing data integrity and confidentiality.
To the extent that we are a Data Processor on your behalf, we shall (a) implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to safeguard any User Data against any unauthorized or unlawful access, loss, destruction, theft, use or disclosure; (b) limit access to User Data only to those employees who need to know it to enable us to perform the Services;
Bark for Schools: https://www.bark.us/schools/terms/, paragraph 48 · Citation strength: strong
Protection95% confidence
Data is destroyed upon termination or request.
Upon expiry or termination of the agreement, or upon user request, the company will cease all use of User Data and destroy it.
Why it helps: This ensures that user data is not retained indefinitely and is actively removed when no longer needed or requested by the user.
Upon the expiry or termination of this Agreement by way of de-registration, or upon your request, we will cease any and all use of the User Data and will destroy it.
Bark for Schools: https://www.bark.us/schools/terms/, paragraph 48 · Citation strength: strong
Protection90% confidence
Clear data removal process.
Users can request the removal of all User Data from their account by uninstalling the service and sending an email with identification. The company commits to removing data from active systems and backups within fifteen days of identity confirmation.
Why it helps: This provides a clear and actionable process for users to request the complete deletion of their data.
If you wish to remove all the User Data in your Bark account, please uninstall Bark from your devices, and send an email (as set out below), with a digital copy of your ID or other identification document to prove your identity. Once your identity is confirmed, we will immediately remove all of your Data from our active systems and back-ups within fifteen (15) days from confirmation of identity (except as indicated below).
Bark for Schools: https://www.bark.us/schools/terms/, paragraph 50 · Citation strength: strong
Protection95% confidence
User rights to access, rectify, erase, block, and oppose personal data processing.
Users have the right to access, rectify, erase, block, and oppose the processing of their personal data. They can update, amend, or delete contact information and change billing details via the site.
Why it helps: These rights give users significant control over their personal information, allowing them to manage, correct, and restrict its processing.
You have the right to access, rectify, erase, block and oppose any processing of your personal data that we may have. You can update, amend or delete your contact information at any time by visiting the Settings page on the Site. You can update or change your billing and payment information on the My Account page on the Site.
Bark for Schools: https://www.bark.us/schools/terms/, paragraph 58 · Citation strength: strong
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