Privacy Evaluation for Curious World - Early learning games, videos and books for kids
40%
Overview
Curious World provides an ever-expanding world of educational games, books & videos that can fuel a child’s curiosity, boost academic skills and build a lifelong love of learning--all with the help of Curious George. The terms of Curious World state that they implement monitoring, filtering, and other methods for enforcing the Code of Conduct, but it is not stated if personal information is filtered from user content before it is made publicly visible. The terms of Curious World state that they limit the collection or use of information to the provision of their services and app functionality. In addition, the terms of Curious World state they use a variety of industry standard security measures, such as requiring a unique username and password for each user as well as encryption and authentication tools, to maintain the confidentiality of users' personal information. Lastly, Curious World's terms state they require any child under the age of 18 to obtain consent from a parent or guardian before registering for the service, and a child under 13 years of age must have a parent or guardian enter in all personal information required to register for the service or subscribe.
Curious World can be accessed through its website, and is available for download at the iOS App Store. The Privacy Policy and Terms of Use used for this evaluation can be found on Curious World’s website, and the iOS App Store. Additionally, other policies used for this evaluation include: Cookie Policy. This evaluation only considers policies that have been made publicly available prior to an individual using the application or service.
Safety
The terms of Curious World state that they implement monitoring, filtering, and other methods for enforcing the Code of Conduct, but it is not stated if personal information is filtered from user content before it is made publicly visible. The terms of Curious World do not state if a user's personal information can be displayed publicly in any way. Curious World's terms do not state whether or not they provide tools and processes that support safe and appropriate social interactions on the product. The terms of Curious World do not state whether or a user can interact with other users.
Privacy
The terms of Curious World state that a user is notified via email if there are any material changes to the privacy policies. Curious World's terms state that they allow third parties to collect (on their behalf) information for the provision of services. The terms of Curious World state that they limit the collection or use of information to the provision of their services and app functionality. However, the terms do not disclose whether personal information may be sold to third parties or that personal information may be used for third-party marketing. Lastly, Curious World's terms state that they will obtain prior parental consent if any changes are made to the privacy policies that affect users under the age of 13 in a way that requires consent under COPPA.
Security
The terms of Curious World state they use a variety of industry standard security measures, such as requiring a unique username and password for each user as well as encryption and authentication tools, to maintain the confidentiality of users' personal information. Curious World's terms state they store its users' personal information behind industry standard firewalls and is only accessible by a limited number of persons who are authorized to access their systems, and are required to keep the information confidential. In addition, Curious World states they use commercially reasonable efforts to safeguard and secure the transmission of users' personal information, but it is not explicitly stated if all data in transit or at rest is encrypted.
Compliance
Curious World's terms state they require any child under the age of 18 to obtain consent from a parent or guardian before registering for the service, and a child under 13 years of age must have a parent or guardian enter in all personal information required to register for the service or subscribe. A parent or guardian can create a “Child Profile” within the parent or guardian’s own account and may establish up to 4 child profile sub-accounts by providing a first name, or nickname, and birthdate and by selecting a different avatar. In addition, Curious World does not permit a user under 13 years of age to provide any information to the vendor while using the service without consent, and the Curious World App does not collect personal information, as broadly defined by COPPA, for purposes of online behavioral advertising. However, the terms state interest based advertisements may still be displayed to other users.
Curious World's terms state that may collect or share a user’s personal information to support their internal operations, such as for performing analytics, enabling or delivering certain types of content or features, and for improving or maintaining the Curious World App. Lastly, if a user believes that the vendor has collected personal information from someone under the age of 13, without parental consent they can contact the vendor immediately.
Rating
- Unclear whether data are sold or rented to third parties.
- Unclear whether data are shared for third-party advertising and/or marketing.
- Behavioral or targeted advertising is displayed.
- Data are collected by third-party advertising or tracking services.
- Unclear whether this product uses data to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
- Unclear whether this product creates and uses data profiles for data enhancement, and/or targeted advertisements.
Data Collection
SCORE: 35%
What data does it collect?
- Personally identifiable information (PII) is collected.
- The categories of collected personally identifiable information are indicated.
- Unclear whether the collection or use of data is limited to product requirements.
- Unclear whether this product collects geolocation data.
- Unclear whether this product collects biometric or health data.
- Behavioral data are collected.
- Unclear whether this product collects sensitive data.
- Non-personally identifiable information is collected.
- Opt-in consent is requested from users at the time personal information is collected.
- Unclear whether personal information of users is collected by a third party.
Data Sharing
SCORE: 55%
What data does it share?
- Collected information is shared with third parties.
- Unclear whether the categories of information shared with third parties are indicated.
- The purpose for sharing a user's personal information with third parties is indicated.
- Unclear whether the categories of third parties that receive personal information are indicated.
- Data are shared for analytics.
- Unclear whether data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
- Data are shared with third-party service providers.
- The roles of third-party service providers are indicated.
- Unclear whether this product supports social or federated login.
- Contractual limits are placed on third-party data use.
Data Security
SCORE: 55%
How does it secure data?
- A user's identity is verified with additional personal information.
- Account creation is required.
- Parental controls or managed accounts are available.
- Unclear whether two-factor account protection is available.
- Unclear whether third-party contractual security protections are required.
- Industry best practices are used to protect data.
- Employee or physical access to user information is limited.
- Unclear whether this product encrypts all data in transit.
- Unclear whether this product encrypts all data at rest.
- Notice is provided in the event of a data breach.
Data Rights
SCORE: 60%
What rights do I have to the data?
- Unclear whether users can create or upload content.
- Unclear whether users retain ownership of their data.
- Processes to access and review user data are available.
- Processes to modify inaccurate data are available.
- A data-retention policy is available.
- Processes for the school, parents, or students to delete data are available.
- Unclear whether a user's data are deleted upon account cancellation or termination.
- Data are deleted when no longer necessary.
- Permissions, roles, or access controls are available to restrict who has access to data.
- Unclear whether this product provides users the ability to download their data.
Data Sold
SCORE: 10%
Is the data sold?
- Unclear whether data are sold or rented to third parties.
- Unclear whether users can opt out from the disclosure or sale of their data to a third party.
- Unclear whether user information can be transferred to a third party.
- Unclear whether users are notified if their information is transferred to a third party.
- Unclear whether user information can be deleted prior to its transfer to a third party.
- Unclear whether third-party transfers are contractually required to use the same privacy practices.
- User information is shared in an anonymous or deidentified format.
- Unclear whether the vendor describes their deidentification process of user information.
- Unclear whether data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
- Unclear whether contractual limits prohibit third parties from reidentifying deidentified information.
Data Safety
SCORE: 0%
How safe is this product?
- Unclear whether this product supports interactions between trusted users and/or students.
- Unclear whether users can interact with untrusted users, including strangers and/or adults.
- Unclear whether profile information is shared for social interactions.
- Unclear whether this product displays personal information publicly.
- Unclear whether this product allows users to control how their data are displayed.
- Unclear whether user-created content is reviewed, screened, or monitored by the vendor.
- Unclear whether user-created content is filtered for personal information before being made publicly visible.
- Unclear whether social interactions between users are moderated.
- Unclear whether social interactions of users are logged.
- Unclear whether users can report abuse or cyberbullying.
Ads & Tracking
SCORE: 30%
Are there advertisements or tracking?
- Unclear whether data are shared for third-party advertising and/or marketing.
- Unclear whether this product displays traditional or contextual advertisements.
- Behavioral or targeted advertising is displayed.
- Data are collected by third-party advertising or tracking services.
- Unclear whether this product uses data to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
- Unclear whether this product creates and uses data profiles for data enhancement, and/or targeted advertisements.
- The vendor can send marketing messages.
- The vendor does provide promotional sweepstakes, contests, or surveys.
- Unclear whether this product provides users the ability to opt-out of traditional, contextual, or behavioral advertising.
- Users can opt out or unsubscribe from marketing communications.
Parental Consent
SCORE: 55%
Can I provide parental consent?
- Intended for children under 13.
- Personal information from children under 13 years of age is collected online.
- Intended for parents or guardians.
- Vendor does have actual knowledge that personal information from users under 13 years of age is collected.
- Unclear whether children's privacy is applicable.
- Parental consent is required.
- Parental consent is limited with respect to third parties.
- Unclear whether this product allows parents to withdraw consent for the further collection of their child's information.
- Unclear whether this product deletes children's personal information if collected without parental consent.
- Unclear whether this product provides parental consent notice and method for submission.
School Purpose
SCORE: 0%
Is the product intended for school?
- Unclear whether intended for students.
- Unclear whether personal information or education records are collected from preK-12 students.
- Unclear whether intended for teachers.
- Unclear whether this product is primarily used by, designed for, and marketed toward students in grades preK–12.
- Unclear whether the product creates education records.
- Unclear whether this product provides notification of a contract or additional rights.
- Unclear whether this product designates the vendor as a school official.
- Unclear whether this product transfers parental consent obligations to the school or district.
- Unclear whether the vendor indicates FERPA parental consent exceptions.
- Unclear whether this product discloses directory information.
Common Sense Standard Privacy Report (SPR)
The standard privacy report (SPR) displays all the privacy practices from a product's policies in a single, easy-to-read outline. The report shows a green check mark for better privacy practices and an orange alert for risky or unclear practices. This alert indicates that more time should be focused on these particular details prior to use.
About Privacy Evaluations
The privacy evaluations have been designed with the help and support of a consortium of schools and districts across the United States. These evaluations are designed to help educators make informed decisions about the potential privacy implications of educational technology used to support teaching and learning.
Our core evaluation criteria will always be freely available. People are encouraged to read the questions we use and our information security primer. Vendors are encouraged to use our questions and the information security primer to self-evaluate. You can also learn more about our evaluation process. Please be in touch with any questions or feedback.