Privacy Evaluation for Explain Everything
80%
Overview
Explain Everything is a screen casting app used with an interactive whiteboard. Explain Everything's terms state that users can publish content using the public setting, which means they can allow everyone, including members, and individuals not a member of the service, to access and use that content, and to associate it with a user's name and profile picture. The terms say Explain Everything will not sell users' data but may use information collected through the service for marketing or personalized advertisements, but will not create any advertising profiles of users.
In addition, Explain Everything states in their terms they follow generally accepted industry standards and maintain reasonable safeguards to attempt to ensure the security, integrity and privacy of the information in their possession. Lastly, Explain Everything's terms state they collect limited personal information from students, but only where that student’s school, district, or teacher has contracted with Explain Everything to collect children’s personal information from students for the use and benefit of the learning environment. The terms also state that obtaining parental consent is the responsibility of the school or district.
Explain Everything can be accessed through its website, and is available for download at the iOS App Store, and the Google Play Store. The Privacy Policy and Terms of Use accessed for this evaluation can be found on Explain Everything’s website. This evaluation only considers policies that have been made publicly available prior to an individual using the application or service.
Safety
Explain Everything's terms state their collaborative whiteboard application allows users to publish content using the public visible setting, which means they can allow everyone, including members, and individuals not a member of the service, to access and use that content, and to associate it with a user's name and profile picture. The terms state a user may choose to populate their user profile on the service with personal information, including their name, photograph, and school affiliation that is displayed to other users and is publicly available. In addition, the terms specify any images, presentations, captions or other content that a user submits, or creates on the service may be redistributed through the Internet and other media channels, and may be viewed by the public if permitted via the user's privacy settings.
Privacy
Explain Everything's terms state they may use tools or third party analytical software to automatically collect non-personal information from its users. Explain Everything's terms state they will not rent, sell, exchange, or otherwise share a user's personal information with third parties. In addition, the terms specify they do not collect, maintain, use, or share student personal information beyond what is required for authorized educational school purposes, or as authorized by the parent or student. Explain Everything's terms state that the vendor may use and disclose a user's information to its third party partners and contractors for purposes of analyzing usage of its service, managing and providing its service, and to further develop services and products.
Explain Everything's terms say they may collect and use aggregate information about its users and may share aggregate data with third parties for various purposes. The terms specify they allow third-party analytics companies to combine the information collected from its users with other information they have independently collected from other services or products relating to their activities. In addition, the terms state that third parties may combine information. Lastly, the terms state they will not use or disclose children’s personal or non-personal information collected through an educational or school service for behavioral advertisements and will not create any advertising profiles of users.
Security
Explain Everything's terms say they maintain reasonable safeguards to ensure the security, integrity, and privacy of the information in their possession. In addition, the terms say a user's data is encrypted while in transit and at rest, and Explain Everything will provide notice to users in the event of a data breach.
Compliance
Explain Everything's terms state they collect limited personal information from students, but only where that student’s school, district, or teacher has contracted with Explain Everything to collect children’s personal information from students for the use and benefit of the learning environment. The terms require schools, districts, and teachers to obtain parental consent from students’ parents before collecting any children’s personal information. Explain Everything's terms state they do not knowingly contact or collect personal data from children under 13, and will never knowingly solicit or accept personally identifiable information or other content from a user or visitor who is known to be under 13 years of age. Moreover, Explain Everything's terms state they do not permit a minor under the age of 13 to create an account, or use the service without verifiable parental consent. However, users between 13 and 18 may use the service under an account established by their parent or legal guardian with their consent.
In addition, the terms state a user may add, modify, or remove their personal information at any time by logging into their account and accessing features to edit their profile and account information. However, when a user removes or deletes user submissions from the service, Explain Everything's terms state they may retain backup copies of their user submissions that have been removed or deleted. In contrast, the terms state the service will not knowingly retain children’s personal information beyond the time period required to support the authorized educational school purposes, or as authorized by the parent or student.
Rating
- Personal information is not sold or rented to third parties.
- Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
- Personalised advertising is displayed.
- Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
- User's information is used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
- Data profiles are not created and used for personalised advertisements.
Data Collection
SCORE: 60%
What data does it collect?
- Personally identifiable information (PII) is collected.
- The categories of collected personally identifiable information are indicated.
- Collection or use of data is limited to product requirements.
- Unclear whether this product collects geolocation data.
- Biometric or health data are not collected.
- Interactions, behaviors, or usage analytics data are collected.
- Unclear whether this product collects sensitive data.
- Data is automatically collected.
- Opt-in consent is requested from users at the time personal information is collected.
- Personal information of users is collected by a third party.
Data Sharing
SCORE: 75%
What data does it share?
- Collected information is shared with third parties.
- 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 data are indicated.
- Data are shared for analytics.
- Unclear whether data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
- Third-party services are used to support the product.
- The roles of third-party service providers are indicated.
- Third-party login is supported.
- Contractual limits are placed on third-party data use.
Data Security
SCORE: 75%
How does it secure data?
- A user's identity is verified with additional personal information.
- Account creation is required.
- Managed accounts are available.
- Unclear whether multi-factor account protection is available.
- Third-parties with access to information are required to provide the same security protections as the company.
- Reasonable security practices are used to protect data.
- Unclear whether this product limits employee or physical access to user information.
- All data in transit are encrypted.
- All data are stored in an encrypted format.
- Notice is provided in the event of a data breach.
Data Rights
SCORE: 95%
What rights do I have to the data?
- Users can create or upload content.
- Users retain ownership of their data.
- Processes to access or review user data are available.
- Processes to modify data are available for authorized users.
- A data-retention policy is available.
- Processes for authorized users to delete data are available.
- A user's data are deleted upon account cancellation or termination.
- Data are deleted when no longer necessary.
- Methods are available to restrict who has access to data.
- Processes to download user data are available.
Data Sold
SCORE: 75%
Is the data sold?
- Personal information is not sold or rented to third parties.
- Users can opt out from the disclosure or sale of their data to a third party.
- User information can be transferred to a third party in the event of a merge, acquisition, or bankruptcy.
- 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.
- Third-party transfer is contractually required to use the same privacy practices.
- User information that is shared is shared in an anonymous or de-identified format.
- The company describes their de-identification process of user information.
- Unclear whether data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
- Contractual limits prohibit third parties from reidentifying or de-identified information.
Data Safety
SCORE: 60%
How safe is this product?
- Users can interact with trusted users.
- Users can interact with untrusted users, including strangers and/or adults.
- Profile information must be shared for social interactions.
- Personal information can be displayed publicly.
- Users can control how their data are displayed to others.
- User-created content is reviewed, screened, or monitored by the company.
- 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.
- Users cannot report abuse or cyberbullying.
Ads & Tracking
SCORE: 55%
Are there advertisements or tracking?
- Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
- Traditional or contextual advertisements are displayed.
- Personalised advertising is displayed.
- Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
- User's information is used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
- Data profiles are not created and used for personalised advertisements.
- The company can send marketing messages.
- The company does provide promotional sweepstakes, contests, or surveys.
- Unclear whether this product provides users the ability to opt-out of contextual, or personalised advertising.
- Users can opt out or unsubscribe from marketing communications.
Parental Consent
SCORE: 75%
Can I provide parental consent?
- Intended for children under 13.
- Personal information from children under 13 years of age is collected.
- Intended for parents or guardians.
- Company does have actual knowledge that personal information from users under 13 years of age is collected.
- The company does provide a section, heading, or separate policy for children in their policies.
- Parental consent is required before personal information is collected or disclosed.
- Unclear whether this product limits parental consent with respect to third parties.
- Parents can withdraw consent for the further collection of their child's information.
- Children's personal information is deleted if collected without parental consent.
- Unclear whether this product provides parental consent notice and method for submission.
School Purpose
SCORE: 81%
Is the product intended for school?
- Intended for students.
- Personal information or education records are collected from preK-12 students.
- Intended for teachers.
- Product is primarily used by, designed for, and marketed toward students in grades preK–12.
- Processes to enter education records into the product are described.
- Additional rights or protections may be provided with an additional school contract.
- Company is not designated as a school official.
- Parental consent obligations are transferred to the school or district.
Individual Control
SCORE: 80%
Can I control the use of my data?
- Users can control the use of their information through privacy settings.
- Use of information is limited to the purpose for which it was collected.
- The context or purpose for which data are collected is indicated.
- Unclear whether company may combine data with additional data from third-party sources.
- Combined information is treated as personally identifiable information (PII).
- Notice is provided if the context in which data are collected changes.
- Consent is obtained if the practices in which data are collected change.
- A grievance or remedy mechanism is available for users to file a complaint.
- Unclear whether users can request to know what personal information has been shared with third parties.
- Notice is provided in the event the company receives a government or legal request for a user's 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.