Overview

Garmin vívofit jr. 2 is an interactive fitness mobile app experience where fitness activity unlocks games and adventures. The terms say parents will be asked to provide a display name for each of their children whose vívofit jr. device they add to their parent profile. The terms also say when a parent syncs the vívofit jr. device with the vívofit jr. app, they upload to Garmin information about their child’s activities such as chores, rewards, steps, distance, activity time and sleep information. However, the terms do not say whether Garmin's vívofit jr. app sells personal information to third parties or whether it displays targeted ads, sends third-party marketing emails, or tracks users across the internet or on other services. Lastly, the terms say a parent or legal guardian has the right under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection (COPPA) to access, modify, delete, and export any personal information Garmin collects from their child.

Garmin's Vívofit jr. 2 can be accessed through its website, and is available for download at the iOS App Store, the Google Play Store, and the Amazon App Store. The Privacy Policy and Terms of Use used for this evaluation can be found on Vívofit jr. 2’s website, iOS App Store, the Google Play Store, and the Amazon App Store. Additionally, other policies used for this evaluation include: Garmin Privacy Policy, Security Policy, and California Privacy Rights. This evaluation only considers policies that have been made publicly available prior to an individual using the application or service.

Safety

The terms say parents will be asked to provide a display name for each of their children whose vívofit jr. device they add to their parent profile. The display name they choose will be shown on their child’s vívofit jr. device and may be displayed to others when the child engages in Toe-to-Toe challenges. The display name a parent chooses to provide in the vívofit jr. app, together with the total number of steps taken by their child during the duration of the challenge, will be shown on the devices of their child’s friends or family members if their child engages in a Toe-to-Toe step challenge with them. Also, a child's display name will be shown in the vívofit jr. apps of the parents of friends and family members and in the Garmin Connect account of friends or family members who use other Garmin devices to engage in a Toe-to-Toe step challenge with a child.

Parents should keep in mind other vívofit jr. app users will be able to see a chid's profile. Users who are not in a child's connections will be able to see the Family name parents choose in their profile, their admin name, the name of any additional parent or guardian they have added to their profile and the number of children parents have added to their profile.

Privacy

The terms say when a parent syncs the vívofit jr. device with the vívofit jr. app, they upload to Garmin information about their child’s device settings and their child’s activities such as chores, rewards, steps, distance, activity time and sleep information. However, the terms do not say whether Garmin's vívofit jr. app sells personal information to third parties or whether it displays targeted ads, sends third-party marketing emails, or tracks users across the internet and on other services.

Security

The terms say data security is a priority at Garmin. If a security researcher or Garmin customer thinks they have found a security issue or vulnerability, the terms say Garmin would appreciate their help in disclosing it to them in a responsible manner. In addition, the terms say Garmin has dedicated security personnel who are armed with an array of security tools that protect and continuously monitor for threats. Garmin's terms say security personnel work closely with teams throughout the company in an effort to keep products, apps and websites safe. Garmin team members are also continually keeping servers up-to-date with security patches and operating system updates. Lastly, the terms say Garmin uses a variety of safeguards, personnel, and processes to protect users' data, but the terms do not disclose any additional details about whether Garmin uses reasonable security procedures such as encryption to protect personal data in transit or whether they provide notice to users in the event of a data breach.

Compliance

The terms say that when a parent creates a Garmin account, the service asks them to provide their email address, name and password. Parents can also choose to remain anonymous and provide only their first name or a nickname instead of their full name. The terms also say parents can withdraw their consent to upload their child’s activity data and information about their child’s device and device settings to Garmin at any time by not syncing the vívofit jr. device with the vívofit jr. app. In addition, the terms say a parent or legal guardian has the right under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection (COPPA) to access, modify, delete, and export any personal information Garmin collects from their child.

Overall Score

Every privacy rating includes an overall score. A higher score (up to 100%) means the product provides more transparent privacy policies with better practices to protect user data. The score is best used is as an indicator of how much additional work a person will need to do to make an informed decision about a product.

Basic ScoreFull Score
Comprehensive Assessment4749

Concerns

The privacy evaluation process summarizes the policies of an application or service into concern categories based on a subset of evaluation questions that can be used to quickly identify particular practices of a vendor’s policies. These concerns are composed of evaluation questions that can be used to calculate scores relative to that concern.

ConcernBasic ScoreFull Score
Data Collection: Protecting personal information5050
Data Sharing: Protecting data from third parties5065
Data Security: Protecting against unauthorized access040
Data Rights: Controlling rights to data8875
Data Sold: Preventing sale of data2545
Data Safety: Promoting responsible use6755
Ads & Tracking: Prohibiting the exploitation of users' decision making process715
Parental Consent: Protecting children’s personal information10065
School Purpose: Following student data privacy laws00
Individual Control: Controlling data useNA70

Statutes

Each statute or regulation is associated with one or more evaluation questions. As such, we can calculate scores for each statute or regulation using only those questions associated with the statute or regulation. Each specific statute or regulation's score serves as an indirect proxy indicating the likelihood of the application or service satisfying all of its compliance obligations.

StatuteBasic ScoreFull Score
California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA)6958
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)4549
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)5034
Student Online Personal Information Protection Act (SOPIPA)2539
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)5060
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)3349

Privacy Policy Details

1: Transparency

1.1: Policy Version
  • Privacy policies do indicate a version or effective date.
  • Privacy policies indicate a change log or past policy version is available.
1.2: Policy Notice
  • Users are notified if there are any material changes to the policies.
  • Privacy policies indicate the method used to notify a user when policies are updated.
1.3: Policy Changes
  • Unclear whether users are notified prior to any material changes to the policies.
  • Changes to the policies are effective immediately and continued use of the product indicates consent.
1.4: Policy Coverage
  • Privacy policies indicate the products that are covered by the policies.
1.5: Privacy Contact
  • Users can contact the company about any privacy policy questions, complaints, or material changes to the policies.
1.6: Policy Principles
  • Privacy policies do indicate privacy principles, layered notices, or a table of contents.
1.7: Policy Language
  • Privacy policies are available in multiple languages.
1.8: Intended Use
  • Intended for children under 13.
  • Intended for teens.
  • Intended for adults over 18.
  • Intended for parents or guardians.
  • Unclear whether intended for students.
  • Unclear whether intended for teachers.

2: Focused Collection

2.1: Data Collection
  • Personally identifiable information (PII) is collected.
  • The categories of collected personally identifiable information are indicated.
  • Geolocation data are collected.
  • Biometric or health data are collected.
  • Interactions, behaviors, or usage analytics data are collected.
  • Unclear whether this product collects sensitive data.
  • Data is automatically collected.
2.2: Data Source
  • Unclear whether personal information or education records are collected from preK-12 students.
  • Personal information from children under 13 years of age is collected.
2.3: Data Excluded
  • Unclear whether specific types of personal information excluded from collection.
  • Unclear whether specific types of collected information are excluded from the privacy policy.
2.4: Data Limitation
  • Unclear whether the collection or use of data is limited to product requirements.

3: Data Sharing

3.1: Data Shared With Third Parties
  • Collected information is shared with third parties.
  • The categories of information shared with third parties are indicated.
3.2: Data Use by Third Parties
  • The purpose for sharing a user's personal information with third parties is indicated.
  • Data are shared for analytics.
  • Unclear whether data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
  • Unclear whether personal information are shared for third-party marketing.
3.3: Data Not Shared With Third Parties
  • Unclear whether there are specific categories of information that are not shared with third parties.
3.4: Data Sold to Third Parties
  • Unclear whether personal information is sold or rented to third parties.
3.5: Third-Party Data Acquisition
  • Unclear whether personal information about users is obtained from third parties.
3.6: Third-Party Links
  • Links to third-party external websites are not age-appropriate.
3.7: Third-Party Data Access
  • Unclear whether third parties are authorized to access a user's information.
3.8: Third-Party Data Collection
  • Personal information of users is collected by a third party.
3.9: Third-Party Data Misuse
  • Unclear whether personal information can be deleted from a third party.
3.10: Third-Party Service Providers
  • Third-party services are used to support the product.
  • The roles of third-party service providers are indicated.
3.11: Third-Party Affiliates
  • The categories of third parties that receive data are indicated.
3.12: Third-Party Policies
  • Unclear whether links to privacy policies of third-party companies are available.
3.13: Third-Party Data Combination
  • Unclear whether company may combine data with additional data from third-party sources.
  • Unclear whether data shared with third parties can be combined with other data.
3.14: Third-Party Authentication
  • Unclear whether this product supports third-party login.
  • Unclear whether personal information from third-party login providers is collected.
  • Unclear whether personal Information is shared with third-party login providers.
3.15: De-identified or Anonymized Data
  • Unclear whether user information that is shared is shared in an anonymous or de-identified format.
  • Unclear whether the company describes their de-identification process of user information.
3.16: Third-Party Contractual Obligations
  • Unclear whether contractual limits are placed on third-party data use.
  • Unclear whether contractual limits prohibit third parties from reidentifying or de-identified information.

4: Respect for Context

4.1: Data Use
  • Use of information is limited to the purpose for which it was collected.
  • The context or purpose for which data are collected is indicated.
4.2: Data Combination
  • Unclear whether this product treats combined information as personally identifiable information (PII).
4.3: Data Notice
  • Notice is provided if the context in which data are collected changes.
4.4: Data Changes
  • Consent is obtained if the practices in which data are collected change.
4.5: Policy Enforcement
  • Accounts may be terminated if users engage in any prohibited activities.

5: Individual Control

5.1: User Content
  • Users can create or upload content.
5.2: User Consent
  • Opt-in consent is requested from users at the time personal information is collected.
5.3: Remedy Process
  • A grievance or remedy mechanism is available for users to file a complaint.
5.4: Data Settings
  • Users can control the use of their information through privacy settings.
5.5: Data Disclosure
  • Users can opt out from the disclosure or sale of their data to a third party.
  • Users can request to know what personal information has been shared with third parties.
  • Unclear whether notice is provided in the event the company receives a government or legal request for a user's information.
5.6: Intellectual Property
  • Users retain ownership of their data.
  • A copyright license is claimed to data or content collected from a user.
  • Unclear whether any copyright license to a user's data is limited in scope or duration.

6: Access and Accuracy

6.1: Data Access
  • Processes to access or review user data are available.
  • Methods are available to restrict who has access to data.
  • Processes to review student data are available for the school, parents, or students.
6.2: Data Integrity
  • The company does not attempt to maintain the accuracy of data they collect.
6.3: Data Correction
  • Processes to modify data are available for authorized users.
  • Processes for the school, parents, or students to modify inaccurate student information are available.
  • Unclear whether the time period for the company to modify inaccurate data is indicated.
6.4: Data Retention
  • A data-retention policy is available.
  • Unclear whether exceptions to the data retention policy exist.
6.5: Data Deletion
  • Unclear whether this product deletes data when no longer necessary.
  • Unclear whether a user's data are deleted upon account cancellation or termination.
  • Processes to delete user data are available.
  • Processes for authorized users to delete data are available.
  • Unclear whether the time period for the company to delete data is indicated.
6.6: Data Portability
  • Processes to download user data are available.
  • Unclear whether a user can assign an authorized account manager or legacy contact.

7: Data Transfer

7.1: Data Handling
  • 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.
7.2: Transfer Request
  • User information can be deleted prior to its transfer to a third party.
7.3: Onward Contractual Obligations
  • Third-party transfer is contractually required to use the same privacy practices.

8: Security

8.1: User Identity
  • Unclear whether a user's identity is verified with additional personal information.
8.2: User Account
  • Account creation is required.
  • Managed accounts are available.
  • Unclear whether multi-factor account protection is available.
8.3: Third-Party Security
  • Unclear whether third-parties with access to information are required to provide the same security protections as the company.
8.4: Data Confidentiality
  • Reasonable security practices are used to protect data.
  • Employee or physical access to user information is limited.
8.5: Data Transmission
  • Unclear whether this product encrypts all data in transit.
8.6: Data Storage
  • Unclear whether all data are stored in an encrypted format.
  • The company is clear what jurisdiction a user's personal information is subject to.
8.7: Data Breach
  • Unclear whether this product provides notice in the event of a data breach.
8.8: Data Oversight
  • Data-privacy and/or security-compliance audits are performed.

9: Responsible Use

9.1: Social Interactions
  • 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.
9.2: Data Visibility
  • Personal information can be displayed publicly.
  • Users can control how their data are displayed to others.
9.3: Monitor and Review
  • User-created content is not reviewed, screened, or monitored by the company.
  • User-created content is filtered for personal information before being made publicly visible.
  • Social interactions between users are not moderated.
  • Unclear whether social interactions of users are logged.
9.4: Report Content
  • Unclear whether users can filter or block inappropriate content.
  • Unclear whether users can report abuse or cyberbullying.
9.5: Internet Safety
  • The company provides links to resources that support safe and appropriate social interactions.

10: Advertising

10.1: Company Communications
  • A user can receive service- or administrative-related communications from the company.
10.2: Traditional Advertising
  • Unclear whether this product displays traditional or contextual advertisements.
10.3: Behavioral Advertising
  • Unclear whether this product displays personalised advertising.
10.4: Ad Tracking
  • Unclear whether data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • Unclear whether this product uses a user's information to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Unclear whether this product creates and uses data profiles for personalised advertisements.
10.5: Filtered Advertising
  • Unclear whether ads displayed to children are filtered for inappropriate content.
10.6: Marketing Communications
  • The company can send marketing messages.
  • Unclear whether this company provides promotional sweepstakes, contests, or surveys.
10.7: Unsubscribe
  • 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.
10.8: Do Not Track
  • Unclear whether this product responds to "Do Not Track" or other opt-out mechanisms.
  • Unclear whether the company provides a method for users to opt-out from third-party tracking.

11: Compliance

11.1: Children Under 13
  • 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.
  • Unclear whether this product restricts or prohibits account creation for users under 13 years of age.
11.2: Students in K–12
  • Unclear whether this product is primarily used by, designed for, and marketed toward students in grades preK–12.
  • Processes to enter education records into the product are not described.
  • Unclear whether additional rights or protections may be provided with an additional school contract.
  • Unclear whether the company is designated as a school official.
11.3: Parental Consent
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Unclear whether this product transfers parental consent obligations to the school or district.
11.4: Legal Requirements
  • The legal jurisdiction that applies to the laws governing the policies is indicated.
  • Unclear whether a user is required to waive the right to a jury trial, or settle any disputes by arbitration.
  • Unclear whether a user is required to waive the right to join a class action lawsuit.
  • A company will disclose personal information to law enforcement.
11.5: Certification
  • Unclear whether the company has signed a privacy pledge or received a privacy certification.
11.6: International Laws
  • A user's data are subject to International data transfer or jurisdiction laws.
  • The company has indicated it is a Data Controller or Data Processor.