Flipboard Privacy Policy

Effective Date: September 27, 2024

Privacy and data protection are important to the Flipboard community. Transparency is, too. We’ve done our best to cut through the legal jargon and explain in simple terms what information we collect about you, what we use it for, and the situations in which we share it with others. Please read this privacy policy carefully. It applies to all interactions you have with Flipboard’s products and services where this privacy policy appears or is referenced. This privacy policy does not apply to personal information Flipboard collects from its employees and contractors.

For purposes of this Privacy Policy, we are a data controller of your personal information. You may contact us by email at [email protected] or by mail at Legal Department Flipboard, 555, Bryant Street #352, Palo Alto, CA 94301.

1. OVERVIEW OF HOW WE USE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION ON FLIPBOARD

Below is a summary of the categories of personal information collect and how we use that information.  If you would like to opt-out of the sale or sharing of any of the information as described below, please go to https://flipboard.com/donotsellmyinfo. We retain your information while you maintain an active account with us and for a period of time thereafter to allow us to comply with our legal obligations.

INFORMATION WE COLLECT, AND HOW WE USE IT:

Contact and Account Information: When you create an account with Flipboard, you give us your full name and email address, and create a username and password to access your account. If you want, you can give us a pseudonym instead of your legal name. 

How do we use this information?

• To provide, maintain, and improve Flipboard
• To respond to your requests or questions
• To help us verify the identity of our users (when they submit requests pursuant to this privacy policy)
• To customize your experience with us (including the content, marketing, and advertising you see)
• To better understand how you use Flipboard
• To send you updates and alerts (including notifications about new features or content you might be interested in)
• To allow you to participate in sweepstakes, contests, promotions, and surveys and to administer these activities
• To help us keep Flipboard safe, including to protect our company, our business partners, and our customers.

Note: We do not sell your contact information to anyone.

Information You Submit to Us: You may share information with us, like your profile picture or other information you include in your bio. Your profile automatically includes your name and username. We also collect information when you submit a question or comment or apply for a job, or if you provide information when entering a contest or promotion.

How do we use this information?

• To provide, maintain, and improve Flipboard
• To respond to your requests or questions
• To customize your experience with us (including the content, marketing materials, and advertisements you see)
• To better understand how you use Flipboard
• To help you send and share articles and other content to your contacts or others on Flipboard
• To help us keep Flipboard safe, including to protect our company, our business partners, and our customers.

Device, Internet and Network Activity Information: When you use our websites or apps, we gather info about the browser or device you’re using, like the type of system it runs on, device identifiers, cookie IDs, your IP address, and other advertising IDs.

How do we use this information?

• To provide, maintain and improve Flipboard
• To customize your experience with us (including the content, marketing materials, and advertisements you see)
• If you’re using our mobile apps, we’ll also check how often you use them and where you got them from
• To better understand how you use Flipboard, including how you discover Flipboard and what parts of our sites you interact with
• To send you updates and alerts (including notifications about new features or content you might be interested in)
• For targeted advertising on Flipboard, which can be considered a “sale” or “sharing” of personal information to third-party advertising partners under certain U.S. state privacy laws.
• To help us keep Flipboard safe, including to protect our company, our business partners, and our customers.
• To respond to your requests or questions

Location information: We may collect information that identifies your device’s precise location (for example, GPS latitude and longitude level). We also collect information about your general location, using your zip code or postcode and IP address.

How do we use this information?

• To provide, maintain and improve Flipboard
• To customize your experience with us (including the content, marketing materials, and advertisements you see)
• To better understand how you use Flipboard
• To help you connect with other Flipboard users
• For targeted advertising on Flipboard, which is considered a “sale” or “sharing” of personal information to third-party advertising partners under certain U.S. state privacy law
• To help us keep Flipboard safe, including to protect our company, our business partners, and our customers.

Inferences: We may make inferences about your interests and personal preferences (such as the content you like to consume), as well as your demographics (like age and gender).

How do we use this information?

• To provide, maintain, and improve Flipboard
• To recommending content to you and to otherwise customize your experience with us (including the ads you see)
• To better understand how you use Flipboard

• To send you updates and alerts (including notifications about new features or content you might be interested in)

• For targeted advertising on Flipboard, which may be considered a “sale” or “sharing” of personal information to third-party advertising partners under certain U.S. state privacy laws.

Employment-Related Information. When you apply for a job, we collect information you submit as part of your application and resume. This might include your work experience and previous employment, your education, the URL to your personal or professional websites, your workplace skill sets and certifications, whether you need a visa or require sponsorship, and/or salary expectations. We may also conduct a credit check, background check, and employment verification to the extent permitted by applicable law. If you apply for a job, you may choose to also voluntarily provide any of the following information: ethnicity, gender, disability status, and/or veteran status. 

How do we use this information?

• To process your application for a job with Flipboard
• To conduct a credit check, background check and employment verification to the extent permitted by applicable law (prior to confirming your employment with Flipboard)
• For our internal research and analytics purposes (for example, demographics information for statistical tracking purposes, not for hiring decisions, in accordance with applicable law)
• We do not use this information to create profiles or make other inferences about you.

We also use all categories of personal information listed above to comply with our legal obligations, for security, safety, and due diligence purposes, or as otherwise required or permitted by law, or as we may notify you at the time of collection.

We may use personal information to create deidentified or aggregated data which does not identify you or any other individual, or from which your identity cannot reasonably be ascertained. When we de-identify data, we do not attempt to re-identify it and we prohibit our partners from doing so.

1. How We Collect Information

We collect personal information about you from the following sources: 

Directly from you. When you contact us or set up your account, we you may provide us with your contact details and other account information. If you post a comment, make a request, or fill out a survey, we collect that information too. If you apply for a job with us, we gather details related to your employment history. 

From your devices. We use tools like web beacons, cookies and embedded scripts to automatically collect information about you when you visit our websites, use our apps, see our ads, and open our emails. We collect information about you over time and across different devices this way. You can manage what information we collect by checking the “Your Choices” section below.

From third parties. If you connect your Flipboard account to another service like Facebook, Twitter, or Google, we receive information from these services. The type of information we get depends on your settings with these services and might include things like your contacts or public posts. If you connect your YouTube account on Flipboard, you agree to be bound by the YouTube Terms of Service and also the Google Privacy Policy. Sometimes, we get job-related info from other networks if you use them to apply for a job with us. Friends can also give us your information if they share content with you through Flipboard.

From our vendors and service providers. For instance, we may engage with vendors and service providers to collect or provide us with information about you, such as access to location services via wireless networks or cell towers near your mobile device, or your IP address. Our partners who help with job recruitment, marketing, ads, and analyzing data also provide us with information.

We combine information. We sometimes mix the information we get from different places. For example, we might combine information you gave us offline with what we collect online, or mix details we get from a third party with what we already know. We also combine your data with data from other users to spot trends and preferences.

1. How We Disclose Your Personal Information

All Flipboard accounts may be federated. This means that we may make all public information associated with your account (e.g., your Flipboard profile, comments you post, and content you flip) available not only on Flipboard, but also across the Fediverse – a network of interconnected social media platforms and services that can communicate and interact with each other. It is important to understand that when your data is federated we do not have direct control over how other platforms in the Fediverse handle your data, and their data protection practices may vary. Such platforms may be subject to different terms and policies, and your data may continue to appear on the internet if you have shared it and others have not deleted it. For more information about Flipboard and the Fediverse, please visit our Help Center.

We also share your personal information under these circumstances: 

With vendors and service providers. Specifically, we share all categories of personal information listed above with vendors and service providers that work on our behalf to help us offer and improve our service. We may share information with vendors that provide Flipboard with certain technical tools and services (such as email and analytics services) that help us understand how people use Flipboard so we can make it better. These vendors and service providers are only permitted to use your personal information in connection with the services provided to us.

With our advertising partners. Specifically, we may share Account Information, Inferences, and Device, Internet and Network Activity Information with our advertising partners. Our advertising partners are companies who provide analytics and other advertising support to help us serve the ads you see on the website and app.  To learn about how to control how we share your information with advertising partners see the “Your Choices” section below. 

To comply with the law, to protect ourselves, our customers and others, and for safety and security purposes. We might share your personal information if we need to for legal reasons. For example, if a law or court order says we have to, or if a government agency asks for it. But remember, this privacy policy doesn’t stop you from defending your rights if someone tries to make us share your information without a good reason. We also might share your information to protect our agreements and rights, or the rights of others. This includes looking into any possible fraud, like cheating in promotions.

In connection with a merger, acquisition, reorganization or sale of assets in the event of a bankruptcy. If our company is involved in a big change like merging with another company, being bought by someone else, or selling part of our business, we might share your personal information in connection with that transaction.  If all or part of our business is bought by another company, your personal information might be part of what is transferred to the new owner.

1. Rights and Choices for U.S. Users

You have the following rights, where provided under applicable under United States law, regarding your personal information (each of which are subject to various exceptions and limitations):

• Access: You can request, up to two times every 12 months, that we disclose to you the categories of personal information we collected about you, the categories of sources from which we collected the personal information, the categories of personal information we sold or disclosed, our business or commercial purpose for collecting, selling, or sharing the personal information, the categories of third parties with whom we shared the personal information, and the specific pieces of personal information we collected about you. You also have the right to request a portable copy of your personal information. In some jurisdictions you may also have the right to receive a list of the specific third parties with whom we share personal information.
• Correction: You have the right to request that Flipboard correct inaccurate personal information collected from you.
• Deletion: You can request that we delete your personal information that we maintain about you.
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information: You have the right to opt-out of the “sale” of your personal information (defined very broadly to include situations where we provide personal information to partners who provide advertising services to us) and the “sharing” of personal information in connection with the display of targeted advertising across third party websites. Flipboard does not sell your name and contact information (such as your email address, phone number, or postal address); however, as described above in the “How We Disclose Your Personal Information” section above, we do share the following categories of personal information with our marketing and advertising partners in order to show you advertisements that are targeted to your interests: Contact and Account Information; Demographic Information; Device, Internet, and Network Activity Information; Location Information; and Inferences.

How to Submit a Request.

• You may exercise these rights, including deletion of your personal information, by emailing [email protected]. We will respond timely and confirm the steps we have taken.
• You can also request that we not sell or share your personal information by clicking Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information on the website and in the app in the Privacy section of the Settings. Please note that any opt-outs through these tools are specific to the device and browser you are using, so you should opt-out for each web browser and on each device you use. Your opt-out preferences will be deleted any time you clear your web browser’s cookie cache.
• Some browsers offer you the ability to opt out of cookie-based and other online tracking, which may be considered a “sale” or “sharing” of your personal information.  At this time, we only respond to browser-based opt-out signals sent through the Global Privacy Control: https://globalprivacycontrol.org/. When you opt-out of sale or share via the GPC, we accept that signal and honor it. We do not respond to do not track or other browser-based signals.

How We Verify Your Identity. We will take reasonable steps to verify your identity prior to responding to your requests. For example, we may utilize a third party verification provider to assist with verifying your identity. The verification steps may vary depending on the sensitivity of the personal information and whether you have an account with us.

Authorized Agent. You can designate an authorized agent to submit requests on your behalf.  However, we will require written proof of the agent’s permission to do so and we will need to verify your identity directly. 

Appeals. You have a right to appeal decisions concerning your ability to exercise your consumer rights.  Please contact us at [email protected] to request an appeal concerning decisions on your consumer request.   

As noted below, we do not knowingly collect information from or about children, including children under age 18. We do not sell or share information of minors under 18 years of age.

Flipboard will not discriminate against you because you made any of these requests. We may deny certain requests, or fulfill a request only in part, based on our legal rights and obligations. For example, we may retain personal information as permitted by law, such as for tax or other record keeping purposes, to maintain an active account, and to process transactions and facilitate customer requests. Note that for purposes of these requests under this Privacy Policy, personal information does not include information about employees and other of our personnel; information about employees and other representatives of third-party entities we may interact with; or information we have collected as a service provider to our clients.

Shine the Light. If you reside in California, you have the right to ask us one time each year if we have shared personal information with third parties for their direct marketing purposes. To make a request, please send us an email, or write to us at the address listed below. Indicate in your letter that you are a California resident making a “Shine the Light” inquiry

Other Rights and Choices

You can opt out of receiving our marketing emails. To stop receiving our promotional emails, you can follow the instructions in any promotional message you get from us. Even if you opt out of getting marketing messages, we will still send you transactional messages. These include responses to your questions.

You have choices with respect to the use of your location information.  In order to use certain functionality in our mobile applications, such as location-based services and technology, you must either (a) enable “location services” in the mobile application; and/or (b) set the permissions in your mobile device to allow communication of this information. More information about adjusting location services on iOS devices may be found here, and additional information on managing an Android device’s location settings may be found here. If you allow for location sharing, your device may communicate with us in ways that allow for us to customize the content you receive and to customize advertising you see.

You can control certain cookies and tracking tools. Cookies and HTML5 local storage are ways to keep information about your use of Internet services on your own mobile device or computer. We use cookies and HTML5 local storage to help us create your session, know when you’re logged in and help us remember certain information about how you interact with Flipboard. You can find more information about these tools in our Cookie Statement. If you’d rather not use cookies or HTML5 local storage, most browsers give you the option to turn them off, or require your approval before using them to keep information. If you choose not to keep information in cookies or HTML5 local storage, though, portions of Flipboard may not work as intended. Your browser may also give you the ability to control cookies or other tracking tools. How you do so depends on the type of tool. Certain browsers can be set to reject browser cookies. Please note that this privacy policy explains Flipboard’s policies only, and doesn’t cover the practices of other services.

• You can learn more about interested-based advertising, including how to opt out of third-party partners’ advertising you see on Flipboard and on other services, by visiting http://www.aboutads.info/choices/ and https://optout.privacyrights.info/ and http://www.aboutads.info/appchoices. We also use and share certain hashed information to enable targeted advertising through marketing partners that use common online identifiers for use in online, in-app, and cross-channel advertising, you can opt out of this network HERE.
• Users in European countries can visit http://www.youronlinechoices.eu/ for more information on these topics. Alternatively, you can opt out by discontinuing your use of Flipboard. We use Google Analytics to better understand how our users interact with our websites. You can learn about Google Analytics’ currently available opt-outs at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout/.

1. For European Users of Flipboard

If you reside in the UK or a country in the European Economic Area (EEA), under European data protection law, data controllers are required to have a lawful basis for each use or disclosure of personal information. We rely on the following legal bases when we process your personal information:

• When necessary for our legitimate interest in providing services to our users. These legitimate interests include to respond to your inquiries and requests for information, maintain, improve, and analyze our websites, mobile applications, ads, and the content and services we offer, detect, prevent, or investigate security breaches or fraud, and facilitate the functionality of our websites and mobile applications. In specific situations, we require your personal information to pursue our legitimate interests in a way which might reasonably be expected as part of running our business and which does not materially impact your rights, freedom or interests. We will use legitimate interest after we have properly evaluated the data processing and conducted a necessary balancing test.
• When necessary for the performance of a contract. This includes processing your personal information in order to fulfill your request or provide the services that you have requested, including for example, when you have created a Flipboard account and subscribed to the Flipboard service.
• When you provide your consent for us to use your information. In some cases, we may rely on your consent. If we process any information where your consent is our lawful basis, you will have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
• To comply with our legal obligations. This is our legal basis for certain uses and disclosures of information required by applicable UK and EEA laws. For example, we can pass on details of people involved in fraud or other criminal activity affecting us to law enforcement. Please note that as Flipboard provides a tailored service to each user, it is a requirement of the service that information on your use of the service is collected. If Flipboard is not able to collect such information the service will not be available and you will need to close your Flipboard account.

If you are a resident of the UK or a country in the EEA, you also have the following rights (each of which are subject to various exceptions and limitations):

• Access – You have the right to ask us for confirmation on whether we are processing your personal information and ask use for copies of your personal information.
• Correction – You can request that we correct personal information you think is inaccurate or incomplete. You can also edit some of your personal information through your Flipboard account.
• Deletion – You can request that we delete your personal information. We may deidentify or anonymize personal information in response to your request. You can also delete some of your information by deleting your Flipboard account.
• Restrict or Object Processing – Where we rely on legitimate interests to process your personal information, you have the right to object, on ground relating to your particular situation, at any time to the processing of your personal information. 
• Right to Restrict Processing – You may have the right to request that we restrict processing of your personal information in certain circumstances (for example, where you believe that the personal information we hold about you is not accurate or lawfully held).
• Right to Withdraw Consent –  If processing of your personal information is based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Your withdrawal will not affect the lawfulness of the processing carried out before you withdrew your consent. You may withdraw your consent by contacting us at [email protected].

• Right to Data Portability. You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal information you gave us to another organization, or to you, in certain circumstances.

Please know that in order for us to respond to your request we may require that you verify your identity. For security, privacy, or operational reasons, Flipboard may only respond to valid requests when required by law or regulation. You can also control certain choices via the Cookie Statement and through the Privacy Manager. We will retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide the services you have requested, including to administer your Flipboard account, while taking into account any legal requirements and tax and accounting rules. If you need further assistance regarding your rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer at [email protected] and we will consider your request in accordance with applicable laws.

8. Data Retention and Security

The Internet is not 100% secure. We use industry standard security measures. We cannot promise that your use of our websites, apps, or services will be completely safe. Any transmission of your data to our websites is at your own risk. We encourage you to use caution when using the Internet. We keep personal information as long as it is necessary or relevant for the practices described in this Privacy Policy, including, for example, for legal compliance, dispute resolution, contract enforcement, backup, archival, and other internal operations purposes. This includes data you or others provide to us and data generated from your use of our services. We also keep information as otherwise required by law.

9. Data Storage Outside the EEA and International Transfer

As a California-based company, we store and use personal data outside the EEA. The Flipboard services are offered globally so it is necessary to transfer your information internationally. In particular, your information will be transferred to and processed in the United States where our servers are located. The data protection and other laws of other countries, such as the United States, may not be as comprehensive as those in your country. By using our websites or mobile apps, or submitting your personal information, you consent to such transfer, storing and processing. We rely on multiple legal bases to lawfully transfer personal data internationally. These include EU Commission approved model contractual clauses, which require certain privacy and security protections. To ensure adequate protection of personal data in cross-border transfer and/or processing, we use appropriate safeguards as allowed under applicable law or regulation.

10. Links to Third Party Sites

We may link to third-party sites that we do not control. This Privacy Policy does not apply to the information practices of those websites. You should read the privacy policy of other websites carefully before disclosing any of your information. You access such linked websites at your own risk. We are not responsible for such third-party sites.

11. Minor Children

Flipboard’s websites and applications are not intended for children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under the age of 18. If you are a parent or legal guardian and think your minor under the age of 18 has given us information, you can contact us at [email protected].

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

As Flipboard continues to develop, we may decide to revise this privacy policy from time to time. The most current version will govern our use of your information and will always be posted on the websites and apps to which this policy applies, and older versions are available upon request. If we make changes that we think will substantially alter your rights, we will notify you by posting a notice on our website. Your continued use of our websites, apps, or services means that you consent to any changes or revisions to the updated privacy policy.

13. YouTube Notice

Flipboard uses YouTube API Services, and YouTube content may be included with or made available via Flipboard. Google requires this notice:

• Use of YouTube is subject to the provisions of the YouTube Terms of Service found at https://www.youtube.com/t/terms
• By using YouTube, You hereby accept the Google Privacy Policy found at https://policies.google.com/privacy

14. Contact

In addition to any mechanisms set forth herein, you may always exercise any rights, including deletion of your personal information, by emailing [email protected]. We will respond timely and confirm the steps we have taken.

We’d love to hear your questions, concerns and feedback about this privacy policy. If you have suggestions for us, let us know at [email protected]. You can also write to us at the address below:

Legal Department Flipboard 555 Bryant Street #352 Palo Alto, CA 94301

For EEA and UK users, if you feel you haven’t received a timely or satisfactory response from us with respect to a question or complaint related to this policy, you may raise the issue with data protection authority in your country, without prejudice to any other rights you may have.