Privacy Policy for Kärcher Outdoor Robots App (Version: November 2024)

The following information explains how your personal data is processed when you use the Kärcher RCX robotic lawn mower systems, including the app.

1. Kärcher Outdoor Robots

The use of the Kärcher RCX robotic lawn mower systems by Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG, Alfred-Kärcher-Straße 28-40, 71364 Winnenden, Telephone: +49 (0)7195/14-0, Email: info@karcher.com (hereinafter referred to as Kärcher) is only possible via the Kärcher Outdoor Robots app for smartphones with an iOS or Android operating system. You can contact Kärcher's data protection officer at the above address or by email at data.privacy@kaercher.com.

2. Download the App

You can download the Kärcher Outdoor Robots app for free from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. To do this, you need to create an account in the Google Play Store or the App Store and enter your data there. However, this data is not collected by Kärcher, and thus Kärcher has no influence over it and is not responsible for it.


You must also accept the terms of use of the respective app store in order to create an account. When you download the Home Outdoor Robots app, you must also accept the associated terms of use legally binding.


When you download the app from an app store, the information required for this is transmitted to the app store, in particular your username, email address, and customer number of your account, the date/time of the download, and the individual device ID. However, we have no influence over the collection of this data and are not responsible for it.

3. Setting up and using the app

To set up and use the app, you must register.


When you open the app for the first time, you will be prompted to confirm your country and region and to select a language for the app.


The app account is a prerequisite for using the app's features on the mobile device on which the app is installed after download ("your mobile device"), and it collects all types of data that you provide and receive in the app on this basis. When you create an account in the app, we collect your email address and password.


The above information is used to verify your identity, to reconcile and collect a range of operational activities you perform with the app account, to coordinate and provide feedback on the operational status of your RCX robotic lawn mower, to assist in processing customer service and maintenance requests you make to us, and to inform you about the above situation, to notify you of significant changes and updates to service features, as well as for technical and security-related communications.


After downloading the app to your mobile device, you can link your app account with your RCX robotic lawn mower. To do this, you first need to set up the network, i.e., establish the path for the flow of information between your app account and your RCX robotic lawn mower via our server. To do this, you need to connect your mobile device, your app account, and your RCX robotic lawn mower to your Wi-Fi network.


The following data will be collected as part of the network configuration:

 

  • App name
  • Network card address (MAC), operating system and version
  • SSID, network system, displayed IP address, location, time zone, and time of sending the network configuration request to our server from the same Wi-Fi network that your mobile device and your RCX robotic lawn mower also access
  • Model, SN code, and MAC address of your RCX robotic lawn mower
  • Status and error type of your network configuration

4. Use of the Kärcher RCX Robotic Lawnmower systems

The basic business functions of the Kärcher RCX Robotic Lawnmower systems that we offer you consist of:

  • all the functions of your RCX Robotic Lawnmower (depending on the product specifications);
  • the app that is linked to your RCX Robotic Lawnmower to control and record the operation of the product; and
  • communication and processing for the use and operation of the app and the RCX Robotic Lawnmower which is linked to the app.
  • We process personal data in particular in the following situations so that we can implement the following functions securely and effectively:

1. Lawn mowing function

When you use the RCX Robotic Lawnmower's mowing function, we collect information about the layout and configuration of the lawn, the working mode, the mowing speed and cutting characteristics so that the device is able to mow the desired area. We also collect information about your mowing schedule (e.g. planned duration and setting for lawn mowing) so that the planned activities can be carried out within the specified time period.

2. Recording and displaying lawn mowing information

When you use your RCX Robotic Lawnmower, we may collect and record information about your lawn mowing operations, including the total number of lawn mowing operations, along with the date, time, route, area, duration and zone (which is collected via the mapping function and your details) for each lawn mowing operation. This information is used to display the product's lawn mowing history. We collect lawn mowing progress information to show you the usage history and describe the area, duration and zone for each lawn mowing operation, as well as the cumulative lawn mowing time and the total number of lawn mowing operations.

3. Lawn mowing map and obstacle avoidance

If you use the RCX Robotic Lawnmower with the obstacle avoidance function, it will detect objects in front of it with the camera to generate characteristic information (contour of the object and geometric features) so that the robot can recognise what type of object it is. The device can also recognise and evaluate the ground type in order to decide whether the area contains grass that needs to be mowed. You can manage and edit the maps created for completed lawn mowing operations in the app.

4. AI-supported object recognition and obstacle avoidance

If you use the RCX Robotic Lawnmower with the AI-supported object recognition function, the device's camera will capture image data about the objects in front of the device and generate its properties for the purpose of recognition in a fraction of a second. After recognising the different types of objects, the device can make a decision and avoid the obstacles during the mowing process. The pictures taken will then be erased immediately. You can select whether you want to activate the recognition function and whether the identified objects should be displayed on the lawn mower map. We fully understand the need to protect your privacy. You can be sure that the pictures you take are neither stored locally nor uploaded to a server. These images are only used for the creation of lawn mowing maps and the avoidance of obstacles and not for any other purpose.

 

When you use the Kärcher RCX Robotic Lawnmower system, the app or the RCX Robotic Lawnmower will therefore save the following data so that you can use the Kärcher RCX Robotic Lawnmower system without transmitting these data to us. These data include:

  • storage plan;
  • software version;
  • device serial number;
  • email address;
  • WiFi data.

When you use the Kärcher RCX Robotic Lawnmower app, we collect the following data transmitted by Your Mobile Device so that you can use the Kärcher RCX Robotic Lawnmower app. These data include:

  • lawn mowing history;
  • lawn mowing entries;
  • operating logbooks;
  • location;
  • storage plan;
  • software version;
  • serial number;
  • email address;
  • phone serial number.

In this regard, we must request the following consents via Your Mobile Device:

  • To connect the network configuration and the app functions that must be connected to a network, we need consent for ‘mobile data’, for receiving ‘Wi-Fi information’ and also consent for the ‘local network’.
  • In order to complete the network configuration more efficiently, we also need to obtain the permission to ‘request your location’ and to use ‘Bluetooth’ on your mobile device.
  • In order to ensure the security of your app account, we need to retrieve ‘device information’.
  • In order to be able to display various push notifications in connection with your account on your mobile device, we need your consent for ‘Notifications’.

You have the right to choose whether to provide specific information. However, in most cases, if you do not provide such information, we may be unable to provide corresponding services to you, or we may be unable to respond to a problem you encounter.


Some of the RCX Robotic Lawnmowers we offer support ‘shared use of devices’. This allows app account holders (i.e. the joint users) who are connected to these devices to share equal control with other app account holders (i.e. the joint users). If you are a joint user, your app account controls the RCX Robotic Lawnmowers linked to other app accounts via the ‘shared use of devices’ function. For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, these RCX Robotic Lawnmowers are referred to as your ‘RCX Robotic Lawnmowers’. To clarify: This Privacy Policy applies to all uses of such robots by the sharing joint user as well as by the joint users who utilise such sharing. You can also delete the devices for which sharing has been accepted in the app or switch off the permission to share with others completely.

5. Purpose of processing and legal basis

All data is collected, processed, and stored by Kärcher for the provision of Kärcher RCX robotic lawn mower services in accordance with Article 6 (1) letter b of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).


According to Article 6 (1) letter f GDPR, Kärcher also uses the data collected via the RCX robotic lawn mower devices for the purposes of quality assurance and to improve the quality of its RCX robotic lawn mower products. In accordance with Article 6 (1) letter f GDPR and based on Kärcher's legitimate interest in market research, to identify trends, and for product recommendations, Kärcher also evaluates your usage behavior and the information on where and how you use the respective products. The affected data will be pseudonymized for this purpose. By such use of the data, Kärcher draws no conclusions about individual users and does not create user profiles in particular.


Your data will not be passed on to third parties. However, Kärcher reserves the right, in accordance with Article 28 GDPR, for service providers to process the data on behalf of Kärcher. Since data processing is necessary for the fulfillment of the contract concluded between you and Kärcher, the contract cannot be fulfilled without the processing of the data.

6. Recipient of personal data

In the course of our processing of personal data, it may occur that the data is transferred to or disclosed to other companies because they provide services for us.
In these cases, we comply with the legal requirements and in particular conclude appropriate contracts or agreements in accordance with Art. 28 GDPR, which protect your data with the recipients of your data.

7. Data transfer outside the European Union

If we process your data in a third country (i.e. outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA)) or if the processing is related to the use of third-party services or the disclosure or transfer of data to other persons, entities or companies, the legal requirements will be adhered to.


Our processing or commissioning to process your data only takes place in third countries that provide an adequate level of data protection, or on the basis of contractual obligations in the form of so-called standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission with existing certifications or binding internal data protection regulations (Art. 44 to 49 GDPR).

8. Retention periods

Deletion of your user data

Upon termination of the contractual relationship, the personal data stored with Kärcher will be deleted, provided that this does not violate legal retention obligations. This deletion occurs when you delete your account.


Deletion of the data generated by your device

The data generated by your device (e.g. the mowing history) will be stored for a maximum period of 6 months.

9. Your rights, questions and information

To view and correct your personal data, you can log into your app and display the "User Information" and "Settings" screens to view or change the personal data you have submitted, manage the receiving address and the linked third-party account, or make relevant data protection and security settings. However, for security and identification reasons or due to mandatory provisions in laws and regulations, it may be possible that you cannot change some of the login data originally entered at the time of registration. If access to your personal data is not possible via the above-described method, you can exercise the following rights.


You have the right to know whether and, if so, which personal data we have stored about you, to have this data corrected or deleted, to restrict the processing of your data, to object to the processing, and the right to data portability. As your personal data is processed for the fulfilment of a contract, you can no longer use the services provided under the contract once you have objected to the processing of your personal data.


If you have further questions regarding the processing of your data or if you wish to exercise your rights as described above, you can contact the data protection officer of Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. at the address mentioned above or at the email address data.privacy@kaercher.com. KG.

10. Competent supervisory authority

If you believe that the processing of your personal data violates these data protection regulations, you have the right, as a data subject, to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, particularly in the member state of your habitual residence, your workplace, or the place of the alleged infringement, without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedies.


If you have a complaint regarding the use of your personal data, you can also contact the competent data protection supervisory authority of Kärcher, the State Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information Baden-Württemberg, Königstraße 10a, 70173 Stuttgart, Telephone: +49 (0)711/615541-0, Fax 0711/615541-15, https://www.baden-wuerttemberg.datenschutz.de/ Email: poststelle@lfdi.bwl.de.