Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY Terahertz, Inc. dba Qrblox‍ Effective Date August 29, 2024 “QR Code” is registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED. 1. INTRODUCTION This privacy policy applies to Terahertz, Inc. dba QrbloxTM (“Qrblox”) and its business operations, including Qrblox QR Codes, Qrblox mobile app pages, Qrblox tags, and other Qrblox properties at Qrblox.com, Qrblox.co, Qrro.ai, and others. It outlines how we collect, use, and protect personal information obtained through our websites, mobile and desktop applications, and other services, such as Qrblox QR Codes, Qrblox tags, Qrblox API, Qrblox Data tools, and data services. We enable companies and organizations (Teams) and our customers (Users) to build connections by collecting information through our Qrblox app, Qrblox QR Codes, Qrblox tags, and the online properties of Teams and Users. If you are a Team or are a User who uses our services or interacts with Qrblox in any way, this privacy policy outlines how we handle and protect your personal information. It also explains your privacy rights when using our services or engaging with us. Additionally, this policy covers the personal data we collect in the context of our business-to-business interactions and marketing efforts. At Qrblox, we prioritize your privacy and are dedicated to safeguarding your personal information. Under UK, EU, or similar data protection laws, Qrblox is typically considered the "controller" of your personal information, meaning we are responsible for deciding how your data is stored and used. This Privacy Policy outlines how we handle your personal information. However, it's important to note that Teams, Users, and other third parties may collect and handle personal information separately, according to their own policies and procedures, which may differ from this Privacy Policy. When you interact with third-party links or connections through our Services, such as Qrblox QR Codes, Qrblox app pages, or Qrblox tags, these third parties may collect or disclose your personal information. As separate and independent controllers, they are responsible for their own privacy policies and procedures. Qrblox does not control these third parties and is not responsible for their handling of your personal information. By accessing or using our Sites, Services, or features, such as scanning a Qrblox QR code, creating a Qrblox QR Code, creating a Qrblox app page or Qrblox tag, or interacting with the Qrblox app, you consent to the collection and processing of your information as outlined in this Privacy Policy. The types of personal information we collect are outlined in the Key Privacy Details section below. We collect this information through various means, including information you provide to us directly, such as through our information collection technology, as well as information we collect automatically through our technology. Additionally, we also collect information from third-party sources, including Teams, Users, service providers, data partners, trade associations, industry partners, event organizers, joint marketing partners, public agencies, and publicly available sources like websites. Additionally, if you share your Qrblox QR code with someone else, we may collect the same categories of information from their device, subject to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If a Qrblox user uses our contact collection form or other information collection widget, and another person enters information into it, our handling of that information will be subject to this Privacy Policy, but the handling of the information by the Team or User that created the Qrblox page will be subject to their own privacy policies and practices. Please read this Privacy Policy in conjunction with any other privacy policies or notices we provide on specific occasions to ensure you understand how and why we use your personal information. This Privacy Policy is a statement of our practices and is not a legally binding agreement. We may update this Privacy Policy periodically and may also notify you through other channels about changes to how we handle your personal information. 2. PRIVACY OVERVIEW This section of our Privacy Policy provides key information about how Terahertz, Inc. dba Qrblox (Qrblox) and its business operations, including Qrblox QR Codes and Qrblox app pages, collect and use your personal information. Please note that this section does not apply to the handling of personal information by our customers, including Teams and Users. For a complete understanding of our privacy practices, we recommend reading this entire Privacy Policy from start to finish. To better comprehend Qrblox's handling of personal information, it's essential to understand how our QR codes function. 3. QR CODES When you use your smartphone or tablet to scan a QR code, you'll typically be presented with an option to take a specific action or your device will automatically perform that action. For instance, scanning the QR code below may prompt you to visit a webpage. Some QR codes can also trigger other actions, such as downloading content or installing an app. When you interact with a Qrblox QR code, we may collect certain information using cookies. For instance, a Team or User might display a Qrblox QR code in various locations, such as billboards, advertisements, products, or online platforms, along with an invitation to scan it for a specific purpose, such as redeeming a coupon, downloading an app, or accessing more information. When you scan the QR code, your device may briefly visit a Qrblox website, where we may collect information like your device's IP address, the time of the scan, and details about your browser and operating system. We may also use cookies and other information collection technologies to gather data on the Qrblox website and any associated websites or online properties. Additionally, if you scan our QR codes using a Qrblox mobile app or a browser with geolocation consent, we may collect your precise location and share it with the Team or User whose geolocation-enabled QR codes you scan. We may also infer your general location from your IP address and share this information with the Team or User when you scan their QR code. Personal information we collect when scanning a Qrblox QR Code includes: a record of the specific QR Code scanned; information about device (IP address, operating system, browser); unique cookie IDs; precise geolocation; inferences drawn from above (general location, interests, attributes). Personal Information we collect in other contexts: contact information (name, username, email, phone, address, professional data); purchase information; payment details; records of services and business relationships; interests and marketing preferences; device/browser information (cookies, unique identifiers, IP address, browser/OS, device IDs, geolocation, installed apps, local Wi-Fi, internet connection); form information (name, phone, address, age, gender); other automatic means information; inferences drawn from above. We use personal information for the following purposes: providing Services to Teams, Users, and others; product and service development (improving Services and creating new ones); responding to questions, concerns, or customer service inquiries; sending information about current and future Services (marketing communications); conducting other marketing; analyzing market conditions and Service use; customizing content and advertising; conducting investor relations; enforcing legal terms; conducting audits and internal/external investigations; detecting and taking measures against fraud, cybersecurity violations, and other risks; complying with law, protecting rights, and ensuring safety; creating aggregated or de-identified data for any purpose. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) defines the term "sale" of California personal information to include not only the direct sale of user data to third parties, but also certain common practices that we have engaged in over the past 12 months. For instance, under the CCPA, "sale" and "sharing" include the use of certain advertising services, such as when we pay an ad tech company to place a cookie on a website visitor's browser, allowing them to see an ad for our services on other websites. This practice involves sharing IP addresses, browser/device/cookie data, and other information with the ad tech company. Additionally, under the CCPA, we are considered to be "selling" personal information when we allow vendors that assist us with our Services to use IP addresses and browser, device, or cookie data to improve their services. The CCPA also covers other uses of advertising services, such as paying a third-party website to serve ads to individuals we specify by providing them with a list of email addresses or hashed email addresses. This would be considered a "sale" and "sharing," even though we would be the ones paying for it. While we do not currently engage in other "sales" or "sharing" of California personal information, we do engage in other disclosures of personal information about Californians. We do not "sell" or "share" California personal information if we have actual knowledge that the consumer is under the age of 16. Californians can opt out of our CCPA "sales" and "sharing" by following the instructions on our Your Privacy Choices form by contacting us at [email protected]. 3. COOKIES Through our websites, apps, and other online services, including those provided by Teams and Users, we and third-party companies collect information from your device using automated technologies such as cookies, web beacons, local storage, JavaScript, and other computer code. This information may include unique browser identifiers, IP address, browser and operating system details, device identifiers (such as Apple IDFA or Android Advertising ID), geolocation, device information, internet connection details, and usage and interaction data with the relevant website, app, email, or online property. This data may include information such as the URL of the third-party website you visited, the pages and content you viewed, how frequently you accessed or used our services, and how you engaged with or navigated our services (including the links you clicked on), error logs, and other similar information. In some cases, these tools may involve storing unique identifiers or other information on your device for later use. These technologies help us by; displaying personalized content; facilitating online marketing; remembering your settings on the pages you visit so that we can display your preferred content the next time you visit; performing analytics, measuring traffic and usage trends, and better understanding the demographics of users; diagnosing and fixing technology problems; planning for and enhancing our business; and facilitating the other uses and disclosures described in this Privacy Policy. In some cases, we collaborate with third-party advertising services to collect information about your online activities. We and these ad services may use automated tools like cookies to track your online behavior over time, and we or they may use this information to serve you targeted ads based on your individual interests, characteristics, or browsing history. Additionally, when you scan a Qrblox QR code, we may use cookies and other information collection technologies to gather data about that interaction, as described in our QR Codes section. 4. COOKIES OPTIONS To opt out of non-essential cookies on Qrblox.com, please select 'Cookie Settings' from the link in that website's footer to manage your preferences. To learn more about interest-based advertising or to opt out of targeted, interest-based ads by some of our current ad service partners, visit aboutads.info/choices from each browser you use. For controls relating to data collected from mobile applications, please read your operating system's instructions for complete instructions. Some options can be found here: for iOS 7 or higher, go to Settings > Select Privacy > Select Advertising > Enable the "Limit Ad Tracking" setting; for Android devices with OS 2.2 or higher and Google Play Services version 4.0 or higher, open your Google Settings app > Ads > Enable "Opt out of interest-based advertising"; see the NAI guide to mobile device options for additional suggestions on managing ad-related preferences. You can also opt out of Google Analytics and customize the Google Display Network ads by visiting the Google Ads Settings page from each browser. Google also allows you to install a Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on for each browser. You can also adjust your browser settings to refuse certain types of cookies or receive alerts when they are being used. Some browsers offer similar controls for HTML5 local storage and other technologies. However, please note that blocking or rejecting our cookies, local storage, JavaScript, or other technologies may cause certain websites, including some of our own, to malfunction. Additionally, if you update, reset, or change your browser or device, or delete your cookies, you may need to re-enable your opt-out preferences using the available tools. Please be aware that we do not respond to browser-based "do-not-track" signals. By understanding and managing your browser settings, you can make informed choices about your online experience. 5. DATA SECURITY To help safeguard your account and personal information, we recommend using a unique password for each of our Services and storing them securely. It's also essential to keep your account and browser session private by signing off and closing your browser window when you're finished using the Services. We take data protection seriously and employ a range of physical, technical, and organizational measures to secure personal information. While we strive to provide robust security, no method is foolproof, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your personal information. By taking these precautions and being mindful of your online activities, you can help minimize risks and protect your sensitive information. 6. DATA RETENTION We typically retain your personal information in identifiable form only for as long as it is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which we collected it, including meeting legal, accounting, and reporting requirements. Since we may use the same category of personal information for different purposes and in different contexts, there is no fixed retention period that applies to a particular category of personal information. Instead, we consider factors such as the potential risk of harm from unauthorized use or disclosure, the sensitivity of the information, the purposes for which we process the information, and applicable legal requirements to determine the appropriate retention period. For example, we may retain personal information collected from California residents for a certain period of time in certain situations. It's also important to note that we may retain copies of personal information for backup and business continuity purposes for longer than the original copies. We collect the following categories of personal information from Californians: Identifiers (name, username, email address, phone number, and address); we plan to retain certain identifiers associated with points of contact for Teams and Users for the duration of the customer’s contract with Qrblox, and for 2 years after that for related administration and sales purposes; Commercial information (information provided in communications and information about purchases or interactions with our Services); we plan to retain certain information on an individual’s interest in our services for up to 1 year after the person’s last interaction with Qrblox, or 2 years after the end of a Team’s or User’s contract with Qrblox for sales and marketing purposes; Financial information (payment card number); we may retain financial information for 7 years in support of financial statements/filings and key financial or business process controls; Internet or other electronic network activity information (technical data about your device and interactions with our Sites and Services, and with Teams and Users); we plan to retain the California IP address associated with account logins on our own websites for several years for account authentication, fraud detection, and other cybersecurity purposes; Professional or employment-related data (title); we plan to retain various forms of professional-related data received in the sales context for 1 year after the person’s (or their organization’s) last interaction with Qrblox, or 2 years after the end of a Team’s or User’s contract with Qrblox for sales and marketing purposes; Inferences drawn from any of the above; we often retain inferences for the same period of time for which we retain the underlying data. 7. DATA DISCLOSURE We disclose your information to third parties as follows: To Teams and Users: we disclose information to Teams and Users, for example, when we collect information about you in the context of your relationship with a Team or User, or in the context of your interaction with them or your interaction with something they have created or enhanced through our Services; To Vendors: we may disclose your information to companies that provide services to us, including facilitating some aspects of our Sites or Services, such as sending emails and fulfilling customer service requests; To Affiliates: we may disclose information to other members of our corporate family for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy; To Business Partners: where we are permitted to do so by applicable privacy laws and with your consent if required by law, we may disclose information to businesses with which we partner to offer you certain products, services, and promotions which may be of interest to you; To Customers: if you sign up for an individual account using an email address containing an email domain controlled by a current or future customer, we may disclose certain information about your account status to that customer; To other customers: similar to the “To Customers” sentence above, if you have an account that is managed by another account, we may disclose your personal information to that account manager; Legal Proceedings: we disclose information when we believe disclosure is appropriate due to a subpoena or similar investigative demand, a court order, or other request from a law enforcement or government agency; Compliance: we disclose information when we believe disclosure is appropriate in connection with efforts to investigate, prevent, or take other action regarding illegal activity, suspected fraud or other wrongdoing; To Corporate Transactions: we may disclose your information as part of, or to take steps in anticipation of, a sale of all or a portion of our business, a divestiture, merger, consolidation, or asset sale, a bankruptcy, or other significant corporate event. When applicable, we comply with legal requirements for transfers of personal information to third countries; we make transfers under the following conditions: transfers to countries that have been deemed to provide an adequate level of protection for personal information by the relevant authorities; transfers using specific approved contracts, such as the EU Standard Contractual Clauses for transfers of personal information to third countries, with appropriate modifications for other jurisdictions; transfers in reliance on the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, the UK-U.S. Data Bridge, or other programs approved by relevant authorities; transfers based on appropriate consent; transfers necessary to perform a contract with the data subject; transfers that are legally mandated in appropriate circumstances. If you would like more information on the specific mechanism used by us when transferring your personal information out of the United Kingdom or Europe, please contact us at [email protected]. 8. GDPR DATA PROCESSING We will only use your personal information when the law allows us to. If you are based in the United Kingdom or Europe, when we act as a data controller, we will only use your personal information if we have one of the following legal bases: we will use your personal information where we need to perform the contract we have entered into with you (for example, the Terms of Use); where it furthers our legitimate interests (or those of our customers, business partners, or suppliers) in business activities such as using identifiers and financial information to protect business activities, individuals, and property; using identifiers to communicate for customer service; using identifiers for marketing and advertising (including sending certain direct marketing); using commercial information to analyze and improve our business activities; using identifiers and Internet or other electronic network activity information to provide cybersecurity, manage information technology assets, and manage risks and legal issues; where we need to comply with a legal obligation; where we need to protect your interests (or someone else's interests); and/or where we have obtained your consent. We may request your consent before engaging in certain activities described in this Privacy Policy. For example, visitors to Qrblox.com in the EU will see a request for consent before ad targeting cookies are used on that website. 9. YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS In addition to exercising your choices regarding cookies and direct marketing as described in the Privacy Policy sections above, depending on where you live, you may have the right to make certain other requests related to your personal information. For example, if you are located in the United Kingdom, European Union, or an area with similar laws (including, to some extent, certain states in the U.S.), you have the right to: request access to your personal information (commonly known as a “data subject access request”), which enables you to receive a copy of certain personal information we hold about you and to check that we are lawfully processing it; request correction of the personal information that we hold about you, which enables you to have any incomplete or inaccurate information we hold about you corrected; request erasure of your personal information, which enables you to ask us to delete or remove personal information where there is no good reason for us continuing to process it, or where you have exercised your right to object to processing; object to (or opt out of) processing of your personal information, for example, where applicable, the laws of the UK, European Union, and some other jurisdictions provide the absolute right to object where we are processing your personal information for direct marketing purposes; request the restriction of processing of your personal information, which enables you to ask us to suspend most or all processing of personal information about you, for example, if you want us to establish its accuracy or the reason for processing it; request the transfer of your personal information to another party; and withdraw your consent for specific processing at any time, in the limited circumstances where we rely on your consent for such processing, in which case we will no longer process your information for the purpose or purposes you originally agreed to, unless we have another legitimate basis for doing so in law. If you wish to exercise any of the rights mentioned above, please contact us. Additionally, residents of certain states, including California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Nevada, have the right to opt out of the "sale" of personal information and certain uses and disclosures of personal information for targeted advertising purposes. To exercise these rights, residents of these states can contact us and follow the instructions. Please note that all rights, except the direct marketing opt-out, are subject to important exceptions. You will not typically be charged a fee to access your personal information or exercise other rights. However, we may charge a reasonable fee if your request is clearly unfounded or excessive, or we may refuse to comply in such cases. To ensure the security of your personal information, we may request specific information from you to confirm your identity and verify your right to access the information or exercise other rights. If you have concerns about our data practices, we encourage you to contact us first so that we can address your concerns. You also have the right to complain to your local data protection supervisory authority about any company's handling of your personal information. If you wish to appeal a decision we have made regarding your personal information, such as under Colorado, Connecticut, or Virginia law, you can contact us at [email protected] with an explanation of why you believe we should reach a different decision. Our privacy team will review your appeal and respond with a decision and written explanation within 45 days or the time period provided under applicable law. 10. CHILDREN’S PRIVACY Our Services are intended for individuals 16 years of age and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 16, and our Services should not be used by minors. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 16, we will take steps to delete the information or comply with applicable laws. If you believe we have collected personal information from a child under 16, please notify us immediately by emailing [email protected] so we can take appropriate action. 11. FOR CALIFORNIANS This section specifically addresses the handling of "personal information" about California residents, as defined by the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). It supplements the information provided in the Key Privacy Details section above and the rest of this Privacy Policy. Please note that personal information about non-California residents may be handled differently and is not subject to the same rights described below. Additionally, this section does not apply to personal information that we manage solely on behalf of certain Teams or Users, even if that information pertains to a California resident. The rights and obligations outlined in this section are exclusive to California residents and are governed by the CCPA. When you scan a Qrblox QR code, we collect various categories of personal information, including identifiers such as IP address, commercial information about your use of our QR codes, internet or other electronic network activity information, inferences drawn from this information, precise geolocation, and other personal information. We may disclose this information to affiliates, customers, and service providers, such as data storage and hosting providers, email service providers, analytics providers, and IT support providers, for business purposes. Additionally, when you interact with our Services, we may collect identifiers such as your name, username, email address, phone number, and address, as well as professional or employment-related information, commercial information, financial information (which is handled directly by payment card processors and payment service providers), and internet or other electronic network activity information. We may also disclose this information to affiliates, customers, and service providers, such as data storage and hosting providers, email service providers, and analytics providers, for business purposes. We use this information to provide our Services, improve our products and services, and for other business purposes. As a California resident, you have the right to request that we provide you with certain information about our handling of your personal information. This includes the categories of personal information we've collected about you over the past 12 months, the sources of that information, and the categories of personal information we've sold or disclosed about you for business purposes. You can also request that we provide a copy of certain information we hold about you, or that we delete or correct certain information we have about you. Additionally, you have the right to know the business or commercial purpose for collecting, selling, or sharing your personal information, as well as the categories of third parties to whom your information was disclosed. Please note that certain information may be exempt from requests under applicable law. You have the right to receive information about any financial incentives we offer to you, and to not receive discriminatory treatment from Qrblox for exercising your rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). To exercise your CCPA rights, please email us at [email protected]. For security and legal reasons, we may not accept requests that require us to access third-party websites or services. We also do not respond to browser-based do-not-track signals or similar mechanisms. To verify your identity, we may take steps such as confirming your browser matches the one associated with the relevant QR Codes, requesting that you respond to an email, or verifying your name, email address, or other information. If you are an agent making a request on behalf of a consumer, you must provide written proof of authorization, such as a letter signed by the consumer or a power of attorney. We may also require the consumer to verify their identity directly with us. You can opt out of what the CCPA calls "sales" and "sharing" by emailing us at [email protected] and following the instructions we send you. Alternatively, you can activate the Global Privacy Control signal (GPC) on your browser, which we will treat as an opt-out of "sales" and "sharing" of California personal information collected on our site using cookies and similar technology. Under the California "Shine the Light" law, residents have the right to request information from us regarding how we shared certain categories of personal information with third parties for direct marketing purposes in the prior calendar year. To exercise this right, please contact us as described below. 12. PROMOTIONAL MESSAGES You have control over your communication preferences with QrbloxTM. You can unsubscribe from our marketing emails at any time by contacting us at [email protected] or by following the instructions in the messages. If you have an online account with our Services, you can log in to access, update, or change your personal information, as well as adjust certain privacy settings. To prevent us from accessing your device location, you can disable location sharing on your device and browser, adjust your device's privacy settings, and modify your location settings for our Sites and applications. Please note that disabling these features may limit your access to certain content or features within the Services. Opting out of marketing emails will not affect our ability to send you non-promotional or non-marketing messages, such as communications regarding Services you have requested. By managing your preferences, you can tailor your experience with Qrblox to your needs and interests. 13. CONTACT US If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, or if you'd like to exercise your legal rights, we're here to help. You can reach us by: Email: [email protected]; Mail: Terahertz, Inc., Attention: Privacy, 1832 Kempsville Rd Ste 112 PMB 6, Virginia Beach, VA 23464. We're committed to protecting your privacy and look forward to hearing from you.