Groupon sent out e-mails to its users this weekend about changes it has made to its privacy statement and terms of use.
Among the most notable changes is more information about the Chicago-based social buying start-up's collection and use of

mobile location information.
Said Groupon:
[img]http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim//2009/10/20/allthingsd.png[/img]
(Click for larger version)
"In short, if you use a Groupon mobile app and you allow sharing through your device, Groupon may collect geo-location

information from the device and use it for marketing deals to you (and for other purposes listed in the "How Groupon Uses

Personal Information" section of the Updated Privacy Statement)."

In other words, cheap uggs if you let them, in order to

improve the experience and make the Groupon Now app more useful, you're being tracked.

This, of course, has been a dicey issue of late, most recently related to Apple and Google smartphones and what information

they collect and retain. And with a pending IPO, Groupon is under all kinds of scrutiny, and any big changes will be closely

studied.

In addition, in its e-mail to customers (see below in its entirety), the company said that it had broadened the definition

of personal information to include your interests and habits and also that it may share that personal information with

partners in new offering areas, such as travel deals with Expedia.

Groupon said it was also trying to improve readability of its consumer information and give greater transparency to its

customers.
We wanted to let you know that we've updated both our Privacy Statement and our Terms of Use. These new terms, which affect

all Groupon users, ac ugg boots outlet commodate our new products

and services that allow us to offer you more relevant deals.

If you don't feel like wading through long legal documents, here's a summary of the notable changes, in plain English:

We've clarified that Groupon Now! and our other mobile apps may collect geo-location data. This lets us present you offers

that are close by. See Sections 1 and 5 of the Privacy Statement.

We've broadened the definition of "personal information" to include your interests and habits, and provided additional

details about how we collect and use your information. We've done this so that we can better understand what types of offers

you'll find valuable. See Section 1 of the Privacy Statement.

You may know that we've started working with partners to offer Groupon users new deal categories -- for example, travel

deals with Expedia. ugg bailey button Our new privacy statement

explains that we may share your personal information with these partners if you subscribe to special communications or buy

deals in these new deal categories. See Section 4 of the Privacy Statement.

We've updated our Terms of Use to help you understand the expiration policies for different vouchers, including Groupon NOW!

vouchers. This explains, for example, that if you don't use a Groupon NOW! voucher within 30 days we'll refund the purchase

amount. See Section 7 of the Terms of Use.

We also clarified discount ugg boots our expectations to ensure that our

customers and visitors use the services on our website in a way that keeps the experience good for everyone. For example,

we've prohibited abusive practices like opening multiple accounts, submitting false information and other practices that we

think detract from everyone's experience with us. See Section 5 of the Terms of Use.