Build-A-Bear Workshop Record Your Voice Data Policy - effective 9 December, 2024


Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and its affiliates (collectively, “Build-A-Bear”) will collect, use, protect, store, and destroy voice recordings and associated data in connection with Record Your Voice orders in accordance with this policy and applicable laws and regulations.

Purpose for Collecting Audio Recordings and Data

In order to fulfill a Record Your Voice order, Build-A-Bear collects an electronic recording of the guest’s voice, or the voice of a person whom the guest confirms he or she is legally authorized to represent, and processes the recording through third-party processors and technology for the purposes of confirming it does not contain prohibited or copyrighted content. That processing includes: (i) processing the recording through Microsoft Azure AI Speech service’s automatic-speech-recognition feature, which parses the voice recording to create a transcription of its content and checks it against a list of prohibited content; and (ii) processing the recording through Audible Magic’s automatic-content-recognition service, which extracts and analyzes perceptual features of the voice recording to create an analytical representation of its content, and compares that representation with similar representations of copyrighted materials. The data created through these processes are referred to as “Record Your Voice Data.”1

Retention Schedule and Guidelines

Record Your Voice Data are permanently destroyed promptly after being processed in order to fulfill a Record Your Voice order. The voice recording is securely retained for 90 days on Microsoft cloud storage in the United States to confirm successful fulfillment of the guest’s order.

A guest can withdraw, at any time, their consent to retention of the voice recording by contacting Build-A-Bear within the time period during which it is retained.

Accessing Recordings

A guest may request a copy of a voice recording by contacting Build-A-Bear within the time period during which it is retained, which Build-A-Bear will provide within one month of the request, provided the recording has not already been destroyed pursuant to the terms of this policy. Each guest may receive one copy of the voice recording at no cost. Build-A-Bear reserves the right to charge a reasonable fee based on administration costs for any additional copies.

Storage, Transmission, and Protection

Build-A-Bear stores, transmits, and protects from disclosure voice recordings and Record Your Voice Data using the reasonable standard of care within Build-A-Bear’s industry and in a manner that is the same as, or more protective than, the manner in which Build-A-Bear stores, transmits, and protects other confidential and sensitive information. Nevertheless, since the digital transmission and storage of information can never be completely secure (for example, against potential security breaches), Build-A-Bear cannot guarantee the security of the information.

Disclosure and Dissemination

The voice recordings and Record Your Voice Data are processed through third-party processors and technology, including Microsoft Azure AI services and Audible Magic. The voice recordings are securely stored on Microsoft cloud storage in the United States. Neither the voice recordings nor the Record Your Voice Data will be disclosed to any other third parties, except in the following circumstances: (i) the individual subject of the data and recording, or the subject’s legally authorized representative, consents to the disclosure; (ii) disclosure completes a financial transaction requested or authorized by the individual subject of the data and recording, or the subject’s legally authorized representative; (iii) disclosure is required by federal, state, or local law; or (iv) disclosure is required by a valid subpoena or warrant issued by a court.

Build-A-Bear does not sell, lease, or trade Record Your Voice Data or voice recordings.

Contact Information

In the US and Canada:
Privacy Officer
Build-A-Bear Workshop
415 S. 18th Street, Suite 200
St. Louis, MO 63103
privacy@buildabear.com
Telephone: 1-877-789-BEAR (2327)

In the UK and European Union:
Privacy Officer
Build-A-Bear Workshop
2nd Floor, Aquasulis House
10 - 14 Bath Road
Slough, Berkshire SL1 3SA, United Kingdom
privacy@buildabear.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 800 542 0635


1 Build-A-Bear has not made a determination that Record Your Voice Data qualifies as, or involves the collection of, a biometric identifier or biometric information under applicable law. In the event a court were to make that determination, Build-A-Bear has established this policy and the related Record Your Voice Terms and Conditions to provide guests with information about the collection, use, and destruction of Record Your Voice Data.