Data protection
Preamble
With the following privacy policy, we would like to explain to you what types of your personal data (hereinafter also referred to as “data”) we process, for what purposes and to what extent. The privacy policy applies to all processing of personal data carried out by us, both in the context of the provision of our services and, in particular, on our websites, in mobile applications and within external online presences, such as our social media profiles (hereinafter collectively referred to as “online offer”).
The terms used are not gender-specific.
As of November 23, 2023
Content overview
- Preamble
- Owner
- Overview of the processing
- Applicable legal bases
- Security measures
- Transfer of personal data
- International data transfers
- Deletion of data
- Rights of data subjects
- Use of cookies
- Business services
- Payment procedure
- Provision of the online offer and web hosting
- Blogs and publication media
- Contact and request management
- Cloud services
- Newsletters and electronic notifications
- Commercial communication via email, post, fax or telephone
- Web analysis, monitoring and optimization
- Online marketing
- Customer reviews and rating processes
- Presence in social networks (social media)
- Plugins and embedded functions and content
- Change and update of the privacy policy
- Definitions of terms
Person responsible
Joachim Dieter Buff
Neue Gasse 36
90403 Nuremberg
E-mail address:
Imprint:
Overview of the processing operations
The following overview summarizes the types of data processed and the purposes of their processing and refers to the data subjects.
Types of data processed
- Inventory data
- Payment data
- Location data.
- Contact data.
- Content data.
- Contract data.
- Usage data.
- Meta, communication and process data.
- Contact information (Facebook).
- Event data (Facebook).
Special categories of data
- Health data
- Data on sexual life or sexual orientation
- Religious or philosophical beliefs
- Data revealing racial or ethnic origin.
Categories of data subjects
- Customers
- Employees
- Interested parties.
- Communication partners.
- Users.
- Members.
- Business and contractual partners.
Purposes of processing
- Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations
- Contact requests and communication
- Security measures.
- Direct marketing.
- Reach measurement.
- Tracking.
- Office and organizational procedures.
- Conversion measurement.
- Target group formation.
- Affiliate tracking.
- Managing and responding to inquiries.
- Feedback.
- Marketing.
- Profiles with user-related information.
- Provision of our online offer and user-friendliness.
- Information technology infrastructure.
Relevant legal bases
Relevant legal bases under the GDPR: The following is an overview of the legal bases of the GDPR on the basis of which we process personal data. Please note that in addition to the provisions of the GDPR, national data protection regulations may apply in your or our country of residence or domicile. Should more specific legal bases also apply in individual cases, we will inform you of these in the privacy policy.
- Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR) – The data subject has given their consent to the processing of their personal data for one or more specific purposes.
- Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract.
- Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.
- Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data.
National data protection regulations in Germany: In addition to the data protection regulations of the GDPR, national regulations on data protection apply in Germany. These include, in particular, the Act on the Protection against Misuse of Personal Data in Data Processing (Federal Data Protection Act – BDSG). In particular, the BDSG contains special regulations on the right to information, the right to erasure, the right to object, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes and transmission as well as automated decision-making in individual cases, including profiling. The data protection laws of the individual federal states may also apply.
Security measures
We take appropriate technical and organizational measures in accordance with the legal requirements, taking into account the state of the art, the costs of implementation and the nature, scope, context and purposes of processing as well as the risk of varying likelihood and severity for the rights and freedoms of natural persons, to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk.
The measures include, in particular, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data by controlling physical and electronic access to the data as well as access, input, disclosure, securing availability and separation of the data. Furthermore, we have established procedures that ensure the exercise of data subject rights, the deletion of data and responses to data threats. Furthermore, we already take the protection of personal data into account when developing or selecting hardware, software and processes in accordance with the principle of data protection, through technology design and through data protection-friendly default settings.
TLS/SSL encryption (https): To protect user data transmitted via our online services, we use TLS/SSL encryption. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is the standard technology for securing internet connections by encrypting the data transmitted between a website or app and a browser (or between two servers). Transport Layer Security (TLS) is an updated and more secure version of SSL. Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is displayed in the URL when a website is secured by an SSL/TLS certificate.
Transfer of personal data
In the context of our processing of personal data, data may be transferred to other bodies, companies, legally independent organizational units or persons or disclosed to them. The recipients of this data may include, for example, service providers commissioned with IT tasks or providers of services and content that are integrated into a website. In such cases, we observe the legal requirements and, in particular, conclude corresponding contracts or agreements with the recipients of your data that serve to protect your data.
Data transfer within the organization: We may transfer personal data to other entities within our organization or grant them access to this data. If this transfer is for administrative purposes, the transfer of the data is based on our legitimate business and commercial interests or takes place if it is necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations or if the consent of the data subjects or legal permission has been obtained.
International data transfers
Data processing in third countries: If we process data in a third country (i.e. outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA)) or the processing takes place in the context of the use of third-party services or the disclosure or transfer of data to other persons, bodies or companies, this will only take place in accordance with the legal requirements. If the level of data protection in the third country has been recognized by means of an adequacy decision (Art. 45 GDPR), this serves as the basis for the data transfer. Otherwise, data will only be transferred if the level of data protection is otherwise ensured, in particular through standard contractual clauses (Art. 46 para. 2 lit. c) GDPR), express consent or in the case of contractual or legally required transfer (Art. 49 para. 1 GDPR). In addition, we will inform you of the basis for third country transfers with the individual providers from the third country, whereby the adequacy decisions take precedence. Information on third country transfers and existing adequacy decisions can be found in the information provided by the EU Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/international-dimension-data-protection_de.
EU-US Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework: As part of the so-called “Data Privacy Framework” (DPF), the EU Commission has also recognized the level of data protection as secure for certain companies from the USA as part of the adequacy decision of 10.07.2023. The list of certified companies and further information on the DPF can be found on the website of the US Department of Commerce at https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/. As part of the data protection information, we inform you which service providers we use are certified under the Data Privacy Framework.
Deletion of data
The data processed by us will be deleted in accordance with the legal requirements as soon as the consents permitted for processing are revoked or other permissions cease to apply (e.g. if the purpose for processing this data no longer applies or it is not required for the purpose). If the data is not deleted because it is required for other and legally permissible purposes, its processing is restricted to these purposes. This means that the data is blocked and not processed for other purposes. This applies, for example, to data that must be retained for commercial or tax law reasons or whose storage is necessary for the assertion, exercise or defense of legal claims or to protect the rights of another natural or legal person. As part of our data protection information, we can provide users with further information on the erasure and retention of data that applies specifically to the respective processing operations.
Rights of the data subjects
Rights of data subjects under the GDPR: As a data subject, you are entitled to various rights under the GDPR, which arise in particular from Art. 15 to 21 GDPR:
- Right to object: You have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, at any time to processing of personal data concerning you which is based on point (e) or (f) of Article 6(1) GDPR, including profiling based on those provisions. If the personal data concerning you are processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for such marketing, which includes profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing.
- Right to withdraw consent: You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
- Right to information: You have the right to request confirmation as to whether the data in question is being processed and to information about this data as well as further information and a copy of the data in accordance with the legal requirements.
- Right to rectification: You have the right to request the completion of data concerning you or the rectification of inaccurate data concerning you in accordance with the legal requirements.
- Right to erasure and restriction of processing: In accordance with the legal requirements, you have the right to request that data concerning you be erased immediately or, alternatively, to request that the processing of the data be restricted in accordance with the legal requirements.
- Right to data portability: You have the right to receive the data concerning you, which you have provided to us, in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format in accordance with the legal requirements or to request its transmission to another controller.
- Complaint to supervisory authority: In accordance with the statutory provisions and without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority, in particular a supervisory authority in the Member State in which you are habitually resident, the supervisory authority of your place of work or the place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data relating to you infringes the GDPR.
Use of cookies
Cookies are small text files or other storage notes that store information on end devices and read information from the end devices. For example, to store the login status in a user account, the contents of a shopping cart in an e-shop, the content accessed or the functions used on an online offer. Cookies can also be used for various purposes, e.g. to ensure the functionality, security and convenience of online services and to create analyses of visitor flows.
Notes on consent: We use cookies in accordance with the statutory provisions. We therefore obtain prior consent from users, unless this is not required by law. In particular, consent is not required if the storage and reading of information, including cookies, is absolutely necessary in order to provide the user with a telemedia service expressly requested by them (i.e. our online offer). Strictly necessary cookies generally include cookies with functions that serve the display and operability of the online service, load balancing, security, storage of user preferences and selection options or similar purposes related to the provision of the main and secondary functions of the online service requested by the user. The revocable consent is clearly communicated to the users and contains the information on the respective cookie use.
Notes on legal bases under data protection law: The legal basis under data protection law on which we process users’ personal data with the help of cookies depends on whether we ask users for their consent. If users give their consent, the legal basis for processing their data is the consent given. Otherwise, the data processed using cookies will be processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (e.g. in the commercial operation of our online offering and improving its usability) or, if this is done in the context of fulfilling our contractual obligations, if the use of cookies is necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations. We explain the purposes for which we process cookies in the course of this privacy policy or as part of our consent and processing procedures.
Storage period: A distinction is made between the following types of cookies with regard to the storage period:
- Temporary cookies (also: session cookies): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user has left an online service and closed their end device (e.g. browser or mobile application).
- Permanent cookies: Permanent cookies remain stored even after the end device is closed. For example, the login status can be saved or preferred content can be displayed directly when the user visits a website again. The user data collected with the help of cookies can also be used to measure reach. Unless we provide users with explicit information on the type and storage duration of cookies (e.g. when obtaining consent), users should assume that cookies are permanent and that they can be stored for up to two years.
General information on revocation and objection (so-called “opt-out”): Users can revoke the consents they have given at any time and object to processing in accordance with the legal requirements. Among other things, users can restrict the use of cookies in their browser settings (although this may also restrict the functionality of our online offering). An objection to the use of cookies for online marketing purposes can also be declared via the websites https://optout.aboutads.info and https://www.youronlinechoices.com/.
- Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR). Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR)
Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:
- Processing of cookie data on the basis of consent: We use a cookie consent management procedure in which the consent of users to the use of cookies or the processing and providers mentioned in the cookie consent management procedure can be obtained and managed and revoked by the users. The declaration of consent is stored so that it does not have to be requested again and the consent can be proven in accordance with the legal obligation. Consent can be stored on the server and/or in a cookie (so-called opt-in cookie or with the help of comparable technologies) in order to be able to assign the consent to a user or their device. Subject to individual information on the providers of cookie management services, the following information applies: Consent may be stored for up to two years. A pseudonymous user identifier is created and stored with the time of consent, information on the scope of consent (e.g. which categories of cookies and/or service providers) and the browser, system and end device used; legal basis: consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR)
- BorlabsCookie: Cookie consent management; Service provider: Execution on servers and/or computers under own responsibility under data protection law; Website: https://de.borlabs.io/borlabs-cookie/. More information: An individual user ID, language and types of consent and the time they were given are stored on the server and in the cookie on the user’s device.
Business services
We process data of our contractual and business partners, e.g. customers and interested parties (collectively referred to as “contractual partners”) in the context of contractual and comparable legal relationships and related measures and in the context of communication with the contractual partners (or pre-contractual), e.g. to answer inquiries. We process this data in order to fulfill our contractual obligations. These include, in particular, the obligations to provide the agreed services, any updating obligations and remedies in the event of warranty and other service disruptions. In addition, we process the data to safeguard our rights and for the purpose of the administrative tasks associated with these obligations and the company organization. In addition, we process the data on the basis of our legitimate interests in proper and efficient business management and in security measures to protect our contractual partners and our business operations from misuse, threats to their data, secrets, information and rights (e.g. to involve telecommunications, transport and other auxiliary services as well as subcontractors, banks, tax and legal advisors, payment service providers or tax authorities). Within the framework of applicable law, we only pass on the data of contractual partners to third parties to the extent that this is necessary for the aforementioned purposes or to fulfill legal obligations. Contractual partners will be informed about other forms of processing, e.g. for marketing purposes, as part of this privacy policy. We inform the contractual partners which data is required for the aforementioned purposes before or during data collection, e.g. in online forms, by means of special marking (e.g. colors) or symbols (e.g. asterisks or similar), or in person. We delete the data after the expiry of statutory warranty and comparable obligations, i.e. generally after 4 years, unless the data is stored in a customer account, e.g. as long as it must be retained for legal archiving reasons. The statutory retention period is ten years for documents relevant under tax law as well as for trading books, inventories, opening balance sheets, annual financial statements, the work instructions required to understand these documents and other organizational documents and accounting records, and six years for commercial and business letters received and reproductions of commercial and business letters sent. The period begins at the end of the calendar year in which the last entry was made in the book, the inventory, the opening balance sheet, the annual financial statements or the management report was prepared, the commercial or business letter was received or sent or the accounting document was created, the record was made or the other documents were created. Insofar as we use third-party providers or platforms to provide our services, the terms and conditions and data protection notices of the respective third-party providers or platforms apply in the relationship between the users and the providers.
- Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); Payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); Contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers); Contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, duration, customer category).
- Special categories of personal data: Health data; Data concerning sex life or sexual orientation; Religious or philosophical beliefs. Data revealing racial or ethnic origin
- Persons concerned: Prospective customers; Business and contractual partners. Customers
- Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and performance of contractual obligations; Contact requests and communication; Office and organizational procedures. Managing and responding to enquiries
- Legal basis: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR); Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR)
Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:
- Coaching: We process the data of our clients as well as interested parties and other clients or contractual partners (uniformly referred to as “clients”) in order to be able to provide our services to them. The data processed, the type, scope, purpose and necessity of their processing are determined by the underlying contractual and client relationship, and we may also process special categories of data as part of our activities, in particular information on the health of clients, possibly with reference to their sex life or sexual orientation, as well as data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs or trade union membership. Where necessary, we obtain the express consent of the client and otherwise process the special categories of data if this serves the health of the client, the data is public or other legal permissions exist, if it is necessary for the fulfillment of our contract, for the protection of vital interests or by law, or if we have the consent of the client. we disclose or transfer client data to third parties or agents, such as authorities, billing offices and in the area of IT, office or comparable services, in compliance with professional regulations; legal basis: contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR)
- Consulting: We process the data of our clients, clients as well as interested parties and other clients or contractual partners (uniformly referred to as “clients”) in order to be able to provide them with our consulting services. The processed data, the type, scope, purpose and necessity of its processing are determined by the underlying contractual and client relationship, insofar as it is necessary for the fulfillment of our contract, for the protection of vital interests or by law, or if we have the consent of the client. we disclose or transfer client data to third parties or agents, such as authorities, subcontractors or in the field of IT, office or comparable services, in compliance with professional regulations; legal basis: contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR)
- Corporate consulting: We process the data of our customers, clients, interested parties and other clients or contractual partners (uniformly referred to as “customers”) in order to be able to provide them with our contractual or pre-contractual services, in particular consulting services. The processed data, the type, scope, purpose and necessity of its processing are determined by the underlying contractual and business relationship, insofar as it is necessary for the fulfillment of our contract or required by law, or if we have the consent of the customer. If we have the consent of the customer, we disclose or transfer the customer’s data to third parties or agents, such as authorities, courts or in the field of IT, office or comparable services, in compliance with professional regulations; legal basis: contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR)
Payment methods
In the context of contractual and other legal relationships, due to legal obligations or otherwise on the basis of our legitimate interests, we offer data subjects efficient and secure payment options and use other service providers in addition to banks and credit institutions (collectively “payment service providers”).
The data processed by the payment service providers includes inventory data, such as the name and address, bank data, such as account numbers or credit card numbers, passwords, TANs and checksums, as well as contract, total and recipient-related information. The information is required to carry out the transactions. However, the data entered is only processed by the payment service providers and stored by them. This means that we do not receive any account or credit card-related information, but only information with confirmation or negative information about the payment. Under certain circumstances, the data may be transmitted by the payment service providers to credit agencies. The purpose of this transmission is to check identity and creditworthiness. Please refer to the payment service provider’s terms and conditions and privacy policy for more information.
The terms and conditions and data protection notices of the respective payment service providers, which are available on the respective websites or transaction applications, apply to payment transactions. We also refer to these for further information and the assertion of rights of revocation, information and other rights of data subjects.
- Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); Payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); Contract data (e.g. subject matter of contract, duration, customer category); Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status); Contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers).
- Persons concerned: Customers; interested parties. Business and contractual partners.
- Purposes of Processing: Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations; Conversion tracking (Measurement of the effectiveness of marketing activities); Marketing; Provision of our online services and usability. Affiliate tracking
- Legal bases: Fulfilment of contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR)
Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:
- Digistore24: Online marketplace; Service provider: Digistore24 GmbH, St.- Godehard-Straße 32, 31139 Hildesheim, Germany; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.digistore24.com/. Privacy Policy: https://www.digistore24.com/de/home/extern/cms/page/frontend/legal/privacy.
- Digistore24 affiliate program: Affiliate marketing partner program; Service provider: Digistore24 GmbH, St.- Godehard-Straße 32, 31139 Hildesheim, Germany; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.digistore24.com. Privacy Policy: https://www.digistore24.com/page/privacy.
Provision of the online offer and web hosting
We process users’ data in order to provide them with our online services. For this purpose, we process the user’s IP address, which is necessary to transmit the content and functions of our online services to the user’s browser or end device.
- Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status); Content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
- Persons concerned: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
- Purposes of processing: Provision of our online services and user-friendliness; Information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical devices (computers, servers, etc.)). Security measures
- Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
Further information on processing processes, procedures and services:
- Provision of online offer on rented storage space: For the provision of our online offer, we use storage space, computing capacity and software that we rent or otherwise obtain from a corresponding server provider (also called “web host”); Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
- Collection of access data and log files: Access to our website is recorded in the form of so-called “server log files”. The server log files may include the address and name of the websites and files accessed, the date and time of access, the amount of data transferred, notification of successful access, browser type and version, the user’s operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page) and, as a rule, IP addresses and the requesting provider. The server log files may be used for security purposes, e.g. to avoid overloading the servers (especially in the event of abusive attacks, so-called DDoS attacks) and to ensure the utilization of the servers and their stability; legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR). Deletion of data: Log file information is stored for a maximum of 30 days and then deleted or anonymized. Data whose further retention is required for evidentiary purposes is excluded from deletion until the respective incident has been finally clarified.
- Alfahosting: Services in the field of the provision of information technology infrastructure and related services (e.g. storage space and/or computing capacities); Service provider: Alfahosting GmbH, Ankerstraße 3b, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://alfahosting.de; Privacy Policy: https://alfahosting.de/datenschutz. Data processing agreement: Provided by the service provider.
- WordPress.com: Hosting and software for the creation, provision and operation of websites, blogs and other online offers; Service provider: Aut O’Mattic A8C Ireland Ltd, Grand Canal Dock, 25 Herbert Pl, Dublin, D02 AY86, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://wordpress.com; Privacy Policy: https://automattic.com/de/privacy/; Order processing contract: https://wordpress.com/support/data-processing-agreements/. Basis for third country transfers: EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF).
Blogs and publication media
We use blogs or comparable means of online communication and publication (hereinafter “publication medium”). Readers’ data will only be processed for the purposes of the publication medium to the extent necessary for its presentation and communication between authors and readers or for security reasons. In all other respects, we refer to the information on the processing of visitors to our publication medium in this data protection notice.
- Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers); content data (e.g. entries in online forms); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status).
- Persons concerned: users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
- Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations; feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form). Provision of our online services and user-friendliness.
- Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR)
Contact and inquiry management
When contacting us (e.g. by post, contact form, email, telephone or via social media) and in the context of existing user and business relationships, the information of the inquiring persons is processed insofar as this is necessary to answer the contact inquiries and any requested measures.
- Types of data processed: Contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers); Content data (e.g. entries in online forms); Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status).
- Persons concerned: Communication partners; users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
- Purposes of Processing: Contact requests and communication; Managing and responding to inquiries; Feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form); Provision of our online services and usability; Office and organizational procedures; Direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or postal).
- Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR). Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR)
Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:
- Contact form: When users contact us via our contact form, email or other communication channels, we process the data provided to us in this context to process the communicated request; Legal bases: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
- calendly: Online appointment scheduling and appointment management; Service provider: Calendly LLC, 271 17th St NW, Ste 1000, Atlanta, Georgia, 30363, USA; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(1)(f) GDPR); Website: https://calendly. com/en; Privacy Policy: https://calendly.com/pages/privacy; Processing Agreement: https://calendly.com/dpa. Basic third country transfer: Standard Contractual Clauses (https://calendly.com/dpa).
- ActiveCampaign: Email sending and automation services; Service provider: ActiveCampaign, Inc, 1 N Dearborn, 5th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60602, USA; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.activecampaign.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.activecampaign.com/privacy-policy/. Basic third country transfer: EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Standard Contractual Clauses (https://www.activecampaign.com/legal/newscc).
Cloud services
We use software services accessible via the Internet and running on the servers of their providers (so-called “cloud services”, also referred to as “software as a service”) for the storage and management of content (e.g. document storage and management, exchange of documents, content and information with specific recipients or publication of content and information). In this context, personal data may be processed and stored on the servers of the providers, insofar as these are part of communication processes with us or are otherwise processed by us as set out in this privacy policy. This data may include, in particular, master data and contact data of users, data on transactions, contracts, other processes and their content. The cloud service providers also process usage data and metadata that they use for security purposes and to optimize their services. If we use the cloud services to provide other users or publicly accessible websites with forms or other documents and content, the providers may store cookies on users’ devices for web analysis purposes or to remember user settings (e.g. in the case of media control).
- Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers); content data (e.g. entries in online forms); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status).
- Affected persons: customers; employees (e.g. employees, applicants, former employees); interested parties. Communication partners
- Purposes of processing: Office and organizational procedures. Information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical equipment (computers, servers, etc.).
- Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:
- Apple iCloud: Cloud storage service; Service provider: Apple Inc, Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014, USA; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(1)(f) GDPR); Website: https://www.apple.com/de/. Privacy Policy: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/de-ww/.
Newsletters and electronic notifications
We only send newsletters, emails and other electronic notifications (hereinafter “newsletters”) with the consent of the recipient or with legal permission. If the contents of the newsletter are specifically described when registering for the newsletter, they are decisive for the user’s consent. Otherwise, our newsletters contain information about our services and us.
In order to subscribe to our newsletters, it is generally sufficient to provide your email address. However, we may ask you to provide a name so that we can address you personally in the newsletter, or other information if this is necessary for the purposes of the newsletter.
Double opt-in procedure: Registration for our newsletter is always carried out using a double opt-in procedure. This means that after registering, you will receive an email asking you to confirm your registration. This confirmation is necessary so that no one can register with other people’s e-mail addresses. Subscriptions to the newsletter are logged in order to be able to prove the registration process in accordance with legal requirements. This includes storing the time of registration and confirmation as well as the IP address. Changes to your data stored with the mailing service provider are also logged.
Deletion and restriction of processing: We may store the unsubscribed email addresses for up to three years on the basis of our legitimate interests before deleting them in order to be able to prove that consent was previously given. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defense against claims. An individual request for erasure is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed at the same time. In the event of obligations to permanently observe objections, we reserve the right to store the email address in a blocklist solely for this purpose.
The registration process is logged on the basis of our legitimate interests for the purpose of proving that it has been carried out properly. Insofar as we commission a service provider to send emails, this is done on the basis of our legitimate interests in an efficient and secure sending system.
Content: Information about us, our services, promotions and offers.
- Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); Contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers); Meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status); Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times).
- Persons concerned: communication partners.
- Purposes of processing: Direct marketing (e.g. by email or post).
- Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR)
- Option to object (opt-out): You can cancel the receipt of our newsletter at any time, i.e. revoke your consent or object to further receipt. You will find a link to unsubscribe from the newsletter either at the end of each newsletter or you can otherwise use one of the contact options listed above, preferably by email.
Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:
- Measurement of opening and click rates: The newsletters contain a so-called “web beacon”, i.e. a pixel-sized file that is retrieved from our server when the newsletter is opened or, if we use a mailing service provider, from their server. As part of this retrieval, technical information, such as information about the browser and your system, as well as your IP address and the time of retrieval, is initially collected and this information is used for the technical improvement of our newsletter based on the technical data or the target groups and their reading behavior based on their retrieval locations (which can be determined using the IP address) or the access times. This analysis also includes determining whether the newsletters are opened, when they are opened and which links are clicked. This information is assigned to the individual newsletter recipients and stored in their profiles until they are deleted. The evaluations help us to recognize the reading habits of our users and to adapt our content to them or to send different content according to the interests of our users.the measurement of opening rates and click rates as well as the storage of the measurement results in the profiles of the users and their further processing are based on the consent of the users.a separate revocation of the performance measurement is unfortunately not possible, in this case the entire newsletter subscription must be canceled or must be contradicted. In this case, the stored profile information will be deleted;
Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR) - ActiveCampaign: Email sending and automation services; Service provider: ActiveCampaign, Inc, 1 N Dearborn, 5th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60602, USA; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.activecampaign.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.activecampaign.com/privacy-policy/. Basis for third country transfers: EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Standard Contractual Clauses (https://www.activecampaign.com/legal/newscc).
- Mailchimp: E-mail dispatch and e-mail dispatch and automation services; Service provider: Rocket Science Group, LLC, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE #5000, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA; Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://mailchimp. com; Privacy Policy: https://mailchimp.com/legal/; Processing Agreement: https://mailchimp.com/legal/; Basis for third country transfers: EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Standard Contractual Clauses (provided by the service provider). Further information: Special security measures: https://mailchimp.com/help/Mailchimp-european-data-transfers/.
Commercial communication via email, post, fax or telephone
We process personal data for the purposes of advertising communication, which may take place via various channels, such as e-mail, telephone, post or fax, in accordance with legal requirements. Recipients have the right to withdraw their consent at any time or to object to advertising communication at any time. After revocation or objection, we store the data required to prove the previous authorization for contacting or sending for up to three years after the end of the year of revocation or objection on the basis of our legitimate interests. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defense against claims. On the basis of the legitimate interest in permanently observing the revocation or objection of the user, we also store the data required to avoid renewed contact (e.g. depending on the communication channel, the email address, telephone number, name).
- Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers).
- Persons concerned: Communication partners.</li
- Purposes of processing: Direct marketing (e.g. by email or post).
- Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR)
Web analysis, monitoring and optimization
Web analysis (also known as “reach measurement”) is used to evaluate the flow of visitors to our online offering and may include behavior, interests or demographic information about visitors, such as age or gender, as pseudonymized values. With the help of reach analysis, we can, for example, recognize at what time our online offer or its functions or content are most frequently used or invite reuse. We can also understand in which areas there is a need for optimization. In addition to web analysis, we may also use test procedures, e.g. to test and optimize different versions of our online offering or its components. Unless otherwise stated below, profiles, i.e. data summarized for a usage process, may be created for these purposes and information may be stored in a browser or end device and read from it. The information collected includes, in particular, the websites visited and the elements used there as well as technical information such as the browser used, the computer system used and information about usage times. If users have consented to the collection of their location data by us or the providers of the services we use, location data may also be processed. The IP addresses of users are also stored. However, to protect users, we use an IP masking procedure (i.e. pseudonymization by shortening the IP address). In general, no unique user data (such as e-mail addresses or names) is stored in the context of web analysis, A/B testing and optimization, but pseudonyms. This means that we and the providers of the software used do not know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles for the purposes of the respective procedures.
- Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta, communication and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status).
- Persons concerned: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
- Purposes of processing: Reach measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors). Creation of profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles)
- Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address)
Online marketing
We process personal data for online marketing purposes, which may include in particular the marketing of advertising space or the presentation of advertising and other content (collectively referred to as “content”) based on the potential interests of users and the measurement of their effectiveness.
.For these purposes, so-called user profiles are created and stored in a file (so-called “cookie”) or similar procedures are used, by means of which the user data relevant for the presentation of the aforementioned content is stored. This information may include, for example, content viewed, websites visited, online networks used, but also communication partners and technical information such as the browser used, the computer system used and information on usage times and functions used. If users have consented to the collection of their location data, this can also be processed.
The IP addresses of users are also stored. However, we use available IP masking procedures (i.e. pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. In general, no clear user data (such as e-mail addresses or names) is stored as part of the online marketing process, but pseudonyms. This means that neither we nor the providers of the online marketing processes know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles.
The information in the profiles is usually stored in cookies or by means of similar procedures. These cookies can generally also be read later on other websites that use the same online marketing process and analyzed for the purpose of displaying content as well as supplemented with further data and stored on the server of the online marketing process provider.
Exceptionally, clear data can be assigned to the profiles. This is the case, for example, if the users are members of a social network whose online marketing process we use and the network links the user profiles with the aforementioned data. Please note that users can make additional agreements with the providers, e.g. by giving their consent during registration.
We only receive access to summarized information about the success of our advertisements. However, as part of so-called conversion measurements, we can check which of our online marketing processes have led to a so-called conversion, i.e., for example, to the conclusion of a contract with us. The conversion measurement is used solely to analyze the success of our marketing measures.
Unless otherwise stated, we ask you to assume that cookies used are stored for a period of two years.
- Types of data processed: Content data (e.g. entries in online forms); Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta data, communication data and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status); event data (Facebook) (“event data” is data that can be transmitted by us to Facebook, e.g. via Facebook pixels (via apps or other means), and relates to individuals or their actions; the data includes, for example, information about visits to websites, visits to websites and the use of Facebook services. For example, information about visits to websites, interactions with content, functions, app installations, product purchases, etc.; the event data is processed for the purpose of creating target groups for content and advertising information (custom audiences); event data does not include the actual content (such as comments written), no login information and no contact information (i.e. no names, email addresses and telephone numbers). Event data will be deleted by Facebook after a maximum of two years, the target groups formed from them with the deletion of our Facebook account); contact information (Facebook) (“contact information” is data that (clearly) identifies data subjects, such as names, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers, which can be transmitted to Facebook, e.g. via Facebook pixels or uploads for matching purposes for the purpose of creating custom audiences. After matching for the purpose of creating target groups, the contact information is deleted).
- Persons concerned: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
- Purposes of Processing: Web Analytics (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); Targeting (e.g. profiling based on interests and behavior, use of cookies); Conversion tracking (Measurement of the effectiveness of marketing activities); Custom Audiences; Marketing; Profiles with user-related information (Creating user profiles). Provision of our online services and user-friendliness
- Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address)
- Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR)
- Option to object (opt-out): We refer to the data protection notices of the respective providers and the objection options specified for the providers (so-called “opt-out”). If no explicit opt-out option has been specified, you have the option of deactivating cookies in your browser settings. However, this may restrict the functions of our online offer. We therefore recommend the following additional opt-out options, which are offered summarized for the respective areas:a) Europe: https://www.youronlinechoices.eu.
b) Canada: https://www.youradchoices.ca/choices.
c) USA: https://www.aboutads.info/choices.
d) Cross-territory: https://optout.aboutads.info.
Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:
- Meta pixel and target group formation (custom audiences): With the help of the meta pixel (or comparable functions, for the transmission of event data or contact information by means of interfaces in apps), it is possible for the company Meta to determine the visitors of our online offer as a target group for the display of advertisements (so-called “meta ads”). Accordingly, we use the meta pixel to display the meta ads placed by us only to those users on Meta platforms and within the services of the partners cooperating with Meta (so-called “audience network” https://www. facebook.com/audiencenetwork/ ) who have also shown an interest in our online offer or who have certain characteristics (e.g. interest in certain topics or products that can be seen from the websites visited) that we transmit to Meta (so-called “Custom Audiences”). With the help of the meta pixel, we also want to ensure that our meta ads correspond to the potential interest of users and are not annoying. With the help of the meta pixel, we can also track the effectiveness of the meta ads for statistical and market research purposes by seeing whether users have been redirected to our website after clicking on a meta ad (so-called “conversion measurement”); Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy; Processing Agreement: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing; Basis for third country transfers: EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Standard Contractual Clauses (https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum); More information: User event data, i. .i.e. behavioral and interest data, are processed for the purposes of targeted advertising and target group formation on the basis of the joint controllership agreement (“Controller Addendum”, https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum). The joint controllership is limited to the collection by and transfer of data to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, a company based in the EU. The further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, which in particular concerns the transfer of the data to the parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. in the USA (on the basis of the standard contractual clauses concluded between Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and Meta Platforms, Inc.
- Advanced matching for the Meta pixel: In addition to the processing of event data in the context of the use of the Meta pixel (or comparable functions, e.g. in apps), contact information (data identifying individual persons, such as names, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers) is also collected by Meta within our online offering or transmitted to Meta. The processing of contact information is used to create target groups (so-called “custom audiences”) for the display of content and advertising information based on the presumed interests of users. The collection, transmission and comparison with data available at Meta is not carried out in plain text, but as so-called “hash values”, i.e. mathematical representations of the data (this method is used, for example, to store passwords). After the comparison for the purpose of creating target groups, the contact information is deleted; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. a) GDPR); Privacy Policy: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland; Contract Data Processing Agreement: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing; Basis for third country transfers: EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Standard Contractual Clauses (https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum). Further information: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms.
- Facebook Ads: Placement of ads within the Facebook platform and evaluation of the ad results; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook. com/about/privacy; Basis for third country transfers: EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF); Opt-out option: We refer to the data protection and advertising settings in the user’s profile on the Facebook platform as well as in the context of Facebook’s consent procedure and Facebook’s contact options for exercising information and other data subject rights in Facebook’s data protection declaration; Further information: Event data of the users, i. .i.e. behavioral and interest data, is processed for the purposes of targeted advertising and targeting on the basis of the joint controllership agreement (“Controller Addendum”, https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum). The joint controllership is limited to the collection by and transfer of data to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, a company based in the EU. The further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, which in particular concerns the transfer of the data to the parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. in the USA (on the basis of the standard contractual clauses concluded between Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and Meta Platforms, Inc.
- Google Ad Manager: We use the “Google Ad Manager” service to place ads in the Google advertising network (e.g. in search results, in videos, on websites, etc.). Google Ad Manager is characterized by the fact that ads are displayed in real time based on the presumed interests of users. This allows us to display ads for our online offering to users who may have a potential interest in our offering or have previously shown an interest in it, and to measure the success of the ads; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform. google.com; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Basis for third country transfers: EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF); Further information: Types of processing and data processed: https://business.safety.google/adsservices/; Data processing conditions for Google advertising products: Information on the services Data processing terms between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms. where Google acts as a processor, data processing terms for Google advertising products and standard contractual clauses for third country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms.
- Instagram ads: Placement of ads within the Instagram platform and evaluation of the ad results; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://www.instagram.com; Privacy Policy: https://instagram. com/about/legal/privacy; Basis for third country transfers: EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF); Opt-out option: We refer to the data protection and advertising settings in the user’s profile on the Instagram platform as well as in the context of Instagram’s consent procedure and Instagram’s contact options for exercising information and other data subject rights in Instagram’s privacy policy; Further information: Event data of users, i. .i.e. behavioral and interest data, is processed for the purposes of targeted advertising and targeting on the basis of the joint controllership agreement (“Controller Addendum”, https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum). The joint controllership is limited to the collection by and transfer of data to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, a company based in the EU. The further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, which in particular concerns the transfer of the data to the parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. in the USA (on the basis of the standard contractual clauses concluded between Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and Meta Platforms, Inc.
- LinkedIn Insights Tag: Code that is loaded when a user visits our online offering and tracks the user’s behavior and conversions and stores them in a profile (possible purposes: measuring campaign performance, optimizing ad delivery, building custom and lookalike audiences); Service provider: LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Plaza Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://www.linkedin.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy, Cookie Policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/cookie_policy; Basis for third country transfers: Standard Contractual Clauses (https://legal.linkedin.com/dpa). Option to object (opt-out): https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.
Customer reviews and evaluation procedures
We participate in review and rating processes to evaluate, optimize and promote our services. If users rate us or otherwise provide feedback via the evaluation platforms or procedures involved, the general terms and conditions or terms of use and the data protection notices of the providers also apply. As a rule, the evaluation also requires registration with the respective providers. In order to ensure that the reviewers have actually used our services, we transmit the necessary data relating to the customer and the service used to the respective review platform (including name, email address and order number or item number) with the customer’s consent. This data is used solely to verify the authenticity of the user.</p
- Types of data processed: Contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, duration, customer category); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status).
- Persons concerned: customers; users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
- Purposes of processing: Feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form). Marketing
- Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR)
Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:
- Rating widget: We integrate so-called “rating widgets” into our online offering. A widget is a functional and content element integrated into our online offering that displays variable information. It can, for example, be displayed in the form of a seal or comparable element, sometimes also called a “badge”. Although the corresponding content of the widget is displayed within our online offering, it is retrieved from the servers of the respective widget provider at that moment. Only in this way can the current content always be shown, especially the current rating. For this purpose, a data connection must be established from the website accessed within our online offering to the server of the widget provider and the widget provider receives certain technical data (access data, including IP address) that is necessary for the content of the widget to be delivered to the user’s browser. Furthermore, the widget provider receives information that users have visited our website. This information can be stored in a cookie and used by the widget provider to recognize which online offers that participate in the evaluation process have been visited by the user. The information may be stored in a user profile and used for advertising or market research purposes; legal basis: legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR)
- Google Customer Reviews: Service for obtaining and/or presenting customer satisfaction and customer opinions; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.google.com/; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google. com/privacy; Basis for third country transfers: EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF); Further information: As part of the collection of customer reviews, an identification number and time for the business transaction to be evaluated, in the case of review requests sent directly to customers, the customer’s e-mail address and their country of residence as well as the review details themselves are processed; Further information on the types of processing and the data processed: https://business.safety.google/adsservices/. Data processing conditions for Google advertising products: Information on the services Data processing terms between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms.
- ProvenExpert: Review platform; Service provider: Expert Systems AG, Quedlinburger Strasse 1, 10589 Berlin, Germany; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.provenexpert.com/de-de/. Privacy Policy: https://www.provenexpert.com/de-de/datenschutzbestimmungen/.
Presence in social networks (social media)
We maintain online presences within social networks and process user data in this context in order to communicate with the users active there or to offer information about us. We would like to point out that user data may be processed outside the European Union. This may result in risks for users because, for example, it could make it more difficult to enforce users’ rights. Furthermore, user data is generally processed within social networks for market research and advertising purposes. For example, user profiles can be created based on user behavior and the resulting interests of users. The user profiles can in turn be used, for example, to place advertisements within and outside the networks that presumably correspond to the interests of the users. For these purposes, cookies are generally stored on the user’s computer, in which the user’s usage behavior and interests are stored. Furthermore, data can also be stored in the user profiles independently of the devices used by the users (especially if the users are members of the respective platforms and are logged in to them). For a detailed description of the respective forms of processing and the opt-out options, please refer to the data protection declarations and information provided by the operators of the respective networks. In the case of requests for information and the assertion of data subject rights, we would also like to point out that these can be asserted most effectively with the providers. Only the providers have access to the users’ data and can take appropriate measures and provide information directly. If you still need help, you can contact us.
- Types of data processed: Contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers); Content data (e.g. entries in online forms); Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status); Inventory data (e.g. names, addresses).
- Persons concerned: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services). Members
- Purposes of processing: Contact requests and communication; feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form); marketing. Provision of our online services and user-friendliness
- Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR)
Further information on processing processes, procedures and services:
- Instagram: Social network; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.instagram.com. Privacy Policy: https://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy.
- Facebook pages: Profiles within the social network Facebook – We are jointly responsible with Meta Platforms Ireland Limited for the collection (but not the further processing) of data of visitors to our Facebook page (so-called “fan page”). This data includes information about the types of content users view or interact with, or the actions they take (see under “Things you and others do and provide” in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www. facebook.com/policy), as well as information about the devices used by users (e.g. IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings, cookie data; see under “Device Information” in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy). As explained in the Facebook Data Policy under “How do we use this information?”, Facebook also collects and uses information to provide analytics services, known as “Page Insights”, for page operators to help them understand how people interact with their pages and the content associated with them. We have concluded a special agreement with Facebook (“Information on Page Insights”, https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/page_controller_addendum), which regulates in particular which security measures Facebook must observe and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfill the rights of data subjects (i.e. users can, for example, send information or deletion requests directly to Facebook). The rights of users (in particular to information, deletion, objection and complaint to the competent supervisory authority) are not restricted by the agreements with Facebook. Further information can be found in the “Information on Page Insights” (https://www.facebook. com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data); Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook. com/about/privacy; Basis for third country transfers: EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Standard Contractual Clauses (https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum). Further information: Agreement on joint responsibility: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data. The joint controllership is limited to the collection by and transfer of data to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, a company based in the EU. The further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, which in particular concerns the transfer of the data to the parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. in the USA (on the basis of the standard contractual clauses concluded between Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and Meta Platforms, Inc.
- Facebook groups: We use the “Groups” function of the Facebook platform to create interest groups within which Facebook users can get in touch with each other or with us and exchange information. In doing so, we process personal data of the users of our groups insofar as this is necessary for the purpose of group use and moderation. Our guidelines within the groups may contain further specifications and information on the use of the respective group. This data includes information on first and last names, as well as published or privately shared content, as well as values on the status of group membership or group-related activities, such as joining or leaving, as well as the time details for the aforementioned data. We also refer to the processing of user data by Facebook itself. This data includes information about the types of content users view or interact with, or the actions they take (see under “Things you and others do and provide” in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www. facebook.com/policy), as well as information about the devices used by users (e.g. IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings, cookie data; see under “Device Information” in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy). As explained in the Facebook Data Policy under “How do we use this information?”, Facebook also collects and uses information to provide analytics services, known as “Insights”, to group operators to provide them with insights into how people interact with their groups and with the content associated with them; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy. Basis for third country transfers: EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF).
- Facebook events: Event profiles within the social network Facebook – We use the “Events” function of the Facebook platform to draw attention to events and dates and to get in touch with users (participants and interested parties) and to exchange information. In doing so, we process personal data of the users of our event pages, insofar as this is necessary for the purpose of the event page and its moderation. This data includes information on first and last names, as well as published or privately shared content, as well as values on the status of participation and the time details for the aforementioned data. We also refer to the processing of user data by Facebook itself. This data includes information about the types of content users view or interact with, or the actions they take (see under “Things you and others do and provide” in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www. facebook.com/policy), as well as information about the devices used by users (e.g. IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings, cookie data; see under “Device Information” in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy). As explained in the Facebook Data Policy under “How do we use this information?”, Facebook also collects and uses information to provide analytics services, so-called “Insights”, for event providers so that they can gain insights into how people interact with their event pages and with the content associated with them; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy. Basis for third country transfers: EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF).
- LinkedIn: Social network; Service provider: LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Plaza Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.linkedin.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy; Data processing agreement: https://legal. linkedin.com/dpa; Basis for third country transfers: Standard Contractual Clauses (https://legal.linkedin.com/dpa). Option to object (opt-out): https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.
- Telegram groups: We use the Telegram platform to create interest groups within which Telegram users can get in touch with each other or with us and exchange information; Service provider: Representative in the European Union: European Data Protection Office (EDPO), Avenue Huart Hamoir 71, 1030 Brussels, Belgium; Website: https://telegram.org/; Privacy Policy: https://telegram.org/privacy; Further information: We only process the personal data of group members to the extent that we can manage the group members, i.e. add, delete, restrict the use of the group and moderate the content. Beyond this, i.e. in particular for the provision of technical functions, the evaluation and provision of anonymous sending statistics for the group operators and the administration of users, Telegram is responsible.
- Telegram channels: We use the Telegram platform to send messages to subscribers of our Telegram channel; Service provider: Representative in the European Union: European Data Protection Office (EDPO), Avenue Huart Hamoir 71, 1030 Brussels, Belgium; Website: https://telegram.org/; Privacy Policy: https://telegram.org/privacy; Further information: We process the personal data of subscribers only to the extent that we can view and delete subscribers as recipients of the channel. Beyond this, i.e. in particular for the sending of messages, the evaluation and provision of anonymous sending statistics for the channel operators and the administration of subscribers, Telegram is responsible under data protection law.
- Vimeo: Social network and video platform; Service provider: Vimeo Inc, Attention: Legal Department, 555 West 18th Street New York, New York 10011, USA; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://vimeo.com. Privacy Policy: https://vimeo.com/privacy.
- YouTube: Social network and video platform; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Reason for third country transfer: EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF). Option to object (opt-out): https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
- Xing: Social network; Service provider: New Work SE, Am Strandkai 1, 20457 Hamburg, Germany; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.xing.de. Privacy Policy: https://privacy.xing.com/de/datenschutzerklaerung.
Plugins and embedded functions and content
We incorporate functional and content elements into our online offering that are obtained from the servers of their respective providers (hereinafter referred to as “third-party providers”). These may be, for example, graphics, videos or city maps (hereinafter uniformly referred to as “content”).
Integration always requires that the third-party providers of this content process the IP address of the user, as they would not be able to send the content to their browser without the IP address. The IP address is therefore required to display this content or function. We endeavor to only use content whose respective providers only use the IP address to deliver the content. Third-party providers may also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also known as “web beacons”) for statistical or marketing purposes. Pixel tags can be used to analyze information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website. The pseudonymous information may also be stored in cookies on the user’s device and may contain, among other things, technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, time of visit and other information about the use of our online offer, as well as being linked to such information from other sources.
- Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status); inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers); content data (e.g. entries in online forms). Location data (information on the geographical position of a device or person).
- Persons concerned: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
- Purposes of processing: Provision of our online services and user-friendliness. Profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).
- Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR)
Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:
- Google Maps: We integrate the maps of the “Google Maps” service provided by Google. The processed data may include, in particular, IP addresses and user location data; Service provider: Google Cloud EMEA Limited, 70 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://mapsplatform.google.com/; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy. Basis for third country transfers: EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF).
- YouTube videos: Video content; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.youtube.com; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Basis for transfer to third countries: EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF). Option to object (opt-out): Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, settings for the display of advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
- Vimeo video player: Integration of a video player; Service provider: Vimeo Inc, Attention: Legal Department, 555 West 18th Street New York, New York 10011, USA; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Article 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://vimeo. com; Privacy Policy: https://vimeo.com/privacy; Processing Agreement: https://vimeo.com/enterpriseterms/dpa. Basic third country transfer: Standard contractual clauses (https://vimeo.com/enterpriseterms/dpa).
Change and update of the privacy policy
We ask you to inform yourself regularly about the content of our privacy policy. We will amend the privacy policy as soon as changes to the data processing we carry out make this necessary. We will inform you as soon as the changes require your cooperation (e.g. consent) or other individual notification.
If we provide addresses and contact information of companies and organizations in this privacy policy, please note that the addresses may change over time and please check the information before contacting us.
Definitions of terms
This section provides you with an overview of the terms used in this privacy policy. Insofar as the terms are defined by law, their legal definitions apply. The following explanations, on the other hand, are primarily intended to aid understanding.
- Affiliate tracking: As part of affiliate tracking, links that the linking websites use to refer users to websites with product or other offers are logged. The operators of the respective linking websites can receive a commission if users follow these so-called affiliate links and subsequently take advantage of the offers (e.g. buy goods or use services). For this purpose, it is necessary for the providers to be able to track whether users who are interested in certain offers subsequently take advantage of them at the instigation of the affiliate links. It is therefore necessary for the functionality of affiliate links that they are supplemented by certain values that become part of the link or are otherwise stored, e.g. in a cookie. The values include, in particular, the source website (referrer), the time, an online identifier of the operator of the website on which the affiliate link was located, an online identifier of the respective offer, an online identifier of the user as well as tracking-specific values, such as advertising material ID, partner ID and categorizations
- Conversion measurement: Conversion measurement (also known as “visit action evaluation”) is a process that can be used to determine the effectiveness of marketing measures. For this purpose, a cookie is usually stored on the user’s device within the websites on which the marketing measures take place and then retrieved again on the target website. For example, this allows us to track whether the ads we placed on other websites were successful.
- Personal data: “Personal data” means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter referred to as “data subject”); an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier (e.g. a cookie) or an identifier (e.g. an IP address), a natural person who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier (e.g. a cookie) or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.
- Profiles with user-related information: The processing of “profiles with user-related information”, or “profiles” for short, includes any type of automated processing of personal data that consists of using this personal data to identify certain personal aspects relating to a natural person (depending on the type of profiling, this may include various information relating to demographics, behavior and interests, such as interaction with websites and the use of the website). Depending on the type of profiling, this may include various information regarding demographics, behavior and interests, such as interaction with websites and their content, etc.), to analyze, evaluate or predict them (e.g. interests in certain content or products, click behavior on a website or location). Cookies and web beacons are often used for profiling purposes.
- Reach measurement: Reach measurement (also known as web analytics) is used to evaluate the flow of visitors to an online offering and can include the behavior or interests of visitors in certain information, such as website content. With the help of reach analysis, operators of online offers can, for example, recognize at what time users visit their websites and what content they are interested in. This enables them to better adapt the content of their websites to the needs of their visitors, for example. Pseudonymous cookies and web beacons are often used for reach analysis purposes in order to recognize returning visitors and thus obtain more precise analyses of the use of an online offering.
- Location data: Location data is generated when a mobile device (or another device with the technical requirements for location determination) connects to a radio cell, a WLAN or similar technical means and functions of location determination. Location data is used to indicate the geographically determinable position on earth at which the respective device is located. Location data can be used, for example, to display map functions or other location-dependent information.
- Tracking: The term “tracking” is used when the behavior of users can be traced across several online offers. As a rule, behavioral and interest information is stored in cookies or on the servers of the providers of the tracking technologies with regard to the online offers used (so-called profiling). This information can then be used, for example, to display advertisements to users that are likely to match their interests.
- Controller: The “controller” is the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data
- Processing: “Processing” means any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means. The term is broad and covers practically any handling of data, whether it is collection, analysis, storage, transmission or erasure.
- Target group formation: Target group formation (custom audiences) is when target groups are determined for advertising purposes, e.g. the display of advertisements. For example, based on a user’s interest in certain products or topics on the internet, it can be concluded that this user is interested in advertisements for similar products or the online store in which they viewed the products. In turn, “lookalike audiences” (or similar target groups) are when the content deemed suitable is displayed to users whose profiles or interests presumably correspond to the users for whom the profiles were created. Cookies and web beacons are generally used for the purpose of creating custom audiences and lookalike audiences.