Privacy policy

Introduction

With the following data protection declaration, we would like to inform you about the types of your personal data (hereinafter also referred to as “data”) that we process, for what purposes and to what extent. The data protection declaration applies to all processing of personal data carried out by us, both as part 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.

Status: 26 July 2021

Table of contents

Responsible

podwatch GmbH
Rotter Bruch 17
52068 Aachen

Authorised representatives: Alex Jacobi.

Email address: hi@podwatch.io.

Imprint: https://uk.podwatch.io/impressum.

Contact Data Protection Officer/h2>
datenschutz@podwatch.io

Overview of the processing

The following overview summarises the types of data processed and the purposes of their processing and refers to the data subjects.

Types of data processed

  • Event data (Facebook) (“Event data” is data that may be transmitted by us to Facebook, e.g. via the Facebook pixel (via apps or other means), and relates to persons or their actions; the data includes, 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 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 written comments), no login information and no contact information (i.e. no names, email addresses and telephone numbers). Event data are deleted by Facebook after a maximum of two years, the target groups formed from them with the deletion of our Facebook account).
  • Inventory data (e.g. names, addresses).
  • Applicant data (e.g. personal details, postal and contact addresses, the documents belonging to the application and the information contained therein, such as cover letter, curriculum vitae, certificates as well as other information provided with regard to a specific position or voluntarily by applicants regarding their person or qualifications).
  • Content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
  • Contact details (e.g. email, telephone numbers).
  • Meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times).
  • Contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category).
  • Payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history).

Categories of persons concerned

  • Employees (e.g. employees, applicants, former employees).
  • Applicants.
  • Business and contractual partners.
  • Interested parties.
  • Communication partner.
  • Customers.
  • Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).

Purposes of the processing

  • A/B-Tests.
  • Affiliate tracking.
  • Provision of our online offer and user-friendliness.
  • Conversion measurement (measuring the effectiveness of marketing measures).
  • Application procedure (establishment and possible subsequent implementation as well as possible subsequent termination of the employment relationship).
  • Office and organisational procedures.
  • Click tracking.
  • Content Delivery Network (CDN).
  • Direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or post).
  • Target group formation.
  • Heatmaps (mouse movements on the part of users that are combined to form an overall picture).
  • Marketing.
  • Contact requests and communication.
  • Profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).
  • Remarketing.
  • Reach measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors).
  • Safety measures.
  • Surveys and questionnaires (e.g. surveys with input options, multiple choice questions).
  • Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Managing and responding to enquiries.
  • Target group formation (determination of target groups relevant for marketing purposes or other output of content).

Relevant legal bases

Below you will find an overview of the legal basis 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 be relevant in individual cases, we will inform you of these in the data protection declaration.

  • Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO) – The data subject has given his/her consent to the processing of personal data relating to him/her for a specific purpose or purposes.
  • Contract performance and pre-contractual enquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO) – Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party or for the performance of pre-contractual measures taken at the data subject’s request.
  • Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. c. DSGVO – Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.
  • Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO) – Processing is necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the controller or a third party, unless such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require the protection of personal data.
  • Application procedure as a pre-contractual or contractual relationship (Art. 9 para. 2 lit. b. GDPR) – Insofar as special categories of personal data within the meaning of Art. 9 para. 1 GDPR (e.g. health data, such as severely disabled status or ethnic origin) are requested from applicants in the context of the application procedure, the data controller or the data subject shall inform the applicant of this. health data, such as severely disabled status or ethnic origin) are requested from applicants so that the controller or the data subject can exercise the rights accruing to him or her under labour law and social security and social protection law and fulfil his or her obligations in this respect, their processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 9 (2) lit. b. DSGVO. DSGVO, in the case of the protection of vital interests of the applicants or other persons pursuant to Art. 9 para. 2 lit. c. DSGVO or for the purposes of preventive health care or occupational medicine, for the assessment of the employee’s fitness for work, for medical diagnostics, care or treatment in the health or social sector or for the management of systems and services in the health or social sector pursuant to Art. 9 para. 2 lit. h. DSGVO. In the case of a communication of special categories of data based on voluntary consent, their processing is based on Art. 9 para. 2 lit. a. DSGVO.
  • Contract performance and pre-contractual enquiries (EKD) (Section 6 No. 5 DSG-EKD) – Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party or for the performance of pre-contractual measures taken at the data subject’s request.

National data protection regulations in Germany: In addition to the data protection regulations of the General Data Protection Regulation, national regulations on data protection apply in Germany. These include, in particular, the Act on Protection against Misuse of Personal Data in Data Processing (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz – 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, the processing for other purposes and the transmission and automated decision-making in individual cases, including profiling. Furthermore, it regulates data processing for purposes of the employment relationship (Section 26 BDSG), in particular with regard to the establishment, implementation or termination of employment relationships as well as the consent of employees. Furthermore, data protection laws of the individual federal states may apply.

Security measures

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of protection appropriate to the risk in accordance with the legal requirements, taking into account the state of the art, the implementation costs and the nature, scope, circumstances and purposes of the processing as well as the different probabilities of occurrence and the extent of the threat to the rights and freedoms of natural persons.

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 the access, entry, disclosure, assurance of availability and segregation of the data. We also have procedures in place to ensure the exercise of data subjects’ rights, the deletion of data and responses to data compromise. Furthermore, we already take the protection of personal data into account in the development or selection of hardware, software and procedures in accordance with the principle of data protection, through technology design and through data protection-friendly default settings.

Shortening of the IP address: If IP addresses are processed by us or by the service providers and technologies used and the processing of a complete IP address is not necessary, the IP address is shortened (also referred to as “IP masking”). In this process, the last two digits or the last part of the IP address after a full stop are removed or replaced by wildcards. The shortening of the IP address is intended to prevent or make it significantly more difficult to identify a person by their IP address.

SSL encryption (https): In order to protect your data transmitted via our online offer, we use SSL encryption. You can recognise such encrypted connections by the prefix https:// in the address line of your browser.

Transmission of personal data

In the course of our processing of personal data, the data may be transferred to or disclosed to other bodies, companies, legally independent organisational units or persons. 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 that serve to protect your data with the recipients of your data.

Data transfer within the group of companies: We may transfer personal data to other companies within our group of companies or grant them access to this data. Insofar as this transfer is for administrative purposes, the transfer of the data is based on our legitimate corporate and business interests or takes place insofar as it is necessary for the fulfilment of our contract-related obligations or if the consent of the data subjects or a legal permission exists.

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 is only done in accordance with the legal requirements.

Subject to express consent or contractually or legally required transfer, we only process or allow data to be processed in third countries with a recognised level of data protection, contractual obligation through so-called standard protection clauses of the EU Commission, in the presence of certifications or binding internal data protection regulations (Art. 44 to 49 DSGVO, information page of the EU Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/international-dimension-data-protection_de).

Data deletion

The data processed by us will be deleted in accordance with the legal requirements as soon as their consents permitted for processing are revoked or other permissions cease to apply (e.g. if the purpose of processing this data has ceased to apply or it is not required for the purpose).

If the data are not deleted because they are required for other and legally permissible purposes, their processing is limited to these purposes. I.e. the data is blocked and not processed for other purposes. This applies, for example, to data that must be retained for reasons of commercial or tax law or whose storage is necessary for the assertion, exercise or defence of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person.

As part of our privacy notices, we may provide users with further information on the deletion and retention of data specific to the processing operation.

Use of cookies

Cookies are text files that contain data from visited websites or domains and are stored by a browser on the user’s computer. A cookie is primarily used to store information about a user during or after their visit within an online offering. Stored information may include, for example, language settings on a website, login status, a shopping cart or where a video was watched. The term cookies also includes other technologies that perform the same functions as cookies (e.g. when user details are stored using pseudonymous online identifiers, also known as “user IDs”).

The following cookie types and functions are distinguished:

  • Temporary cookies (also: session cookies): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user has left an online offer and closed his browser.
  • Permanent cookies: Permanent cookies remain stored even after the browser is closed. For example, the login status can be saved or preferred content can be displayed directly when the user visits a website again. Likewise, the interests of users, which are used for range measurement or marketing purposes, can be stored in such a cookie.
  • First-party cookies: First-party cookies are set by ourselves.
  • Third-party cookies (also: third-party cookies): Third-party cookies are mainly used by advertisers (so-called third parties) to process user information.
  • Necessary (also: essential or absolutely necessary) cookies: Cookies may be absolutely necessary for the operation of a website (e.g. to save logins or other user entries or for security reasons).
  • Statistics, marketing and personalisation cookies: Furthermore, cookies are usually also used in the context of range measurement and when a user’s interests or behaviour (e.g. viewing certain content, using functions, etc.) on individual websites are stored in a user profile. Such profiles are used, for example, to show users content that matches their potential interests. This procedure is also referred to as “tracking”, i.e. tracking the potential interests of users. Insofar as we use cookies or “tracking” technologies, we will inform you separately in our data protection declaration or in the context of obtaining consent.

Notes on legal bases: The legal basis on which we process your personal data using cookies depends on whether we ask you for consent. If this is the case and you consent to the use of cookies, the legal basis for processing your data is your declared consent. Otherwise, the data processed with the help of cookies is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (e.g. in the business operation of our online offer and its improvement) or, if the use of cookies is necessary to fulfil our contractual obligations.

Storage period: If we do not provide you with explicit information on the storage period of permanent cookies (e.g. in the context of a so-called cookie opt-in), please assume that the storage period can be up to two years.

General information on revocation and objection (opt-out): Depending on whether the processing is based on consent or legal permission, you have the option at any time to revoke any consent you have given or to object to the processing of your data by cookie technologies (collectively referred to as “opt-out”). You can initially declare your objection by means of your browser settings, e.g. by deactivating the use of cookies (whereby this may also restrict the functionality of our online offer). An objection to the use of cookies for online marketing purposes can also be declared by means of a variety of services, especially in the case of tracking, via the websites https://optout.aboutads.info and https://www.youronlinechoices.com/. In addition, you can obtain further instructions on how to object within the scope of the information on the service providers and cookies used.

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 to the processing and providers mentioned in the cookie consent management procedure, can be obtained and managed and revoked by users. The declaration of consent is stored in order not to have to repeat the request and to be able to prove the consent in accordance with the legal obligation. The storage can take place on the server side 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: The duration of the storage of consent can be 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.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

  • BorlabsCookie: Cookie consent management; Service provider: Borlabs; Website: https://de.borlabs.io/borlabs-cookie/; An individual user ID, language as well as types of consents and the time of their submission are stored on the server side and in the cookie on the users’ 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 as well as related measures and in the context of communication with contractual partners (or pre-contractual), e.g. to answer enquiries.

We process this data for the fulfilment of our contractual obligations, to secure our rights and for the purposes of the administrative tasks associated with this information as well as the entrepreneurial organisation. We only disclose the data of the contractual partners to third parties within the scope of the applicable law to the extent that this is necessary for the aforementioned purposes or for the fulfilment of legal obligations or with the consent of the data subjects (e.g. to participating telecommunications, transport and other auxiliary services as well as subcontractors, banks, tax and legal advisors, payment service providers or tax authorities). The contractual partners will be informed about further forms of processing, e.g. for marketing purposes, within the framework of this data protection declaration.

We inform the contractual partners of the data required for the above-mentioned purposes before or in the course of data collection, e.g. in online forms, by means of special labelling (e.g. colours) 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., in principle after the expiry of 4 years, unless the data is stored in a customer account, e.g., as long as it must be retained for legal archiving reasons (e.g., for tax purposes, usually 10 years). We delete data disclosed to us by the contractual partner within the scope of an order in accordance with the specifications of the order, in principle after the end of the order.

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.

Customer account: Contractual partners can create an account within our online offer (e.g. customer or user account, “customer account” for short). If registration of a customer account is required, contractual partners will be informed of this and of the information required for registration. The customer accounts are not public and cannot be indexed by search engines. Within the scope of registration and subsequent logins and uses of the customer account, we store the IP addresses of the customers together with the access times in order to be able to prove registration and prevent any misuse of the customer account.

If customers have terminated their customer account, the data relating to the customer account will be deleted, unless their retention is required for legal reasons. It is the responsibility of customers to back up their data when their account is terminated.

Economic analyses and market research: For business reasons and in order to be able to recognise market trends, wishes of contractual partners and users, we analyse the data we have on business transactions, contracts, enquiries, etc., whereby the group of persons concerned may include contractual partners, interested parties, customers, visitors and users of our online offer.

The analyses are carried out for the purpose of business evaluations, marketing and market research (e.g. to determine customer groups with different characteristics). Where available, we may take into account the profiles of registered users together with their details, e.g. services used. The analyses serve us alone and are not disclosed externally, unless they are anonymous analyses with summarised, i.e. anonymised values. Furthermore, we take the privacy of users into consideration and process the data for analysis purposes as pseudonymously as possible and, if feasible, anonymously (e.g. as summarised data).

Agency services: We process our clients’ data as part of our contractual services, which may include, for example, conceptual and strategic advice, campaign planning, software and design development/consultancy or maintenance, implementation of campaigns and processes, handling, server administration, data analysis/consultancy services and training services.

Consulting: We process the data of our clients, customers 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 data processed, the type, scope, purpose and necessity of their processing are determined by the underlying contractual and client relationship.

If it is necessary for the fulfilment of our contract, for the protection of vital interests or required by law, or if we have the consent of the client, we disclose or transfer the client’s data to third parties or agents, such as authorities, subcontractors or in the area of IT, office or comparable services, in compliance with the requirements of professional law.

Brokerage and agency services: We process the data of our customers, clients and prospective customers (uniformly referred to as “customers”) in accordance with the underlying mandate of the customers. We may also process information on the characteristics and circumstances of persons or property belonging to them if this forms part of the subject matter of our mandate. This may be, for example, information on personal circumstances, movable or immovable property and the financial situation.

If required for the fulfilment of the contract or required by law or approved by the clients or based on our legitimate interests, we disclose or transmit the clients’ data within the scope of coverage requests, conclusions and the processing of contracts to providers of the brokered services/objects, insurers, reinsurers, broker pools, technical service providers, other service providers, such as cooperating associations, as well as financial service providers, credit institutions and investment companies, social insurance carriers, tax authorities, legal advisors, auditors, insurance ombudsmen and the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).e.g. cooperating associations, as well as financial service providers, credit institutions and investment companies as well as social insurance institutions, tax authorities, tax advisors, legal advisors, auditors, insurance ombudsmen and the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). Furthermore, subject to other agreements, we may engage subcontractors, such as sub-brokers.

Offer of software and platform services: We process the data of our users, registered users and any test users (hereinafter uniformly referred to as “users”) in order to be able to provide our contractual services to them and on the basis of legitimate interests in order to be able to guarantee the security of our offer and to develop it further. The required information is identified as such in the context of the conclusion of the order, purchase order or comparable contract and includes the information required for the provision of services and billing as well as contact information in order to be able to hold any consultations.

Further information on commercial services: We process the data of our clients and customers (hereinafter uniformly referred to as “Clients”) in order to enable them to select, purchase or commission the chosen services or works and related activities as well as their payment and delivery or performance or provision.

The required information is identified as such in the context of the order, purchase order or comparable contract conclusion and includes the information required for the provision of services and invoicing as well as contact information in order to be able to hold any consultations.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), contract data (e.g. subject matter of contract, term, customer category), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Interested parties, business and contractual partners, customers.
  • Purposes of processing: provision of contractual services and customer service, contact requests and communication, office and organisational procedures, management and response to requests, security measures, conversion measurement (measurement of the effectiveness of marketing measures), profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).
  • Legal basis: Contract fulfilment and pre-contractual enquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. c. DSGVO), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Provision of the online offer and web hosting

In order to provide our online offer securely and efficiently, we use the services of one or more web hosting providers from whose servers (or servers managed by them) the online offer can be accessed. For these purposes, we may use infrastructure and platform services, computing capacity, storage space and database services as well as security services and technical maintenance services.

The data processed as part of the provision of the hosting offer may include all information relating to the users of our online offer that is generated as part of the use and communication. This regularly includes the IP address, which is necessary to be able to deliver the contents of online offers to browsers, and all entries made within our online offer or from websites.

E-mail dispatch and hosting: The web hosting services we use also include the dispatch, receipt and storage of e-mails. For these purposes, the addresses of the recipients and senders as well as further information regarding the e-mail dispatch (e.g. the providers involved) and the contents of the respective e-mails are processed. The aforementioned data may also be processed for the purpose of recognising SPAM. Please note that e-mails on the Internet are generally not sent in encrypted form. As a rule, e-mails are encrypted in transit, but (unless a so-called end-to-end encryption procedure is used) not on the servers from which they are sent and received. We can therefore not assume any responsibility for the transmission path of the e-mails between the sender and the reception on our server.

Collection of access data and log files: We ourselves (or our web hosting provider) collect data on every access to the server (so-called server log files). The server log files may include the address and name of the web pages and files accessed, the date and time of the 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 can be used on the one hand for security purposes, e.g. to avoid overloading the servers (especially in the case of abusive attacks, so-called DDoS attacks) and on the other hand to ensure the utilisation of the servers and their stability.

Content Delivery Network: We use a “Content Delivery Network” (CDN). A CDN is a service with the help of which the content of an online offer, in particular large media files such as graphics or programme scripts, can be delivered faster and more securely with the help of regionally distributed servers connected via the Internet.

Services used and service providers:

Raidboxes: services in the field of provision of information technology infrastructure and related services (e.g. storage space and/or computing capacity).

Service provider: RAIDBOXES GmbH, Hafenstraße 32, DE – 48153 Münster

Website: https://raidboxes.io/

Privacy policy: https://raidboxes.io/datenschutzerklaerung/

  • Types of data processed: Content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected Persons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of our online offer and user-friendliness, Content Delivery Network (CDN).
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

Blogs and publication media

We use blogs or comparable means of online communication and publication (hereinafter “publication medium”). Readers’ data are processed for the purposes of the publication medium only to the extent necessary for its presentation and communication between authors and readers or for security reasons. For the rest, we refer to the information on the processing of visitors to our publication medium within the scope of this data protection notice.

Comments and contributions: When users leave comments or other contributions, their IP addresses may be stored based on our legitimate interests. This is done for our security in case someone leaves unlawful content in comments and posts (insults, prohibited political propaganda, etc.). In this case, we ourselves can be prosecuted for the comment or post and are therefore interested in the identity of the author.

Furthermore, we reserve the right to process user data for the purpose of spam detection on the basis of our legitimate interests.

On the same legal basis, in the case of surveys, we reserve the right to store the IP addresses of users for their duration and to use cookies in order to avoid multiple voting.

The personal information provided in the context of comments and contributions, any contact and website information as well as the content-related information will be permanently stored by us until the user objects.

Comment subscriptions: Follow-up comments can be subscribed to by users with their consent. Users will receive a confirmation email to verify that they are the owner of the email address entered. Users can unsubscribe from ongoing comment subscriptions at any time. The confirmation email will include instructions on how to unsubscribe. For the purposes of proving users’ consent, we store the time of subscription along with users’ IP address and delete this information when users unsubscribe.

You can cancel receipt of our subscription at any time, i.e. revoke your consents. We may store unsubscribed email addresses for up to three years based on our legitimate interests before deleting them in order to be able to prove consent formerly given. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defence against claims. An individual deletion request is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed at the same time.

Retrieval of WordPress emojis and smilies: Within our WordPress blog, graphic emojis (or smilies), i.e. small graphic files expressing emotions, are used for the purpose of efficient integration of content elements, obtained from external servers. The providers of the servers collect the IP addresses of the users. This is necessary so that the emoji files can be transmitted to the users’ browsers.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), contract data (e.g. subject matter of contract, term, customer category).
  • Affected persons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: provision of contractual services and customer service, feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form), security measures, managing and responding to enquiries, contact requests and communication.
  • Legal basis: Contract fulfilment and pre-contractual enquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO), Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

Contact and enquiry management

When contacting us (e.g. via contact form, email, telephone or via social media), the information of the inquiring persons is processed insofar as this is necessary to answer the contact enquiries and any requested measures.

The response to contact requests in the context of contractual or pre-contractual relationships is made in order to fulfil our contractual obligations or to respond to (pre)contractual requests and otherwise on the basis of the legitimate interests in responding to the requests.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
  • Affected persons: Communication partner.
  • Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication.
  • Legal basis: Contract fulfilment and pre-contractual enquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

  • HubSpot: Customer management, process and sales support software (multi-channel communication, i.e. management of customer enquiries from different channels, sales, process management, analyses, feedback and survey functions); service provider: HubSpot, Inc., 25 First St., 2nd floor, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, USA; website: https://www.hubspot.de; privacy policy: https://legal.hubspot.com/de/privacy-policy.
  • Salesforce: management of contact requests and communication; service provider: salesforce.com Germany GmbH, Erika-Mann-Str. 31, 80636 Munich, Germany, parent company: Salesforce.com, inc. Salesforce Tower, 415 Mission Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA; website: https://www.salesforce.com/de; privacy policy: https://www.salesforce.com/de/company/privacy.

Communication via Messenger

We use messengers for communication purposes and therefore ask you to observe the following information on the functionality of the messengers, on encryption, on the use of the metadata of the communication and on your objection options.

You can also contact us by alternative means, e.g. via telephone or e-mail. Please use the contact options provided to you or the contact options provided within our online offer.

In the case of end-to-end encryption of content (i.e., the content of your message and attachments), we point out that the communication content (i.e., the content of the message and attached images) is encrypted from end to end. This means that the content of the messages cannot be viewed, not even by the messenger providers themselves. You should always use an up-to-date version of messengers with encryption enabled to ensure that the message content is encrypted.

However, we also point out to our communication partners that the providers of the messengers cannot view the content, but can find out that and when communication partners communicate with us and that technical information on the device used by the communication partners and, depending on the settings of their device, also location information (so-called metadata) is processed.

Notes on legal basis: If we ask communication partners for permission before communicating with them via Messenger, the legal basis for our processing of their data is their consent. Otherwise, if we do not ask for consent and they contact us on their own initiative, for example, we use Messenger in relation to our contractual partners as well as in the context of contract initiation as a contractual measure and, in the case of other interested parties and communication partners, on the basis of our legitimate interests in fast and efficient communication and meeting the needs of our communication partners in communication via Messenger. Furthermore, we would like to point out that we do not transmit the contact data provided to us to the messenger for the first time without your consent.

Revocation, objection and deletion: You can revoke consent given and object to communication with us via Messenger at any time. In the case of communication via Messenger, we delete the messages in accordance with our general deletion guidelines (i.e., e.g., as described above, after the end of contractual relationships, in the context of archiving requirements, etc.) and otherwise as soon as we can assume that we have answered any information provided by the communication partners, if no reference to a previous conversation is to be expected and the deletion does not conflict with any statutory retention obligations.

Reservation of reference to other communication channels: Finally, we would like to point out that we reserve the right not to answer enquiries via Messenger for reasons of your security. This is the case if, for example, internal contractual information requires special confidentiality or an answer via Messenger does not meet formal requirements. In such cases, we will refer you to more adequate communication channels.

  • Types of data processed: contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
  • Affected persons: Communication partner.
  • Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication, direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or post).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

Chatbots and chat functions

We offer online chats and chatbot functions (collectively referred to as “chat services”) as a communication option. A chat is an online conversation conducted with some degree of timeliness. A chatbot is software that answers users’ questions or notifies them of messages. When you use our chat features, we may process your personal data.

If you use our chat services within an online platform, your identification number will also be stored within the respective platform. We may also collect information about which users interact with our chat services and when. Furthermore, we store the content of your conversations via the chat services and log registration and consent processes in order to be able to prove these in accordance with legal requirements.

We would like to point out to users that the respective platform provider can find out that and when users communicate with our chat services as well as collect technical information about the device used by the users and, depending on the settings of their device, also location information (so-called metadata) for the purpose of optimising the respective services and for security purposes. Likewise, the metadata of the communication via chat services (i.e. e.g. information on who communicated with whom) could be used by the respective platform providers in accordance with their regulations, to which we refer for further information, for marketing purposes or to display advertising tailored to users.

If users agree with a chatbot to activate information with regular messages, they have the option to unsubscribe from the information at any time in the future. The chatbot informs users how and with which terms they can unsubscribe from the messages. Unsubscribing from chatbot messages deletes user data from the list of message recipients.

We use the aforementioned information to operate our chat services, e.g. to address users personally, to answer their queries, to transmit any requested content and also to improve our chat services (e.g. to “teach” chatbots answers to frequently asked questions or to identify unanswered queries).

Notes on legal basis: We use chat services on the basis of consent if we have previously obtained users’ permission to process their data within the scope of our chat services (this applies to cases where users are asked for consent, e.g. for a chatbot to send them messages on a regular basis). If we use chat services to answer users’ enquiries about our services or our company, this is done for contractual and pre-contractual communication. Furthermore, we use chat services on the basis of our legitimate interests in optimising the chat services, their operational efficiency and increasing the positive user experience.

Revocation, objection and deletion: You can revoke a given consent or object to the processing of your data within the scope of our chat services at any time.

  • Types of data processed: contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Communication partner.
  • Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication, direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or post).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Contractual performance and pre-contractual enquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

Video conferencing, online meetings, webinars and screen sharing

We use platforms and applications of other providers (hereinafter referred to as “conference platforms”) for the purpose of conducting video and audio conferences, webinars and other types of video and audio meetings (hereinafter collectively referred to as “conference”). When selecting the conference platforms and their services, we observe the legal requirements.

Data processed by conference platforms: In the context of participation in a conference, the conference platforms process the personal data of the participants mentioned below. The scope of the processing depends on the one hand on which data is requested in the context of a specific conference (e.g. provision of access data or clear names) and on the other hand on which optional information is provided by the participants. In addition to processing for the purpose of conducting the conference, participants’ data may also be processed by the conference platforms for security purposes or service optimisation. The data processed includes personal data (first name, surname), contact information (e-mail address, telephone number), access data (access codes or passwords), profile pictures, information on professional position/function, the IP address of the Internet access, information on the participants’ end devices, their operating system, the browser and its technical and linguistic settings, information on the content of the communications, i.e. entries in chats and audio and video data, as well as the use of other available functions (e.g. surveys). The content of the communications is encrypted to the extent technically provided by the conference providers. If participants are registered as users with the conference platforms, then further data may be processed in accordance with the agreement with the respective conference provider.

Logging and recordings: If text entries, participation results (e.g. from surveys) as well as video or audio recordings are logged, this will be transparently communicated to the participants in advance and they will be asked for consent – if necessary.

Data protection measures of the participants: Please note the details of the processing of your data by the conference platforms and select the optimal security and data protection settings for you within the framework of the settings of the conference platforms. Furthermore, please ensure data and privacy protection in the background of your recording for the duration of a videoconference (e.g. by notifying fellow participants, locking doors and using the function to make the background unrecognisable, if technically possible). Links to the conference rooms as well as access data, may not be passed on to unauthorised third parties.

Notes on legal bases: If, in addition to the conference platforms, we also process users’ data and ask users for their consent to use the conference platforms or certain functions (e.g. consent to a recording of conferences), the legal basis of the processing is this consent. Furthermore, our processing may be necessary for the fulfilment of our contractual obligations (e.g. in participant lists, in the case of processing of conference results, etc.). Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests in efficient and secure communication with our communication partners.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Communication partners, users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: provision of contractual services and customer service, contact requests and communication, office and organisational procedures.
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Contract performance and pre-contractual enquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

Music and podcasts

We use hosting and analytics services from service providers to offer our audio content for listening or downloading and to obtain statistical information about the retrieval of the audio content.

Podlove: Both the Podlove Subscribe button and the Podlove Web Player are delivered by keycdn.com (keycdn GDPR statement). The Podlove Publisher collects download statistics. IP addresses are used to estimate geographic location (city / country). They are stored briefly (up to 48 hours) as part of a request ID. This is necessary so that the podcast operator can track the viability of his/her efforts. In order to be able to determine realistic download figures, the system must be able to recognise a renewed access to the same file by the same user. The only reliable way to achieve this is to look at the IP address along with the user agent. Using an anonymised IP address is not possible, as this would lead to false results. An access to the same file by the same user on different days can be considered as a separate download. Therefore, it is sufficient to keep IP addresses only for up to 48 hours. After 48 hours, request IDs are anonymised. This makes it impossible to recover the IP address originally contained. The user agent of the browser used is also stored.

The podcast downloads can be made available via https://bitlove.org/ via BitTorrent, whereby a direct connection to Bitlove’s servers is established by your browser.

Buttons of the micropayment service “Flattr”, Flattr AB, Box 4111, 203 12 Malmö, Sweden, can also be integrated, whereby a direct connection to Flattr servers is established by your browser. If you have created a Flattr account with which you are logged in at the same time, Flattr receives the information that you have visited the respective page of our online offer. If you have a Flattr account, are logged in and interact with the button, information about this is transmitted to Flattr and stored there for billing purposes in accordance with the guidelines applicable there. Even if you are not logged in, usage data may be collected and stored. You can find out exactly how your data is processed when you click the Flattr button at flattr.com/privacy.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Reach measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors), conversion measurement (measurement of the effectiveness of marketing measures), profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).

Services used and service providers:

Application procedure

The application procedure requires that applicants provide us with the data necessary for their assessment and selection. The information required can be found in the job description or, in the case of online forms, in the details provided there.

In principle, the required information includes personal details such as name, address, contact details and proof of the qualifications required for a position. Upon request, we will be happy to provide additional information on which details are required.

If provided, applicants can submit their applications to us using an online form. The data will be transmitted to us in encrypted form in accordance with the state of the art. Applicants can also send us their applications by e-mail. Please note, however, that e-mails sent via the Internet are generally not encrypted. As a rule, e-mails are encrypted in transit, but not on the servers from which they are sent and received. We can therefore not assume any responsibility for the transmission path of the application between the sender and the reception on our server.

For the purposes of searching for applicants, submitting applications and selecting applicants, we may use applicant management or recruitment software and platforms and services from third party providers in compliance with legal requirements.

Applicants are welcome to contact us regarding the method of submission of the application or to send us the application by post.

Processing of special categories of data: Insofar as special categories of personal data within the meaning of Art. 9 (1) of the GDPR (e.g. health data, such as severely disabled status or ethnic origin) are requested from applicants in the context of the application procedure in order for the controller or the data subject to exercise the rights accruing to him or her under labour law and social security and social protection law and to comply with his or her obligations in this regard, their processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 9 (2) (b) of the GDPR. DSGVO, in the case of the protection of vital interests of the applicants or other persons pursuant to Art. 9 para. 2 lit. c. DSGVO or for the purposes of preventive health care or occupational medicine, for the assessment of the employee’s fitness for work, for medical diagnostics, for care or treatment in the health or social sector or for the management of systems and services in the health or social sector pursuant to Art. 9 para. 2 lit. h. DSGVO. In the case of a communication of the special categories of data based on voluntary consent, their processing is based on Art. 9 (2) lit. a. DSGVO.

Deletion of data: The data provided by applicants may be further processed by us for the purposes of the employment relationship in the event of a successful application. Otherwise, if the application for a vacancy is unsuccessful, the applicants’ data will be deleted. Applicants’ data will also be deleted if an application is withdrawn, which applicants are entitled to do at any time. The deletion will take place, subject to a justified withdrawal by the applicants, at the latest after the expiry of a period of six months to enable us to answer any follow-up questions about the application and to comply with our obligations to provide evidence under the Equal Treatment of Applicants Regulations. Invoices for any reimbursement of travel expenses will be archived in accordance with tax law requirements.

Inclusion in an applicant pool: Inclusion in an applicant pool, if offered, is based on consent. Applicants are informed that their consent to be included in the talent pool is voluntary, has no influence on the current application process and that they can revoke their consent at any time for the future.

Duration of data retention in the applicant pool in months: 6.

  • Types of data processed: Applicant data (e.g. personal details, postal and contact addresses, the documents belonging to the application and the information contained therein, such as cover letter, CV, certificates and other information provided with regard to a specific position or voluntarily by applicants regarding their person or qualifications).
  • Affected persons: Applicants.
  • Purposes of the processing: application procedure (establishment and possible subsequent implementation as well as possible subsequent termination of the employment relationship).
  • Legal basis: Application procedure as a pre-contractual or contractual relationship (Art. 9 para. 2 lit. b DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

Cloud Service

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 following purposes: document storage and management, calendar management, sending e-mails, spreadsheets and presentations, exchanging documents, content and information with specific recipients or publishing web pages, forms or other content and information, as well as chats and participation in audio and video conferences.

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 the context of this data protection declaration. This data may include, in particular, master data and contact data of users, data on transactions, contracts, other processes and their contents. The cloud service providers also process usage data and metadata used by them for security purposes and service optimisation.

If we use cloud services to provide forms or other documents and content to other users or publicly accessible websites, the providers may store cookies on users’ devices for the purposes of web analytics or to remember users’ settings (e.g. in the case of media control).

Notes on legal bases: If we ask for consent to use the cloud services, the legal basis of the processing is consent. Furthermore, their use may be a component of our (pre)contractual services, provided that the use of the cloud services has been agreed within this framework. Otherwise, users’ data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e., interest in efficient and secure management and collaboration processes).

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses)./li>
  • Affected persons: Customers, employees (e.g. employees, applicants, former employees), interested parties, communication partners.
  • Purposes of processing: Office and organisational procedures.
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Contractual performance and pre-contractual enquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

Newsletter and electronic notifications

We send newsletters, e-mails and other electronic notifications (hereinafter “newsletter”) only with the consent of the recipients or a legal permission. Insofar as the contents of the newsletter are specifically described in the course of registration, they are decisive for the consent of the users. Otherwise, our newsletters contain information about our services and us.

To subscribe to our newsletters, it is generally sufficient to provide your e-mail address. However, we may ask you to provide a name for the purpose of a personal address in the newsletter, or further details if these are required for the purposes of the newsletter.

Double opt-in procedure: Registration for our newsletter is always carried out in a so-called double opt-in process. This means that after registration you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your registration. This confirmation is necessary so that no one can register with other people’s e-mail addresses. The registrations for the newsletter are logged in order to be able to prove the registration process in accordance with the legal requirements. This includes the storage of the registration and confirmation time as well as the IP address. Changes to your data stored with the dispatch service provider are also logged.

Deletion and restriction of processing: We may store 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 consent formerly given. The processing of this data will be limited to the purpose of a possible defence against claims. An individual request for deletion is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed at the same time. In the case of obligations to permanently observe objections, we reserve the right to store the e-mail address in a block list (so-called “block list”) for this purpose alone.

The logging of the registration process is carried out on the basis of our legitimate interests for the purpose of proving that it has been carried out properly. If we commission a service provider to send e-mails, this is done on the basis of our legitimate interests in an efficient and secure sending system.

Notes on legal basis: The newsletter is sent on the basis of the recipients’ consent or, if consent is not required, on the basis of our legitimate interests in direct marketing, if and to the extent that this is permitted by law, e.g. in the case of existing customer advertising. Insofar as we commission a service provider to send e-mails, this is done on the basis of our legitimate interests. The registration process is recorded on the basis of our legitimate interests in order to prove that it was carried out in accordance with the law.

Contents: Information about us, our services, campaigns and offers.

Measurement of opening and click-through 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 dispatch service provider, from their server. Within the scope of this retrieval, technical information, such as information on the browser and your system, as well as your IP address and the time of the retrieval, are initially collected.

This information is used for the technical improvement of our newsletter based on the technical data or the target groups and their reading behaviour based on their retrieval locations (which can be determined with the help of 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 analyses help us to recognise 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 users’ profiles and their further processing are based on the users’ consent.

Unfortunately, a separate revocation of the performance measurement is not possible; in this case, the entire newsletter subscription must be cancelled or must be contradicted. In this case, the stored profile information will be deleted.

Condition for the use of free services: Consent to the sending of mailings may be made conditional as a prerequisite for the use of free services (e.g. access to certain content or participation in certain promotions). If users wish to take advantage of the free service without subscribing to the newsletter, please contact us.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times).
  • Affected persons: Communication partners, users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: direct marketing (e.g. by email or post), provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).
  • 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 cancel the newsletter either at the end of each newsletter or you can use one of the contact options given above, preferably e-mail, for this purpose.

Services used and service providers:

Promotional communication via e-mail, post, fax or telephone

We process personal data for the purposes of promotional 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 revoke consent given at any time or to object to promotional communication at any time.

After revocation or objection, we may store the data required to prove consent for up to three years on the basis of our legitimate interests before deleting it. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defence against claims. An individual deletion request is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed at the same time.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers).
  • Affected persons: Communication partner.
  • Purposes of processing: direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or post).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Surveys and polls

The surveys and questionnaires we conduct (hereinafter “surveys”) are evaluated anonymously. Personal data is only processed insofar as this is necessary for the provision and technical implementation of the surveys (e.g. processing of the IP address in order to display the survey in the user’s browser or to enable a resumption of the survey with the help of a temporary cookie (session cookie)) or users have consented to this.

Notes on legal bases: If we ask participants for consent to process their data, this is the legal basis for the processing, otherwise the processing of participants’ data is based on our legitimate interests in conducting an objective survey.

  • Types of data processed: contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Communication partner.
  • Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication, direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or post).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

Web analysis, monitoring and optimisation

Web analytics (also referred to as “reach measurement”) is used to evaluate the flow of visitors to our online offering and may include behaviour, interests or demographic information about visitors, such as age or gender, as pseudonymous values. With the help of the reach analysis, we can, for example, recognise at what time our online offer or its functions or content are most frequently used or invite re-use. Likewise, we can understand which areas need optimisation.

In addition to web analysis, we may also use testing procedures, e.g. to test and optimise different versions of our online offer or its components.

For these purposes, so-called user profiles may be created and stored in a file (so-called “cookie”) or similar procedures may be used with the same purpose. This information may include, for example, content viewed, websites visited and elements used there and technical information such as the browser used, the computer system used and information on usage times. If users have consented to the collection of their location data, this may also be processed, depending on the provider.

The IP addresses of the users are also stored. However, we use an IP masking procedure (i.e. pseudonymisation by shortening the IP address) to protect users. In general, no clear user data (such as e-mail addresses or names) is stored in the context of web analysis, A/B testing and optimisation, but pseudonyms. This means that we as well as 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 purpose of the respective procedures.

Notes on legal bases: Where we ask users for their consent to use third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Otherwise, users’ data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economical and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to refer you to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Reach measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors), profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles), click tracking, A/B tests, feedback (e.g. collection of feedback via online form), heat maps (mouse movements on the part of users that are combined to form an overall picture.), surveys and questionnaires (e.g. surveys with input options, multiple choice questions), marketing.
  • Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymisation of the IP address).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

Onlinemarketing

We process personal data for online marketing purposes, which may include, in particular, marketing advertising space or displaying promotional and other content (collectively, “Content”) based on users’ potential interests and measuring its 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 information about the user 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. If users have consented to the collection of their location data, this may also be processed.

The IP addresses of the users are also stored. However, we use available IP masking procedures (i.e. pseudonymisation by shortening the IP address) to protect users. In general, no clear user data (such as e-mail addresses or names) is stored within the scope of the online marketing process, but pseudonyms. This means that we as well as the providers of the online marketing procedures do not know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles.

The information in the profiles is usually stored in the cookies or by means of similar procedures. These cookies can later generally also be read on other websites that use the same online marketing procedure and analysed for the purpose of displaying content as well as supplemented with further data and stored on the server of the online marketing procedure provider.

Exceptionally, clear data may be associated with the profiles. This is the case if, for example, the users are members of a social network whose online marketing procedures we use and the network links the users’ profiles with the aforementioned data. We ask you to note that users can make additional agreements with the providers, e.g. by giving their consent as part of the registration process.

In principle, we only receive access to summarised information about the success of our advertisements. However, in the context of so-called conversion measurements, we can check which of our online marketing methods have led to a so-called conversion, i.e., for example, to a conclusion of a contract with us. The conversion measurement is used solely to analyse the success of our marketing measures.

Unless otherwise stated, we ask you to assume that cookies used will be stored for a period of two years.

Notes on legal bases: Where we ask users for their consent to use third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Otherwise, users’ data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economical and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to refer you to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

Targeting with Google Analytics: We use Google Analytics to display the ads placed within Google’s advertising services and those of its partners only to users who have also shown an interest in our online offering or who have certain characteristics (e.g. interests in certain topics or products determined on the basis of the websites visited), which we transmit to Google (so-called “Remarketing Audiences” or “Google Analytics Audiences”). With the help of the Remarketing Audiences, we also want to ensure that our ads correspond to the potential interest of the users.

Google Universal Analytics We use Google Analytics in the form of Universal Analytics (https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/2790010?hl=de&ref_topic=6010376). “Universal Analytics” refers to a Google Analytics procedure in which user analysis is carried out on the basis of a pseudonymous user ID and thus a pseudonymous profile of the user is created with information from the use of different devices (so-called “cross-device tracking”).

Facebook pixel and target group formation (Custom Audiences): With the help of the Facebook pixel (or comparable functions for the transmission of event data or contact information by means of interfaces in apps), it is possible for Facebook to determine the visitors to our online offer as a target group for the display of advertisements (so-called “Facebook ads”). Accordingly, we use the Facebook pixel to display the Facebook ads placed by us only to those users on Facebook and within the services of partners cooperating with Facebook (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 are evident from the websites visited) that we transmit to Facebook (so-called “Custom Audiences”). With the help of the Facebook pixel, we also want to ensure that our Facebook ads correspond to the potential interest of the users and do not have a harassing effect. With the help of the Facebook pixel, we can further track the effectiveness of the Facebook ads for statistical and market research purposes by seeing whether users were redirected to our website after clicking on a Facebook ad (so-called “conversion measurement”).

We are jointly responsible with Facebook Ireland Ltd. for collecting or receiving in transmission (but not further processing) “Event Data” that Facebook collects or receives in transmission through the Facebook Pixel and similar features (e.g., interfaces) running on our Online Offerings for the purposes of: a) displaying content advertising information that is relevant to users’ perceived interests; b) delivering commercial and transactional messages (e.g., targeting users via Facebook Messenger); c) improving ad delivery and personalising features and content (e.g., improving identification of which content or advertising information is relevant to users’ perceived interests). (c) improving ad delivery and personalising features and content (e.g., improving the identification of which content or advertising information is likely to be relevant to users’ interests). We have entered into a specific agreement with Facebook (“Controller Addendum”, https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum), which in particular regulates which security measures Facebook must observe (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfil the data subject rights (i.e. users can, for example, direct information or deletion requests to Facebook). Note: When Facebook provides us with metrics, analytics and reports (which are aggregated, i.e. do not receive details of individual users and are anonymous to us), this processing is not carried out under shared responsibility but on the basis of a commissioned processing agreement (“Data Processing Terms “, https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing) the “Data Security Terms and Conditions” (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and, with regard to processing in the USA, on the basis of standard contractual clauses (“Facebook EU Data Transfer Addendum, https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum). 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.

Facebook Conversions API We use the “Conversions API” from Facebook. The Conversions API is an interface that sends event data from our servers directly to Facebook. The functioning and processing of data within the framework of the Conversions API corresponds to the functioning and processing within the framework of the use of the Facebook Pixel, which is why we refer to the data protection information on the Facebook Pixel and target group formation in this respect.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), event data (Facebook) (“event data” is data that can be transmitted by us to Facebook, e.g. via Facebook Pixel (via apps or in other ways) and relates to individuals or their actions; the data includes e.g.. 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 written comments), no login information and no contact information (i.e. no names, email addresses and telephone numbers). Event data are deleted by Facebook after a maximum of two years, the target groups formed from them with the deletion of our Facebook account).
  • Affected pserons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: marketing, profiling with user-related information (creating user profiles), remarketing, targeting (determining target groups relevant for marketing purposes or other output of content), conversion measurement (measuring the effectiveness of marketing measures), targeting.
  • Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymisation of the IP address).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).
  • Opt-out option: We refer to the data protection information of the respective providers and the opt-out options given for the providers. If no explicit opt-out option has been specified, you have the option of switching off 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 in summary for the respective areas:a) Europe: https://www.youronlinechoices.eu.
    b) Kanada: https://www.youradchoices.ca/choices.
    c) USA: https://www.aboutads.info/choices.
    d) Cross-territorial: https://optout.aboutads.info.

Services used and service providers:

Affiliate programme offer

We offer an affiliate programme, i.e. commission or other benefits (collectively referred to as “commission”) to users (referred to as “affiliates”) who refer to our offers and services. The referral is made by means of a link or other method (e.g. discount codes) associated with the relevant Affiliate that allows us to recognise that the use of our services was based on the referral (collectively, “Affiliate Links”).

In order to be able to track whether the users have used our services due to the affiliate links used by the affiliates, it is necessary for us to know that the users have followed an affiliate link. The assignment of the affiliate links to the respective business transactions or other use of our services is solely for the purpose of commission accounting and is cancelled as soon as it is no longer necessary for the purpose.

For the purposes of the aforementioned assignment of the affiliate links, the affiliate links can be supplemented by certain values that are a component of the link or can be stored otherwise, e.g. in a cookie. The values may 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, the type of link used, the type of offer and an online identifier of the user.

Notes on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for the processing of data is consent. Furthermore, their use may be a component of our (pre-)contractual services, provided that the use of the third-party providers was agreed within this framework. Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economical and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to refer you to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

  • Types of data processed: Contract data (e.g. subject matter of contract, term, customer category), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times).
  • Affected persons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services), business and contractual partners.
  • Purposes of processing: provision of contractual services and customer service, affiliate tracking.
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Contract performance and pre-contractual enquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

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 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 the users because, for example, it could make it more difficult to enforce the rights of the users.

Furthermore, user data within social networks is usually processed for market research and advertising purposes. For example, usage profiles can be created based on the usage behaviour and resulting interests of the users. The usage 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 usually stored on the users’ computers, in which the usage behaviour and the interests of the users are stored. Furthermore, data independent of the devices used by the users may also be stored in the usage profiles (especially if the users are members of the respective platforms and are logged in to them).

For a detailed presentation of the respective forms of processing and the options to object (opt-out), we 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.

Facebook: We are jointly responsible with Facebook Ireland Ltd for collecting (but not further processing) data from visitors to our Facebook page (known as a “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 users use (e.g. IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings, cookie data; see under “Device Information” in the Facebook Data Policy Statement: https://www.facebook.com/policy)As explained in the Facebook Privacy Policy under “How do we use this information?”, Facebook also collects and uses information to provide analytics services called “Page Insights” to Page operators to provide them with insights into how people interact with their Pages and the content associated with them. We have entered into a special agreement with Facebook (“Page Insights Information”, https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/page_controller_addendum), which in particular regulates which security measures Facebook must observe and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfil the data subject rights (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).

  • Types of data processed: contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication, feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form), marketing.
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

Plugins and embedded functions and content

We integrate functional and content elements into our online offer that are obtained from the servers of their respective providers (hereinafter referred to as “third-party providers”). These can be, for example, graphics, videos or city maps (hereinafter uniformly referred to as “content”).

The integration always requires that the third-party providers of this content process the IP address of the user, as without the IP address they would not be able to send the content to their browser. The IP address is thus required for the display of this content or function. We endeavour 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. The “pixel tags” can be used to analyse 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 offering, as well as being linked to such information from other sources.

Notes on legal bases: Where we ask users for their consent to use third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Otherwise, users’ data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economical and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to refer you to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

Integration of third-party software, scripts or frameworks (e.g. jQuery): We integrate software into our online offer that we retrieve from servers of other providers (e.g. function libraries that we use for the purpose of presentation or user-friendliness of our online offer). The respective providers collect the IP address of the user and may process this for the purpose of transmitting the software to the user’s browser and for security purposes, as well as for the evaluation and optimisation of their offer.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
  • Affected persons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: provision of our online offer and user-friendliness, marketing, profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO), Contractual performance and pre-contractual enquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

Management, organisation and auxiliary tools

We use services, platforms and software from other providers (hereinafter referred to as “third-party providers”) for the purposes of organising, managing, planning and providing our services. When selecting the third-party providers and their services, we observe the legal requirements.

In this context, personal data may be processed and stored on the servers of the third-party providers. This may involve various data that we process in accordance with this privacy policy. This data may include, in particular, master data and contact data of users, data on transactions, contracts, other processes and their contents.

If users are referred to third-party providers or their software or platforms in the course of communication, business or other relationships with us, the third-party providers may process usage data and metadata for security purposes, service optimisation or marketing purposes. We therefore ask you to observe the data protection notices of the respective third-party providers.

Notes on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for the processing of data is consent. Furthermore, their use may be a component of our (pre-)contractual services, provided that the use of the third-party providers was agreed within this framework. Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economical and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to refer you to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Communication partners, users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services), business and contractual partners.
  • Purposes of processing: office and organisational procedures, provision of contractual services and customer service, range measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors), profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles), contact requests and communication.
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Contractual performance and pre-contractual enquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO), Contractual performance and pre-contractual enquiries (EKD) (§ 6 no. 5 DSG-EKD).

Services used and service providers:

Amendment and update of the privacy policy

We ask you to regularly inform yourself about the content of our data protection declaration. We adapt the data protection declaration as soon as the changes in the data processing carried out by us make this necessary. We will inform you as soon as the changes require an act of cooperation on your part (e.g. consent) or other individual notification.

Where we provide addresses and contact details of companies and organisations in this privacy statement, please note that the addresses may change over time and please check the details before contacting us.

Rights of the affected persons

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 at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning you which is carried out on the basis of Article 6(1)(e) or (f) DSGVO; this also applies to profiling based on these provisions. If the personal data concerning you are processed for the purpose of direct marketing, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purpose of such marketing; this also applies to profiling insofar as it is related to such direct marketing.
  • Right of revocation for consents: You have the right to revoke any consent you have given at any time.
  • Right of access: You have the right to request confirmation as to whether data in question is being processed and to be informed about this data and to receive further information and a copy of the data in accordance with the legal requirements.
  • Right to rectification: In accordance with the law, you have the right to request that data concerning you be completed or that inaccurate data concerning you be rectified.
  • Right to erasure and restriction of processing: You have the right, in accordance with the law, to request that data relating to you be erased immediately or, alternatively, to request restriction of the processing of the data in accordance with the law.
  • Right to data portability: You have the right to receive data relating to you that you have provided to us in a structured, common and machine-readable format in accordance with the legal requirements or to request that it be transferred to another controller.
  • Complaint to the supervisory authority: In accordance with the law 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 where you usually reside, the supervisory authority of your place of work or the place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data concerning you infringes the GDPR.

Definitions of terms

This section provides you with an overview of the terms used in this privacy policy. Many of the terms are taken from the law and defined above all in Art. 4 of the GDPR. The legal definitions are binding. The following explanations, on the other hand, are primarily intended to help you understand them. The terms are sorted alphabetically.

  • A/B tests: A/B tests are used to improve the usability and performance of online offers. For example, users are presented with different versions of a website or its elements, such as input forms, on which the placement of the content or the labels of the navigation elements can differ. Then, based on the behaviour of the users, e.g. staying longer on the website or interacting more frequently with the elements, it can be determined which of these websites or elements are more likely to meet the needs of the users.
  • Affiliate tracking: In the context of affiliate tracking, links with the help of which the linking websites 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 stored elsewhere, 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, for example, advertising material ID, partner ID and categorisations.
  • Content Delivery Network (CDN): A “Content Delivery Network” (CDN) is a service with the help of which the contents of an online offer, in particular large media files such as graphics or programme scripts, can be delivered faster and more securely with the help of regionally distributed servers connected via the Internet.
  • Heatmaps: “Heatmaps” are mouse movements of users that are summarised to form an overall picture, with the help of which it can be recognised, for example, which website elements are preferred and which website elements users prefer less.
  • IP masking: IP masking is a method of deleting the last octet, i.e. the last two numbers of an IP address, so that the IP address can no longer be used to uniquely identify a person. Therefore, IP masking is a means of pseudonymising processing procedures, especially in online marketing.
  • Click tracking: Click tracking allows us to keep track of users’ movements within an entire online experience. Since the results of these tests are more accurate if the interaction of the users can be tracked over a certain period of time (e.g. so that we can find out whether a user likes to return), cookies are usually stored on the users’ computers for these testing purposes.
  • Conversion measurement: Conversion measurement (also referred to as “visit action evaluation”) is a procedure that can be used to determine the effectiveness of marketing measures. For this purpose, a cookie is usually stored on the user’s devices 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 have placed on other websites have been successful.
  • Personal data: “Personal data” means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter “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. 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 these personal data to analyse, evaluate or predict certain personal aspects relating to a natural person (depending on the type of profiling, this may include different information concerning demographics, behaviour and interests, such as interaction with websites and their content, etc.) (e.g. interests in certain content or products, click behaviour on a website or location). Cookies and web beacons are often used for profiling purposes.
  • Reach measurement: Reach measurement (also referred to as web analytics) is used to evaluate the visitor flows of an online offer and can include the behaviour or interests of visitors in certain information, such as website content. With the help of reach analysis, website owners can see, for example, at what time visitors visit their website and what content they are interested in. This enables them, for example, to better adapt the content of the website to the needs of their visitors. For the purposes of reach analysis, pseudonymous cookies and web beacons are often used to recognise returning visitors and thus obtain more precise analyses of the use of an online offer.
  • Remarketing: “Remarketing” or “retargeting” is when, for example, for advertising purposes, it is noted which products a user was interested in on a website in order to remind the user of these products on other websites, e.g. in advertisements.
  • Controller: 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 upon personal data, whether or not by automatic means. The term is broad and encompasses virtually any handling of data, be it collection, analysis, storage, transmission or erasure.
  • Target group formation: We speak of target group formation (or “custom audiences”) when target groups are determined for advertising purposes, e.g. 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 shop where he or she viewed the products. In turn, we speak of “lookalike audiences” (or similar target groups) 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 to create custom audiences and lookalike audiences.

Legal text by Dr Schwenke - please click for further information.

Translated from German by podwatch GmbH