Privacy policy

Introduction

With the following data protection declaration, we would like to inform you about which types of your personal data (hereinafter also referred to as "data") 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 in the context of the provision of our services and in particular on our websites, in mobile applications and within external online presences, such as our social media profiles (hereinafter collectively referred to as "online offering").

The terms used are not gender-specific.

Status: 27. Januar 2023

Inhaltsübersicht 

Person in charge

MEININGER VERLAG GmbH
Maximilianstraße 7-15
67433 Neustadt/Weinstraße
Telefon: +49 (0)6321 8908 0
Authorized representatives: Andrea Meininger-Apfel, Christoph Meininger

E-mail adress:

datenschutz@meininger.de

Imprint:

www.meiningers-conference.com/impressum

Contact Data Protection Officer

Dr. Frank Eickmeier
E-mail: datenschutz@meininger.de

Overview of processing

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

Types of data processed

  • Inventory data 
  • Contact details
  • Content data
  • Usage data
  • Meta, communication and procedural data
  • Categories of data subjects
  • Employees
  • Communication partner
  • User
  • Business and contractual partners
  • Participant  

Purposes of processing

  • Provision of contractual services and customer service
  • Contact requests and communication
  • Safety measures
  • Direct marketing
  • Reach measurement
  • Feedback
  • Marketing
  • Profiles with user-related information
  • Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness
  • Information technology infrastructure

Relevant legal bases

Below you will find an overview of the legal bases of the GDPR on the basis of which we process personal data. Please note that in addition to the provisions of the GDPR, national data protection regulations may apply in your or our country of residence or domicile. If more specific legal bases are relevant in individual cases, we will inform you of these in the data protection declaration.

  • Consent (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a) DSGVO) - The data subject has given his or her consent to the processing of personal data concerning him or her for a specific purpose or for several specific purposes.
  • Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f) DSGVO) - Processing is necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the controller or of a third party, unless the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data prevail.

In addition to the data protection regulations of the GDPR, national regulations on data protection apply in Germany. This includes in particular the law on protection against misuse of personal data in data processing (Federal Data Protection Act - BDSG). The BDSG contains in particular special regulations on the right to information, the right to erasure, the right to object, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes and transmission and automated decision-making in individual cases, including profiling. It also regulates data processing for the purposes of the employment relationship (Section 26 BDSG), in particular with regard to the establishment, implementation or termination of employment relationships and the consent of employees. In addition, state data protection laws of the individual federal states may apply.

Safety measures

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, we take appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure a level of protection appropriate to the risk.

The measures include in particular ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data by controlling physical and electronic access to the data as well as access to it, input, transfer, ensuring availability and separation. Furthermore, we have set up procedures that ensure the exercise of data subject rights, the deletion of data and reactions to data threats. Furthermore, we take the protection of personal data into account when developing or selecting hardware, software and processes in accordance with the principle of data protection, through technology design and through data protection-friendly default settings.

TLS encryption (https): We use TLS encryption to protect the data you transmit via our website. You can recognize encrypted connections of this type by the prefix https:// in the address line of your browser.

Transmission of personal data

As part of our processing of personal data, it may happen that the data is transmitted to other bodies, companies, legally independent organizational units or persons or that it is disclosed to them. The recipients of this data may include, for example, service providers commissioned with IT tasks or providers of services and content that are integrated into a website. In such cases, we comply with the legal requirements and, in particular, conclude appropriate contracts or agreements with the recipients of your data that serve to protect your data.

Data transfer within the organization: We may transfer personal data to other departments within our organization or grant them access to this data. If this transfer is for administrative purposes, the data is transferred based on our legitimate business and commercial interests or if it is necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations or if there is consent from the data subject or legal permission.

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 if the processing takes place in the context of the use of third-party services or the disclosure or transmission of data to other persons, bodies or companies, this will only be done in accordance with the legal requirements.

Subject to express consent or contractually or legally required transmission, we only process or have the data processed in third countries with a recognized 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 GDPR, information page of the EU Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/international-dimension-data-protection_de).

Deletion of data

The data we process is deleted in accordance with legal requirements as soon as the consents to processing are revoked or other permissions no longer apply (e.g. if the purpose of processing this data no longer applies or it is no longer required for the purpose). If the data is not deleted because it is required for other legally permissible purposes, its processing will be restricted to these purposes. This means that the data will be blocked and not processed for other purposes. This applies, for example, to data that must be retained for commercial or tax law reasons or whose storage is necessary to assert, exercise or defend legal claims or to protect the rights of another natural or legal person.

As part of our data protection information, we can provide users with further information on the deletion and storage of data that applies specifically to the respective processing operations.

Use of cookies

Cookies are small text files or other storage notes that store information on end devices and read information from the end devices. For example, to store the login status in a user account, the contents of a shopping cart in an e-shop, the content accessed or the functions used in an online service. Cookies can also be used for different purposes, e.g. to ensure the functionality, security and convenience of online services and to create analyses of visitor flows.

Notes on consent: We use cookies in accordance with legal regulations. We therefore obtain prior consent from users, unless this is not required by law. Consent is not necessary in particular if the storage and reading of information, including cookies, is absolutely necessary in order to provide users with a telemedia service that they have expressly requested (i.e. our online offering). The revocable consent is clearly communicated to users and contains information on the respective cookie usage.

Notes on data protection legal bases: The data protection legal basis on which we process users' personal data with the help of cookies depends on whether we ask users for consent. If users consent, the legal basis for processing their data is their declared consent. Otherwise, the data processed with the help of cookies is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (e.g. in the commercial operation of our online offering and improving its usability) or, if this is done as part of fulfilling our contractual obligations, if the use of cookies is necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations. We will explain the purposes for which we process cookies in the course of this data protection declaration or as part of our consent and processing processes.

Storage period: With regard to the storage period, the following types of cookies are distinguished:

  • Temporary cookies (also: Session cookies): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user has left an online offering and closed his or her device (e.g. browser or mobile application).
  • Permanent cookies: Permanent cookies remain stored even after the device is closed. For example, the login status can be saved or preferred content can be displayed directly when the user visits a website again. The user data collected using cookies can also be used to measure reach. Unless we provide users with explicit information about the type and storage period of cookies (e.g. when obtaining consent), users should assume that cookies are permanent and that the storage period can be up to two years.

General information on revocation and objection (opt-out): Users can revoke the consent they have given at any time and also object to the processing in accordance with the legal requirements in Art. 21 GDPR. Users can also declare their objection via the settings of their browser, e.g. by deactivating the use of cookies (although this may also limit the functionality of our online services). An objection to the use of cookies for online marketing purposes can also be declared via the websites https://optout.aboutads.info  and https://www.youronlinechoices.com/ .

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Processing of cookie data based on consent: We use a cookie consent management process within which users' consent to the use of cookies or the processing and providers named in the cookie consent management process can be obtained and managed and revoked by users. The declaration of consent is saved so that it does not have to be requested again and consent can be proven in accordance with the legal obligation. 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 consent to a user or their device. Subject to individual information about the providers of cookie management services, the following information applies: The consent can be stored for up to two years. A pseudonymous user identifier is created and saved with the time of consent, information on the scope of the consent (e.g. which categories of cookies and/or service providers) and the browser, system and device used.

Commercial and business services

We process data of our contractual and business partners, e.g. customers and interested parties (collectively referred to as "contractual partners") within the framework of contractual and comparable legal relationships as well as related measures and within the framework of communication with the contractual partners (or pre-contractually), e.g. to answer inquiries.

We process this data to fulfil our contractual obligations, to protect our rights and for the purposes of the administrative tasks associated with this information as well as for business organisation. Within the framework of applicable law, we only pass on the data of contractual partners to third parties to the extent that this is necessary for the aforementioned purposes or to fulfil legal obligations or with the consent of the persons concerned (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 are informed about other forms of processing, e.g. for marketing purposes, within the framework of this data protection declaration.

We inform our contractual partners which data is required for the aforementioned purposes before or during data collection, e.g. in online forms, by special marking (e.g. colors) or symbols (e.g. asterisks or similar), or in person.

We delete the data after the expiry of statutory warranty and similar obligations, i.e., generally after 4 years, unless the data is stored in a customer account, e.g. for as long as it must be kept for legal archiving reasons (e.g. for tax purposes, usually 10 years). We delete data that was disclosed to us by the contractual partner as part of an order in accordance with the specifications of the order, generally after the end of the order.

To the extent that 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 to the relationship between the users and the providers.

Customer account: Contractual partners can create an account within our online offering (e.g. customer or user account, "customer account" for short). If the registration of a customer account is required, contractual partners will be informed of this as well as of the information required for registration. Customer accounts are not public and cannot be indexed by search engines. As part of the registration and subsequent logins and use of the customer account, we save the customers' IP addresses along 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 customer's responsibility to back up their data when the customer account is terminated.

Shop and e-commerce: We process our customers' data to enable them to select, purchase or order the selected products, goods and associated services, as well as to pay for and deliver or execute them. If necessary to execute an order, we use service providers, in particular postal, forwarding and shipping companies, to carry out the delivery or execution for our customers. We use the services of banks and payment service providers to process payment transactions. The required information is marked as such in the order or comparable purchase process and includes the information required for delivery, provision and billing as well as contact information in order to be able to hold any consultation.

Publication activities: We process the data of our contact partners, interview partners and other persons who are the subject of our publishing, editorial and journalistic and related activities. In this context, we refer to the validity of the protective provisions of freedom of expression and freedom of the press in accordance with Art. 85 GDPR in conjunction with the respective national laws. The processing serves to fulfill our commissioned activities and is carried out in particular on the basis of the general public's interest in information and media offerings.

  • 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 the 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 organizational procedures, administration and response to requests, security measures.
  • Legal basis: Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. b. GDPR), legal obligation (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. c. GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR).

Services and service providers used:

  • Pretix (rami.io): Ticket system; rami.io GmbH, Berthold-Mogel-Straße 1, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany; Integrated via a JavaScript widget. When you buy a ticket, pretix uses a technically necessary cookie to enable the ordering process and to remember which shopping cart belongs to you. The cookie is set as soon as you interact with the widget. pretix does not store IP addresses, browser information or other unnecessary metadata beyond the duration of your request. You can find more information about data protection at pretix here: https://pretix.eu/about/de/privacy

Payment service providers

As part of contractual and other legal relationships, due to legal obligations or otherwise on the basis of our legitimate interests, we offer the persons concerned efficient and secure payment options and use other payment service providers in addition to banks and credit institutions (collectively "payment service providers").

The data processed by the payment service providers includes inventory data, such as name and address, bank details, such as account numbers or credit card numbers, passwords, TANs and checksums, as well as contract, sum and recipient-related information. The information is required to carry out the transactions. However, the data entered is only processed and stored by the payment service providers. This means that we do not receive any account or credit card-related information, but only information confirming or rejecting the payment. The payment service providers may transmit the data to credit agencies. This transmission is for the purpose of checking identity and creditworthiness. For this purpose, we refer to the terms and conditions and the data protection information of the payment service providers.

The terms and conditions and data protection notices of the respective payment service providers apply to payment transactions and can be accessed on the respective websites or transaction applications. We also refer to these for further information and to assert revocation, information and other rights of those affected.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history), contract data (e.g. subject matter of the 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: customers, interested parties.
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Legal basis: Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 lit. b. GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 lit. f. GDPR).

Services and service providers used:

Communication via Messenger

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

You can also contact us in alternative ways, e.g. by telephone or email. Please use the contact options provided to you or the contact options provided within our online offering.

In the case of end-to-end encryption of content (i.e., the content of your message and attachments), we would like to 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 a current version of the messenger with encryption activated to ensure that the message content is encrypted.

However, we would also like to point out to our communication partners that although the providers of the messengers cannot see the content, they can find out that and when communication partners communicate with us, as well as technical information about the device used by the communication partners and, depending on the settings of their device, location information (so-called metadata) are also processed.

Notes on legal bases: 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 and 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 communicating via messenger. We would also like to point out that we will not transmit the contact details provided to us to the messenger for the first time without your consent.

Revocation, objection and deletion: You can revoke your consent at any time 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., for example, 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 from the communication partners, if no reference to a previous conversation is to be expected and there are no statutory retention periods that prevent deletion.

Reservation of reference to other communication channels: Finally, we would like to point out that for reasons of your security, we reserve the right not to answer inquiries via messenger. This is the case if, for example, internal contractual details require special confidentiality or a response via messenger does not meet the formal requirements. In such cases, we will refer you to more appropriate 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 and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, consent status).
  • Affected persons: communication partners.
  • Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication; direct marketing (e.g. by email or post).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a) DSGVO); Legitimate interest (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f) DSGVO).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

Newsletters and electronic notifications

We only send newsletters, emails and other electronic notifications (hereinafter "newsletters") with the consent of the recipient or with legal permission. If the contents of the newsletter are specifically described when registering for the newsletter, they are decisive for the consent of the user. In addition, our newsletters contain information about our services and us.

To register for our newsletters, it is generally sufficient if you provide your email address. However, we may ask you to provide a name for the purpose of addressing you personally in the newsletter or other information if this is necessary for the purposes of the newsletter.

Double opt-in procedure: Registration for our newsletter is always carried out using a so-called double opt-in procedure. This means that after registration you will receive an email asking you to confirm your registration. This confirmation is necessary so that no one can register using someone else's email address. Registrations for the newsletter are logged in order to be able to prove the registration process in accordance with legal requirements. This includes storing the time of registration and confirmation as well as the IP address. Changes to your data stored by the shipping service provider are also logged.

Deletion and restriction of processing: We can store the unsubscribed email addresses for up to three years on the basis of our legitimate interests before we delete them in order to be able to prove that consent was previously given. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defense against claims. An individual request for deletion is possible at any time, provided that the previous 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 email address in a block list (so-called "block list") for this purpose alone.

The registration process is logged on the basis of our legitimate interests for the purpose of proving that it was carried out correctly. If we commission a service provider to send emails, this is done on the basis of our legitimate interests in an efficient and secure delivery system.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers); meta, communication and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, consent status); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times).
  • Affected persons: communication partners.
  • Purposes of processing: direct marketing (e.g. by email or post); reach measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a) DSGVO); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f) DSGVO).
  • Opt-out option: You can cancel your subscription to 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 listed above, preferably email.

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Measuring opening and click rates: The newsletters contain a so-called "web beacon", i.e. a pixel-sized file that is retrieved from our server when the newsletter is opened or, if we use a shipping service provider, from its server. As part of this retrieval, technical information, such as information about the browser and your system, as well as your IP address and the time of retrieval, is initially collected. This information is used to technically improve our newsletter based on the technical data or the target groups and their reading behavior based on their retrieval locations (which can be determined using the IP address) or the access times. This analysis also includes determining whether the newsletters are opened, when they are opened and which links are clicked. This information is assigned to the individual newsletter recipients and stored in their profiles until they are deleted. The evaluations help us to recognize the reading habits of our users and 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 user profiles and their further processing are based on the user's consent. A separate revocation of the success measurement is unfortunately not possible; in this case the entire newsletter subscription must be canceled or revoked. In this case, the stored profile information will be deleted.; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a) DSGVO).
  • Inxmail: E-Mail-Marketing-Plattform; Service provider: Inxmail GmbH, Wentzingerstr. 17, 79106 Freiburg, Deutschland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f) DSGVO); Website: https://www.inxmail.de/; Data protection: https://www.inxmail.de/datenschutz.

Surveys and polls

We conduct surveys and questionnaires to collect information for the respective communicated survey or questionnaire purpose. The surveys and questionnaires we conduct (hereinafter "surveys") are evaluated anonymously. Personal data is only processed to the extent that this is necessary for the provision and technical implementation of the surveys (e.g. processing the IP address in order to display the survey in the user's browser or to enable the survey to be resumed using a cookie).

  • Types of data processed: Contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers); content data (e.g. entries in online forms); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta, communication and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, consent status); inventory data (e.g. names, addresses).
  • Affected persons: communication partners; participants; employees (e.g. employees, applicants, former employees); business and contractual partners.
  • Purposes of processing: Feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form).
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interest (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f) DSGVO).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Mentimeter: Creation of presentations and meetings with real-time feedback; Service provider: Mentimeter AB, Alströmergatan 22 SE-112 47 Stockholm, Schweden; Legal basis: Legitimate interest (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f) DSGVO); Website: https://www.mentimeter.com; Data protection: https://www.mentimeter.com/policies.

Web analysis, monitoring and optimization

Web analysis (also known as "reach measurement") is used to evaluate the flow of visitors to our online offering and can include behavior, interests or demographic information about visitors, such as age or gender, as pseudonymous values. With the help of reach analysis, we can, for example, identify at what time our online offering or its functions or content are most frequently used or invite reuse. We can also understand which areas require optimization.

In addition to web analysis, we can also use test procedures to test and optimize different versions of our online offering or its components, for example.

Unless otherwise stated below, profiles, i.e. data summarized for a usage process, can be created for these purposes and information can be stored in a browser or in a device and read from it. The information collected includes in particular websites visited and elements used there as well as technical information such as the browser used, the computer system used and information on usage times. If users have given us or the providers of the services we use permission to collect their location data, location data can also be processed.

The users' IP addresses are also stored. However, we use an IP masking process (i.e. pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. In general, no clear user data (such as email addresses or names) is stored as part of web analysis, A/B testing and optimization, but rather pseudonyms. This means that neither we nor the providers of the software used know the actual identity of the users, only the information stored in their profiles for the purposes of the respective processes.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta, communication and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, consent status).
  • 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). Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a) DSGVO); Legitimate interest (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f) DSGVO).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Matomo (without cookies): Matomo is a privacy-friendly web analysis software that is used without cookies and in which returning users are recognized with the help of a so-called "digital fingerprint" that is stored anonymously and changed every 24 hours. With the "digital fingerprint", user movements within our online offering are recorded with the help of pseudonymized IP addresses in combination with user-side browser settings in such a way that conclusions about the identity of individual users are not possible. The user data collected as part of the use of Matomo is only processed by us and is not shared with third parties. Legal basis: Legitimate interest (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f) DSGVO); Website: https://matomo.org/.
  • Matomo: Matomo is a software that is used for the purposes of web analysis and reach measurement. When using Matomo, cookies are generated and stored on the user's device. The user data collected when using Matomo is only processed by us and is not shared with third parties. The cookies are stored for a maximum period of 13 months: https://matomo.org/faq/general/faq_146/; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a) DSGVO); Deletion of data: The cookies are stored for a maximum of 13 months.

Presences in social networks (social media)

We maintain online presences within social networks and process user data in this context in order to communicate with the users active there or to offer information about us.

We would like to point out that user data may be processed outside the European Union. This may result in risks for users because it could, for example, make it more difficult to enforce users' rights.

Furthermore, user data within social networks is usually processed for market research and advertising purposes. For example, user profiles can be created based on user behavior and the resulting interests of users. The user profiles can in turn be used, for example, to place advertisements within and outside the networks that presumably correspond to the interests of users. For these purposes, cookies are usually stored on users' computers in which the user behavior and interests of users are stored. Furthermore, data can also be stored in the user profiles regardless of the devices used by the users (especially if the users are members of the respective platforms and are logged in to them).

For a detailed description of the respective processing methods and the objection options (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 like to point out that these can be asserted most effectively with the providers. Only the providers have access to the users' data and can take appropriate measures and provide information directly. If you still need help, you can contact us.

  • Types of data processed: Contact data (e.g. 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 and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, consent status).
  • Affected persons: User (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 interest (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f) DSGVO).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Facebook Pages: Profiles within the social network Facebook - We are jointly responsible with Meta Platforms Ireland Limited for collecting (but not further processing) data from visitors to our Facebook page (so-called "fan page"). This data includes information about the types of content users view or interact with, or the actions they take (see "Things you and others do and provide" in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy), as well as information about the devices used by users (e.g. IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings, cookie data; see "Device information" in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy). As explained in the Facebook Data Policy under "How do we use this information?", Facebook also collects and uses information to provide analytics services, so-called "Page Insights", to page operators so that they can gain insights into how people interact with their pages and the content associated with them. We have concluded a special agreement with Facebook ("Information on Page Insights", https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/page_controller_addendum), which in particular regulates which security measures Facebook must observe and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfill the rights of those affected (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 responsible supervisory authority) are not restricted by the agreements with Facebook. Further information can be found in the "Information on Page Insights" (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data); Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Irland; Legal basis: Legitimate interest (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f) DSGVO); Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy; Standard contrectual clauses (ensuring data protection levels when processing in third countries): https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum; Further information: Agreement on joined responibility: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data. The joint responsibility is limited to the collection and transmission of data to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, a company based in the EU. The further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, in particular the transmission of the data to the parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. in the USA (based on the standard contractual clauses concluded between Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and Meta Platforms, Inc.).
  • LinkedIn: Sozial network; Service provider: LinkedIn Irland Unlimited Company, Wilton Plaza Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Irland; Legal basis: Legitimate interest (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f) DSGVO); Website: https://www.linkedin.com; Privacy policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy; Contract processing agreement: https://legal.linkedin.com/dpa; Standard contractual clauses (guaranteeing data protection level when processing in third countries): https://legal.linkedin.com/dpa; Widerspruchsmöglichkeit (Opt-Out): https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.

Plugins and embedded functions and content

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

The integration always requires that the third-party providers of this content process the IP address of the users, since without the IP address they would not be able to send the content to their browser. The IP address is therefore required to display this content or functions. We endeavor to only use content whose respective providers only use the IP address to deliver the content. Third-party providers can 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 evaluate 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, the time of visit and other information about the use of our online offer, as well as be linked to such information from other sources.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta, communication and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, consent status); 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 offering and user-friendliness; provision of contractual services and customer service; feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form).
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interest (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f) DSGVO). 

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • reCAPTCHA: We integrate the "reCAPTCHA" function to be able to recognize whether entries (e.g. in online forms) are made by people and not by automatically acting machines (so-called "bots"). The data processed can include IP addresses, information on operating systems, devices or browsers used, language settings, location, mouse movements, keystrokes, time spent on websites, previously visited websites, interactions with ReCaptcha on other websites, possibly cookies and results of manual recognition processes (e.g. answering questions asked or selecting objects in images). The data processing is based on our legitimate interest in protecting our online offering from abusive automated crawling and spam; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 Letter f) GDPR); Website: https://www.google.com/recaptcha/; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Irland; Legal basis: Legitimate interest (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f) DSGVO); Website: https://www.google.com/recaptcha/; Datenschutzerklärung: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Opt-out option: Opt-Out-Plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, Settings for the display of advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated. 
  • Shariff: We use the privacy-safe "Shariff" buttons. "Shariff" was developed to enable more privacy on the Internet and to replace the usual "Share" buttons on social networks. It is not the user's browser, but the server on which this online offer is located that establishes a connection to the server of the respective social media platform and queries, for example, the number of likes. The user remains anonymous. You can find more information about the Shariff project from the developers of the c't magazine: https://www.heise.de/ct/artikel/Shariff-Social-Media-Buttons-mit-Datens…; Service provider: Heise Medien GmbH & Co. KG, Karl-Wiechert-Allee 10, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 Letter f) GDPR); Website: https://www.heise.de/ct/artikel/Shariff-Social-Media-Buttons-mit-Datens…; Privacy Policy: https://www.heise.de/Datenschutzerklaerung-der-Heise-Medien-GmbH-Co-KG-….

Changes and updates to the privacy policy 

We ask you to regularly inform yourself about the content of our privacy policy. We will adapt the privacy policy as soon as changes to the data processing we carry out make this necessary. We will inform you as soon as the changes require your cooperation (e.g. consent) or other individual notification.

If we provide addresses and contact information for companies and organizations in this privacy policy, please note that the addresses may change over time and ask you to check the information before contacting us.

Rights of the data subjects 

As a data subject, you are entitled to various rights under the GDPR, which arise in particular from Articles 15 to 21 of the GDPR:

  • Right to object: You have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you which is carried out on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (e) or (f) GDPR, for reasons related to your particular situation; this also applies to profiling based on these provisions. If the personal data concerning you are processed in order to conduct direct advertising, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purposes of such advertising; this also applies to profiling insofar as it is related to such direct advertising.
  • Right to withdraw consent: You have the right to withdraw consent at any time. 
  • Right to information: You have the right to request confirmation as to whether or not data concerning you is being processed and to request information about this data as well as further information and a copy of the data in accordance with legal requirements.
  • Right to rectification: You have the right, in accordance with the statutory provisions, to request that the 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 statutory provisions, to demand that data concerning you be erased immediately or, alternatively, to demand that the processing of the data be restricted in accordance with the statutory provisions.
  • Right to data portability: You have the right to receive the data concerning you that you have made available to us in a structured, common and machine-readable format in accordance with the legal requirements or to request that it be transmitted to another controller.
  • Complaint to a supervisory authority: In accordance with the statutory provisions and without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority, in particular a supervisory authority in the Member State in which you habitually 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 

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 are defined primarily in Art. 4 GDPR. The legal definitions are binding. The following explanations, however, are primarily intended to help you understand. The terms are sorted alphabetically.

  • 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. a cookie) or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.
  • Profiles with user-related information: The processing of "profiles with user-related information", or "profiles" for short, includes any type of automated processing of personal data consisting in the use of this personal data to analyze, evaluate or predict certain personal aspects relating to a natural person (depending on the type of profiling, this may include different information relating to demographics, behavior and interests, such as interaction with websites and their content, etc.) (e.g. interests in certain content or products, click behavior on a website or location). Cookies and web beacons are often used for profiling purposes.
  • Reach measurement: Reach measurement (also known as web analytics) is used to evaluate the flow of visitors to an online offering and can include the behavior or interests of visitors in certain information, such as the content of websites. With the help of reach analysis, website owners can, for example, see 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 recognize returning visitors and thus obtain more precise analyses of the use of an online offering.
  • Controller: The “controller” is the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which alone or jointly with others decides on the purposes and means of processing personal data.
  • Processing: "Processing" is any operation or set of operations which is carried out with or without the aid of automated procedures in connection with personal data. The term is broad and covers practically every handling of data, be it the collection, evaluation, storage, transmission or deletion.