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: 01 November 2022

    Person responsible:

Tim Langner
Managing Director
Stroh Diamond Tools GmbH
Kinzingheimer way 2e
D-63486 Bruchköbel

E-Mail: info(at)stroh-diamant.de

Link to imprint: https://stroh-diamant.de/datenschutzerklaerung/

Scope:
http://stroh-diamant.de
https://stroh-diamant.de
http://s troh-diamant.com 
https://stroh-diamant.com
http://stroh-diamant.eu
https://stroh-diamant.eu

    Processing overview

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

    Types of data processed

    • Event Data (Facebook) ("Event Data" is data that may be transmitted by us to Facebook, e.g. via Facebook Pixel (via apps or other means), and relates to individuals 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 phone numbers). Event data is 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).
    • Content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
    • Contact information (e.g., email, phone numbers).
    • Meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
    • Usage data (e.g. web pages 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).

    Special categories of data

    • Health data (Art. 9 (1) DGSVO).

    Categories of persons concerned

    • Business and Contractual Partners.
    • Interested parties.
    • Communication partner.
    • Customers.
    • Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
    • Pupils/ Students/ Participants.
    • Sweepstakes and Contest Entrants.

    Processing purposes

    • A/B testing.
    • Affiliate tracking.
    • Application Procedure.
    • Provision of our online offer and user-friendliness.
    • Conversion measurement (measurement of the effectiveness of marketing measures).
    • Office and organizational procedures.
    • Content Delivery Network (CDN).
    • Direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or postal mail).
    • Conducting sweepstakes and contests.
    • Feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form).
    • Heatmaps (mouse movements on the part of the user, which 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.
    • Provision of contractual services and customer service.
    • Managing and responding to inquiries.
    • Target group formation (determination of target groups relevant for marketing purposes or other output of content).

    Relevant legal bases

    The following is 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. If, in addition, more specific legal bases are relevant in individual cases, we will inform you of these in the data protection declaration.

    • Consent (Art. 6 (1) p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO) - The data subject has given his/her consent to the processing of personal data concerning him/her for a specific purpose or purposes.
    • Contract performance and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO) - Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a 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 (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.

    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 (Federal Data Protection Act - BDSG). In particular, the BDSG contains special regulations on the right to information, the right to erasure, the right to object, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes and transmission, as well as automated decision-making in individual cases, including profiling. Furthermore, it regulates data processing for employment purposes (Section 26 BDSG), in particular with regard to the establishment, implementation or termination of employment relationships as well as the consent of employees. Furthermore, state data protection laws of the individual federal states may apply.

    Security measures

    We take appropriate technical and organizational 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, safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data by controlling physical and electronic access to the data as well as the access, input, transfer, safeguarding of availability and its separation. Furthermore, we have established procedures to ensure the exercise of data subjects' rights, the deletion of data, and responses to data compromise. Furthermore, we take the protection of personal data into account as early as the development or selection of hardware, software and processes in accordance with the principle of data protection, through technology design and through data protection-friendly default settings.

    IP address shortening: 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 required, 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 period 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): To protect your data transmitted via our online offer, we use SSL encryption. You can recognize such encrypted connections by the prefix https:// in the address bar of your browser.

    Transmission of personal data

    In the course of our processing of personal data, it may happen that the data is transferred to or disclosed to other bodies, companies, legally independent organizational 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 comply with the legal requirements and, in particular, conclude appropriate contracts or agreements that serve to protect your data with the recipients of your data.

    Data transfer within the organization: We may transfer personal data to other entities within our organization or grant them access to this data. Where this transfer is for administrative purposes, the transfer of data is based on our legitimate business and operational interests or is made where it is necessary to fulfill our contract-related obligations or where there is consent from the data subjects 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 the processing takes place in the context of the use of third-party services or the disclosure or transfer of data to other persons, entities 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 have 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 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 is not deleted because it is required for other and legally permissible purposes, its 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 defense of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person.

    Our privacy notices may also contain further information on the retention and deletion of data, which will take precedence for the respective processing operations.

    Cookies use

    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 his visit within an online offer. 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 information is stored using pseudonymous online identifiers, also referred to 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 used for reach measurement or marketing purposes can be stored in such a cookie.
    • First-party cookies: First-party cookies are set by us.
    • 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 store logins or other user inputs or for security reasons).
    • Statistics, marketing and personalization cookies: Furthermore, cookies are generally also used in the context of range measurement and when a user's interests or behavior (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 process 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 privacy policy 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 a business operation of our online offer and its improvement) or, if the use of cookies is necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations.

    Storage period: If we do not provide you with explicit information about 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 in the context of the information on the service providers and cookies used.

    Processing of cookie data based on consent: We use a cookie consent management procedure in which the consent of users to the use of cookies, or the processing and providers mentioned in the cookie consent management procedure, can be obtained and managed and revoked by users. Here, the declaration of consent is stored in order not to have to repeat its query 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), as well as the browser, system and end device used.

    • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. web pages visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
    • Data subjects: 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).

    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 inquiries.

    We process this data to fulfill our contractual obligations, to secure our rights and for purposes of the administrative tasks associated with this information as well as for business organization. Within the framework of applicable law, we only disclose the data of the contractual partners to third parties to the extent that this is necessary for the aforementioned purposes or for the fulfillment 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 scope of this data protection declaration.

    We inform the contractual partners which data are required for the aforementioned purposes before or in the course of 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 legal warranty and comparable obligations, i.e., in principle after 4 years, unless the data is stored in a customer account, e.g., as long as it must be retained for legal archiving reasons (e.g., for tax purposes usually 10 years). We delete data 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.

    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 shall 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, in short "customer account"). If 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. 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 the 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 the customer account is terminated.

    Economic analyses and market research: For business reasons and in order to be able to recognize market trends, wishes of contractual partners and users, we analyze the data we have on business transactions, contracts, inquiries, etc., whereby the group of data subjects 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). In doing so, we may, if available, take into account the profiles of registered users together with their details, e.g. on services used. The analyses serve us alone and are not disclosed externally, unless they are anonymous analyses with summarized, i.e. anonymized values. Furthermore, we take the privacy of the users into consideration and process the data for the analysis purposes as pseudonymously as possible and, if feasible, anonymously (e.g. as summarized data).

    Store and e-commerce: We process the data of our customers to enable them to select, purchase or order the selected products, goods and related services, as well as their payment and delivery or execution. If necessary for the execution of an order, we use service providers, in particular postal, forwarding and shipping companies, to carry out the delivery, or execution to our customers. For the processing of payment transactions, we use the services of banks and payment service providers. The required information is identified as such in the context of the order or comparable purchase process and includes the information needed for delivery, or provision and billing, as well as contact information, so that any consultation can be held.

    Education and Training Services: We process the data of participants in our education and training services (uniformly referred to as "trainees") in order to provide them with our training services. The data processed in this context, the nature, scope, purpose and necessity of their processing are determined by the underlying contractual and training relationship. The forms of processing also include the performance assessment and evaluation of our services and those of the teachers.

    In the course of our activities, we may also process special categories of data, in particular information on the health of the trainees and data revealing ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or ideological beliefs. For this purpose, we obtain the express consent of the trainees, if required, and otherwise process the special categories of data only if it is necessary for the provision of the training services, for purposes of health care, social protection or the protection of vital interests of the trainees.

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

    Project and development services: We process the data of our customers and clients (hereinafter uniformly referred to as "Customers") in order to enable them to select, acquire or commission the selected services or works and related activities as well as their payment and provision or execution or performance.

    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 billing as well as contact information in order to be able to hold any consultations. Insofar as we obtain access to information of the end customers, employees or other persons, we process this in accordance with the legal and contractual requirements.

    Publication activities: We process the data of our contact partners, interview partners and other persons who are the subject of our publication, editorial, journalistic and related activities. In this context, we refer to the applicability of protective provisions of freedom of expression and freedom of the press pursuant to Art. 85 DSGVO in conjunction with the respective national laws. The processing serves the fulfillment of our commissioned activities and otherwise takes place in particular on the basis of the general public's interest in information and media offerings.

    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 as well as on the basis of legitimate interests in order to ensure the security of our offer and to be able to develop it further. 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 billing as well as contact information in order to be able to hold any consultations.

    Technical services: We process the data of our customers and clients (hereinafter uniformly referred to as "Customers") in order to enable them to select, acquire or commission the selected services or works and related activities as well as their payment and provision or execution or performance.

    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 billing as well as contact information in order to be able to hold any consultations. Insofar as we obtain access to information of the end customers, employees or other persons, we process this in accordance with the legal and contractual requirements.

    Events: We process the data of the participants of the events offered or hosted by us, events and similar activities (hereinafter uniformly referred to as "Participants" and "Events") in order to enable them to participate in the events and to benefit from the services or promotions associated with participation.

    If we process health-related data, religious, political or other special categories of data in this context, then this is done within the scope of disclosure (e.g. for thematically oriented events or serves health care, security or is done with the consent of the data subjects).

    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 billing as well as contact information in order to be able to hold any consultations. Insofar as we obtain access to information of the end customers, employees or other persons, we process this in accordance with the legal and contractual requirements.

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

    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 billing 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, pupils/ students/ participants.
    • Purposes of processing: providing contractual services and customer service, contact requests and communication, office and organizational procedures, managing and responding to requests, security measures, conversion measurement (measuring the effectiveness of marketing activities), profiles with user-related information (creating user profiles).
    • Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual requests (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).

    Sales via online marketplaces and platforms

    We offer our services on online platforms operated by other service providers. In this context, the data protection notices of the respective platforms apply in addition to our data protection notices. This applies in particular with regard to the execution of the payment process and the procedures used on the platforms for reach measurement and interest-based marketing.

    • 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: Customers.
    • Purposes of processing: provision of contractual services and customer service.
    • Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual requests (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:

    Payment method

    In the context of contractual and other legal relationships, due to legal obligations or otherwise on the basis of our legitimate interests, we offer data subjects efficient and secure payment options and use other service providers in addition to banks and credit institutions for this purpose (collectively, "payment service providers").

    The data processed by the payment service providers includes inventory data, such as the name and address, bank data, such as account numbers or credit card numbers, passwords, TANs and checksums, as well as the contract, total and recipient-related information. The information is required in order to carry out the transactions. However, the data entered is only processed by the payment service providers and stored with them. I.e., we do not receive any account or credit card related information, but only information with confirmation or negative information of the payment. Under certain circumstances, the payment service providers transmit the data to credit agencies. The purpose of this transmission is to check identity and creditworthiness. In this regard, we refer to the terms and conditions and the privacy policy of the payment service providers.

    The terms and conditions and the data protection notices of the respective payment service providers apply to the payment transactions, which can be accessed within the respective websites or transaction applications. We also refer to these for the purpose of further information and assertion of revocation, information and other data subject rights.

    • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history), contract data (e.g. subject matter of contract, term, customer category), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers).
    • Affected persons: Customers, interested parties.
    • Purposes of processing: provision of contractual services and customer service.
    • Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual requests (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:

    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 within the scope of the provision of the hosting offer may include all information concerning the users of our online offer, which accrues within the scope of 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 SPAM detection purposes. Please note that e-mails are generally not sent encrypted on the Internet. As a rule, e-mails are encrypted in transit, but (unless a so-called end-to-end encryption method 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 each 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, date and time of access, data volumes transferred, notification of successful access, browser type and version, the user's operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page) and, as a rule, IP addresses and the requesting provider.

    The server log files may be used, on the one hand, for security purposes, e.g., to prevent server overload (especially in the case of abusive attacks, so-called DDoS attacks) and, on the other hand, to ensure the utilization 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 program scripts, can be delivered faster and more securely with the help of regionally distributed servers connected via the Internet.

    • 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).
    • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
    • Purposes of processing: provision of our online offer and user experience, content delivery network (CDN), provision of contractual services and customer service.
    • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

    Services used and service providers:

    Registration, login and user account

    Users can create a user account. In the course of registration, users are provided with the required mandatory data and processed for the purpose of providing the user account on the basis of contractual obligation fulfillment. The processed data includes in particular the login information (username, password and an e-mail address).

    Within the scope of the use of our registration and login functions as well as the use of the user account, we store the IP address and the time of the respective user action. The storage is based on our legitimate interests as well as those of the users in protection against misuse and other unauthorized use. As a matter of principle, this data is not passed on to third parties unless it is necessary for the prosecution of our claims or there is a legal obligation to do so.

    Users may be informed by e-mail about events relevant to their user account, such as technical changes.

    Registration with pseudonyms: Users may use pseudonyms as user names instead of plain names.

    Users' profiles are public: Users' profiles are publicly visible and accessible.

    Setting the visibility of profiles: Users can use settings to determine the extent to which their profiles are visible or accessible to the public or only to certain groups of people.

    Two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication provides an additional layer of security for your user account and ensures that only you can access your account, even if someone else knows your password. For this purpose, you will need to perform another authentication measure in addition to your password (e.g., enter a code sent to a mobile device). We will inform you about the procedure we use.

    Deletion of data after termination: If users have terminated their user account, their data with regard to the user account will be deleted, subject to any legal permission, obligation or consent of the users.

    It is the responsibility of users to back up their data before the end of the contract in the event of termination. We are entitled to irretrievably delete all user data stored during the term of the contract.

    • 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), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
    • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
    • Purposes of processing: provision of contractual services and customer service, security measures, management and response to requests.
    • Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

    Community functions

    The community functions provided by us allow users to enter into conversations or other exchanges with each other. Please note that the use of the community functions is only permitted in compliance with the applicable legal situation, our terms and guidelines and the rights of other users and third parties.

    User posts are public: User-created posts and content are publicly visible and accessible.

    Storage of data for security purposes: User contributions and other input are processed for the purposes of the community and conversation functions and, subject to legal obligations or legal permission, are not released to third parties. An obligation to surrender may arise in particular in the case of illegal contributions for the purposes of legal prosecution. We would like to point out that, in addition to the content of the contributions, their time and the IP address of the user are also stored. This is done in order to be able to take appropriate measures to protect other users and the community.

    Right to delete: The deletion of contributions, content or information provided by users is permissible to the extent necessary after proper consideration if there are concrete indications that they represent a violation of legal regulations, our specifications or the rights of third parties.

    Restricted deletion of conversation posts: Out of consideration for other users, the user's conversation posts remain stored even after cancellation and account deletion, so that conversations, comments, advice or similar. Communication between and among users does not lose its meaning or reverse. User names are deleted or pseudonymized if they were not already pseudonyms. Users may request the complete deletion of conversation posts at any time.

    Protection of own data: Users decide for themselves what data they disclose about themselves within our online offering. For example, when users provide personal information or participate in conversations. We ask users to protect their data and to disclose personal data only with caution and only to the extent necessary. In particular, we ask users to take special care to protect their access data and to use secure passwords (i.e., especially character combinations that are as long and random as possible).

    • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. web pages visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
    • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
    • Purposes of processing: provision of contractual services and customer service, security measures.
    • Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

    Single sign-on login

    Single sign-on" or "single sign-on logon or authentication" refers to procedures that allow users to log on to a provider of single sign-on procedures (e.g., a social network), including our online offering, with the aid of a user account. The prerequisite for single sign-on authentication is that users are registered with the respective single sign-on provider and enter the required access data in the online form provided for this purpose, or are already registered with the single sign-on provider and confirm the single sign-on registration via button.

    Authentication takes place directly with the respective single sign-on provider. In the course of such authentication, we receive a user ID with the information that the user is logged in under this user ID at the respective single sign-on provider and an ID that cannot be used by us for other purposes (so-called "user handle"). Whether additional data is transmitted to us depends solely on the single sign-on procedure used, on the data releases selected during authentication and also on which data users have released in the privacy or other settings of the user account with the single sign-on provider. Depending on the single sign-on provider and the user's choice, this can be different data, usually the e-mail address and the user name. The password entered as part of the single sign-on procedure with the single sign-on provider is neither visible to us nor is it stored by us.

    Users are asked to note that their details stored with us may be automatically matched with their user account with the single sign-on provider, but that this is not always possible or actually occurs. If, for example, the users' e-mail addresses change, they must change them manually in their user account with us.

    We may use single sign-on login, if agreed with users, as part of or prior to contract performance, where users have been asked to do so, process it as part of consent, and otherwise use it based on the legitimate interests of us and the interests of users in an effective and secure login system.

    Should users ever decide that they no longer wish to use the link of their user account with the single sign-on provider for the single sign-on procedure, they must remove this link within their user account with the single sign-on provider. If users wish to delete their data from us, they must cancel their registration with us.

    Facebook Single Sign-On: We are jointly responsible with Facebook Ireland Ltd. for collecting or receiving in the course of a transmission (but not further processing) "Event Data" that Facebook collects or receives in the course of a transmission through the Facebook Single Sign-On sign-in procedures carried out on our Online Service for the purposes of: a) displaying content advertising information that is relevant to users' presumed interests; b) delivering commercial and transactional messages (e.g., targeting users via Facebook Messenger); c) improving ad delivery and personalizing features and content (e.g., improving the identification of which content or advertising information is presumed to be relevant to users' interests); d) improving the quality of content and personalization of features and content (e.g., improving the identification of which content or advertising information is presumed to be relevant to users' interests). e.g., targeting users via Facebook Messenger); c) improving ad delivery and personalization of features and content (e.g., improving the detection of which content or advertising information presumably matches users' interests). We have entered into a special agreement with Facebook ("Addendum for Responsible Parties", https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum), which regulates in particular which security measures Facebook must observe(https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfill data subject rights (i.e., users can, for example, provide information or make deletion requests directly to Facebook). Note: When Facebook provides us with metrics, analytics and reports (which are aggregated, i.e., do not receive information about individual users and are anonymous to us), this processing is not done under shared responsibility, but rather on the basis of a data processing contract ("Data Processing Terms ", https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing), the "Data Security Terms"(https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and, with respect to processing in the U.S., 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.

    Instagram Single Sign-On: We are jointly responsible with Facebook Ireland Ltd. for collecting or receiving in the course of a transmission (but not further processing) "Event Data" that Facebook collects or receives in the course of a transmission through the Instagram Single Sign-On sign-in procedures carried out on our Online Service for the purposes of: a) displaying content advertising information that is relevant to users' presumed interests; b) delivering commercial and transactional messages (e.g., targeting users via Facebook Messenger); c) improving ad delivery and personalizing features and content (e.g., improving the identification of which content or advertising information is presumed to be relevant to users' interests); d) improving the quality of content and personalization of features and content (e.g., improving the identification of which content or advertising information is presumed to be relevant to users' interests). e.g., targeting users via Facebook Messenger); c) improving ad delivery and personalization of features and content (e.g., improving the detection of which content or advertising information presumably matches users' interests). We have entered into a special agreement with Facebook ("Addendum for Responsible Parties", https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum), which regulates in particular which security measures Facebook must observe(https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfill data subject rights (i.e., users can, for example, provide information or make deletion requests directly to Facebook). Note: When Facebook provides us with metrics, analytics, and reports (which are aggregated, i.e., do not receive information about individual users and are anonymous to us), this processing is not done under shared responsibility, but rather under a data processing contract ("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.

    • Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses), contact data (e.g., email, phone numbers), event data (Facebook) ("event data" is data that may 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, for example. Information about visits to websites, interactions with content, functions, installations of apps, purchases of products, etc.; Event data is processed for the purpose of forming 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 phone numbers). Event data is deleted by Facebook after a maximum of two years, the target groups formed from them with the deletion of our Facebook account).
    • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
    • Purposes of processing: provision of contractual services and customer service, registration procedure.
    • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Contract performance and pre-contractual requests (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:

    Blogs and publication media

    We use blogs or comparable means of online communication and publication (hereinafter "publication medium"). Readers' data is 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 posts, 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 the user's 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 to avoid multiple votes.

    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 stored permanently by us until the user objects.

    Comment subscriptions: The follow-up comments can be subscribed by users with their consent. Users will receive a confirmation email to verify that they are the owner of the email address entered. Users may 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 prove consent formerly given. The processing of this data will be limited to the purpose of a possible defense 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, graphical emojis (or smilies), i.e., small graphical files expressing emotions, are used for purposes 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.

    Akismet anti-spam check: We use the service "Akismet" based on our legitimate interests. With the help of Akismet, comments from real people are distinguished from spam comments. For this purpose, all comment details are sent to a server in the USA, where they are analyzed and stored for four days for comparison purposes. If a comment has been classified as spam, the data is stored beyond this time. This information includes the name entered, the e-mail address, the IP address, the comment content, the referrer, information about the browser used as well as the computer system and the time of the entry.

    Users are welcome to use pseudonyms or refrain from entering their name or email address. They can completely prevent the transfer of data by not using our commenting system. That would be a shame, but unfortunately we don't see any alternatives that work just as effectively.

    Profile pictures from Gravatar: We use the service Gravatar within our online offer and especially in the blog.

    Gravatar is a service where users can register and leave profile pictures and their e-mail addresses. If users leave posts or comments on other online presences (especially blogs) with the respective email address, their profile pictures can be displayed next to the posts or comments. For this purpose, the e-mail address provided by users is transmitted to Gravatar in encrypted form for the purpose of checking whether a profile is stored for it. This is the sole purpose of the transmission of the email address. It will not be used for other purposes, but will be deleted afterwards.

    The use of Gravatar is based on our legitimate interests, as we use Gravatar to offer post and comment authors the opportunity to personalize their posts with a profile picture.

    By displaying the images, Gravatar obtains the IP address of the users, as this is necessary for a communication between a browser and an online service.

    If users do not want a user image associated with their Gravatar email address to appear in the comments, they should use an email address that is not on file with Gravatar to comment. We also point out that it is also possible to use an anonymous email address or no email address at all if users do not want their email address to be sent to Gravatar. Users can completely prevent the transmission of data by not using our commenting system.

    • 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).
    • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
    • Purposes of processing: providing contractual services and customer service, feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form), security measures, managing and responding to inquiries, contact requests and communication, providing our online service and user experience.
    • Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual requests (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

    When contacting us (e.g. by contact form, e-mail, telephone or via social media), the information of the inquiring persons is processed to the extent necessary to respond to the contact requests and any requested measures.

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

    • 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 partners.
    • Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication.
    • Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual requests (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:

    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 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 them according to 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 optimizing the respective services and for security purposes. Likewise, the metadata of the communication via chat services (i.e., e.g., information about who communicated with whom) may be used by the respective platform providers in accordance with their terms and conditions, 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 instructs users how and with which terms they can unsubscribe from the messages. Unsubscribing from chatbot messages deletes users' data from the list of message recipients.

    We use the aforementioned information to operate our chat services, e.g., to personally address users, to respond to their inquiries, to deliver any requested content, and also to improve our chat services (e.g., to "teach" chatbots answers to frequently asked questions or to recognize unanswered inquiries).

    Notes on legal basis: We use chat services on the basis of consent if we have previously obtained users' permission to process their data as part 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' inquiries about our services or our company, this is done for contractual and pre-contractual communication. Otherwise, we use chat services based on our legitimate interests in optimizing 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).
    • Data subjects: Communication partners, users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
    • Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication, direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or postal mail), profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).
    • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Contract performance and pre-contractual requests (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 provided by 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 for a short time (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 numbers, the system must be able to detect a renewed access to the same file from the same user. The only reliable way to achieve this is to look at the IP address along with the user agent. Using an anonymized 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 anonymized. This makes it impossible to recover the IP address originally contained. The user agent of the browser used is also stored.

    The podcasts downloads can be delivered via https://bitlove.org/ via BitTorrent, where a direct connection is established from your browser to Bitlove's servers.

    Likewise, buttons of the micropayment service "Flattr", Flattr AB, Box 4111, 203 12 Malmö, Sweden, can be integrated, whereby a direct connection to Flattr servers is established by your browser. If you have created an account with Flattr 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 policies 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. web pages visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
    • Data subjects: 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:

    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 context of a 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 personal address in the newsletter, or further information, if this is necessary 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 in which you are asked to confirm your registration. This confirmation is necessary so that no one can register with other e-mail addresses. The registrations for the newsletter are logged in order to be able to prove the registration process according to the legal requirements. This includes the storage of the registration and confirmation time as well as the IP address. Likewise, changes to your data stored with the shipping service provider are logged.

    Deletion and restriction of processing: 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 will be limited to the purpose of a possible defense 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 event 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 takes place on the basis of our legitimate interests for the purpose of proving its proper course. 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 to prove that it was carried out in accordance with the law.

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

    Prerequisite for the use of free services: Consent to receive mailings may be made contingent as a condition of receiving 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.

    Sending via SMS: The electronic notifications can also be sent as SMS text messages (or are sent exclusively via SMS if the sending authorization, e.g. a consent, only includes sending via SMS).

    • 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), event data (Facebook) ("event data" is data that can be transmitted by us to Facebook, e.g. via the Facebook pixel (via apps or in other ways), and relates to individuals or their actions; the data includes, for example, information about visits to websites, interactions with content, functions, installations of apps, purchases of products, etc.). For example, information about visits to websites, interactions with content, functions, installations of apps, purchases of products, etc.; Event data is processed for the purpose of forming target groups for content and advertising information (Custom Audiences); Event data does not include the actual content (such as comments written), no login information and no contact information (i.e. no names, email addresses and phone numbers). Event data is deleted by Facebook after a maximum of two years, the target groups formed from them with the deletion of our Facebook account).
    • Special categories of personal data: Health data (Art. 9 (1) DGSVO).
    • Data subjects: Communication partners, users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
    • Purposes of processing: direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or postal mail), provision of contractual services and customer service, contact requests and communication.
    • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).
    • Option to object (opt-out): You can cancel the receipt of our newsletter at any time, i.e. revoke your consent or object to further receipt. You will find a link to cancel the newsletter either at the end of each newsletter or you can otherwise use one of the above contact options, preferably e-mail, for this purpose.

    Services used and service providers:

    Promotional communication via e-mail, mail, 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, mail or fax, in accordance with legal requirements.

    Recipients have the right to revoke consent given at any time or to object to promotional communications at any time.

    After revocation or objection, we may store the data required to prove consent for up to three years based on our legitimate interests before deleting it. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defense 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 partners.
    • Purposes of processing: direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or postal mail).
    • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

    Sweepstakes and contests

    We process personal data of participants of sweepstakes and contests only in compliance with the relevant data protection provisions, insofar as the processing is contractually necessary for the provision, implementation and execution of the sweepstakes, the participants have consented to the processing or the processing serves our legitimate interests (e.g., in the security of the sweepstakes or the protection of our interests against misuse through possible collection of IP addresses when submitting sweepstakes entries).

    If contributions from participants are published as part of the sweepstakes (e.g. as part of a vote or presentation of the sweepstakes entries or the winners or reporting on the sweepstakes), we would like to point out that the names of the participants may also be published in this context. The participants can object to this at any time.

    If the sweepstakes takes place within an online platform or a social network (e.g. Facebook or Instagram, hereinafter referred to as "online platform"), the usage and data protection provisions of the respective platforms shall additionally apply. In these cases, we would like to point out that we are responsible for the information provided by the participants as part of the sweepstakes and that inquiries with regard to the sweepstakes should be directed to us.

    The participants' data will be deleted as soon as the competition or contest has ended and the data is no longer required to inform the winners or because queries about the competition are to be expected. In principle, the participants' data will be deleted no later than 6 months after the end of the sweepstakes. Winners' data may be retained for longer in order, for example, to answer queries about the prizes or to be able to fulfill the prize services; in this case, the retention period depends on the type of prize and is up to three years for items or services, for example, in order to be able to process warranty claims. Furthermore, the participants' data may be stored for longer, e.g. in the form of reporting on the prize draw in online and offline media.

    If data was also collected for other purposes within the scope of the competition, its processing and the retention period will be governed by the data protection information on this use (e.g. in the case of registration for the newsletter within the scope of a competition).

    • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
    • Affected persons: Sweepstakes and contest participants.
    • Purposes of processing: implementation of sweepstakes and contests.
    • Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO).

    Surveys and polls

    The surveys and polls 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 aid 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 partners.
    • Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication, direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or postal mail).
    • 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 optimization

    Web analytics (also referred to as "reach measurement") is used to evaluate the flow of visitors to our online offering and may include behavior, interests or demographic information about visitors, such as age or gender, as pseudonymous values. With the help of reach analysis, we can recognize, for example, 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 require optimization.

    In addition to web analytics, we may also use testing procedures, for example, to test and optimize different versions of our online offering 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., pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. Generally, in the context of web analysis, A/B testing and optimization, no clear data of the users (such as e-mail addresses or names) are stored, 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 purposes of the respective procedures.

    Notes on legal bases: If 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.

    VG Wort / Scalable Central Measurement Procedure: We use "session cookies" from VG Wort, Munich, to measure access to texts in order to record the probability of copying. Session cookies are small units of information that a provider stores in the RAM of the visitor's computer. A randomly generated unique identification number, a so-called session ID, is stored in a session cookie. In addition, a cookie contains information about its origin and the storage period. Session cookies cannot store any other data. These measurements are carried out by Kantar Germany GmbH using the Scalable Central Measurement Method (SZM). They help to determine the copy probability of individual texts for the remuneration of legal claims of authors and publishers. We do not collect any personal data via cookies.

    Scalable Centralized Measurement collects anonymous measurement values. The access count measurement alternatively uses a session cookie or a signature created from various automatically transmitted information from your browser to recognize computer systems. IP addresses are only processed in anonymized form. The procedure was developed in compliance with data protection. The sole aim of the procedure is to determine the copying probability of individual texts. At no time are individual users identified. Your identity always remains protected. You will not receive any advertising via the system.

    • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. web pages visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
    • Data subjects: 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), A/B tests, feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form), heat maps (mouse movements on the part of users that are combined to form an overall picture).
    • Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization 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:

    Online marketing

    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., pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. In general, no clear data of the users (such as e-mail addresses or names) are stored in the context 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 analyzed 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 that you 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 summarized 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 contract being concluded with us. The conversion measurement is used solely to analyze the success of our marketing measures.

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

    Notes on legal bases: If 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 through within advertising services of Google and its partners, only to those users who have also shown an interest in our online offer 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 Remarketing Audiences, we also want to ensure that our ads correspond to the potential interest of users

    • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. web pages visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
    • Data subjects: 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).
    • Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization 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).
    • Possibility of objection (opt-out): We refer to the data protection notices of the respective providers and the objection options (so-called "opt-out") specified 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 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) Canada: https: //www.youradchoices.ca/choices. c) USA: https://www.aboutads.info/choices. d) Cross-territory: https://optout.aboutads.info.

    Services used and service providers:

    • Google Tag Manager: Google Tag Manager is a solution with which we can manage so-called website tags via an interface and thus integrate other services into our online offering (please refer to further information in this privacy policy). With the Tag Manager itself (which implements the tags), therefore, no profiles of users are created or cookies are stored, for example. Google only learns the IP address of the user, which is necessary to run the Google Tag Manager. Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; privacy policy: https: //policies.google.com/privacy.
    • Google Analytics: online marketing and web analytics; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://marketingplatform.google.com/intl/de/about/analytics/; privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; opt-out: Opt-Out Plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, Ad Display Settings: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
    • Targeting with Google Analytics:. Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https: //marketingplatform.google.com; privacy policy: https: //policies.google.com/privacy.
    • Google Ads and conversion measurement: We use the online marketing method "Google Ads" to place ads in the Google advertising network (e.g., in search results, in videos, on web pages, etc.) so that they are displayed to users who have a presumed interest in the ads. Furthermore, we measure the conversion of the ads. However, we only learn the anonymous total number of users who clicked on our ad and were redirected to a page tagged with a so-called "conversion tracking tag". However, we ourselves do not receive any information that can be used to identify users. Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https: //marketingplatform.google.com; privacy policy: https: //policies.google.com/privacy.
    • Google Ad Manager: We use the "Google Marketing Platform" (and services such as "Google Ad Manager") to place ads in the Google advertising network (e.g., in search results, in videos, on web pages, etc.). The Google Marketing Platform is characterized by the fact that ads are displayed in real time based on presumed user interests. This allows us to display ads for and within our online offering in a more targeted manner in order to present users only with ads that potentially match their interests. For example, if a user is shown ads for products they were interested in on other online offerings, this is referred to as "remarketing." Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https: //marketingplatform.google.com; privacy policy: https: //policies.google.com/privacy.
    • Google Adsense with personalized ads: We use the service Google Adsense with personalized ads, with the help of which ads are displayed within our online offer and we receive remuneration for their display or other use. ; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https: //marketingplatform.google.com; privacy policy: https: //policies.google.com/privacy.
    • Google Adsense with non-personalized ads: We use the service Google Adsense with non-personalized ads, with the help of which ads are displayed within our online offer and we receive remuneration for their display or other use. ; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https: //marketingplatform.google.com; privacy policy: https: //policies.google.com/privacy.
    • ADEX: Online marketing service; Service provider: Sovendus GmbH, Moltkestr. 11, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany; website: https://www.theadex.com; privacy policy: https: //www.theadex.com/privacy-opt-out/; opt-out: https: //www.theadex.com/privacy-opt-out/.
    • Criteo: Criteo; Service provider: Criteo GmbH, Gewürzmühlstr. 11, 80538 Munich, Germany; website: https://www.criteo.com/de; privacy policy: https: //www.criteo.com/de/privacy/; opt-out: https: //www.criteo.com/privacy/.
    • Echobox: We use Echobox for Publisher to connect our Google Analytics and Facebook Fanpage accounts to Echobox's app, analyze and evaluate the information; service provider: Echobox, 107 Cheapside, London, EC2V 6DN, UK; website: https://www.echobox.com; privacy policy: https: //www.echobox.com/privacy.
    • LinkedIn: Insights Tag / Conversion Measurement; Service Provider: LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Website: https://www.linkedin.com; Privacy policy: https: //www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy, Cookie policy: https: //www.linkedin.com/legal/cookie_policy; Opt-out: https: //www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.
    • Microsoft Advertising: Remarketing / Conversion Measurement; Service Provider: Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399, USA; Website: https://about.ads.microsoft.com/; Privacy policy: https: //privacy.microsoft.com/de-de/privacystatement; Opt-out: https: //choice.microsoft.com/de-DE/opt-out.
    • Twitter: Twitter Marketing and Ads; Service Provider: Twitter International Company, One Cumberland Place, Fenian Street, Dublin 2 D02 AX07, Ireland; parent company: Twitter Inc., 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA; Website: https://twitter.com/de; Privacy policy: https: //www.facebook.com/about/privacy; Opt-out: https: //twitter.com/personalization.

    Affiliate programs and affiliate links

    We include so-called affiliate links or other references (which may include, for example, search masks, widgets or discount codes) to the offers and services of third-party providers in our online offer (collectively referred to as "affiliate links"). If users follow the Affiliate Links or subsequently take advantage of the offers, we may receive a commission or other benefits from those third parties (collectively, "Commission").

    In order to be able to track whether users have taken advantage of the offers of an affiliate link used by us, it is necessary that the respective third-party providers learn that users have followed an affiliate link used within our online offer. The assignment of the affiliate links to the respective business transactions or to other actions (e.g. purchases) serves the sole purpose of commission accounting and will be 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 operators 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 has been 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), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history).
    • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services), customers.
    • Purposes of processing: affiliate tracking, provision of contractual services and customer service.
    • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Contract performance and pre-contractual requests (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:

    Rating platforms

    We participate in rating procedures in order to evaluate, optimize and promote our services. When users rate us or otherwise provide feedback via the participating rating platforms or procedures, the General Terms and Conditions of Business or Use and the privacy notices of the providers also apply. As a rule, the evaluation also requires registration with the respective providers.

    In order to ensure that the persons rating have actually used our services, we transmit, with the consent of the customers, the data required for this purpose with regard to the customer and the service used to the respective rating platform (including name, e-mail address and order number or item number). This data is used solely to verify the authenticity of the user.

    Rating widget: We integrate so-called "rating widgets" into our online offer. A widget is a functional and content element integrated into our online offer that displays variable information. It can be displayed, for example, in the form of a seal or comparable element, sometimes also called a "badge". In this case, the corresponding content of the widget is displayed within our online offer, but it is retrieved at that moment from the servers of the respective widget provider. This is the only way to always show the current content, especially the current rating. For this purpose, a data connection must be established from the website called up within our online offer to the server of the widget provider and the widget provider receives certain technical data (access data, including IP address), which are necessary so that the content of the widget can be delivered to the user's browser.

    Furthermore, the widget provider receives information that users have visited our online offer. This information can be stored in a cookie and used by the widget provider to recognize which online offers that participate in the evaluation process have been visited by the user. The information may be stored in a user profile and used for advertising or market research purposes.

    • 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), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
    • Data subjects: Customers, users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
    • Purposes of processing: feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form), marketing.
    • 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:

    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, the enforcement of the users' rights could be made more difficult.

    Furthermore, user data is usually processed within social networks for market research and advertising purposes. For example, usage profiles can be created based on the usage behavior 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 behavior and 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 privacy statements 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 the collection (but not further processing) of 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 Data 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 with 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 regulates in particular which security measures Facebook must observe and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfill the data subject rights (i.e., users can, for example, direct information or deletion requests 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).
    • Data subjects: 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, since without the IP address they could not send the content to their browser. The IP address is thus required for the presentation of this content or function. We strive to use only such content whose respective providers use the IP address only for the delivery of 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 analyze information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website. The pseudonymous information may also be stored in cookies on the user's device and may contain, among other things, technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, time of visit and other information about the use of our online offer as well as be linked to such information from other sources.

    Notes on legal bases: If 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.

    Facebook Plugins and Content: We are jointly responsible with Facebook Ireland Ltd. for collecting or receiving in the course of a transmission (but not further processing) "Event Data" that Facebook collects or receives in the course of a transmission by means of the Facebook social plugins (and content embedding features) running on our Online Service for the purposes of: a) displaying content as well as promotional information that is relevant to users' presumed interests; b) delivering commercial and transactional messages (e.g. e.g., targeting users via Facebook Messenger); c) improving ad delivery and personalization of features and content (e.g., improving the detection of which content or advertising information presumably matches users' interests). We have entered into a special agreement with Facebook ("Addendum for Responsible Parties", https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum), which regulates in particular which security measures Facebook must observe(https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfill data subject rights (i.e., users can, for example, provide information or make deletion requests directly to Facebook). Note: When Facebook provides us with metrics, analytics, and reports (which are aggregated, i.e., do not receive information about individual users and are anonymous to us), this processing is not done under shared responsibility, but rather under a data processing contract ("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.

    Instagram plugins and content: We are jointly responsible with Facebook Ireland Ltd. for collecting or receiving in the course of a transmission (but not further processing) "Event Data" that Facebook collects or receives in the course of a transmission through Instagram features (e.g., content embedding features) running on our Online Service for the purposes of: a) displaying content as well as promotional information that matches users' presumed interests; b) delivering commercial and transactional messages (e.g. e.g., targeting users via Facebook Messenger); c) improving ad delivery and personalization of features and content (e.g., improving the detection of which content or advertising information presumably matches users' interests). We have entered into a special agreement with Facebook ("Addendum for Responsible Parties", https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum), which regulates in particular which security measures Facebook must observe(https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfill data subject rights (i.e., users can, for example, provide information or make deletion requests directly to Facebook). Note: When Facebook provides us with metrics, analytics, and reports (which are aggregated, i.e., do not receive information about individual users and are anonymous to us), this processing is not done under shared responsibility, but rather under a data processing contract ("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.

    • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), contact data (e.g. email, phone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), event data (Facebook) ("event data" is data that can be transmitted, e.g. via Facebook Pixel (via apps or other ways), by us to Facebook and relates to individuals or their actions; the data includes e.g... For example, information about visits to websites, interactions with content, functions, installations of apps, purchases of products, etc.; Event data is processed for the purpose of forming target groups for content and advertising information (Custom Audiences); Event data does not include the actual content (such as comments written), no login information and no contact information (i.e. no names, email addresses and phone numbers). Event data is 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).
    • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
    • Purposes of processing: provision of our online offer and user experience, feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form), provision of contractual services and customer service, profiling with user-related information (creating user profiles), marketing.
    • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO), contract performance and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO).

    Services used and service providers:

    • AddThis: AddThis - social network content sharing features, AddThis uses users' personal information to provide and perform sharing features. In addition, AddThis may use users' pseudonymous information for marketing purposes. ; Service Provider: AddThis, 1595 Spring Hill Rd Suite 300 Vienna, VA 22182, USA; website: https://www.addthis.com; privacy policy: https: //www.addthis.com/privacy; opt-out: https: //www.addthis.com/privacy/opt-out.
    • Facebook plugins and content: Facebook Social Plugins and Content - This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or text and buttons that allow users to share content from this online offering within Facebook. The list and appearance of Facebook social plugins can be viewed here: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/; Service provider: Facebook Ireland Ltd, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; parent company: Facebook, 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy policy: https: //www.facebook.com/about/privacy; Opt-out: Ads settings: https: //www.facebook.com/adpreferences/ad_settings (login to Facebook is required).
    • Font Awesome: Representation of fonts and symbols; service provider: Fonticons, Inc. ,6 Porter Road Apartment 3R, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA; Website: https://fontawesome.com/; Privacy Policy: https: //fontawesome.com/privacy.
    • Giphy: Embedded plugins and content - This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or text and buttons; Service provider: Giphy, Inc., 416 West 13th Street, Suite 207 New York, NY 10014, USA; Website: https://giphy.com; Privacy Policy: https: //support.giphy.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032872931.
    • Google Fonts: We integrate the fonts ("Google Fonts") of the provider Google, whereby the user data is used solely for the purpose of displaying the fonts in the user's browser. The integration is based on our legitimate interests in a technically secure, maintenance-free and efficient use of fonts, their uniform display and taking into account possible licensing restrictions for their integration. Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://fonts.google.com/; privacy policy: https: //policies.google.com/privacy.
    • Google Maps: We integrate the maps of the service "Google Maps" of the provider Google. The data processed may include, in particular, IP addresses and location data of the users, which, however, are not collected without their consent (usually executed as part of the settings of their mobile devices); service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform; privacy policy: https: //policies.google.com/privacy; opt-out: Opt-Out-Plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, Settings for the display of advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
    • Content from Getty Images: Integration of Getty Images images; Service provider: Getty Images, Inc, 605 5th Avenue South, Suite 400, Seattle, Washington 98104, USA; website: https://www.gettyimages.de; privacy policy: https: //www.gettyimages.de/company/privacy-policy.
    • Instagram Plugins and Content: Instagram Plugins and Content - This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or text and buttons that allow users to share content from this online offering within Instagram. Service provider: https://www.instagram.com, Instagram Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA; Website: https://www.instagram.com; Privacy policy: https: //instagram.com/about/legal/privacy.
    • LinkedIn plugins and content: LinkedIn Plugins and Content- This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or text and buttons that allow users to share content from this online offering within LinkedIn. Service Provider: LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland; Website: https://www.linkedin.com; Privacy policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy; Opt-out: https: //www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.
    • MyFonts: Fonts; data processed as part of font retrieval the web font project identification number (anonymized), the URL of the licensed website associated with a customer number to identify the licensee and the licensed web fonts, and the referrer URL; the anonymized web font project identification number is stored in encrypted log files with such data for 30 days to determine the monthly number of page views; after such extraction and storage of the number of page views, the log files are deleted; Service Provider: Monotype Imaging Holdings Inc, 600 Unicorn Park Drive, Woburn, Massachusetts 01801, USA; Website: https://www.myfonts.co; Privacy Policy: https: //www.myfonts.com/info/legal/#Privacy.
    • OpenStreetMap: We incorporate the maps of the service "OpenStreetMap", which are offered on the basis of the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL) by the OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF). User data is used by OpenStreetMap solely for the purposes of displaying the map functions and for caching the selected settings. This data may include, in particular, IP addresses and location data of the users, which, however, are not collected without their consent (usually executed within the settings of their mobile devices). Service Provider: OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF); website: https://www.openstreetmap.de; privacy policy: https: //wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Privacy_Policy.
    • Pinterest Plugins and Content: Pinterest Plugins and Content - This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or text and buttons that allow users to share content from this online offering within Pinterest. Service provider: Pinterest Inc, 635 High Street, Palo Alto, CA, 94301, USA,; Website: https://www.pinterest.com; Privacy Policy: https: //about.pinterest.com/de/privacy-policy.
    • Shariff: We use the privacy-safe "Shariff" buttons. "Shariff" was developed to allow more privacy on the net and to replace the usual "share" buttons of social networks. In this case, it is not the user's browser that establishes a connection with the server of the respective social media platforms, but the server on which this online offer is located, and queries the number of likes, for example. The user remains anonymous. More information about the Shariff project can be found at the developers of the magazine c 't: https://www.heise.de/ct/artikel/Shariff-Social-Media-Buttons-mit-Datenschutz-2467514.html; Service provider: Heise Medien GmbH & Co. KG, Karl-Wiechert-Allee 10, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Website: https://www.heise.de/ct/artikel/Shariff-Social-Media-Buttons-mit-Datenschutz-2467514.html; Privacy policy: https: //www.heise.de/Datenschutzerklaerung-der-Heise-Medien-GmbH-Co-KG-4860.html.
    • SlideShare Presentations: Integration of SlideShare presentations; service provider: LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland; website: https://www.linkedin.com; privacy policy: https: //www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.
    • Soundcloud Music Player Widget: Soundcloud Music Player Widget; Service Provider: SoundCloud Limited, Rheinsberger Str. 76/77, 10115 Berlin, Germany; website: https://soundcloud.com; privacy policy: https: //soundcloud.com/pages/privacy.
    • Spotify Music Player Widget: Spotify Music Player Widget; Service Provider: Spotify AB, Regeringsgatan 19, SE-111 53 Stockholm, Sweden; website: https://www.spotify.com/de; privacy policy: https: //www.spotify.com/de/legal/privacy-policy/.
    • TikTok Plugins and Content: TikTok plugins and content - This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or text and buttons. Service Provider: musical.ly Inc, 10351 Santa Monica Blvd #310, Los Angeles, CA 90025 USA; Website: https://www.tiktok.com; Privacy Policy: https: //www.tiktok.com/de/privacy-policy.
    • Twitter plugins and content: Twitter plugins and buttons - This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or text and buttons that allow users to share content from this online offering within Twitter. Service provider: Twitter International Company, One Cumberland Place, Fenian Street, Dublin 2 D02 AX07, Ireland, Parent Company: Twitter Inc, 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA; Website: https://twitter.com/de; Privacy policy: https: //twitter.com/de/privacy.
    • Typekit fonts from Adobe: We integrate the fonts ("Typekit fonts") of the provider Adobe, whereby the user data is used solely for the purpose of displaying the fonts in the user's browser. The integration is based on our legitimate interests in a technically secure, maintenance-free and efficient use of fonts, their uniform display, as well as taking into account possible licensing restrictions for their integration. Service Provider: Adobe Systems Software Ireland Limited, 4-6 Riverwalk, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24, Ireland; Website: https://www.adobe.com/de; Privacy Policy: https: //www.adobe.com/de/privacy.html.
    • YouTube videos: Video content; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://www.youtube.com; privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; opt-out: Opt-Out Plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, Ad Display Settings: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
    • YouTube videos: Video content; YouTube is integrated via the domain https://www.youtube-nocookie.com in the so-called "Enhanced Privacy Mode", whereby no cookies on user activities are collected in order to personalize video playback. Nevertheless, information on user interaction with the video (e.g. remembering the last playback point), may be stored; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://www.youtube.com; privacy policy: https: //policies.google.com/privacy.
    • Xing Plugins and Buttons: Xing Plugins and Buttons - This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or text and buttons that allow users to share content from this online offering within Xing. Service provider: XING AG, Dammtorstraße 29-32, 20354 Hamburg, Germany; Website: https://www.xing.com; Privacy policy: https: //privacy.xing.com/de/datenschutzerklaerung.
    • Vimeo: Video content; Service provider: Vimeo Inc, Attention: Legal Department, 555 West 18th Street New York, New York 10011, USA; Website: https: //vimeo.com; Privacy Policy: https: //vimeo.com/privacy; Opt-Out: We point out that Vimeo may use Google Analytics and refer to the privacy policy(https://policies.google.com/privacy) as well as the opt-out options for Google Analytics(https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de) or Google's settings for data use for marketing purposes(https://adssettings.google.com/).

    Management, organization and auxiliary tools

    We use services, platforms and software from other providers (hereinafter referred to as "third-party providers") for the purposes of organizing, managing, planning and providing our services. When selecting 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 optimization 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 has been 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).
    • Data subjects: Communication partners, users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
    • Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication, office and organizational procedures.
    • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Contract performance and pre-contractual requests (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:

    Modification and update of the privacy policy

    We ask you to regularly inform yourself about the content of our privacy policy. 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.

    If we provide addresses and contact information of companies and organizations in this privacy statement, please note that the addresses may change over time and please 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 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 is processed for the purposes of direct marketing, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purposes 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 obtain information about this data, as well as 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, or to request that it be transferred to another controller, in accordance with the law.
    • Complaint to supervisory authority: Without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work or place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data relating to you infringes the requirements of the GDPR.

    Supervisory authority responsible for us:

    The State Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information of Hesse

    Prof. Dr. Alexander Roßnagel
    PO Box 3163
    65021 Wiesbaden

    or:

    Gustav-Stresemann-Ring 1
    65189 Wiesbaden

    Phone: 0611/1408-0

    E-mail: poststelle@datenschutz.hessen.de

    Homepage: https://datenschutz.hessen.de/

    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 defined primarily in Art. 4 of the GDPR. The legal definitions are binding. The following explanations, on the other hand, are primarily intended to aid understanding. The terms are sorted alphabetically.

    • A/B tests: A/B tests are used to improve the usability and performance of online offerings. 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 may differ. Then, based on the users' behavior, e.g., staying longer on the web page or interacting more frequently with the elements, it can be determined which of these web pages or elements are more likely to meet the users' needs.
    • Affiliate tracking: Affiliate tracking logs links that the linking websites use to direct users to websites with product or other offers. The operators of the respective linking websites may 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 with 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, e.g., ad media ID, affiliate ID and categorizations.
    • Content Delivery Network (CDN): A "Content Delivery Network" (CDN) is a service that can be used to deliver the content of an online offering, in particular large media files such as graphics or program scripts, more quickly and securely with the help of regionally distributed servers connected via the Internet.
    • Heatmaps: "Heatmaps" are mouse movements of the users, which are summarized to an overall picture, with the help of which e.g. can be recognized, which web page elements are preferentially accessed and which web page elements users prefer less.
    • IP masking: "IP masking" refers to a method in which the last octet, i.e., the last two numbers of an IP address, is deleted so that the IP address can no longer be used to uniquely identify a person. Therefore, IP masking is a means of pseudonymizing processing procedures, especially in online marketing
    • Conversion measurement: Conversion measurement (also known as "visit action evaluation") is a method used to determine the effectiveness of marketing measures. For this purpose, a cookie is usually stored on the users' 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 such personal data to analyze, evaluate or to predict certain personal aspects relating to a natural person (depending on the type of profiling, this may include different information concerning 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 visitors' behavior or interests 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 recognize 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, a note is made of 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: a "controller" is the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which alone or jointly with others determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data.
    • Processing: "Processing" means any operation or set of operations which is performed upon personal data, whether or not by automatic means. The term is broad and includes virtually any handling of data, be it collection, analysis, storage, transmission or deletion.
    • Target group formation: We speak of target group formation (or "custom audiences") when target groups are determined for advertising purposes, e.g., insertion of advertisements. For example, based on a user's interest in certain products or topics on the Internet, it can be concluded that this user is interested in advertisements for similar products or the online store where the user 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 formed. Cookies and web beacons are generally used for the purpose of creating Custom Audiences and Lookalike Audiences.