The protection of your personal data and thereby your privacy are very important to us. With the following data protection declaration we would like to inform you about which types of your personal data (hereinafter also referred to as “data”) we process, for what purposes and to what extent.

Last updated: April 2024

Legal basis

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

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

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

Security measures

We take appropriate technical and organizational measures in accordance with the legal requirements, taking into account the state of the art, the implementation costs and the type, 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 to ensure a level of protection appropriate to the risk.

The measures include, in particular, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data by controlling physical and electronic access to the data as well as the access, input, disclosure, ensuring availability and its separation. We have also set up procedures to ensure that the rights of those affected are exercised, data are deleted and responses are made to data threats. We also take the protection of personal data into account when developing or selecting hardware, software and procedures in accordance with the principle of data protection, through technology design and through data protection-friendly default settings.

Transfer of personal data

As part of our processing of personal data, the data may be transmitted 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 observe the legal requirements and, in particular, conclude appropriate contracts or agreements with the recipients of your data that serve to protect your data.

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 in the context of using third-party services or disclosing or transmitting data to other people, bodies or companies takes place, this only takes place in accordance with the legal requirements.

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

Deletion of data

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

Our data protection information may also contain further information on the storage and deletion of data, which applies primarily to the respective processing.

Cookies

Cookies are small text files or other storage notes that store information on end devices and read information from the end devices. For example, to save the login status in a user account, the contents of a shopping cart in an e-shop, the content accessed or the functions used of an online offer. Cookies can also be used for various purposes, e.g. for the purposes of the functionality, security and comfort of online offerings as well as the creation of analyzes of visitor flows.

Information on consent: We use cookies in accordance with legal regulations. We therefore obtain prior consent from users, unless this is not required by law. In particular, consent is not necessary if the storage and reading of the information, including cookies, is absolutely necessary in order to provide users with a telemedia service they have expressly requested (i.e. our online offering). Strictly necessary cookies generally include cookies with functions related to the display and operability of the online offering, load balancing, security, storage of users' preferences and choices or similar to the provision of the main and secondary functions of those requested by users purposes related to the online offering. The revocable consent is clearly communicated to the users and contains information on the respective cookie use.

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

Storage period: With regard to the storage period, a distinction is made between the following types of cookies:

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

General information on revocation and objection (opt-out): Users can revoke the consent they have given at any time and can also object to the processing in accordance with the legal requirements in Art. 21 GDPR. Users can also declare their objection via their browser settings, e.g. by deactivating the use of cookies (which may also limit the functionality of our online services).

Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Consent (Art. 6 Para. 1 Sentence 1 Letter a) GDPR).

Further information on processing processes, procedures and services

Processing of cookie data on the basis of consent: We use a cookie consent management process, in which users consent to the use of cookies or the processing mentioned within the cookie consent management process and providers can be obtained and managed and revoked by users. The declaration of consent is saved so that it does not have to be asked again and to be able to prove 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 using comparable technologies) in order to be able to assign the consent to a user or their device. Subject to individual information about the providers of cookie management services, the following information applies: The duration of the storage of consent can be up to two years. Here, a pseudonymous user identifier is created and stored with the time of consent, information about the scope of the consent (e.g. which categories of cookies and/or service providers) as well as the browser, system and device used; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Para. 1 Sentence 1 Letter a) GDPR).

Provision of services and web hosting

We process users' data in order to be able to provide them with our online services. For this purpose, we process the user's IP address, which is necessary to transmit the content and functions of our online services to the user's browser or device.

• Processed data: usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta, communication and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, times, identification numbers, consent status).
• Affected: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of processing: Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness; Information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical devices (computers, servers, etc.); Provision of contractual services and customer service.
• Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing processes, procedures and services

Provision of online offerings on rented storage space: To provide our online offerings, we use storage space, computing capacity and software that we rent or otherwise obtain from a corresponding server provider (also called a “web host”); Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f) GDPR).
1&1 IONOS: Services in the field of providing information technology infrastructure and related services (e.g. storage space and/or computing capacity); Service provider: 1&1 IONOS SE, Elgendorfer Str. 57, 56410 Montabaur, Germany; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.ionos.de; Privacy policy: https://www.ionos.de/terms-gtc/terms-privacy; Data processing contract: https://www.ionos.de/hilfe/datenschutz/generale-information-zur-datenschutz-grundverfassung-dsgvo/auftragsverarbeitung

Web analysis, monitoring and optimization

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

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

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

The users’ IP addresses are also stored. However, we use an IP masking process (i.e. pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. In general, as part of web analysis, A/B testing and optimization, no clear user data (such as email addresses or names) is stored, but rather pseudonyms. This means that we and the providers of the software used do not know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles for the purposes of the respective procedures.

• Processed data: usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta, communication and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, times, identification numbers, consent status).
• Affected: 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 (creating user profiles); Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.
• Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).
• Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Para. 1 Sentence 1 Letter a) GDPR).

Further information on processing processes, procedures and services

Google Analytics 4: We use Google Analytics to measure and analyze the use of our online offering based on a pseudonymous user identification number. This identification number does not contain any unique data such as names or email addresses. It is used to assign analysis information to a device in order to identify which content users have accessed within one or different usage processes, which search terms they have used, which they have accessed again or which have interacted with our online offering. The time of use and its duration are also stored, as are the sources of the users who refer to our online offering and technical aspects of their devices and browsers. Pseudonymous profiles of users are created with information from the use of various devices, whereby cookies can be used. Analytics provides higher-level geolocation data by collecting the following metadata from IP lookup: City (and the city's derived latitude and longitude), Continent, Country, Region , “subcontinent” (and the ID-based equivalents). To ensure the protection of user data in the EU, Google receives and processes all user data via domains and servers within the EU. The user's IP address is not logged and is shortened by the last two digits by default. The shortening of the IP address takes place on EU servers for EU users. Additionally, all sensitive data collected from users in the EU will be deleted before it is collected across EU domains and servers; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Para. 1 Sentence 1 Letter a) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com/intl/de/about/analytics; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Data processing agreement: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Standard contractual clauses (guaranteeing the level of data protection when processing in third countries): https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Option to object (opt-out): Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, settings for the display of advertising: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated; Further information: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices (types of processing and data processed).

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 (refer to further information in this data protection declaration). The Tag Manager itself (which implements the tags) is therefore used, for example: For example, user profiles have not yet been created or cookies have been stored. Google only learns the user's IP address, which is necessary to run Google Tag Manager; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Para. 1 Sentence 1 Letter a) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Data processing agreement: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Standard contractual clauses (guaranteeing the level of data protection when processing in third countries): https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms.

Plugins and embedded functions and content

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

The integration always requires that the third party providers of this content process the users' IP address, as without the IP address they would not be able to send the content to their browser. The IP address is therefore required to display this content or functions. We strive to only use content whose respective providers only use the IP address to deliver the content. Third parties 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 evaluate information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website. The pseudonymous information can also be stored in cookies on the user's device and may contain, among other things, technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, time of visit and other information about the use of our online offering, as well as being linked to such information from other sources.

• Types of data processed: usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta, communication and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, times, identification numbers, consent status).
• Affected: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of processing: Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.
• Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Amendments and updates to this data protection declaration

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

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

Your rights under GDPR

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

• Right to object: You have the right, for reasons arising from your particular situation, to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you, which is carried out on the basis of Article 6 (1) (e) or (f) of the GDPR; This also applies to profiling based on these provisions. If your personal data is processed for the purpose of direct advertising, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of your personal data for the purpose of such advertising; This also applies to profiling insofar as it is connected to such direct advertising.
• Right to revoke consent: You have the right to revoke your consent at any time.
• Right to information: You have the right to request confirmation as to whether the data in question is being processed and to receive information about this data as well as further information and a copy of the data in accordance with legal requirements.
• Right to rectification: In accordance with legal requirements, you have the right to request that the data concerning you be completed or that incorrect data concerning you be corrected.
• Right to deletion and restriction of processing: In accordance with the legal requirements, you have the right to demand that data concerning you be deleted immediately or, alternatively, to request that the processing of the data be restricted in accordance with the legal requirements.
• Right to data portability: You have the right to receive data concerning you that you have provided to us in a structured, common and machine-readable format in accordance with the legal requirements or to request that it be transmitted to another person responsible.
• Complaint to a 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, your place of work or the place of the alleged infringement, if you are of the opinion that the processing of your data personal data concerned violates the requirements of the GDPR.