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Privacy policy

Preamble

With the following privacy policy, we would like to inform you about what types of your personal data (hereinafter also referred to as “data”) we process, for what purposes and to what extent. The privacy policy applies to all processing of personal data carried out by us, both in the context of the provision of our services and in particular on our websites, in mobile applications and within external online presences, such as our social media profiles (hereinafter collectively referred to as “online offer”).

The terms used are not gender-specific.

Status: October 21, 2024

Table of contents

Person responsible

Information Security Experts GmbH
Am Moosfeld 13
81829 Munich

Persons authorized to represent the company: Timo Lang

E-mail address: Info@InfoSec-X.com

Phone: +49 151 1447 9046

Imprint: https://infosec-x.com/impressum/

Overview of processing

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

Types of data processed

  • Inventory data.
  • Employee data.
  • Payment data.
  • Location data.
  • Contact data.
  • Content data.
  • Contract data.
  • Usage data.
  • Meta, communication and process data.
  • Social data.
  • Image and/or video recordings.
  • Sound recordings.
  • Log data.
  • Performance and behavior data.
  • Working time data.
  • Creditworthiness data.
  • Salary data.

Special categories of data

  • Health data.
  • Religious or ideological beliefs.
  • Trade union membership.

Categories of affected persons

  • Beneficiaries and clients.
  • Employees.
  • Interested parties.
  • Communication partners.
  • Users.
  • Business and contractual partners.
  • Clients.
  • Persons depicted.
  • Third parties.
  • Customers.

Purposes of the processing

  • Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations.
  • Communication.
  • Security measures.
  • Direct marketing.
  • Reach measurement.
  • tracking.
  • Office and organizational procedures.
  • Conversion measurement.
  • Click tracking.
  • Target group formation.
  • Organizational and administrative procedures.
  • Feedback.
  • Marketing.
  • Profiles with user-related information.
  • Provision of our online offer and user-friendliness.
  • Assessment of creditworthiness and credit standing.
  • Establishment and implementation of employment relationships.
  • Information technology infrastructure.
  • Financial and payment management.
  • Public relations.
  • Sales promotion.
  • Business processes and business management procedures.
  • Artificial intelligence (AI).

Automated decisions in individual cases

  • Credit report.

Relevant legal bases

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

  • Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR) – The data subject has given their consent to the processing of their personal data for one or more specific purposes.
  • Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract.
  • Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.
  • Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR) – processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data.
  • Processing of special categories of personal data relating to health care, employment and social security (Art. 9 para. 2 lit. h) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the purposes of preventive or occupational medicine, for the assessment of the working capacity of the employee, for medical diagnosis, the provision of health or social care or treatment or for the management of health or social care systems and services on the basis of Union or Member State law or on the basis of a contract with a health professional.

National data protection regulations in Germany: In addition to the data protection regulations of the GDPR, national data protection regulations apply in Germany. These include, in particular, the Act on the Protection against Misuse of Personal Data in Data Processing (Federal Data Protection Act – BDSG). In particular, the BDSG contains special regulations on the right to information, the right to erasure, the right to object, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes and transmission as well as automated decision-making in individual cases, including profiling. The data protection laws of the individual federal states may also apply.

Relevant legal bases under the Swiss Data Protection Act: If you are located in Switzerland, we process your data on the basis of the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (“Swiss FADP” for short). Unlike the GDPR, for example, the Swiss FADP does not generally require that a legal basis for the processing of personal data be specified and that the processing of personal data be carried out in good faith, lawfully and proportionately (Art. 6 para. 1 and 2 of the Swiss FADP). In addition, personal data will only be obtained by us for a specific purpose that is recognizable to the data subject and will only be processed in a manner that is compatible with this purpose (Art. 6 para. 3 of the Swiss FADP).

Note on the applicability of the GDPR and Swiss FADP: This data protection notice serves to provide information in accordance with both the Swiss FADP and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). For this reason, please note that the terms of the GDPR are used due to the broader geographical application and comprehensibility. In particular, instead of the terms “processing” of “personal data”, “overriding interest” and “sensitive personal data” used in the Swiss DPA, the terms “processing” of “personal data”, “legitimate interest” and “special categories of data” used in the GDPR are used. However, the legal meaning of the terms will continue to be determined in accordance with the Swiss DPA within the scope of application of the Swiss DPA.

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 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, in order to ensure a level of protection appropriate to the risk.

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, disclosure, safeguarding of availability and its separation. Furthermore, we have established procedures that ensure the exercise of data subject rights, the deletion of data and responses to data threats. Furthermore, we already take the protection of personal data into account during 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.

Securing online connections using TLS/SSL encryption technology (HTTPS): To protect user data transmitted via our online services from unauthorized access, we use TLS/SSL encryption technology. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) are the cornerstones of secure data transmission on the Internet. These technologies encrypt the information transmitted between the website or app and the user’s browser (or between two servers), protecting the data from unauthorized access. TLS, as the more advanced and secure version of SSL, ensures that all data transmissions meet the highest security standards. If a website is secured by an SSL/TLS certificate, this is signaled by the display of HTTPS in the URL. This serves as an indicator to users that their data is being transmitted securely and encrypted.

General information on data storage and deletion

We delete personal data that we process in accordance with the statutory provisions as soon as the underlying consents are revoked or there is no further legal basis for the processing. This applies to cases in which the original purpose of processing no longer applies or the data is no longer required. Exceptions to this rule exist if legal obligations or special interests require longer storage or archiving of the data.

In particular, data that must be stored for commercial or tax law reasons or whose storage is necessary for legal prosecution or to protect the rights of other natural or legal persons must be archived accordingly.

Our data protection information contains additional information on the retention and deletion of data that applies specifically to certain processing operations.

If there is more than one information on the retention period or deletion period of a date, the longest period is always decisive.

If a period does not expressly begin on a specific date and is at least one year, it shall automatically start at the end of the calendar year in which the event triggering the period occurred. In the case of ongoing contractual relationships in the context of which data is stored, the event triggering the deadline is the date on which the termination or other termination of the legal relationship takes effect.

We only process data that is no longer stored for the originally intended purpose, but due to legal requirements or other reasons, for the reasons that justify its storage.

Further information on processing processes, procedures and services:

  • Retention and deletion of data: The following general time limits apply to retention and archiving under German law:
    • 10 years – Retention period for books and records, annual financial statements, inventories, management reports, opening balance sheet as well as the work instructions and other organizational documents, accounting documents and invoices required for their understanding (§ 147 para. 3 in conjunction with para. 1 no. 1, 4 and 4a AO, § 14b para. 1 UStG, § 257 para. 1 no. 1 and 4, para. 4 HGB).
    • 6 years – Other business documents: commercial or business letters received, reproductions of commercial or business letters sent, other documents insofar as they are of significance for taxation, e.g. Hourly wage slips, company accounting sheets, calculation documents, price markings, but also payroll accounting documents, insofar as they are not already accounting documents and cash register strips (§ 147 para. 3 in conjunction with para. 1 no. 2, 3, 5 AO, § 257 para. 1 no. 2 and 3, para. 4 HGB).
    • 3 years – Data required to consider potential warranty and compensation claims or similar contractual claims and rights and to process related inquiries based on past business experience and standard industry practices will be stored for the duration of the regular statutory limitation period of three years (§§ 195, 199 BGB).

Rights of the data subjects

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

  • Right to object: You have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, at any time to processing of personal data concerning you which is based on point (e) or (f) of Article 6(1) GDPR, including profiling based on those provisions. If the personal data concerning you are processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for such marketing, which includes profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing.
  • Right to withdraw consent: You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
  • Right of access: You have the right to obtain confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning you is being processed and to obtain information about this data and further information and a copy of the data in accordance with the legal requirements.
  • Right to rectification: In accordance with the statutory provisions, you have the right to request the completion of data concerning you or the rectification of inaccurate data concerning you.
  • Right to erasure and restriction of processing: In accordance with the statutory provisions, you have the right to demand that data concerning you be erased immediately or, alternatively, to demand that the processing of the data be restricted in accordance with the statutory provisions.
  • Right to data portability: You have the right to receive the data concerning you, which you have provided to us, in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format in accordance with the legal requirements or to request its transmission to another controller.
  • Complaint to a supervisory authority: In accordance with the statutory provisions and without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority, in particular a supervisory authority in the Member State in which you are habitually resident, the supervisory authority of your place of work or the place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data relating to you infringes the GDPR.

Business services

We process data of our contractual and business partners, e.g. customers and interested parties (collectively referred to as “contractual partners”), in the context of contractual and comparable legal relationships and related measures and with regard to communication with the contractual partners (or pre-contractual), for example to respond to inquiries.

We use this data to fulfill our contractual obligations. These include, in particular, the obligations to provide the agreed services, any updating obligations and remedies in the event of warranty and other service disruptions. In addition, we use the data to safeguard our rights and for the purpose of the administrative tasks associated with these obligations and the company organization. We also process the data on the basis of our legitimate interests both in the proper and efficient management of our business and in security measures to protect our contractual partners and our business operations from misuse, threats to their data, secrets, information and rights (e.g. to involve telecommunications, transport and other auxiliary services as well as subcontractors, banks, tax and legal advisors, payment service providers or tax authorities). Within the framework of applicable law, we only pass on the data of contractual partners to third parties to the extent that this is necessary for the aforementioned purposes or to fulfill legal obligations. Contractual partners will be informed about other forms of processing, such as for marketing purposes, as part of this privacy policy.

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

We delete the data after the expiry of statutory warranty and comparable obligations, i.e. generally after four 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, generally ten years). We delete data disclosed to us by the contractual partner as part of an order in accordance with the specifications and generally after the end of the order.

  • Processed data types: inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); contact data (e.g. postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); contract data (e.g. subject matter of contract, term, customer category). Employee data (information on employees and other persons in an employment relationship).
  • Affected persons: Service recipients and clients; interested parties; business and contractual partners. Employees (e.g. employees, applicants, temporary staff and other employees).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and fulfilment of contractual obligations; communication; office and organizational procedures; organizational and administrative procedures. Business processes and business management procedures.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.
  • Legal basis: Fulfilment of contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR); Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Recruitment services: We process the data of our clients and candidates (uniformly referred to as “clients”) for the provision of personnel services, including recruitment, personnel development and payroll. The required information is marked as such when the order is placed 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 receive access to information from end customers, employees or other persons, we process this in accordance with legal and contractual requirements.

    Procedures required as part of personnel services include the recruitment of specialists, the development of training and further training measures, the administration of personnel files and payroll and the provision of HR advice and support. They also include conducting application processes and interviews, matching requirements between clients and candidates, selecting suitable candidates for vacancies and monitoring working hours and performance records; Legal basis: Fulfillment of contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

  • Coaching: We process the data of our clients as well as interested parties and other clients or contractual partners (uniformly referred to as “clients”) in order to be able to provide our services to them. The procedures that are carried out as part of and for the purposes of coaching include Contacting and communicating with clients, needs analysis to determine appropriate coaching measures, planning and conducting coaching sessions, documenting coaching progress, collecting and managing client-specific information and data, scheduling and organizing appointments, providing coaching materials and resources, billing and payment management, follow-up and follow-up of coaching sessions, quality assurance and feedback processes.
    The processed data, the type, scope, purpose and necessity of its processing are determined by the underlying contractual and client relationship.
    If it is necessary for the performance of our contract, for the protection of vital interests or by law, or with the consent of the client, we disclose or transfer the client’s data to third parties or agents, such as authorities, billing offices and in the area of IT, office or comparable services, in compliance with the requirements of professional law; Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR).
  • Consulting: We process the data of our clients as well as interested parties and other clients or contractual partners (uniformly referred to as “clients”) in order to be able to provide our services to them. The processes that are part of and for the purposes of consulting include Contacting and communicating with clients, conducting needs and requirements analyses, planning and implementing consulting projects, documenting project progress and results, collecting and managing client-specific information and data, scheduling and organizing appointments, providing consulting resources and materials, billing and payment management, post-processing and follow-up of consulting projects, quality assurance and feedback processes. The processed data, the type, scope, purpose and necessity of its processing are determined by the underlying contractual and client relationship.

    If it is necessary for the performance of our contract, for the protection of vital interests or by law, or with the consent of the client, we disclose or transfer the client’s data to third parties or agents, such as authorities, subcontractors or in the field of IT, office or comparable services, in compliance with the requirements of professional law; legal basis: performance of contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR).

  • IT services: We process the data of our customers and clients in order to enable them to plan, implement and support IT solutions and related services. The required information is marked as such in the context of the conclusion of the order, project or comparable contract and includes the information required for the provision of services and billing as well as contact information in order to be able to hold any consultations. If we gain access to information from end customers, employees or other persons, we process this in accordance with the legal and contractual requirements.
    The processing operations include project management and documentation, which cover all phases from the initial requirements analysis to the completion of the project. This includes the creation and management of project schedules, budgets and resource allocations. Data processing also supports change management, where changes in the project process are documented and tracked to ensure compliance and transparency.

    Another process is customer relationship management (CRM), which involves recording and analyzing customer interactions and feedback in order to improve service quality and efficiently address individual customer needs. In addition, the processing process includes technical support and troubleshooting, which involves the recording and processing of support requests, troubleshooting and regular maintenance.

    Reporting and performance analysis are also carried out, whereby key performance indicators are recorded and evaluated in order to assess and continuously optimize the effectiveness of the IT solutions provided. All of these processes are designed to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction and compliance with all relevant requirements; Legal basis: Fulfillment of contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

  • 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, purchase 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 marked as such in the context of the conclusion of the order, purchase order or comparable contract and includes the information required for the provision of services and billing as well as contact information in order to be able to hold any consultations. Insofar as we receive access to information from end customers, employees or other persons, we process this in accordance with the legal and contractual requirements; legal basis: contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR).

  • 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 them with our contractual services and 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 marked as such in the context of the conclusion of the order, purchase order or comparable contract and includes the information required for the provision of services and billing as well as contact information in order to be able to hold any consultations; legal basis: contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR).
  • Management consulting: We process the data of our customers, clients, interested parties and other clients or contractual partners (uniformly referred to as “customers”) in order to be able to provide them with our contractual or pre-contractual services, in particular consulting services. The processed data, the type, scope, purpose and necessity of its processing are determined by the underlying contractual and business relationship.

    If it is necessary for the performance of our contract or required by law, or if the customer has given their consent, we disclose or transfer the customer’s data to third parties or agents, such as authorities, courts or in the field of IT, office or comparable services, in compliance with the requirements of professional law; legal basis: performance of the contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR).

Business processes and procedures

Personal data of service recipients and clients – including customers, clients or, in special cases, clients, patients or business partners as well as other third parties – are processed within the scope of contractual and comparable legal relationships and pre-contractual measures such as the initiation of business relationships. This data processing supports and facilitates business processes in areas such as customer management, sales, payment transactions, accounting and project management.

The data collected is used to fulfill contractual obligations and efficiently design operational processes. This includes the processing of business transactions, the management of customer relationships, the optimization of sales strategies and the guarantee of internal accounting and financial processes. In addition, the data supports the protection of the rights of the controller and promotes administrative tasks and the organization of the company.

Personal data may be passed on to third parties if this is necessary to fulfill the stated purposes or legal obligations. The data will be deleted after expiry of statutory retention periods or if the purpose of the processing no longer applies. This also includes data that must be stored for a longer period of time due to tax and legal obligations to provide evidence.

  • Processed data types: Inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); contact data (e.g. postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g. text or image messages and contributions and the information relating to them, such as information on authorship or time of creation); contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category); usage data (e.g. page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, IP addresses, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses and page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, persons involved); log data (e.g. log files relating to logins or the retrieval of data or access times); creditworthiness data (e.g. credit score received, estimated probability of default, risk classification based on this, historical payment behavior). Employee data (information on employees and other persons in an employment relationship).
  • Data subjects: Service recipients and clients; interested parties; communication partners; business and contractual partners; third parties; users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services); clients; employees (e.g. employees, applicants, temporary staff and other employees). Customers.
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and fulfilment of contractual obligations; office and organizational procedures; business processes and business management procedures; communication; marketing; sales promotion; public relations; assessment of creditworthiness and credit standing; financial and payment management. Information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical equipment (computers, servers, etc.)).
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.
  • Legal bases: Contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR). Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Customer management and customer relationship management (CRM): Procedures required in the context of customer management and customer relationship management (CRM) (e.g. Customer acquisition in compliance with data protection regulations, measures to promote customer loyalty and retention, effective customer communication, complaint management and customer service with consideration of data protection, data management and analysis to support the customer relationship, administration of CRM systems, secure account management, customer segmentation and target group formation); Legal bases: Contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Client management: Procedures required as part of client management include, for example, the acquisition and onboarding of new clients, the development of strategies to promote client loyalty and ensuring effective client communication and appointments. A comprehensive client service is provided. These procedures also include the management and administration of client files, the secure documentation of legal processes and ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of client data. In addition, processes are defined for the transfer of client information to third parties, such as courts or other legal service providers. Procedures have been implemented for the secure and data protection-compliant deletion of client data as soon as it is no longer required or statutory retention periods have expired; Legal basis: Fulfillment of contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Contact management and maintenance: Procedures required to organize, maintain and secure contact information (e.g. setting up and maintaining a central contact database, regularly updating contact information, monitoring data integrity, implementing data protection measures, ensuring access controls, performing backups and restoring contact data, training employees in the effective use of contact management software, regularly reviewing communication history and adapting contact strategies); Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • General payment transactions: Procedures required for the execution of payment transactions, the monitoring of bank accounts and the control of payment flows (e.g. creation and verification of transfers, processing of direct debits, checking of account statements, monitoring of incoming and outgoing payments, return debit management, account reconciliation, cash management); legal bases: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable: Procedures required for recording, processing and controlling business transactions in the area of accounts payable and accounts receivable (e.g. creating and checking incoming and outgoing invoices, monitoring and managing open items, carrying out payment transactions, processing dunning procedures, reconciling accounts in the context of receivables and payables, accounts payable and accounts receivable); Legal basis: Fulfillment of contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Financial accounting and taxes: Procedures required for the recording, administration and control of financially relevant business transactions as well as for the calculation, reporting and payment of taxes (e.g. account assignment and posting of business transactions, preparation of quarterly and annual financial statements, execution of payment transactions, processing of dunning procedures, account reconciliation, tax advice, preparation and submission of tax returns, processing of taxes); Legal basis: Fulfillment of contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Purchasing: Procedures required for the procurement of goods, raw materials or services (e.g. supplier selection and evaluation, price negotiations, order placement and monitoring, verification and control of deliveries, invoice verification, administration of orders, warehouse management, creation and maintenance of purchasing guidelines); Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Sales: Procedures required for the planning, implementation and control of measures for the marketing and sale of products or services (e.g. customer acquisition, preparation and tracking of offers, order processing, customer advice and support, sales promotion, product training, sales controlling and analysis, management of sales channels); Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Marketing, advertising and sales promotion: Procedures required in the context of marketing, advertising and sales promotion (e.g. market analysis and target group determination, development of marketing strategies, planning and implementation of advertising campaigns, design and production of advertising materials, online marketing including SEO and social media campaigns, event marketing and trade fair participation, customer loyalty programs, sales promotion measures, performance measurement and optimization of marketing activities, budget management and cost control); Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Economic analyses and market research: The available data on business transactions, contracts, inquiries, etc. are analyzed for business purposes and to identify market trends, the wishes of contractual partners and users. The group of data subjects may include contractual partners, interested parties, customers, visitors and users of the controller’s online offering. The analyses are carried out for the purposes of business evaluations, marketing and market research (e.g. to determine customer groups with different characteristics). If available, profiles of registered users and their details of services used are taken into account. The analyses are used exclusively by the controller and are not disclosed externally, unless they are anonymous analyses with summarized, i.e. anonymized values. In addition, the privacy of the users is taken into account; the data is pseudonymized as far as possible for analysis purposes and, if feasible, processed anonymously (e.g. as aggregated data); legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Public relations: Procedures required in the context of public relations (e.g. development and implementation of communication strategies, planning and implementation of PR campaigns, creation and distribution of press releases, maintenance of media contacts, monitoring and analysis of media response, organization of press conferences and public events, crisis communication, creation of content for social media and company websites, management of corporate branding); Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Providers and services used in the course of business activities

As part of our business activities, we use additional services, platforms, interfaces or plug-ins from third-party providers (“services” for short) in compliance with legal requirements. Their use is based on our interests in the proper, lawful and economic management of our business operations and our internal organization.

  • Processed data types: inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); contact data (e.g. postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g. text or image messages and contributions as well as the information relating to them, such as information on authorship or time of creation). Contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category).
  • Affected persons: Service recipients and clients; interested parties; business and contractual partners. Employees (e.g. employees, applicants, temporary staff and other employees).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and fulfilment of contractual obligations; office and organizational procedures. Business processes and business management procedures.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

Credit check

If we make advance payments or enter into comparable economic risks (e.g. when ordering on account), we reserve the right to obtain identity and creditworthiness information for the purpose of assessing the credit risk on the basis of mathematical-statistical procedures from specialized service companies (credit agencies) in order to safeguard our legitimate interests.

We process the information received from the credit agencies on the statistical probability of a payment default as part of an appropriate discretionary decision on the establishment, execution and termination of the contractual relationship. We reserve the right to refuse payment on account or any other advance payment in the event of a negative result of the credit check.

The decision as to whether we make advance payments is made in accordance with the legal requirements solely on the basis of an automated decision in individual cases, which our software makes on the basis of the information provided by the credit agency.

If we obtain express consent from contractual partners, the legal basis for the credit report and the transmission of the customer’s data to the credit agencies is consent. If no consent is obtained, the credit information is provided on the basis of our legitimate interests in the security of our payment claims.

  • Processed data types: inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); contact data (e.g. postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); contract data (e.g. subject matter of contract, term, customer category). Creditworthiness data (e.g. credit score received, estimated probability of default, risk classification based on this, historical payment behavior).
  • Persons concerned: Service recipients and clients; interested parties. Business and contractual partners.
  • Purposes of processing: Assessment of creditworthiness and credit standing.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Automated decisions in individual cases: Credit information (decision based on a credit check).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Credit check as a prerequisite for the provision of payment options: The provision of payment options, e.g. payment on account or payment by installments, may be made dependent on the result of the customer’s credit check. In this case, we ask customers to consent to the credit check procedure; legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR).
  • SCHUFA: Credit reference agency; Service provider: SCHUFA Holding AG, Privatkunden ServiceCenter, Postfach 10 34 41, 50474 Köln, Germany; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.schufa.de/; Privacy Policy: https://www.schufa.de/datenschutz/. Basis for third country transfers: Switzerland – adequacy decision (Germany).

Provision of the online offer and web hosting

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

  • Processed data types: Usage data (e.g. page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); metadata, communication data and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, persons involved); log data (e.g. log files relating to logins or the retrieval of data or access times). Content data (e.g. text or image messages and contributions as well as the information relating to them, such as information on authorship or time of creation).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of our online offer and user-friendliness; information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical devices (computers, servers, etc.)). Security measures.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Provision of online offer on rented storage space: For the provision of our online offer, we use storage space, computing capacity and software that we rent or otherwise obtain from a corresponding server provider (also called “web host”); legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Collection of access data and log files: Access to our online offering is logged in the form of 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 can be used for security purposes, e.g. to avoid overloading the servers (especially in the event of abusive attacks, so-called DDoS attacks), and to ensure the utilization of the servers and their stability; legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR). Deletion of data: Log file information is stored for a maximum of 30 days and then deleted or anonymized. Data whose further storage is required for evidentiary purposes is excluded from deletion until the respective incident has been finally clarified.
  • ALL-INKL: Services in the field of the provision of information technology infrastructure and related services (e.g. storage space and/or computing capacities); Service provider: ALL-INKL.COM – Neue Medien Münnich, Owner: René Münnich, Hauptstraße 68, 02742 Friedersdorf, Germany; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://all-inkl.com/; Privacy Policy: https://all-inkl.com/datenschutzinformationen/; Data processing agreement: Provided by the service provider. Basis for third country transfers: Switzerland – adequacy decision (Germany).
  • WordPress.com: Hosting and software for the creation, provision and operation of websites, blogs and other online offers; Service provider: Aut O’Mattic A8C Ireland Ltd, Grand Canal Dock, 25 Herbert Pl, Dublin, D02 AY86, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://wordpress.com; Privacy Policy: https://automattic.com/de/privacy/; Data processing agreement: https://wordpress.com/support/data-processing-agreements/. Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Adequacy Decision (Ireland).

Use of cookies

The term “cookies” refers to functions that store information on users’ end devices and read it from them. Cookies can also be used for various purposes, for example to ensure the functionality, security and convenience of online services and to analyze visitor flows. We use cookies in accordance with the statutory provisions. If necessary, we obtain the user’s consent in advance. If consent is not required, we rely on our legitimate interests. This applies if the storage and reading of information is essential in order to be able to provide expressly requested content and functions. This includes, for example, saving settings and ensuring the functionality and security of our online offering. Consent can be revoked at any time. We provide clear information about the scope and which cookies are used.

Information on legal bases under data protection law: Whether we process personal data using cookies depends on consent.

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 service and closed their end device (e.g. browser or mobile application).
  • Permanent cookies: Permanent cookies remain stored even after the end device is closed. For example, the log-in status can be saved and preferred content can be displayed directly when the user visits a website again. The user data collected with the help of cookies can also be used to measure reach. If we do not provide users with explicit information on the type and storage duration of cookies (e.g. when obtaining consent), they should assume that they are permanent and that they may be stored for up to two years.

General information on revocation and objection (opt-out): Users can revoke the consents they have given at any time and also declare an objection to the processing in accordance with the legal requirements, also by means of the privacy settings of their browser.

  • Processed data types: Meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, persons involved).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR). Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Processing of cookie data on the basis of consent: We use a consent management solution in which user consent is obtained for the use of cookies or for the procedures and providers mentioned in the consent management solution. This procedure is used to obtain, log, manage and revoke consent, in particular with regard to the use of cookies and comparable technologies that are used to store, read and process information on users’ end devices. As part of this procedure, user consent is obtained for the use of cookies and the associated processing of information, including the specific processing and providers mentioned in the consent management procedure. Users also have the option of managing and revoking their consent. The declarations of consent are stored in order to avoid repeated queries and to be able to provide proof of consent in accordance with legal requirements. The storage takes place on the server side and/or in a cookie (so-called opt-in cookie) or by means of comparable technologies in order to be able to assign the consent to a specific user or their device. If no specific information on the providers of consent management services is available, the following general information applies: Consent is stored for up to two years. A pseudonymous user identifier is created, which is stored together with the time of consent, information on the scope of consent (e.g. relevant categories of cookies and/or service providers) and information on the browser, the system and the end device used; legal basis: consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR).
  • Cookiebot: Consent management: Process for obtaining, logging, managing and revoking consent, in particular for the use of cookies and similar technologies to store, read and process information on users’ end devices and their processing; Service provider: Usercentrics A/S, Havnegade 39, 1058 Copenhagen, Denmark; Website: https://www.cookiebot.com/de; Privacy Policy: https://www.cookiebot.com/de/privacy-policy/; Data processing agreement: Provided by the service provider; Additional information: Stored data (on the server of the service provider): The user’s IP number in anonymized form (the last three digits are set to 0), the date and time of consent, browser details, the URL from which the consent was sent, An anonymous, random and encrypted key value. the user’s consent status.

Blogs and publication media

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

  • Processed data types: Inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); Contact data (e.g. postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); Content data (e.g. text or image messages and contributions as well as the information relating to them, such as information on authorship or time of creation); Usage data (e.g. page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, persons involved).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of Processing: Feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form); Provision of our online services and usability; Security measures. Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Akismet anti-spam check: Akismet anti-spam check – We use the “Akismet” service on the basis of our legitimate interests. With the help of Akismet, comments from real people are distinguished from spam comments. For this purpose, all comments 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 period. This data includes the name entered, the e-mail address, the IP address, the comment content, the referrer, details of the browser used and the computer system and the time of the entry.

    Users are welcome to use pseudonyms or refrain from entering their name or email address. You can completely prevent the transfer of data by not using our comment system. That would be a shame, but unfortunately we do not see any alternatives that work just as effectively; Service provider: Aut O’Mattic A8C Ireland Ltd, Grand Canal Dock, 25 Herbert Pl, Dublin, D02 AY86, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://automattic.com; Privacy Policy: https://automattic.com/privacy/. Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Adequacy Decision (Ireland).

  • ManageWP: Management of WordPress websites; Service provider: ManageWP, LLC, 14455 N. Hayden Rd, Ste. 219, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, USA; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://managewp.com/; Privacy Policy: https://managewp.com/privacy; Data processing agreement: https://managewp.com/data-processing-addendum. Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – standard contractual clauses(https://managewp.com/data-processing-addendum), Switzerland – standard contractual clauses(https://managewp.com/data-processing-addendum).

Contact and request management

When contacting us (e.g. by post, contact form, email, telephone or via social media) and in the context of existing user and business relationships, the data of the inquiring persons are processed insofar as this is necessary to answer the contact inquiries and any requested measures.

  • Processed data types: Inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); Contact data (e.g. postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); Content data (e.g. text or image messages and contributions as well as the information relating to them, such as information on authorship or time of creation); Usage data (e.g. page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, persons involved).
  • Affected persons: Communication partners; service recipients and clients. Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Communication; organizational and administrative procedures; feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form). Provision of our online services and user-friendliness.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.
  • Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR). Contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Contact form: When contacting us via our contact form, by e-mail or other communication channels, we process the personal data transmitted to us to answer and process the respective request. This generally includes details such as name, contact information and any other information that is provided to us and is required for appropriate processing. We use this data exclusively for the stated purpose of establishing contact and communication; legal basis: contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Elementor: Creation of online forms, collection and storage of the associated user input; Service provider: Elementor Ltd, Tuval St 40, Ramat Gan, Israel; Legal basis: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://elementor.com/features/form-builder/; Privacy Policy: https://elementor.com/about/privacy/; Data processing agreement: https://elementor.com/terms/cloud-toc/elementor-data-processing-agreement/; Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – adequacy decision (Israel), Switzerland – adequacy decision (Israel). Further information: https://elementor.com/trust/.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

We use artificial intelligence (AI), whereby personal data is processed. The specific purposes and our interest in using AI are set out below. By AI we mean, in accordance with the term “AI system” as defined in Article 3 No. 1 of the AI Regulation, a machine-based system that is designed to operate autonomously to varying degrees, can be adaptable after its introduction and produces results such as predictions, content, recommendations or decisions from the input received, which can influence physical or virtual environments.

Our AI systems are used in strict compliance with legal requirements. These include both specific regulations for artificial intelligence and data protection requirements. In particular, we adhere to the principles of lawfulness, transparency, fairness, human control, purpose limitation, data minimization, integrity and confidentiality. We ensure that the processing of personal data always takes place on a legal basis. This can be either the consent of the data subject or legal permission.

When using external AI systems, we carefully select their providers (hereinafter “AI providers”). In accordance with our legal obligations, we ensure that the AI providers comply with the applicable provisions. We also observe the obligations incumbent on us when using or operating the purchased AI services. The processing of personal data by us and the AI providers takes place exclusively on the basis of consent or legal authorization. We attach particular importance to transparency, fairness and the preservation of human control over AI-supported decision-making processes.

We implement appropriate and robust technical and organizational measures to protect the processed data. These ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the processed data and minimize potential risks. We ensure ongoing compliance with current legal and ethical standards by regularly reviewing AI providers and their services.

  • Processed data types: Content data (e.g. textual or visual messages and contributions as well as the information relating to them, such as information on authorship or time of creation). Usage data (e.g. page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services). Third parties.
  • Purposes of processing: Artificial intelligence (AI).
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”
  • Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Adobe AI: AI-powered tools and features in Adobe products that support creative processes. Adobe AI offers features such as automatic image editing, content generation and intelligent image adjustments to optimize the creative workflow; Service provider: Adobe Systems Software Ireland, 4-6, Riverwalk Drive, Citywest Business Campus, Brownsbarn, Dublin 24, D24 DCW0, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.adobe.com/de/sensei.html; Privacy Policy: https://www.adobe.com/de/privacy.html; Data processing agreement: Provided by the service provider. Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – adequacy decision (Ireland).
  • ChatGPT: AI-based service designed to understand and generate natural language and related input and data, analyze information and make predictions (“AI”, i.e. “artificial intelligence”, is to be understood in the applicable legal sense of the term); Service provider OpenAI Ireland Ltd, 117-126 Sheriff Street Upper, D01 YC43 Dublin 1, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://openai.com/product; Privacy Policy: https://openai.com/de/policies/eu-privacy-policy; Basis for third country transfers: Switzerland – adequacy decision (Ireland). Option to object (opt-out): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevgtKyiSWIOj6CV6XWBHl1daPZSOcIWzcUYUXQ1xttjBgDpA/viewform.
  • DeepL: Translation of texts into different languages and provision of synonyms and context examples. Support for the correction and improvement of texts in different languages; Service provider: DeepL SE, Maarweg 165, 50825 Cologne, Germany; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.deepl.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.deepl.com/de/privacy; Data processing agreement: Provided by the service provider. Basis for third country transfers: Switzerland – adequacy decision (Germany).
  • Microsoft Copilot: Enables the creation and editing of texts, tables and presentations. Provides support for analyzing data, automating tasks and integrating with various Microsoft Office applications. Uses machine learning to improve workflows and provide contextualized suggestions; Service provider: Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited, One Microsoft Place, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, D18 P521, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/microsoft-copilot; Privacy Policy: https://privacy.microsoft.com/de-de/privacystatement; Data processing agreement: https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/docs/view/Microsoft-Products-and-Services-Data-Protection-Addendum-DPA. Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – adequacy decision (Ireland).

Video conferences, online meetings, webinars and screen sharing

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

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

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

Data protection measures for participants: Please refer to the conference platforms’ data protection notices for details on the processing of your data by the conference platforms and select the optimum security and data protection settings for you in the conference platform settings. Please also ensure data and privacy protection in the background of your recording for the duration of a video conference (e.g. by informing roommates, locking doors and, if technically possible, using the function to make the background unrecognizable). Links to the conference rooms and access data must not be passed on to unauthorized third parties.

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

  • Processed data types: Inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); Contact data (e.g. postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); Content data (e.g. text or image messages and contributions as well as the information relating to them, such as information on authorship or time of creation); usage data (e.g. page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); image and/or video recordings (e.g. photographs or video recordings of a person); sound recordings. Log data (e.g. log files relating to logins or the retrieval of data or access times).
  • Data subjects: Communication partners; users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services). Depicted persons.
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations; communication. Office and organizational procedures.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Microsoft Teams: Audio and video conferencing, chat, file sharing, integration with Office 365 applications, real-time collaboration on documents, calendar functions, task management, screen sharing, optional recording; Service provider: Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited, One Microsoft Place, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, D18 P521, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/microsoft-teams/; Privacy Policy: https://privacy.microsoft.com/de-de/privacystatement, Security information: https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/trustcenter. Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – adequacy decision (Ireland).

Cloud services

We use software services accessible via the Internet and running on the servers of their providers (so-called “cloud services”, also referred to as “software as a service”) for the storage and management of content (e.g. document storage and management, exchange of documents, content and information with specific recipients or publication of content and information).

In this context, personal data may be processed and stored on the servers of the providers, insofar as these are part of communication processes with us or are otherwise processed by us as set out in this privacy policy. This data may include, in particular, master data and contact data of users, data on transactions, contracts, other processes and their content. Cloud service providers also process usage data and metadata that they use for security purposes and to optimize their services.

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

  • Processed data types: Inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); Contact data (e.g. postal and e-mail addresses or telephone numbers); Content data (e.g. text or image messages and contributions as well as the information relating to them, such as information on authorship or time of creation); usage data (e.g. page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); image and/or video recordings (e.g. photographs or video recordings of a person). Meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, persons involved).
  • Affected persons: Interested parties; communication partners; business and contractual partners. Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Office and organizational procedures; Information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical equipment (computers, servers, etc.).); Provision of contractual services and fulfilment of contractual obligations. Provision of our online services and user-friendliness.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Adobe Creative Cloud: Cloud storage, cloud infrastructure services and cloud-based application software, e.g. for photo editing, video editing, graphic design, web development; Service provider: Adobe Systems Software Ireland, 4-6, Riverwalk Drive, Citywest Business Campus, Brownsbarn, Dublin 24, D24 DCW0, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.adobe.com/de/creativecloud.html; Privacy Policy: https://www.adobe.com/de/privacy.html; Data processing agreement: Provided by the service provider. Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – adequacy decision (Ireland).
  • Microsoft cloud services: cloud storage, cloud infrastructure services and cloud-based application software; Service provider: Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited, One Microsoft Place, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, D18 P521, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://microsoft.com/de-de; Privacy Policy: https://privacy.microsoft.com/de-de/privacystatement, Security information: https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/trustcenter; Data processing agreement: https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/docs/view/Microsoft-Products-and-Services-Data-Protection-Addendum-DPA. Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Adequacy Decision (Ireland).
  • Microsoft Azure: Interface access (so-called “API”) to AI-based services designed to understand and generate natural language and related input and data, analyze information and make predictions (“AI”, i.e. “Artificial Intelligence”, is to be understood in the applicable legal sense of the term); Service Provider: Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited, One Microsoft Place, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, D18 P521, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://azure.microsoft.com; Privacy Policy: https://privacy.microsoft.com/de-de/privacystatement; Data processing agreement: https://azure.microsoft.com/de-de/support/legal/. Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Adequacy Decision (Ireland).

Newsletter and electronic notifications

We send newsletters, emails and other electronic notifications (hereinafter “newsletter”) exclusively with the consent of the recipient or on the basis of a legal basis. If the contents of the newsletter are mentioned in the context of a registration for the newsletter, these contents are decisive for the consent of the users. To subscribe to our newsletter, it is normally sufficient to provide your e-mail address. However, in order to be able to offer you a personalized service, we may ask you to provide your name so that we can address you personally in the newsletter or to provide further information if this is necessary for the purpose of the newsletter.

Deletion and restriction of processing: We may store the unsubscribed e-mail addresses for up to three years on the basis of our legitimate interests before deleting them in order to be able to prove that consent was previously given. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a potential defense against claims. An individual request for erasure is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed at the same time. In the event of obligations to permanently observe objections, we reserve the right to store the e-mail address in a block list for this purpose alone.

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

Contents:

Information about us, our services, promotions and offers.

  • Processed data types: Inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g. postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, persons involved). Usage data (e.g. page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions).
  • Affected persons: Communication partner.
  • Purposes of Processing: Direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or postal); Web Analytics (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); Conversion tracking (Measurement of the effectiveness of marketing activities); Clicktracking; Marketing. Profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Possibility of objection (opt-out): You can cancel the receipt of our newsletter at any time, i.e. revoke your consent or object to further receipt. You will find a link to unsubscribe from the newsletter either at the end of each newsletter or you can use one of the contact options listed above, preferably e-mail.

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • ActiveCampaign: Email marketing, automation of marketing processes, collection. Storage and management of contact data, creation and management of landing pages, measurement of campaign performance, recording and analysis of recipients’ interaction with content, personalization of content; Service provider: ActiveCampaign, Inc, 1 N Dearborn, 5th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60602, USA; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.activecampaign.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.activecampaign.com/privacy-policy/. Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Data Privacy Framework (DPF).
  • Mailchimp: Email marketing, automation of marketing processes, collection. Storage and management of contact data, measurement of campaign performance, recording and analysis of recipients’ interaction with content, personalization of content; Service provider: Rocket Science Group, LLC, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE #5000, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https: //mailchimp.com; Privacy Policy: https: //mailchimp.com/legal/; Data processing agreement: https: //mailchimp.com/legal/; Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Data Privacy Framework (DPF). Further information: Special security measures: https://mailchimp.com/de/help/mailchimp-european-data-transfers/.

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

We process personal data for the purposes of advertising communication, which may take place via various channels, such as e-mail, telephone, post or fax, in accordance with legal requirements.

Recipients have the right to withdraw their consent at any time or to object to advertising communication at any time.

After revocation or objection, we store the data required to prove the previous authorization for contacting or sending up to three years after the end of the year of revocation or objection on the basis of our legitimate interests. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defense against claims. On the basis of the legitimate interest in permanently observing the revocation or objection of the user, we also store the data required to avoid renewed contact (e.g. depending on the communication channel, the e-mail address, telephone number, name).

  • Processed data types: inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g. postal and e-mail addresses or telephone numbers). Content data (e.g. textual or pictorial messages and contributions as well as the information relating to them, such as information on authorship or time of creation).
  • Data subjects: Communication partners.
  • Purposes of Processing: Direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or postal); Marketing. Sales promotion.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • National data protection regulations in Germany: In addition to the data protection regulations of the GDPR, national data protection regulations apply in Germany. These include, in particular, the Act on the Protection against Misuse of Personal Data in Data Processing (Federal Data Protection Act – BDSG). In particular, the BDSG contains special regulations on the right to information, the right to erasure, the right to object, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes and transmission as well as automated decision-making in individual cases, including profiling. The data protection laws of the individual federal states may also apply.

Web analysis, monitoring and optimization

Web analysis (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, for example, recognize at what time our online offer or its functions or content are most frequently used, or invite visitors to reuse them. It also enables us to understand which areas require optimization.

In addition to web analysis, we may also use test 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 for a usage process, can be created for these purposes and information can be stored in a browser or end device and then read out. The information collected includes, in particular, websites visited and the elements used there as well as technical information such as the browser used, the computer system used and information on usage times. If users have consented to the collection of their location data from us or from the providers of the services we use, it is also possible to process location data.

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

Notes on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for data processing is consent. 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 draw your attention to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

  • Processed data types: Usage data (e.g. page views and dwell time, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, persons involved).
  • 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). Provision of our online services and user-friendliness.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”. Storage of cookies for up to 2 years (Unless otherwise stated, cookies and similar storage methods may be stored on users’ devices for a period of two years).
  • Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Google Analytics: We use Google Analytics to measure and analyze the use of our online offering on the basis of a pseudonymous user identification number. This identification number does not contain any unique data, such as names or e-mail addresses. It is used to assign analysis information to an end device in order to recognize which content users have called up within one or more usage processes, which search terms they have used, which they have called up again or which they have interacted with our online offering. The time of use and its duration are also stored, as well as the sources of the users who refer to our online offer and technical aspects of their end devices and browsers.
    Pseudonymous profiles of users are created with information from the use of various devices, whereby cookies can be used. Google Analytics does not log or store individual IP addresses for EU users. However, Analytics provides rough geographic location data by deriving the following metadata from IP addresses: City (and the city’s inferred latitude and longitude), Continent, Country, Region, Subcontinent (and ID-based counterparts). For EU traffic, IP address data is used exclusively for this derivation of geolocation data before it is immediately deleted. It is not logged, is not accessible and is not used for other purposes. When Google Analytics collects measurement data, all IP queries are performed on EU-based servers before the traffic is forwarded to Analytics servers for processing; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com/intl/de/about/analytics/; Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address); Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Data processing agreement: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms/; Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – adequacy decision (Ireland); Opt-Out: Opt-Out-Plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, Settings for the display of advertisements: https://myadcenter.google.com/personalizationoff. Further information: https://business.safety.google/adsservices/ (types of processing and processed data).
  • Google Tag Manager: We use Google Tag Manager, a software from Google that enables us to manage so-called website tags centrally via a user interface. Tags are small code elements on our website that are used to record and analyze visitor activity. This technology helps us to improve our website and the content offered on it. Google Tag Manager itself does not create any user profiles, does not store any cookies with user profiles and does not carry out any independent analyses. Its function is limited to simplifying the integration and management of tools and services that we use on our website and making them more efficient. Nevertheless, when using the Google Tag Manager, the IP address of the user is transmitted to Google, which is necessary for technical reasons in order to implement the services we use. Cookies may also be set in the process. However, this data processing only takes place if services are integrated via the Tag Manager. For more detailed information on these services and their data processing, please refer to the further sections of this privacy policy; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Data processing agreement:
    https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms. Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Adequacy Decision (Ireland).

Online marketing

We process personal data for the purpose of online marketing, which may include in particular the marketing of advertising space or the presentation of advertising and other content (collectively referred to as “content”) based on the potential interests of users and the measurement of its effectiveness.

For these purposes, so-called user profiles are created and stored in a file (the 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 may include, for example, content viewed, websites visited, online networks used, but also communication partners and technical information, such as the browser used, the computer system used and information on usage times and functions used. If users have consented to the collection of their location data, this can also be processed.

The IP addresses of users are also stored. However, we use available IP masking procedures (i.e. pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) for user protection. In general, no clear user data (such as e-mail addresses or names) is stored as part of the online marketing process, but pseudonyms. This means that neither we nor the providers of the online marketing procedures know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles.

The statements in the profiles are generally stored in cookies or by means of similar procedures. These cookies can later generally also be read on other websites that use the same online marketing process and analyzed for the purpose of displaying content and supplemented with further data and stored on the server of the online marketing process provider.

In exceptional cases, it is possible to assign clear data to the profiles, primarily if, for example, the users are members of a social network whose online marketing processes we use and the network links the user profiles with the aforementioned data. Please note that users can make additional agreements with the providers, for example by giving their consent during registration.

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

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

Notes on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for data processing is permission. 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 draw your attention to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

Information on revocation and objection:

We refer to the data protection notices of the respective providers and the opt-out options provided by the providers. If no explicit opt-out option has been specified, you have the option of deactivating cookies in your browser settings. However, this may restrict the functions of our online offer. We therefore recommend the following additional opt-out options, which are summarized for the respective areas:

a) Europe: https://www.youronlinechoices.eu.

b) Canada: https://www.youradchoices.ca/choices.

c) USA: https://www.aboutads.info/choices.

d) Cross-territory: https://optout.aboutads.info.

  • Processed data types: Usage data (e.g. page views and dwell time, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, persons involved).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of Processing: Web Analytics (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); Targeting (e.g. profiling based on interests and behavior, use of cookies); Custom Audiences; Marketing; Profiles with user-related information (Creating user profiles); Conversion tracking (Measurement of the effectiveness of marketing activities). Provision of our online services and user-friendliness.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”. Storage of cookies for up to 2 years (Unless otherwise stated, cookies and similar storage methods may be stored on users’ devices for a period of two years).
  • Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Google Ad Manager: We use the “Google Ad Manager” service to place ads in the Google advertising network (e.g. in search results, in videos, on websites, etc.). Google Ad Manager is characterized by the fact that ads are displayed in real time based on the presumed interests of users. This allows us to display ads for our online offering to users who may have a potential interest in our offering or have previously shown an interest in it, and to measure the success of the ads; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Adequacy Decision (Ireland); Further information: Types of processing and data processed: https://business.safety.google/adsservices/; Data processing conditions for Google advertising products: Information on the services Data processing terms between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms. If Google acts as a processor, data processing terms for Google advertising products and standard contractual clauses for third country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms.
  • Google Ads and conversion measurement: online marketing process for the purpose of placing content and ads within the service provider’s advertising network (e.g. in search results, in videos, on websites, etc.) so that they are displayed to users who have a presumed interest in the ads. In addition, we measure the conversion of the ads, i.e. whether users have taken them as an opportunity to interact with the ads and use the advertised offers (so-called conversions). However, we only receive anonymous information and no personal information about individual users; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Adequacy Decision (Ireland); Further information: Types of processing and data processed: https://business.safety.google/adsservices/. Data processing conditions between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms.
  • Google Adsense with personalized ads: We integrate the Google Adsense service, which makes it possible to place personalized ads within our online offering. Google Adsense analyzes user behavior and uses this data to display targeted advertising that is tailored to the interests of our visitors. We receive financial compensation for each ad placement or other use of these ads; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Adequacy Decision (Ireland); Further information: Types of processing and data processed: https://business.safety.google/adsservices/. Data processing conditions for Google advertising products: Information on the services Data processing terms between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms.
  • Google Adsense with non-personalized ads: We use the Google Adsense service to place non-personalized ads in our online offering. These ads are not based on individual user behavior, but are selected based on general characteristics such as the content of the page or your approximate geographical location. We receive remuneration for displaying or otherwise using these ads; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Adequacy Decision (Ireland); Further information: Types of processing and data processed: https://business.safety.google/adsservices/. Data processing conditions for Google advertising products: Information on the services Data processing terms between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms.
  • LinkedIn Insight Tag: Code that is loaded when a user visits our online offering and tracks the user’s behaviour and conversions and stores them in a profile (possible purposes: measuring campaign performance, optimizing ad delivery, building custom and lookalike audiences); Service provider: LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://www.linkedin.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy, Cookie Policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/cookie_policy; Data processing agreement: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/l/dpa; Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Adequacy Decision (Ireland). Option to object (opt-out): https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.

Customer reviews and evaluation process

We participate in review and rating procedures in order to evaluate, optimize and advertise our services. If users rate us or otherwise provide feedback via the participating review platforms or procedures, the general terms and conditions or terms of use and the providers’ data protection notices also apply. As a rule, the evaluation also requires registration with the respective providers.

In order to ensure that the reviewers have actually used our services, we transmit the necessary data relating to the customer and the service used (including name, email address and order number or item number) to the relevant review platform with the customer’s consent. This data is used solely to verify the authenticity of the user.

  • Processed data types: Contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, duration, customer category); usage data (e.g. page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, persons involved).
  • Data subjects: Service recipients and clients. Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form). Marketing.
  • Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Rating widget: We integrate so-called “rating widgets” into our online offering. A widget is a functional and content element integrated into our online offering that displays variable information. It can, for example, be displayed in the form of a seal or comparable element, sometimes also called a “badge”. Although the corresponding content of the widget is displayed within our online offering, it is retrieved from the servers of the respective widget provider at that moment. Only in this way can the current content always be shown, especially the current rating. For this purpose, a data connection must be established from the website accessed within our online offering to the server of the widget provider and the widget provider receives certain technical data (access data, including IP address) that is necessary for the content of the widget to be delivered to the user’s browser. Furthermore, the widget provider receives information that users have visited our website. This information can be stored in a cookie and used by the widget provider to recognize which online offers that participate in the evaluation process have been visited by the user. The information may be stored in a user profile and used for advertising or market research purposes; legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Google Customer Reviews: Service for obtaining and/or presenting customer satisfaction and customer opinions; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.google.com/; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – adequacy decision (Ireland); Further information: As part of the collection of customer reviews, an identification number and time for the business transaction to be evaluated, in the case of review requests sent directly to customers, the customer’s e-mail address and their country of residence as well as the review details themselves are processed; Further information on the types of processing and the data processed: https://business.safety.google/adsservices/. Data processing conditions for Google advertising products: Information on the services Data processing terms between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms.
  • kununu: Rating platform; Service provider: XING AG, Dammtorstraße 29-32, 20354 Hamburg, Germany; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.kununu.com/de; Privacy Policy: https://privacy.xing.com/de/datenschutzerklaerung. Basis for third country transfers: Switzerland – adequacy decision (Germany).
  • Trustpilot: Rating platform; Service provider: Trustpilot A/S, Pilestræde 58, 5, 1112 Copenhagen, Denmark; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://de.trustpilot.com. Privacy policy: https://de.legal.trustpilot.com/for-reviewers/end-user-privacy-terms.

Presence in social networks (social media)

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

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

Furthermore, user data within social networks is generally processed for market research and advertising purposes. For example, user profiles can be created based on user behavior and the resulting interests of users. The latter may in turn be used, for example, to place advertisements within and outside the networks that presumably correspond to the interests of the users. Cookies are therefore generally stored on the user’s computer, in which the user’s usage behavior and interests are stored. In addition, data can also be stored in the user profiles independently of the devices used by the users (especially if they are members of the respective platforms and are logged in there).

For a detailed description of the respective forms of processing and the opt-out options, please refer to the data protection declarations and information provided by the operators of the respective networks.

In the case of requests for information and the assertion of data subject rights, we would also like to point out that these can be asserted most effectively with the providers. Only the latter have access to the user data and can take appropriate measures and provide information directly. If you still need help, you can contact us.

  • Processed data types: Contact data (e.g. postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); Content data (e.g. text or image messages and contributions as well as the information relating to them, such as information on authorship or time of creation). Usage data (e.g. page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Communication; feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form). Public relations.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Instagram: Social network that allows you to share photos and videos, comment on and favorite posts, send messages, subscribe to profiles and pages; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.instagram.com; Privacy Policy: https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/. Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Adequacy Decision (Ireland).
  • LinkedIn: Social network – We are jointly responsible with LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company for the collection (but not the further processing) of visitors’ data used to create the “page insights” (statistics) of our LinkedIn profiles. This data includes information about the types of content users view or interact with and the actions they take. Details are also collected about the devices used, such as IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings and cookie data, as well as information from the user profiles, such as job function, country, industry, hierarchy level, company size and employment status. Data protection information on the processing of user data by LinkedIn can be found in LinkedIn’s data protection information: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.
    We have concluded a special agreement with LinkedIn Ireland (“Page Insights Joint Controller Addendum”, https://legal.linkedin.com/pages-joint-controller-addendum), which regulates in particular which security measures LinkedIn must observe and in which LinkedIn has agreed to fulfill the rights of the data subjects (i.e. users can, for example, send requests for information or deletion directly to LinkedIn). The rights of users (in particular the right to information, deletion, objection and complaint to the competent supervisory authority) are not restricted by the agreements with LinkedIn. Joint responsibility is limited to the collection and transfer of data to LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, a company based in the EU. The further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, in particular with regard to the transfer of data to the parent company LinkedIn Corporation in the USA; service provider: LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.linkedin.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy; Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Adequacy Decision (Ireland). Option to object (opt-out): https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.
  • Xing: Social network; Service provider: New Work SE, Am Strandkai 1, 20457 Hamburg, Germany; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.xing.com/; Privacy Policy: https://privacy.xing.com/de/datenschutzerklaerung. Basis for third country transfers: Switzerland – adequacy decision (Germany).

Plug-ins and embedded functions and content

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

The integration always requires that the third-party providers of this content process the IP address of the user, as they would not be able to send the content to their browser without the IP address. The IP address is therefore required to display this content or function. We endeavor to only use content whose respective providers only use the IP address to deliver the content. Third-party providers may also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also known as “web beacons”) for statistical or marketing purposes. Pixel tags can be used to analyze information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website. The pseudonymous information may also be stored in cookies on the user’s device and 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, but may also be linked to such information from other sources.

Notes on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for data processing is permission. 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 draw your attention to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

  • Processed data types: Usage data (e.g. page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, persons involved). Location data (information on the geographical position of a device or person).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of our online offer and user-friendliness. Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”. Storage of cookies for up to 2 years (Unless otherwise stated, cookies and similar storage methods may be stored on users’ devices for a period of two years).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Google Fonts (obtained from the Google server): Obtaining fonts (and symbols) for the purpose of a technically secure, maintenance-free and efficient use of fonts and symbols with regard to up-to-dateness and loading times, their uniform presentation and consideration of possible licensing restrictions. The provider of the fonts is informed of the user’s IP address so that the fonts can be made available in the user’s browser. In addition, technical data (language settings, screen resolution, operating system, hardware used) are transmitted that are necessary for the provision of the fonts depending on the devices used and the technical environment. This data may be processed on a server of the font provider in the USA – When visiting our online offer, the user’s browser sends HTTP requests to the Google Fonts Web API (i.e. a software interface for retrieving fonts). The Google Fonts Web API provides users with the Google Fonts Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and then the fonts specified in the CCS. These HTTP requests include (1) the IP address used by the respective user to access the Internet, (2) the requested URL on the Google server and (3) the HTTP headers, including the user agent, which describes the browser and operating system versions of the website visitors, as well as the referral URL (i.e. the web page on which the Google font is to be displayed). IP addresses are neither logged nor stored on Google servers and are not analyzed. The Google Fonts Web API logs details of HTTP requests (requested URL, user agent and referrer URL). Access to this data is restricted and strictly controlled. The requested URL identifies the font families for which the user wants to load fonts. This data is logged so that Google can determine how often a particular font family is requested. With the Google Fonts Web API, the user agent must adapt the font that is generated for the respective browser type. The user agent is primarily logged for debugging and used to generate aggregated usage statistics to measure the popularity of font families. These aggregated usage statistics are published on the Google Fonts “Analytics” page. Finally, the referral URL is logged so that the data can be used for production maintenance and to generate an aggregated report on the top integrations based on the number of font requests. According to Google, it does not use any of the information collected by Google Fonts to create profiles of end users or to display targeted ads; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://fonts.google.com/; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Adequacy Decision (Ireland). Further information: https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq/privacy?hl=de.
  • Google Maps: We integrate the maps of the “Google Maps” service of the provider Google. The processed data may include, in particular, IP addresses and user location data; Service provider: Google Cloud EMEA Limited, 70 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://mapsplatform.google.com/; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy. Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Adequacy Decision (Ireland).
  • MyFonts: Fonts; data processed as part of the font retrieval process the identification number of the web font project (anonymized), the URL of the licensed website linked to 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; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.myfonts.co. Datenschutzerklärung: https://www.myfonts.com/info/legal/#Privacy.
  • OpenStreetMap: We integrate the maps of the “OpenStreetMap” service, which are offered on the basis of the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL) by the OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF). The user data is used by OpenStreetMap exclusively for the purpose of displaying the map functions and for caching the selected settings. This data may include, in particular, IP addresses and location data of users, which, however, are not collected without their consent (usually as part of the settings of their end devices or browsers); service provider: OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF); Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.openstreetmap.de. Privacy Policy: https://osmfoundation.org/wiki/Privacy_Policy.
  • reCAPTCHA: We integrate the “reCAPTCHA” function in order to be able to recognize whether entries (e.g. in online forms) are made by humans and not by automatically acting machines (so-called “bots”). The processed data may include IP addresses, information on operating systems, devices or browsers used, language settings, location, mouse movements, keyboard strokes, time spent on websites, previously visited websites, interactions with ReCaptcha on other websites, possibly cookies and results of manual recognition processes (e.g. answering questions asked or selecting objects in images). Data processing is carried out on the basis of our legitimate interest in protecting our online offering from abusive automated crawling and spam; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.google.com/recaptcha/; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Basis for third country transfers: EU/EEA – Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Switzerland – Adequacy Decision (Ireland). Possibility of objection (opt-out): Opt-out plug-in: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de; Settings for the display of advertisements: https://myadcenter.google.com/personalizationoff.

Processing of data in the context of employment relationships

In the context of employment relationships, personal data is processed with the aim of effectively managing the establishment, implementation and termination of such relationships. This data processing supports various operational and administrative functions that are necessary for the management of employee relations.

Data processing covers various aspects ranging from contract initiation to contract termination. This includes the organization and administration of daily working hours, the administration of access rights and authorizations as well as the handling of personnel development measures and employee appraisals. The processing is also used for payroll and the administration of wage and salary payments, which are critical aspects of contract implementation.

In addition, data processing takes into account the legitimate interests of the responsible employer, such as ensuring safety in the workplace or collecting performance data to evaluate and optimize operational processes. Furthermore, data processing includes the disclosure of employee data as part of external communication and publication processes, where this is necessary for operational or legal purposes.

This data is always processed in compliance with the applicable legal framework, whereby the aim is always to create and maintain a fair and efficient working environment. This also includes taking into account the data protection of the employees concerned, the anonymization or deletion of data after the purpose of processing has been fulfilled or in accordance with statutory retention periods.

  • Processed data types: Employee data (information on employees and other persons in an employment relationship); payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category); inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g. postal and e-mail addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g. text or image messages and contributions as well as information relating to them, such as information on authorship or time of creation); social data (e.g. data collected by social security organizations). content data (e.g. textual or visual messages and contributions and the information relating to them, such as details of authorship or time of creation); social data (data subject to social confidentiality and processed, for example, by social insurance providers, social welfare providers or pension authorities); log data (e.g. log files relating to logins or the retrieval of data or access times); performance and behavioral data (e.g. aspects of performance and behavior). e.g. performance and behavioral aspects such as performance evaluations, feedback from superiors, training participation, compliance with company guidelines, self-assessments and behavioral assessments); working time data (e.g. start of working hours, end of working hours, actual working hours, target working hours, break times, overtime, vacation days, special leave days, sick days, absences, home office days, business trips); salary data (e.g. basic salary, bonus payments, bonuses, premiums). basic salary, bonus payments, premiums, tax class information, supplements for night work/overtime, tax deductions, social security contributions, net amount paid out); image and/or video recordings (e.g. photographs or video recordings of a person); usage data (e.g. page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, persons involved).
  • Special categories of personal data: Health data; Religious or philosophical beliefs. Trade union membership.
  • Data subjects: Employees (e.g. employees, applicants, temporary staff and other employees).
  • Purposes of processing: Establishment and execution of employment relationships (processing of employee data in the context of the establishment and execution of employment relationships); business processes and business management procedures; provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations; public relations; security measures. Office and organizational procedures.
  • Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR); Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR). Processing of special categories of personal data relating to health care, employment and social security (Art. 9 para. 2 lit. h) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Working time recording: Procedures for recording employees’ working times include both manual and automated methods, such as the use of time clocks, time recording software or mobile apps. This involves activities such as entering clock-in and clock-out times, break times, overtime and absences. Checking and validating the recorded working times includes comparing them with shift schedules, checking absences and approving overtime by supervisors. Reports and analyses are created on the basis of the recorded working hours in order to provide time sheets, overtime reports and absence statistics for management and the HR department; legal basis: performance of contract and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Authorization management: Procedures required to define, manage and control access rights and user roles within a system or organization (e.g. creation of authorization profiles, role and access-based control, review and approval of access requests, regular review of access rights, tracking and auditing of user activities, creation of security policies and procedures); Legal basis: Fulfillment of contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Special categories of personal data: Special categories of personal data are processed in the context of the employment relationship or to fulfill legal obligations. The special categories of personal data processed include data relating to the health, trade union membership or religious affiliation of employees. This data may, for example, be passed on to health insurance companies or processed to assess employees’ ability to work or for occupational health management or for information to the tax office; Legal basis: Fulfillment of contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Sources of the processed data: Personal data obtained as part of the employee’s application and/or employment relationship is processed. In addition, if required by law, personal data is collected from other sources. These may be tax authorities for tax-relevant information, the respective health insurance company for information on incapacity for work, third parties such as employment agencies or publicly accessible sources such as professional social networks in the context of application procedures; legal bases: Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Purposes of data processing: The personal data of employees are processed primarily for the establishment, implementation and termination of the employment relationship. In addition, the processing of this data is necessary to fulfill legal obligations in the area of tax and social security law. In addition to these primary purposes, employee data is also used to comply with regulatory and supervisory requirements, to optimize electronic data processing processes and to compile internal or cross-company data, possibly including statistical data. Furthermore, employee data may be processed for the assertion of legal claims and for defense in legal disputes; Legal basis: Fulfillment of contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Transfer of employee data: Employee data is only processed internally by those departments that need it to fulfill operational, contractual and legal obligations.
    Data is only passed on to external recipients if this is required by law or if the employees concerned have given their consent. Possible scenarios for this could be requests for information from authorities or in the case of capital formation benefits. Furthermore, the controller may forward personal data to other recipients if this is necessary to fulfill its contractual and legal obligations as an employer. These recipients may include: a) Banks b) Health insurance funds, pension insurance providers, pension providers and other social insurance providers c) Public authorities, courts (e.g. tax authorities, labor courts, other (e.g. tax authorities, labor courts, other supervisory authorities as part of the fulfillment of reporting and information obligations) d) Tax and legal advisors e) Third-party debtors in the event of wage and salary garnishments f) Other bodies to which legally binding declarations must be made.
    In addition, data may be passed on to third parties if this is necessary for communication with business partners, suppliers or other service providers. Examples of this include information in the sender area of emails or letterhead and the creation of profiles on external platforms; legal basis: contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Business trips and travel expense accounting: Procedures required for the planning, execution and accounting of business trips (e.g. booking of trips, organization of accommodation and means of transport, administration of travel expense advances, submission and checking of travel expense reports, control and accounting of expenses incurred, compliance with travel guidelines, handling of travel expense management); Legal basis: Fulfillment of contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Payroll accounting and payroll accounting: Procedures required for the calculation, payment and documentation of wages, salaries and other remuneration of employees (e.g. recording working hours, calculating deductions and bonuses, paying taxes and social security contributions, preparing pay slips, managing payroll accounts, reporting to the tax office and social security institutions); Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR).
  • Deletion of employee data: Employee data is deleted in accordance with German law if it is not required for the purpose for which it was collected, unless it must be retained or archived due to legal obligations or due to the interests of the employer. The following retention and archiving obligations are observed:
    • General personnel documents – General personnel documents (such as employment contract, reference letter, supplementary agreements) are kept for up to three years after termination of the employment relationship (§ 195 BGB).
      Tax-relevant documents – Tax-relevant documents in the personnel file are kept for six years (§ 147 AO, § 257 HGB).
      Information on wages and working hours – Information on wages and working hours for (accident) insured persons with proof of wages is kept for five years (§ 165 I 1, IV 2 SGB VII).
    • Salary lists including lists for special payments – Salary lists including lists for special payments, provided an accounting document is available, are kept for ten years (§ 147 AO, § 257 HGB).
    • Payroll lists for interim, final and special payments – Payroll lists for interim, final and special payments are kept for six years (§ 147 AO, § 257 HGB).
    • Employee insurance documents – Employee insurance documents, if accounting documents are available, are kept for ten years (§ 147 AO, § 257 HGB).
    • Contribution statements to social security institutions – Contribution statements to social security institutions are kept for ten years (§ 165 SGB VII).
      Payroll accounts – Payroll accounts are kept for six years (§ 41 I 9 EStG).
    • Applicant data – Retained for a maximum of six months from receipt of rejection.
    • Working time records (for more than 8 hours on working days) – Retained for two years (Section 16 II Working Hours Act (ArbZG)).
    • Application documents (after online job advertisement) – Are kept for three to a maximum of six months after receipt of the rejection (§ 26
    • Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) new version, § 15 IV General Equal Treatment Act (AGG)).
    • Certificates of incapacity for work (AU) – Retained for up to five years (Section 6 I of the Equalization of Expenses Act (AAG)).
    • Documents relating to company pension schemes – Retained for 30 years (Section 18a of the Act on the Improvement of Company Pension Schemes (BetrAVG)).
    • Employee sickness data – Retained for twelve months after the start of the illness if the absences do not exceed six weeks in a year.
    • Maternity protection documents – Are kept for two years (§ 27 para. 5 MuSchG).

    Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR), Processing of special categories of personal data relating to health, professional and social security (Art. 9 para. 2 lit. h) GDPR).

  • Personnel file management: Procedures required for organizing, updating and managing employee data and documents (e.g. recording personnel master data, storing employment contracts, references and certificates, updating data in the event of changes, compiling documents for employee appraisals, archiving personnel files, complying with data protection regulations); Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR), Processing of special categories of personal data relating to health, professional and social security (Art. 9 para. 2 lit. h) GDPR).
  • Personnel development, performance evaluation and employee appraisals: Procedures required in the area of promoting and developing employees and assessing their performance and in the context of employee appraisals (e.g. needs analysis for further training, planning and implementation of training measures, preparation of performance evaluations, implementation of target agreement and feedback discussions, career planning and talent management, succession planning); Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR), Processing of special categories of personal data relating to health, professional and social security (Art. 9 para. 2 lit. h) GDPR).
  • Obligation to provide data: The controller shall inform employees that the provision of their data is required. This is generally the case if the data is required for the establishment and performance of the employment relationship or if its collection is required by law. It may also be necessary to provide data if employees assert claims or if employees are entitled to claims. The implementation of these measures or fulfillment of benefits is dependent on the provision of this data (for example, the provision of data for the purpose of receiving wages); Legal basis: Fulfillment of contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
  • Publication and disclosure of employee data: Employee data is only published or disclosed to third parties if this is necessary for the performance of work tasks in accordance with the employment contract. This applies, for example, if employees are named as contact persons in correspondence, on the website or in public registers following consultation or an agreed job description, or if the area of responsibility includes representative functions. This may also be the case if a presentation or communication with the public takes place as part of the performance of duties, such as photographs taken as part of public relations work. Otherwise, employees’ data will only be published with their consent or on the basis of the employer’s legitimate interests, for example in the case of stage or group photos taken as part of a public event; legal basis: performance of contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Change and update

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

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

Definitions of terms

This section provides you with an overview of the terms used in this privacy policy. Insofar as the terms are defined by law, their legal definitions apply. The following explanations, on the other hand, are primarily intended to aid understanding.

  • Employees: Employees are defined as persons who are in an employment relationship, whether as staff, employees or in similar positions. An employment relationship is a legal relationship between an employer and an employee that is defined by an employment contract or agreement. It involves the employer’s obligation to pay remuneration to the employee while the employee performs work. The employment relationship comprises various phases, including the establishment, in which the employment contract is concluded, the performance, in which the employee performs his or her work activities, and the termination, when the employment relationship ends, whether by notice, termination agreement or otherwise. Employee data is all information that relates to these persons and is in the context of their employment. This includes aspects such as personal identification data, identification numbers, salary and bank details, working hours, vacation entitlements, health data and performance appraisals.
  • Inventory data: Inventory data includes essential information necessary for the identification and management of contractual partners, user accounts, profiles and similar assignments. This data may include personal and demographic information such as names, contact information (addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses), dates of birth and specific identifiers (user IDs). Inventory data forms the basis for any formal interaction between people and services, facilities or systems by enabling clear assignment and communication.
  • Credit information: Automated decisions are based on automatic data processing without human intervention (e.g. in the case of an automatic rejection of a purchase on account, an online credit application or an online application process without any human intervention). According to Art. 22 GDPR, such automated decisions are only permitted if the data subject consents, if they are necessary for the performance of a contract or if national laws permit these decisions.
  • Content data: Content data includes information generated in the course of creating, editing and publishing content of all kinds. This category of data can include texts, images, videos, audio files and other multimedia content published on various platforms and media. Content data is not limited to the content itself, but also includes metadata that provides information about the content itself, such as tags, descriptions, author information and publication dates
  • Click tracking: Click tracking allows us to keep track of users’ movements within an entire online offering. As the results of these tests are more accurate if the user’s interaction can be tracked over a certain period of time (e.g. so that we can find out whether a user likes to return), cookies are usually stored on the user’s computer for these test purposes.
  • Contact details: Contact data is essential information that enables communication with individuals or organizations. It includes telephone numbers, postal addresses and email addresses, as well as communication tools such as social media handles and instant messaging identifiers.
  • Conversion measurement: Conversion measurement (also known as “visit action evaluation”) is a process that can be used to determine the effectiveness of marketing measures. For this purpose, a cookie is usually stored on the user’s device within the websites on which the marketing measures take place and then retrieved again on the target website. For example, this allows us to track whether the ads we placed on other websites were successful.
  • Artificial intelligence (AI): The purpose of processing data using artificial intelligence (AI) includes the automated analysis and processing of user data in order to recognize patterns, make predictions and improve the efficiency and quality of our services. This includes the collection, cleansing and structuring of data, the training and application of AI models as well as the continuous review and optimization of the results and is carried out exclusively with the consent of the users or on the basis of legal permission.
  • Performance and behavioral data: Performance and behavioral data refers to information related to how individuals perform tasks or behave in a particular context, such as an educational, work or social environment. This data can include metrics such as productivity, efficiency, quality of work, attendance and compliance with policies or procedures. Behavioral data could include interactions with colleagues, communication styles, decision-making processes and reactions to different situations. These types of data are often used for performance evaluations, training and development, and decision making within organizations.
  • Meta, communication and procedural data: Meta, communication and procedural data are categories that contain information about the way in which data is processed, transmitted and managed. Meta data, also known as data about data, includes information that describes the context, origin and structure of other data. It can include information on file size, creation date, the author of a document and change histories. Communication data records the exchange of information between users via various channels, such as e-mail traffic, call logs, messages in social networks and chat histories, including the persons involved, time stamps and transmission paths. Procedural data describes the processes and procedures within systems or organizations, including workflow documentation, logs of transactions and activities, and audit logs used to track and review operations.
  • Usage data: Usage data refers to information that captures how users interact with digital products, services or platforms. This data includes a wide range of information that shows how users use applications, which functions they prefer, how long they stay on certain pages and which paths they take to navigate through an application. Usage data can also include frequency of use, timestamps of activities, IP addresses, device information and location data. It is particularly valuable for analysing user behaviour, optimizing user experiences, personalizing content and improving products or services. In addition, usage data plays a crucial role in identifying trends, preferences and potential problem areas within digital offerings
  • Personal data: “Personal data” means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter referred to as “data subject”); an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier (e.g. a cookie) or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.
  • Profiles with user-related information: The processing of “profiles with user-related information”, or “profiles” for short, includes any type of automated processing of personal data that consists of using this personal data to analyze, evaluate or predict certain personal aspects relating to a natural person (depending on the type of profiling, this may include various information relating to demographics, behavior and interests, such as interaction with websites and 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.
  • Log data: Log data is information about events or activities that have been logged on a system or network. This data typically contains information such as timestamps, IP addresses, user actions, error messages and other details about the use or operation of a system. Log data is often used to analyze system problems, for security monitoring or to create performance reports.
  • Reach measurement: Reach measurement (also known as web analytics) is used to evaluate the flow of visitors to an online offering and can include the behavior or interests of visitors in certain information, such as website content. With the help of reach analysis, operators of online offers can, for example, recognize at what time users visit their websites and what content they are interested in. This allows them to better adapt the content of their websites to the needs of their visitors, for example. Pseudonymous cookies and web beacons are often used for reach analysis purposes in order to recognize returning visitors and thus obtain more precise analyses of the use of an online offering.
  • Location data: Location data is generated when a mobile device (or another device with the technical requirements for location determination) connects to a radio cell, a WLAN or similar technical means and functions of location determination. Location data is used to indicate the geographically determinable position on earth at which the respective device is located. Location data can be used, for example, to display map functions or other location-dependent information.
  • Tracking: The term “tracking” is used when the behavior of users can be tracked across several online offerings. As a rule, behavioral and interest information is stored in cookies or on the servers of the providers of the tracking technologies with regard to the online offers used (so-called profiling). This information can then be used, for example, to display advertisements to users that are likely to correspond to their interests.
  • Controller: The “controller” is the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data.
  • Processing: “Processing” means any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data, whether or not by automated means. The term is broad and covers practically every handling of data, be it collection, analysis, storage, transmission or deletion.
  • Contract data: Contract data is specific information that relates to the formalization of an agreement between two or more parties. It documents the conditions under which services or products are provided, exchanged or sold. This category of data is essential for the management and fulfillment of contractual obligations and includes both the identification of the contracting parties and the specific terms and conditions of the agreement. Contract data may include start and end dates of the contract, the type of services or products agreed, price agreements, payment terms, termination rights, renewal options and special terms or clauses. They serve as the legal basis for the relationship between the parties and are crucial for the clarification of rights and obligations, the enforcement of claims and the resolution of disputes.
  • Payment data: Payment data includes all information needed to process payment transactions between buyers and sellers. This data is crucial for e-commerce, online banking and any other form of financial transaction. It includes details such as credit card numbers, bank details, payment amounts, transaction dates, verification numbers and billing information. Payment data can also include information about payment status, chargebacks, authorizations and fees.
  • Target group formation: Custom audiences are defined when target groups are determined for advertising purposes, e.g. the display of advertisements. For example, based on a user’s interest in certain products or topics on the Internet, it can be concluded that this user is interested in advertisements for similar products or the online store in which they viewed the products. In turn, “lookalike audiences” (or similar target groups) are when the content deemed suitable is displayed to users whose profiles or interests presumably correspond to the users for whom the profiles were created. Cookies and web beacons are generally used for the purpose of creating custom audiences and lookalike audiences.