Privacy policy

Privacy policy

What happens to your data?

 

Privacy policy

Introduction

With the following privacy policy, we would like to clarify which types of your personal data (hereinafter also referred to as “data” for short) belong to our purposes and to what extent they are used. This policy applies for all processing of personal data carried out by us, both in the context of 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 the “online offer”)

The terms used are not gender specific.

As of: January 27, 2021

 

Table of contents:

  • Introduction
  • Person responsible
  • Overview of the processing operations
  • Definitive legal basis
  • Security measures
  • Transfer and disclosure of personal data
  • Data processing in third countries
  • Use of cookies
  • Commercial and business services
  • Provision of online services and web hosting
  • Contacting
  • Web analysis, monitoring and optimization
  • Online marketing
  • Presence in social networks (social media)
  • Plugins and embedded functions and options
  • Deletion of data
  • Modification and updating of the privacy policy
  • Rights of the data subjects
  • Definitions

Person responsible

Patrick Heidel
Helix Gesellschaft für Engineering und Software mbH
Otto-Roelen-Str. 1
46147 Oberhausen

Authorized representatives: Patrick Heidel

Email: helix@helix-gmbh.net

Imprint: http://www.helix-gmbh.net

Overview of the processing operations

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

Types of processed data

  • Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses)
  • Content data (e.g., entries in online forms).
  • Contact data (e.g., e-mail, telephone numbers).
  • Meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).
  • Usage data (e.g., web pages visited, interest in content, access times).
  • Location data (information about the geographical position of a device or person).
  • Contract data (e.g., subject matter of contract, term, customer category).
  • Payment data (e.g., bank details, invoices, payment history).

Data subjects

  • Business and contractual partners
  • Interested parties
  • Communication partners
  • Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services)

Purposes of the processing

  • Provision of our online offer and user friendliness.
  • Conversion measurement (measuring the effectiveness of marketing measures).
  • Office and organizational procedures.
  • Interest-based and behavioural marketing.
  • Contact requests and communication.
  • Profiling (creation of user profiles).
  • Reach measurement (e.g., access statistics, recognition of returning visitors).
  • Tracking (e.g., interest/behaviour-based profiling, use of cookies).
  • Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Administration and response to inquiries.
  • Relevant legal basis.

Definitive legal basis

In the following, we share the legal basis of the general data protection regulation (GDPR – DSGVO in German) on the basis of which we process personal data. Please note that in addition to the provisions of the DSGVO, the national data protection provisions in your or our country of residence and domicile may apply. Furthermore, should more specific legal bases be relevant in individual cases, we will inform you of these in the privacy policy.

  • Consent (Art. 6 (1) p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO) – The data subject has given his/her consent to the processing of personal data concerning him/her for a specific purpose or purposes
  • Contract performance and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO) – Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party or for the performance of pre-contractual measures taken at the data subject’s request.
  • Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. c. DSGVO) – Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.
  • Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO) – Processing is necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the controller or a third party, unless such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require the protection of personal data.

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

Security measures

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

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

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

Transfer and disclosure of personal data

In the course of our processing of personal data, it may happen that the data is transferred to other bodies, companies, legally independent organizational units or person or that it is disclosed to them. Recipients of this data may include, for example, payment institutions in the context of payment transactions, service providers commissioned with IT tasks or providers of services and content that are integrated into a website. In such cases, we observe the legal requirements and, in particular, conclude appropriate contracts or agreements that serve to protect your data with the recipients of your data.

Data processing in the third countries

If we process data in a third country (i.e., outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA)) or the processing takes place in the context of the use of third-party services or the disclosure or transfer of data to other persons, entities, or companies, this is only done in accordance with the legal requirements.

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

Use of cookies

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

The following cookie types and functions are distinguished:

Temporary cookies (also: session cookies): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user has left an online offer and closed his browser.

Permanent cookies: Permanent cookies remain stored even after the browser is closed. For example, the login status can be saved or preferred content can be displayed directly after the user visits a website again. Likewise, the interests of users used for reach measurement or marketing purposes can be stored in such a cookie.

First-party cookies: First-party cookies are set by ourselves

Third-party cookies (also: third-party cookies):  Third-party cookies are mainly used by advertisers (so-called third parties) to process user information.

Necessary (also: essential or absolutely necessary) cookies: Cookies may be absolutely necessary for the operation of a website (e.g., to store logins or other user input or for security reasons)

Statistical, marketing and personalization cookies: Furthermore, cookies are generally also used in the context of range measurement and when a user’s interests or behaviour (e.g., viewing certain content, using functions, etc.) on individual websites are stored in a user profile. Such profiles are used, for example, to show users content that matches their potential interests. This process is also referred to as “tracking” technologies, we will inform you separately in our privacy policy or in the context of obtaining consent.

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

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

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

Processing of cookie data based on consent: We use a cookie consent management procedure in which the consent of users to the use of cookies, or the processing and providers mentioned in the cookie consent management procedure, can be obtained and managed and revoked by users. In this context, the declaration of consent is stored in order not to have to repeat its request and to be able to prove the consent in accordance with the legal obligation. The storage can take place on the server side and/or in a cookie (so-called opt-in cookie, or with the help of comparable technologies), in order to be able to assign the consent to a user or their device. Subject to individual information on the providers of cookie management services, the following information applies: The duration of the storage of consent can be up to two years. A pseudonymous user identifier is created and stored with the time of consent, information on the scope of consent (e.g., which categories of cookies and/or service providers), as well as the browser, system and end device used.

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

Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

BorlabsCookie: cookie consent management; service provider: Borlabs; Website: https://de.borlabs.io/borlabs-cookie/; An individual user ID, language as well as types of consents and the time of their submission are stored on the server side and in the cookie on the users‘ device.

 

Commercial and business services

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

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

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

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

Insofar as we use third-party providers to provide our services, the terms and conditions and data protections notices of the respective third-party providers or platforms shall apply in the relationship between the users and the providers.

Consulting: We process the data of our clients, customers as well as interested parties and other clients or contractual partners (uniformly referred to as “clients”) in order to be able to provide them with our consulting services. The data processed, the type, the scope, purpose and necessity of their processing are determined by the underlying contractual and client relationship.

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

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

The required information is identified as such in the context of order, purchase order or comparable contract conclusion and includes the information required for the provision of services and billing as well as contact information in order to be able to hold any consultations. Insofar as we obtain access to information of the end customers, employees or other persons, we process this in accordance with the legal and contractual requirements.

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

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

This required information is identified as such in the context of the order, purchase order or comparable contract conclusion and includes the information required for the provision of services and billing as well as contact information of end customers, employees or other persons, we process this in accordance with legal and contractual requirements.

Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g., names, addresses), payment data (e.g., bank details, invoices, payment history), contact data (e.g., e-mail, telephone numbers), contract data (e.g., subject matter of contract, term, customer category).

Data subjects: Prospective customers, business and contractual partners.

Purposes of processing: provision of contractual services and customer service, contact requests and communication, office and organizational procedures, administration and response to request.

Legal basis: Contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. c. DSGVO), legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

 

Provision of the online offer and web hosting

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

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

Collection of access data and log files: We ourselves (or our web hosting provider) collect data on each access to the server (so-called server log files). The server log files may include the address and name of the web pages and files accessed, the date and time of access, the volume of data transferred, notification of successful access, browser type and version, the user’s operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page) and, as a rule, IP addresses and the requesting provider.

The server log files may be used, on the one hand, for security purposes, e.g., to prevent websites overload (especially in the event of abusive attacks, so-called DDoS attacks) and, on the other hand, to ensure the utilization of the servers and their stability.

Types of data processed: Content data (e.g., entries in online forms), usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).

Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO)

Contact

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

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

Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g., names, addresses), contact data (e.g., email, telephone numbers), content data (e.g., entries in online forms).

Data subjects: Communication partners.

Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication.

Legal basis: Contract fulfilment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO)

Web analysis, monitoring and optimization

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

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

The IP addresses of the users are also stored. However, we can use an IP masking procedure (i.e., pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. Generally, in the context of web analysis, A/B testing and optimization, no clear data of the users (such as e-mail addresses and names) are stored, but pseudonyms. This means that we, as well as the providers of the software used, do not know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles for the purposes of the respective procedures.

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

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

Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

Purposes of processing: reach measurement (e.g., access statistics, recognition of returning visitors), tracking (e.g., interest/behaviour-based profiling, use of cookies), conversion measurement (measurement of the effectiveness of marketing measures), profiling (creation of user profiles), interest-based and behaviour-based marketing.

Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).

Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

 

Services used and service providers:

 

Google Analytics: reach measurement and web analytics; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://marketingplatform.google.com/intl/de/about/analytics/; privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Google Optimize: Use of Google Analytics data for purposes of improving areas of our online offering and better aligning our marketing efforts with potential user interests; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://optimize.google.com; privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; opt-out: opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, settings for displaying ads: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.

Google Tag Manager: Google Tag Manager is a solution with which we can manage so-called website tags via an interface and thus integrate other services into our online offering (please refer to further details in this privacy policy). With the Tag Manager itself (which implements the tags), therefore, no profiles of users are created or cookies are stored, for example. Google only learns the IP address of the user, which is necessary to run the Google Tag Manager. Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.

 

Online marketing

We process personal data for online marketing purposes, which may include, in particular, the marketing of advertising space or display of promotional and other content (collectively, “content”) based on potential user interests and the measurement of its effectiveness.

For these purposes, so-called user profiles are created and stored in a file (so-called “cookie”) or similar procedures are used, by means of which the information about the user relevant to the presentation of the aforementioned content is stored. This information may include, for example, content viewed, websites visited, online networks used, but also communication partners and technical information such as the browser used, the computer system used and information on usage times. If users have consented to the collection of their location data, this may also be processed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services), prospective customers.

Purposes of processing: tracking (e.g., interest/behavioural profiling, use of cookies), remarketing, conversion measurement (measuring the effectiveness of marketing activities), interest-based and behavioural marketing, profiling (creating user profiles), reach measurement (e.g., access statistics, recognizing returning visitors).

Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).

Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Possibility of objection (opt-out): We refer to the data protection notices on the respective providers and the objection options given to the providers (so-called “opt-out”). If no explicit opt-out option has been specified, you have the option to disable cookies in your browser settings. However, this may restrict functions of our online offer. We therefore recommend the following additional opt-out options, which are offered in summary for the respective areas:

  1. a) Europe: https://www.youronlinechoices.eu. b) Canada: https://www.youradchoices.ca/choices. c) USA: https://www.aboutads.info/choices. d) Cross-territory: https://optout.aboutads.info.

Services used and service providers:

Google Analytics: online marketing and web analytics; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com/intl/de/about/analytics/; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Opt-out: Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, Ad display settings: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.

 

Presence in social networks (social media)

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

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

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

For a detailed presentation of the respective forms of processing and the options to object (opt-out), we refer to the privacy statements and information provided by the operators of the respective networks.

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

Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g., names, addresses), contact data (e.g., e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g., entries in online forms), usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).

Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication, tracking (e.g., interest/behavioural profiling, use of cookies), remarketing.

Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

 

Services used and service providers:

Xing: social network; service provider: XING AG, Dammtorstraße 29-32, 20354 Hamburg, Germany; Website: https://www.xing.de; Privacy policy: https://privacy.xing.com/de/datenschutzerklaerung.

 

Plugins and embedded functions and options

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

The integration always requires that the third-party providers of this content process the IP address of the user, since without the IP address they could not send the content to their browser. The IP address is thus required for the display of this content or functionality. We strive to use only such content whose respective providers use the IP address only for the delivery of content. Third-party providers may also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also known as “web beacons”) for statistical or marketing purposes. The “pixel tags” can be used to analyse information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website. The pseudonymous information may also be stored in cookies on the user’s device and may contain, among other things, technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, time of visit and other information about the use of our online offer as well as be linked to such information from other sources.

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

Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), location data (information about 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 customer service.

Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

 

Services used and service providers:

Google Fonts: We integrate the fonts („Google Fonts“) of the provider Google, whereby the user’s data is used solely for the purpose of displaying the fonts in the user’s browser. The integration is based on our legitimate interests in a technically secure, maintenance-free and efficient use of fonts, their uniform presentation, as well as taking into account possible licensing restrictions for their integration. Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://fonts.google.com/; privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Google Maps: We integrate the maps of the service „Google Maps“ of the provider Google. The data processed may include, in particular, IP addresses and location data of the users, which, however, are not collected without their consent (usually executed in the context of the settings of their mobile devices); service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform; privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; opt-out: opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, settings for display of ads: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.

Typekit fonts from Adobe: We integrate the fonts („Typekit fonts“) of the provider Adobe, whereby the user data is used solely for the purpose of displaying the fonts in the user’s browser. The integration is based on our legitimate interests in a technically secure, maintenance-free and efficient use of fonts, their uniform display, as well as taking into account possible licensing restrictions for their integration. Service provider: Adobe Systems Software Ireland Limited, 4-6 Riverwalk, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24, Ireland; Website: https://www.adobe.com/de; Privacy Policy: https://www.adobe.com/de/privacy.html.

 

Deletion of data

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

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

Further information on the deletion of personal data can also be found in the individual data protection notices of this privacy policy.

 

Change and update of the privacy

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

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

Rights of data subjects:

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

  • Right to object: You have the right to object at any time, on grounds relating your particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning you which is carried out on the basis of Article 6(1)(e) or (f) DSGVO; this also applies to profiling based on these provisions. If the personal data concerning you is processed for the purpose of direct marketing, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purpose of such marketing; this also applies to profiling insofar as it is related to such direct marketing.
  • Right to withdraw consent: You have the right to revoke any consent given at any time.
  • Right of access: You have the right to obtain confirmation as to whether or not data concerning you is being processed and to obtain such data, as well as further information and a copy of the data, in accordance with the law.
  • Right to rectification: You have the right, in accordance with the law, to request that the data concerning you be completed or that the inaccurate data concerning you be rectified.
  • Right to deletion and restriction of processing: You have the right, in accordance with the law, to request that data relating to you be deleted immediately or, alternatively, to request restriction of the processing of the data in accordance with the law.
  • Right to data portability: You have the right to receive data concerning you, which you have provided to us, in a structured, common and machine-readable format in accordance with the legal requirements, or to demand its transfer to another controller
  • Complaint to supervisory authority: You also have the right, in accordance with the law, to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work or place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data concerning you infringes the DSGVO.

Definitions

This section provides you with an overview of the terms used in this privacy policy. Many of the terms are taken from the law and defined primarily in Art. 4 of the DSGVO. The legal definitions are binding. The following explanations, on the other hand, are primarily intended to aid understanding.

  • IP masking: „IP masking“ refers to a method in which the last octet, i.e., the last two numbers of an IP address, is deleted so that the IP address can no longer be used to uniquely identify a person. Therefore, IP masking is a means of pseudonymizing processing procedures, especially in online marketing
  • Interest-based and behavioral marketing: Interest-based and/or behavioral marketing is when users‘ potential interests in ads and other content are determined as precisely as possible. This is done on the basis of information about their previous behavior (e.g., visiting and staying on certain websites, purchasing behavior or interaction with other users), which is stored in a so-called profile. Cookies are generally used for these purposes.
  • Conversion measurement: Conversion measurement (also referred to as „visit action evaluation“) is a method used to determine the effectiveness of marketing measures. For this purpose, a cookie is usually stored on the users‘ devices within the websites on which the marketing measures take place and then retrieved again on the target website. For example, this allows us to track whether the ads we have placed on other websites have been successful.
  • Personal data: „Personal data“ means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter „data subject“); an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier (e.g. cookie) or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.
  • Profiling: „Profiling“ is any form of automated processing of personal data that involves the use of personal data to analyse, evaluate or predict certain personal aspects relating to a natural person (depending on the type of profiling, this may include information relating to age, gender, location data and movement data, interaction with websites and their content, shopping behaviour, social interactions with other people) (e.g., interests in certain content or products, click behaviour on a website or location). Cookies and web beacons are often used for profiling purposes.
  • Reach measurement: Reach measurement (also known as web analytics) is used to evaluate the flow of visitors to an online offering and can include visitors‘ behaviour or interests in certain information, such as website content. With the help of reach analysis, website owners can see, for example, at what time visitors visit their website and what content they are interested in. This enables them, for example, to better adapt the content of the website to the needs of their visitors. For the purposes of reach analysis, pseudonymous cookies and web beacons are often used to recognize returning visitors and thus obtain more precise analyses of the use of an online offer.
  • Remarketing: „Remarketing“ or „retargeting“ is when, for example, for advertising purposes, a note is made of which products a user was interested in on a website in order to remind the user of these products on other websites, e.g., in advertisements.
  • Location data: Location data is generated when a mobile device (or another device with the technical requirements of location determination) connects to a radio cell, a WIFI 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 information dependent on a location.
  • Tracking: Tracking is when the behaviour of users can be traced across several online services. As a rule, behavioural and interest information is stored in cookies or on 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 match their interests.
  • Controller: a „controller“ is the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which alone or jointly with others determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data.
  • Processing: „Processing“ means any operation or set of operations which is performed upon personal data, whether or not by automatic means. The term is broad and includes virtually any handling of data, be it collection, analysis, storage, transmission or deletion.