DATA PROTECTION STATEMENT

 

1) Introduction and contact details of the responsible person

 

1.1 We are pleased that you are visiting our website and thank you for your interest. In the following, we will inform you about how we handle your personal data when you use our website. In this context, personal data is all data with which you can be personally identified.

 

1.2 The person responsible for data processing on this website within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO) is Markus Loening, Friedrich-Wilhelm-Strasse 90, 12099 Berlin, Germany, Tel.: +4912351839, email: markus@loening.org. The person responsible for data processing is the natural or legal person who alone or jointly with others determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data.

 

1.3 This website uses SSL or TLS encryption for security reasons and to protect the transmission of personal data and other confidential content (e.g. orders or enquiries to the controller). You can recognise an encrypted connection by the string “https://” and the lock symbol in your browser line.

 

2) Data collection when visiting our website

 

When you use our website for information purposes only, i.e. if you do not register or otherwise transmit information to us, we only collect the data that your browser transmits to the page server (so-called “server log files”). When you visit our website, we collect the following data, which is technically necessary for us to display the website to you:

  • Our visited website
  • Date and time at the time of access
  • Amount of data sent in bytes
  • Source/reference from which you reached the page
  • Browser used
  • Operating system used
  • IP address used (if applicable: in anonymised form)

The processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO on the basis of our legitimate interest in improving the stability and functionality of our website. The data is not passed on or used in any other way. However, we reserve the right to check the server log files retrospectively if there are concrete indications of illegal use.

 

3) Cookies

 

In order to make visiting our website more attractive and to enable the use of certain functions, we use cookies, i.e. small text files that are stored on your terminal device. In some cases, these cookies are automatically deleted after you close your browser (so-called “session cookies”), in other cases, these cookies remain on your end device for a longer period of time and allow you to save page settings (so-called “persistent cookies”). In the latter case, you can find the storage period in the overview of the cookie settings of your web browser.

 

If personal data is also processed by individual cookies used by us, the processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b DSGVO either for the performance of the contract, in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a DSGVO in the case of consent given or in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO to protect our legitimate interests in the best possible functionality of the website as well as a customer-friendly and effective design of the page visit.

 

You can set your browser in such a way that you are informed about the setting of cookies and can decide individually about their acceptance or can exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general.

 

Please note that if you do not accept cookies, the functionality of our website may be limited.

 

4) Contacting us

 

Personal data is collected when contacting us (e.g. via contact form or email). Which data is collected when using a contact form can be seen from the respective contact form. This data is stored and used exclusively for the purpose of answering your request or for contacting you and the associated technical administration.

 

The legal basis for processing this data is our legitimate interest in responding to your request in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f DSGVO. If your contact aims at the conclusion of a contract, the additional legal basis for the processing is Art. 6 (1) lit. b DSGVO. Your data will be deleted after your request has been processed. This is the case when the circumstances indicate that the matter in question has been conclusively clarified and provided that there are no statutory retention obligations to the contrary.

 

5) Use of customer data for direct marketing purposes

 

5.1 Registration for our email newsletter

 

If you register for our email newsletter, we will regularly send you information about our offers. The only mandatory data for sending the newsletter is your email address. The provision of further data is voluntary and will be used to address you personally. We use the so-called double opt-in procedure for sending the newsletter. This means that we will only send you an email newsletter if you have expressly confirmed that you consent to receiving newsletters. We will then send you a confirmation email asking you to confirm that you wish to receive the newsletter in future by clicking on an appropriate link.

 

By activating the confirmation link, you give us your consent for the use of your personal data in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. a DSGVO. When you register for the newsletter, we store your IP address entered by your Internet service provider (ISP) as well as the date and time of registration in order to be able to trace any possible misuse of your email address at a later date. The data collected by us when you register for the newsletter is used exclusively for the purpose of addressing you in an advertising manner by way of the newsletter. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time via the link provided for this purpose in the newsletter or by sending a corresponding message to the responsible person named at the beginning. After unsubscribing, your email address will be deleted from our newsletter distribution list immediately, unless you have expressly consented to further use of your data or we reserve the right to use your data in a way that goes beyond this, which is permitted by law and about which we inform you in this declaration.

 

 

5.2 MailChimp

 

Our email newsletters are sent via this provider: The Rocket Science Group, LLC d/b/a MailChimp, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Suite 5000, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA.

 

On the basis of our legitimate interest in effective and user-friendly newsletter marketing, we pass on the data you provided when registering for the newsletter to this provider in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f DSGVO so that they can send the newsletter on our behalf.

 

Subject to your express consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a DSGVO, the provider also carries out a statistical evaluation of the success of newsletter campaigns by means of web beacons or tracking pixels in the emails sent, which can measure opening rates and specific interactions with the newsletter content. In the process, end device information (e.g. time of call-up, IP address, browser type and operating system) is also collected and evaluated, but not merged with other data records.

 

You can revoke your consent to newsletter tracking at any time with effect for the future.

 

We have concluded an order processing agreement with the provider, which protects the data of our site visitors and prohibits the transfer of data to third parties.

 

For the transfer of data to the USA, the provider invokes standard contractual clauses of the European Commission, which are intended to ensure compliance with the European level of data protection.

 

6) Online marketing

 

HubSpot

 

This website uses the services of HubSpot, a software-based marketing service of HubSpot Ireland Ltd, 2nd Floor 30 North Wall Quay, Dublin 1, Ireland.

 

With the help of Hubspot, various customer service and customer management services can be digitally synchronised and processed via a central user interface. For example, HubSpot enables the generation of leads, central email and newsletter marketing, contact management via the classification of user groups with the help of CRM, and the administration of contact forms.

 

To fulfil the various functions, HubSpot uses cookies, small text files that are stored locally in the cache of your web browser on your end device and enable an analysis of your use of the website by us. The cookies collect certain information, such as the IP address, the location, the time of the page view, etc. Information collected by HubSpot is stored on HubSpot servers and evaluated on our behalf.

All of the processing described above, in particular the setting of cookies for reading out information on the end device used, will only be carried out if you have given us your express consent to do so in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. a DSGVO. Without this consent, HubSpot will not be used during your visit to the site.

 

You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future. To exercise your revocation, please deactivate this service in the “Cookie Consent Tool” provided on the website.

Other legal bases for data processing that apply in the context of specific HubSpot services (such as the need for explicit consent pursuant to Art.6 (1) lit. a DSGVO when sending newsletters) remain unaffected by this.

 

We have concluded an order processing agreement with HubSpot, with which we oblige HubSpot to protect our customers’ data and not to pass it on to third parties.

 

You can find more information about Hubspot’s data protection policy at the following Internet address: https://legal.hubspot.com/de/datenschutz.

 

7) Web analytics services

 

7.1 Google (Universal) Analytics

 

This website uses Google (Universal) Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland (“Google”), which enables an analysis of your use of our website.

 

By default, Google (Universal) Analytics sets cookies when you visit the website, which are stored as small text modules on your terminal device and collect certain information. The scope of this information also includes your IP address, which is, however, shortened by Google by the last digits in order to exclude a direct personal reference.

 

The information is transferred to Google servers and processed there. This may also involve transmission to Google LLC, which is based in the USA.

 

Google uses the information collected on our behalf to evaluate your use of the website, to compile reports on website activity for us and to provide other services associated with website and internet use. The IP address transmitted and shortened by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with other Google data. The data collected in the context of the use of Google (Universal) Analytics will be stored for a period of two months and then deleted.

 

All of the processing described above, in particular the setting of cookies on the end device used, only takes place if you have given us your express consent for this in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. a DSGVO.

Without your consent, Google (Universal) Analytics will not be used during your visit to the site. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future. To exercise your right of revocation, please deactivate this service via the “Cookie Consent Tool” provided on the website.

 

We have concluded an order processing agreement with Google, which ensures the protection of our site visitors’ data and prohibits unauthorised disclosure to third parties.

For the transfer of data to the USA, Google refers to standard contractual clauses of the European Commission, which are intended to ensure compliance with the European level of data protection.

Further legal information on Google (Universal) Analytics, including a copy of the aforementioned standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de&gl=de and at https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.

 

Demographic characteristics

Google (Universal) Analytics uses the special “demographic characteristics” function and can use this to generate statistics that make statements about the age, gender and interests of site visitors. This is done by analysing advertising and information from third-party providers. This allows target groups to be identified for marketing activities. However, the collected data cannot be assigned to a specific person and is deleted after being stored for a period of two months.

 

Google Signals

As an extension to Google (Universal) Analytics, Google Signals can be used on this website to generate cross-device reports. If you have activated personalised ads and linked your devices to your Google account, Google may, subject to your consent to the use of Google Analytics pursuant to Art. 6 (1) lit. a DSGVO, analyse your usage behaviour across devices and create database models, including on cross-device conversions. We do not receive any personal data from Google, only statistics. If you would like to stop the cross-device analysis, you can deactivate the “Personalised advertising” function in the settings of your Google account. To do so, follow the instructions on this page: https://support.google.com/ads/answer/2662922?hl=de You can find more information about Google Signals at the following link: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/7532985?hl=de

 

UserIDs

As an extension to Google (Universal) Analytics, the “UserIDs” function can be used on this website. If you have consented to the use of Google (Universal) Analytics pursuant to Art. 6 (1) lit. a DSGVO, have set up an account on this website and log in with this account on various devices, your activities, including conversions, can be analysed across devices.

 

7.2 Google Tag Manager

 

This website uses the “Google Tag Manager”, a service of the following provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland (hereinafter: “Google”).

 

The Google Tag Manager provides a technical basis for bundling various web applications, including tracking and analysis services, and for calibrating, controlling and attaching conditions to them via a uniform user interface. The Google Tag Manager itself does not store any information on user devices or read them out. The service also does not carry out any independent data analyses. However, the Google Tag Manager transmits your IP address to Google when you access a page and may store it there. Transmission to Google LLC. servers in the USA is also possible. in the USA is possible.

 

This processing is only carried out if you have given us your express consent in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. a DSGVO. Without this consent, Google Tag Manager will not be used during your visit to the site. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future. To exercise your revocation, please deactivate this service in the “Cookie Consent Tool” provided on the website.

 

We have concluded an order processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of our site visitors’ data and prohibits unauthorised disclosure to third parties.

 

For the transfer of data to the USA, the provider invokes standard contractual clauses of the European Commission, which are intended to ensure compliance with the European level of data protection.

 

8) Tools and other matters

 

Cookie consent tool

 

This website uses a so-called “cookie consent tool” to obtain effective user consent for cookies and cookie-based applications requiring consent. The “cookie consent tool” is displayed to users in the form of an interactive user interface when they access the page, on which consent for certain cookies and/or cookie-based applications can be given by ticking the appropriate box. Through the use of the tool, all cookies/services requiring consent are only loaded if the respective user gives the corresponding consent by ticking the corresponding box. This ensures that such cookies are only set on the respective end device of the user if consent has been granted.

 

The tool sets technically necessary cookies to save your cookie preferences. Personal user data is generally not processed.

 

If, in individual cases, personal data (such as the IP address) is processed for the purpose of storing, assigning or logging cookie settings, this is done in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. f DSGVO on the basis of our legitimate interest in legally compliant, user-specific and user-friendly consent management for cookies and thus in a legally compliant design of our website.

 

Further legal basis for the processing is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c DSGVO. As the responsible party, we are subject to the legal obligation to make the use of technically unnecessary cookies dependent on the respective user consent.

 

We have concluded an order processing contract with the provider, which ensures the protection of our site visitors’ data and prohibits unauthorised disclosure to third parties.

 

Further information on the operator and the setting options of the cookie consent tool can be found directly in the corresponding user interface on our website.

 

9) Rights of the data subject

 

9.1 The applicable data protection law grants you the following data subject rights (rights of information and intervention) vis-à-vis the person responsible with regard to the processing of your personal data, whereby reference is made to the stated legal basis for the respective exercise prerequisites:

  • Right to information pursuant to Art. 15 DSGVO;
  • Right to rectification pursuant to Art. 16 DSGVO;
  • Right to erasure pursuant to Art. 17 DSGVO;
  • Right to restriction of processing pursuant to Art. 18 GDPR;
  • Right to information pursuant to Art. 19 GDPR;
  • Right to data portability pursuant to Art. 20 GDPR;
  • Right to withdraw consent granted pursuant to Art. 7(3) GDPR;
  • Right to lodge a complaint pursuant to Art. 77 DSGVO.

 

9.2 Right of objection

 

If we process your personal data within the framework of a balancing of interests on the basis of our overriding legitimate interest, you have the right to object to this processing with effect for the future at any time on grounds arising from your particular situation.

 

If you exercise your right to object, we will stop processing the data concerned. However, we reserve the right to continue processing if we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your interests, fundamental rights and freedoms, or if the processing is for the purpose of asserting, exercising or defending legal claims.

 

If we process your personal data for the purposes of direct marketing, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of your personal data for the purposes of such marketing. You may exercise the right to object as described above.

 

If you exercise your right to object, we will stop processing the data concerned for direct marketing purposes.

 

10) Duration of storage of personal data

 

The duration of the storage of personal data is measured on the basis of the respective legal basis, the processing purpose and – if relevant – additionally on the basis of the respective statutory retention period (e.g. retention periods under commercial and tax law).

 

When processing personal data on the basis of explicit consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a DSGVO, the data concerned will be stored until you revoke your consent.

 

If there are statutory retention periods for data that are processed within the scope of legal or quasi-legal obligations on the basis of Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. b DSGVO, this data will be routinely deleted after expiry of the retention periods, insofar as it is no longer required for the fulfilment of the contract or the initiation of the contract and/or there is no justified interest on our part in continuing to store it.

 

When personal data is processed on the basis of Art. 6(1)(f) DSGVO, this data is stored until you exercise your right to object pursuant to Art. 21(1) DSGVO, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your interests, rights and freedoms, or the processing serves to assert, exercise or defend legal claims.

 

When processing personal data for the purpose of direct marketing based on Art. 6 (1) lit. f DSGVO, this data will be stored until you exercise your right to object pursuant to Art. 21 (2) DSGVO.

 

Unless otherwise stated in the other information in this statement on specific processing situations, stored personal data will otherwise be deleted when it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or otherwise processed.