Imprint
riba:businesstalk GmbH
Klostergut Besselich
56182 Urbar/Koblenz
Telephone: +49[0]261-96 37 57 0
Fax: +49[0] 261-96 37 57 11
Internet: http://www.riba.eu/
Managing Director: Ralf Riba
Register court: Amtsgericht Koblenz
Register number: HRB 20679
Sales tax identification number [UStID]: DE 814584763
Notice of liability
Despite careful control of the content, we assume no liability for the content of external links. The operators of the linked pages are solely responsible for their content.
Collection and processing of personal data
When you visit our website, our web servers store the name of your Internet service provider, the website from which you visit us, the web pages you visit on our site and the date and duration of your visit as standard. In addition, personal data is only stored if you provide it to us voluntarily, e.g. as part of a registration, a survey, a competition or for the performance of a contract.
Use and disclosure of personal data and purpose limitation
riba:businesstalk uses your personal data for the purposes of technical administration of the websites, for customer administration, for product surveys and for marketing only to the extent necessary in each case.
Privacy Policy
This data protection declaration clarifies the type, scope and purpose of the processing of personal data (hereinafter referred to as “data”) within our online offer and the associated websites, functions and content as well as external online presences, such as our social media profile (hereinafter collectively referred to as “online offer”). With regard to the terms used, such as “processing” or “controller”, we refer to the definitions in Art. 4 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Types of data processed:
– Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses).
– Contact data (e.g., e-mail, telephone numbers).
– Content data (e.g., text entries, photographs, videos).
– Usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times).
– Meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).
Categories of data subjects
Visitors and users of the online offer (hereinafter we also refer to the relevant persons collectively as “users”).
Purpose of the processing
– Provision of the online offering, its functions and content.
– Responding to contact requests and communicating with users.
– Security measures.
– Reach measurement/marketing
Terminology used
“Personal data” means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter ‘ relevant person’); 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.
“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 any handling of data.
“Pseudonymization” means the processing of personal data in such a manner that the personal data can no longer be attributed to a specific relevant person without the use of additional information, provided that such additional information is kept separately and is subject to technical and organizational measures to ensure that the personal data are not attributed to an identified or identifiable natural person.
“Profiling” means any form of automated processing of personal data consisting of the use of personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyze or predict aspects concerning that natural person’s performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, location or movements.
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.
“Processor” means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which processes personal data on behalf of the controller.
Relevant legal bases
In accordance with Art. 13 GDPR, we inform you of the legal basis of our data processing. If the legal basis is not stated in the privacy policy, the following applies: The legal basis for obtaining consent is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a and Art. 7 GDPR, the legal basis for processing for the performance of our services and implementation of contractual measures as well as responding to inquiries is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR, the legal basis for processing to fulfil our legal obligations is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR, and the legal basis for processing to protect our legitimate interests is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. In the event that vital interests of the data subject or another natural person require the processing of personal data, Art. 6 para. 1 lit. d GDPR serves as the legal basis.
Security measures
We take appropriate technical and organizational measures in accordance with Art. 32 GDPR, taking into account the state of the art, the costs of implementation and the nature, scope, context and purposes of processing as well as the risk of varying likelihood and severity for the rights and freedoms of natural persons, in order to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk.
The measures include, in particular, safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data by controlling physical access to the data, as well as the access, input, disclosure, safeguarding of availability and separation of the data. Furthermore, we have established procedures that ensure the exercise of data subject rights, the deletion of data and the response to data threats. Furthermore, we take the protection of personal data into account as early as the development and selection of hardware, software and procedures, in accordance with the principle of data protection through technology design and data protection-friendly default settings (Art. 25 GDPR).
Cooperation with processors and third parties
If we disclose data to other persons and companies (processors or third parties) as part of our processing, transfer it to them or otherwise grant them access to the data, this will only be done on the basis of legal permission (e.g. if the transfer of data to third parties, such as payment service providers, is necessary for the performance of a contract pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR), you have given your consent, a legal obligation provides for this or on the basis of our legitimate interests (e.g. when using agents, web hosts, etc.).
If we commission third parties with the processing of data on the basis of a so-called “order processing contract”, this is done on the basis of Art. 28 GDPR.
Transfers to third countries
If we process data in a third country (i.e. outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)) or if this occurs in the context of the use of third-party services or disclosure or transfer of data to third parties, this will only take place if it is done to fulfill our (pre)contractual obligations, on the basis of your consent, on the basis of a legal obligation or on the basis of our legitimate interests. Subject to legal or contractual permissions, we only process or have the data processed in a third country if the special requirements of Art. 44 et seq. GDPR are met. This means, for example, that the processing takes place on the basis of special guarantees, such as the officially recognized determination of a level of data protection corresponding to the EU (e.g. for the USA through the “Privacy Shield”) or compliance with officially recognized special contractual obligations (so-called “standard contractual clauses”).
Rights of the relevant persons
You have the right to request confirmation as to whether the data in question is being processed and to request information about this data as well as further information and a copy of the data in accordance with Art. 15 GDPR.
In accordance with Art. 16 GDPR, you have the right to request the completion of data concerning you or the correction of incorrect data concerning you.
In accordance with Art. 17 GDPR, you have the right to demand that the data in question be deleted immediately or, alternatively, to demand that the processing of the data be restricted in accordance with Art. 18 GDPR.
You have the right to request to receive the data concerning you that you have provided to us in accordance with Art. 20 GDPR and to request its transfer to other controllers.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority in accordance with Art. 77 GDPR.
Right of revocation
You have the right to withdraw your consent in accordance with Art. 7 para. 3 GDPR with effect for the future.
Right to object
You can object to the future processing of data concerning you in accordance with Art. 21 GDPR at any time. The objection can be made in particular against processing for direct marketing purposes.
Cookies and right to object to direct advertising
“Cookies” are small files that are stored on users’ computers. Different information can be stored within the cookies. A cookie is primarily used to store information about a user (or the device on which the cookie is stored) during or after their visit to an online service. Temporary cookies, or “session cookies” or “transient cookies”, are cookies that are deleted after a user leaves an online service and closes their browser. The content of a shopping cart in an online store or a login status, for example, can be stored in such a cookie. Cookies that remain stored even after the browser is closed are referred to as “permanent” or “persistent”. For example, the login status can be saved if the user visits the website after several days. The interests of users can also be stored in such a cookie and used for reach measurement or marketing purposes. “Third-party cookies” are cookies that are offered by providers other than the controller who operates the online service (otherwise, if they are only the controller’s cookies, they are referred to as ‘first-party cookies’).
We may use temporary and permanent cookies and explain this in our privacy policy.
If users do not want cookies to be stored on their computer, they are asked to deactivate the corresponding option in the system settings of their browser. Stored cookies can be deleted in the system settings of the browser. The exclusion of cookies can lead to functional restrictions of this online offer.
A general objection to the use of cookies used for online marketing purposes can be declared for a large number of services, especially in the case of tracking, via the US website http://www.aboutads.info/choices/ or the EU website http://www.youronlinechoices.com/. Furthermore, the storage of cookies can be achieved by deactivating them in the browser settings. Please note that you may then not be able to use all the functions of this website.
Removal of data
The data processed by us will be deleted or its processing restricted in accordance with Art. 17 and 18 GDPR. Unless expressly stated in this privacy policy, the data stored by us will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required for its intended purpose and the deletion does not conflict with any statutory retention obligations. If the data is not deleted because it is required for other and legally permissible purposes, its processing will be restricted. This means that the data is blocked and not processed for other purposes. This applies, for example, to data that must be retained for commercial or tax law reasons.
According to legal requirements in Germany, data is stored in particular for 10 years in accordance with § 147 para. 1 AO, 257 para. 1 no. 1 and 4, para. 4 HGB (books, records, management reports, accounting vouchers, commercial books, documents relevant for taxation, etc.) and 6 years in accordance with § 257 para. 1 no. 2 and 3, para. 4 HGB (commercial letters).
According to legal requirements in Austria, the retention period is 7 years in accordance with § 132 para. 1 BAO (accounting documents, receipts/invoices, accounts, receipts, business papers, statement of income and expenses, etc.), 22 years in connection with real estate and 10 years for documents in connection with electronically provided services, telecommunications, radio and television services provided to non-entrepreneurs in EU member states and for which the Mini-One-Stop-Shop (MOSS) is used.
Business-related processing
In addition, we process
– Contract data (e.g., subject matter of the contract, term, customer category).
– Payment data (e.g. bank details, payment history)
of our customers, interested parties and business partners for the purpose of providing contractual services, service and customer care, marketing, advertising and market research.
Agency services
We process our customers’ data as part of our contractual services, which include conceptual and strategic consulting, campaign planning, software and design development/consulting or maintenance, implementation of campaigns and processes/handling, server administration, data analysis/consulting services and training services.
We process inventory data (e.g., customer master data, such as names or addresses), contact data (e.g., e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g., text entries, photographs, videos), contract data (e.g., subject matter of the contract, term), payment data (e.g., bank details, payment history), usage and metadata (e.g., as part of the evaluation and performance measurement of marketing measures). In principle, we do not process special categories of personal data unless these are part of commissioned processing. The data subjects include our customers, interested parties and their customers, users, website visitors or employees as well as third parties. The purpose of the processing is the provision of contractual services, billing and our customer service. The legal basis for the processing results from Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR (contractual services), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (analysis, statistics, optimization, security measures). We process data that is required to justify and fulfill the contractual services and point out the necessity of their disclosure. Disclosure to external parties only takes place if it is necessary in the context of an order. When processing the data provided to us as part of an order, we act in accordance with the instructions of the client and the legal requirements of order processing in accordance with Art. 28 GDPR and do not process the data for any purposes other than those specified in the order.
We delete the data after the expiry of statutory warranty and comparable obligations. The necessity of storing the data is reviewed every three years; in the case of statutory archiving obligations, the deletion takes place after their expiry (6 years, in accordance with Section 257 (1) HGB, 10 years, in accordance with Section 147 (1) AO). In the case of data disclosed to us by the client as part of an order, we delete the data in accordance with the specifications of the order, generally after the end of the order.
Administration, financial accounting, office organization, contact management
We process data in the context of administrative tasks and the organization of our business, financial accounting and compliance with legal obligations, such as archiving. In doing so, we process the same data that we process as part of the provision of our contractual services. The processing bases are Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c. GDPR, Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR. Customers, interested parties, business partners and website visitors are affected by the processing. The purpose and our interest in the processing lies in the administration, financial accounting, office organization, archiving of data, i.e. tasks that serve to maintain our business activities, perform our tasks and provide our services. The deletion of data with regard to contractual services and contractual communication corresponds to the information specified in these processing activities.
We disclose or transmit data to the tax authorities, consultants, such as tax consultants or auditors, as well as other fee offices and payment service providers.
We also store information on suppliers, event organizers and other business partners on the basis of our business interests, e.g. for the purpose of contacting them at a later date. We generally store this mainly company-related data permanently.
Business analyses and market research
In order to operate our business economically, identify market trends and the wishes of contractual partners and users, we analyze the data we have on business transactions, contracts, inquiries, etc. We process inventory data, communication data, contract data, payment data, usage data, metadata on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR. GDPR, whereby the data subjects include contractual partners, interested parties, customers, visitors and users of our online offering.
The analyses are carried out for the purpose of business evaluations, marketing and market research. In doing so, we can take into account the profiles of registered users with information, e.g. on the services they have used. The analyses help us to increase user-friendliness, optimize our offer and improve business efficiency. The analyses serve us alone and are not disclosed externally, unless they are anonymous analyses with summarized values.
If these analyses or profiles are personal, they are deleted or anonymized when the user terminates the contract, otherwise after two years from the conclusion of the contract. Furthermore, the overall business analyses and general trend determinations are prepared anonymously wherever possible.
Registration function
Users can create a user account. As part of the registration process, the required mandatory information is communicated to the users and processed on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR for the purpose of providing the user account. The processed data includes in particular the login information (name, password and an email address). The data entered during registration is used for the purposes of using the user account and its purpose.
Users may be informed by e-mail about information relevant to their user account, such as technical changes. If users have terminated their user account, their data relating to the user account will be deleted, subject to a statutory retention obligation. It is the responsibility of users to back up their data before the end of the contract in the event of termination. We are entitled to irretrievably delete all user data stored during the term of the contract.
As part of the use of our registration and login functions as well as the use of the user account, we store the IP address and the time of the respective user action. This data is stored on the basis of our legitimate interests as well as those of the user in protection against misuse and other unauthorized use. This data is not passed on to third parties unless it is necessary to pursue our claims or there is a legal obligation to do so in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c. GDPR. The IP addresses are anonymized or deleted after 7 days at the latest.
Comments and contributions
If users leave comments or other contributions, their IP addresses may be stored on the basis of our legitimate interests within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR for 7 days. This is done for our security in case someone leaves illegal content in comments and posts (insults, prohibited political propaganda, etc.). In this case, we may be held liable for the comment or post ourselves and are therefore interested in the identity of the author.
Furthermore, we reserve the right, on the basis of our legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR, to process user data for the purpose of spam detection.
On the same legal basis, we reserve the right to store users’ IP addresses for the duration of surveys and to use cookies in order to avoid multiple votes.
The data provided in the comments and contributions will be stored by us permanently until the user objects.
Comment subscriptions
The follow-up comments can be subscribed to by users with their consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. Users will receive a confirmation email to verify that they are the owner of the email address entered. Users can unsubscribe from ongoing comment subscriptions at any time. The confirmation email will contain information on how to unsubscribe. For the purposes of proving the user’s consent, we store the time of registration together with the user’s IP address and delete this information when users unsubscribe from the subscription.
You can cancel your subscription at any time, i.e. revoke your consent. We may store the unsubscribed e-mail addresses for up to three years on the basis of our legitimate interests before we delete 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 possible defense against claims. An individual request for deletion is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed at the same time.
Contact function
When contacting us (e.g. by contact form, e-mail, telephone or via social media), the user’s details will be used to process the contact request and its handling in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b. (in the context of contractual/pre-contractual relationships), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. (other requests) GDPR. The information provided by users may be stored in a customer relationship management system (“CRM system”) or comparable inquiry organization.
We delete the requests if they are no longer required. We review the necessity every two years; the statutory archiving obligations also apply.
Newsletter
With the following information we inform you about the contents of our newsletter as well as the registration, dispatch and statistical evaluation procedure and your rights of objection. By subscribing to our newsletter, you agree to receive it and to the procedures described.
Content of the newsletter: We only send newsletters, emails and other electronic notifications with advertising information (hereinafter ‘newsletter’) with the consent of the recipient or with legal authorisation. If the content of the newsletter is specifically described when registering for the newsletter, it is decisive for the user’s consent. Otherwise, our newsletters contain information about our services and us.
Double opt-in and logging: Registration for our newsletter takes place in a so-called double opt-in procedure. This means that after registering, you will receive an email asking you to confirm your registration. This confirmation is necessary to ensure that no-one can register using other people’s e-mail addresses. Subscriptions to the newsletter are logged in order to be able to prove the registration process in accordance with legal requirements. This includes storing the time of registration and confirmation as well as the IP address. Changes to your data stored by the mailing service provider are also logged.
Registration data: To register for the newsletter, it is sufficient to enter your e-mail address. Optionally, we ask you to provide a name so that we can address you personally in the newsletter.
The newsletter and the performance measurement associated with it are sent on the basis of the recipient’s consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a, Art. 7 GDPR in conjunction with Section 7 para. 2 no. 3 UWG or, if consent is not required, on the basis of our legitimate interests in direct marketing in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lt. f. GDPR in conjunction with Section 7 para. 2 no. 3 UWG. GDPR in conjunction with. § Section 7 para. 3 UWG.
The logging of the registration process is based on our legitimate interests in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. We are interested in using a user-friendly and secure newsletter system that serves both our business interests and the expectations of users and also allows us to provide proof of consent.
Cancellation/revocation – You can cancel the receipt of our newsletter at any time, i.e. revoke your consent. You will find a link to cancel the newsletter at the end of each newsletter. 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 possible defence against claims. An individual request for deletion is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed at the same time.
Newsletter – mailing service provider
We use Evalanche to send our newsletter. Evalanche will not forward the data referred to here to third parties. Evalanche is an analysis service of SC-Networks GmbH, Enzianstr. 2, 82319 Starnberg, Germany. Evalanche uses so-called “cookies”, text files which are stored on your computer and which enable your use of the newsletter to be analyzed. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the newsletter (including your IP address) is read and sent to a server in Germany.
– The newsletters contain so-called tracking pixels. This is a miniature graphic that allows us to recognize whether a newsletter has been opened by you or not. The tracking pixels, as well as the links contained in the newsletters, are linked to the ID assigned to you by the above-mentioned cookie, which is also assigned to your e-mail address. We use this data to create a user profile in order to provide you with a newsletter tailored to your interests.
– You can revoke your consent to receive the newsletter at any time. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter either by sending a message to datenschutz@xy.de or via a link provided for this purpose in the newsletter.”
Newsletter – performance measurement
The newsletters contain a so-called ‘web-beacon’, i.e. a pixel-sized file that is retrieved from our server when the newsletter is opened or, if we use a dispatch service provider, from their server. As part of this retrieval, technical information, such as information about the browser and your system, as well as your IP address and time of retrieval, is initially collected.
This information is used for the technical improvement of the services based on the technical data or the target groups and their reading behaviour based on their retrieval locations (which can be determined with the help of the IP address) or the access times. The statistical surveys also include determining whether the newsletters are opened, when they are opened and which links are clicked. For technical reasons, this information can be assigned to individual newsletter recipients. However, it is neither our endeavour nor, if used, that of the mailing service provider to observe individual users. The analyses serve us much more to recognise the reading habits of our users and to adapt our content to them or to send different content according to the interests of our users.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to revoke the performance measurement separately; in this case, the entire newsletter subscription must be cancelled.
Hosting and e-mail delivery
The hosting services we use serve to provide the following services: Infrastructure and platform services, computing capacity, storage space and database services, e-mail dispatch, security services and technical maintenance services that we use for the purpose of operating this online offering.
In doing so, we or our hosting provider process inventory data, contact data, content data, contract data, usage data, meta and communication data of customers, interested parties and visitors to this online offer on the basis of our legitimate interests in the efficient and secure provision of this online offer in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR in conjunction with Art. 28 GDPR (conclusion of contract). Art. 28 GDPR (conclusion of order processing contract).
Collection of access data and log files
We, or our hosting provider, collect data on the basis of our legitimate interests within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR. GDPR, we collect data about every access to the server on which this service is located (so-called server log files). The access data includes the name of the website accessed, file, date and time of access, amount of data transferred, notification of successful access, browser type and version, the user’s operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page), IP address and the requesting provider.
Log file information is stored for security reasons (e.g. to investigate misuse or fraud) for a maximum of 7 days and then deleted. Data whose further storage is required for evidence purposes is excluded from deletion until the respective incident has been finally clarified.
Google Analytics
On the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimisation and economic operation of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR), we use Google Analytics, a web analysis service provided by Google LLC (‘Google’). Google uses cookies. The information generated by the cookie about the use of the online offer by the user is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there.
Google is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thus offers a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active).
Google will use this information on our behalf to analyse the use of our online offer by users, to compile reports on the activities within this online offer and to provide us with further services associated with the use of this online offer and the use of the Internet. Pseudonymised user profiles can be created from the processed data.
We only use Google Analytics with activated IP anonymisation. This means that the IP address of users is truncated by Google within member states of the European Union or in other states party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and truncated there.
The IP address transmitted by the user’s browser will not be merged with other Google data. Users can prevent the storage of cookies by setting their browser software accordingly; users can also prevent Google from collecting the data generated by the cookie and relating to their use of the online offer and from processing this data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available under the following link: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.
Further information on the use of data by Google, setting and objection options, can be found in Google’s privacy policy (https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads) and in the settings for the display of adverts by Google (https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated).
Users’ personal data is deleted or anonymised after 14 months.
Google Universal Analytics
We use Google Analytics in the form of ‘Universal Analytics’. ‘Universal Analytics’ refers to a Google Analytics process in which the user is analysed on the basis of a pseudonymous user ID and thus a pseudonymous profile of the user is created with information from the use of various devices (so-called “cross-device tracking”).
Google AdWords and conversion measurement
On the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimisation and economic operation of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR), we use the services of Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA (‘Google’).
Google is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thus offers a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active).
We use the online marketing process Google ‘AdWords’ to place adverts in the Google advertising network (e.g. in search results, in videos, on websites, etc.) so that they are displayed to users who are likely to be interested in the adverts. This allows us to display adverts for and within our online offering in a more targeted manner in order to present users only with adverts that potentially match their interests. If, for example, a user is shown adverts for products that they were interested in on other online offers, this is referred to as ‘remarketing’. For these purposes, when our and other websites on which the Google advertising network is active are accessed, a code from Google is executed directly by Google and so-called (re)marketing tags (invisible graphics or code, also known as ‘web beacons’) are integrated into the website. With their help, an individual cookie, i.e. a small file, is stored on the user’s device (comparable technologies can also be used instead of cookies). This file records which websites the user has visited, which content they are interested in and which offers the user has clicked on, as well as technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, time of visit and other information about the use of the online offer.
We also receive an individual ‘conversion cookie’. The information obtained with the help of the cookie is used by Google to create conversion statistics for us. However, we only receive the anonymous total number of users who clicked on our advert and were redirected to a page with a conversion tracking tag. As a result, we do not receive any information with which users can be personally identified.
User data is processed pseudonymously within the Google advertising network. This means that Google does not store and process the user’s name or email address, for example, but processes the relevant data in relation to cookies within pseudonymised user profiles. This means that, from Google’s perspective, the adverts are not managed and displayed for a specifically identified person, but for the cookie owner, regardless of who this cookie owner is. This does not apply if a user has expressly allowed Google to process the data without this pseudonymisation. The information collected about the user is transmitted to Google and stored on Google’s servers in the USA.
Further information on the use of data by Google, setting and objection options, can be found in Google’s privacy policy (https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads) and in the settings for the display of adverts by Google (https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated).
Google Doubleclick
On the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimisation and economic operation of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR), we use the services of Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA (‘Google’).
Google is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thus offers a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active).
We use the Google ‘Doubleclick’ online marketing process to place adverts in the Google advertising network (e.g. in search results, in videos, on websites, etc.). Double Click is characterised by the fact that ads are displayed in real time based on the presumed interests of users. This allows us to display adverts for and within our online offering in a more targeted manner in order to present users only with adverts that potentially match their interests. If, for example, a user is shown adverts for products that they were interested in on other online offers, this is referred to as ‘remarketing’. For these purposes, when our and other websites on which the Google advertising network is active are accessed, a code from Google is executed directly by Google and so-called (re)marketing tags (invisible graphics or code, also known as ‘web beacons’) are integrated into the website. With their help, an individual cookie, i.e. a small file, is stored on the user’s device (comparable technologies can also be used instead of cookies). This file records which websites the user has visited, which content they are interested in and which offers the user has clicked on, as well as technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, time of visit and other information about the use of the online offer.
The IP address of the user is also recorded, whereby this is shortened within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area and only in exceptional cases is it transmitted in full to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. Google may also combine the aforementioned information with such information from other sources. If the user subsequently visits other websites, they may be shown adverts tailored to their interests based on their user profile.
User data is processed pseudonymously within the Google advertising network. This means that Google does not store and process the user’s name or email address, for example, but processes the relevant data in relation to cookies within pseudonymous user profiles. In other words, from Google’s perspective, the adverts are not managed and displayed for a specifically identified person, but for the cookie owner, regardless of who this cookie owner is. This does not apply if a user has expressly allowed Google to process the data without this pseudonymisation. The information collected by Google marketing services about users is transmitted to Google and stored on Google’s servers in the USA.
Further information on the use of data by Google, setting and objection options, can be found in Google’s privacy policy (https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads) and in the settings for the display of adverts by Google (https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated).
Jetpack (WordPress Stats)
On the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimisation and economic operation of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR), we use the Jetpack plugin (here sub-function ‘Wordpress Stats’), which integrates a tool for the statistical evaluation of visitor access and is provided by Automattic Inc, 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA. Jetpack uses so-called ‘cookies’, text files that are stored on your computer and enable your use of the website to be analysed.
The information generated by the cookie about your use of this online offer is stored on a server in the USA. User profiles can be created from the processed data, whereby these are only used for analysis and not for advertising purposes. Further information can be found in Automattic’s privacy policy: https://automattic.com/privacy/ and notes on Jetpack cookies: https://jetpack.com/support/cookies/.
Online presence in social media
We maintain online presences within social networks and platforms in order to communicate with the customers, interested parties and users actively using them and to inform them about our services. When accessing the respective networks and platforms, the terms and conditions and data processing guidelines of their respective operators apply.
Unless otherwise stated in our privacy policy, we process users’ data if they communicate with us within the social networks and platforms, e.g. write posts on our online presences or send us messages.
Integration of third-party services and content
On the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimisation and economic operation of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR), we use content or service offers from third-party providers within our online offer in order to integrate their content and services, such as videos or fonts (hereinafter uniformly referred to as ‘content’).
This always presupposes that the third-party providers of this content recognise 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. We endeavour 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 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, visit time and other information about the use of our online offer, as well as being linked to such information from other sources.
YouTube
We integrate the videos of the platform ‘YouTube’ of the provider Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. Privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/, Opt-Out: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
Google ReCaptcha
We integrate the function for recognising bots, e.g. for entries in online forms (‘ReCaptcha’) from the provider Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. Privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/, Opt-Out: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
Google Maps
We integrate the maps of the ‘Google Maps’ service of the provider Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. The processed 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 mobile devices). The data may be processed in the USA. Privacy policy:: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/, Opt-Out: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
Typekit fonts from Adobe
On the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimisation and economic operation of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR), we use external ‘Typekit’ fonts from the provider Adobe Systems Software Ireland Limited 4-6 Riverwalk, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24, Republic of Ireland. Adobe is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thus offers a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000TNo9AAG&status=Active).
Use of Facebook social plugins
On the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimisation and economic operation of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR), we use social plugins (‘plugins’) of the social network facebook.com, which is operated by Facebook Ireland Ltd. 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland (‘Facebook’). The plugins can display interaction elements or content (e.g. videos, graphics or text contributions) and are recognisable by one of the Facebook logos (white ‘f’ on a blue tile, the terms ‘Like’, ‘Gefällt mir’ or a ‘thumbs up’ sign) or are marked with the addition ‘Facebook Social Plugin’. The list and appearance of Facebook social plugins can be viewed here: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/.
Facebook is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thus offers a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000GnywAAC&status=Active).
When a user accesses a function of this online offering that contains such a plugin, their device establishes a direct connection with the Facebook servers. The content of the plugin is transmitted by Facebook directly to the user’s device and integrated into the online offering. User profiles can be created from the processed data. We therefore have no influence on the scope of the data that Facebook collects with the help of this plugin and therefore inform users according to our level of knowledge.
By integrating the plugins, Facebook receives the information that a user has accessed the corresponding page of the online offer. If the user is logged in to Facebook, Facebook can assign the visit to their Facebook account. When users interact with the plugins, for example by clicking the Like button or leaving a comment, the corresponding information is transmitted directly from your device to Facebook and stored there. If a user is not a member of Facebook, it is still possible for Facebook to find out their IP address and store it. According to Facebook, only an anonymised IP address is stored in Germany.
The purpose and scope of the data collection and the further processing and use of the data by Facebook, as well as the relevant rights and setting options for protecting the privacy of users, can be found in Facebook’s data protection information: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/.
If a user is a Facebook member and does not want Facebook to collect data about them via this online service and link it to their membership data stored on Facebook, they must log out of Facebook and delete their cookies before using our online service. Further settings and objections to the use of data for advertising purposes are possible within the Facebook profile settings: https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=ads or via the US-American site http://www.aboutads.info/choices/ or the EU site http://www.youronlinechoices.com/. The settings are platform-independent, i.e. they are adopted for all devices, such as desktop computers or mobile devices.
X (formerly Twitter)
Functions and content of the X service, offered by X Corp, 865 FM 1209, Building 2, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA, may be integrated into our online offering. This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or text and buttons with which users can share content from this online offering within X.
If the users are members of the X platform, X can assign access to the above-mentioned content and functions to the user profiles there. X is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thus offers a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000TORzAAO&status=Active). Privacy policy: https://x.com/privacy, Opt-Out: https://x.com/personalization.
Functions and content of the Instagram service, offered by Instagram Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA, may be integrated into our online offering. This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or text and buttons with which users can share content from this online offering within Instagram. If the users are members of the Instagram platform, Instagram can assign the access to the above-mentioned content and functions to the users’ profiles there. Instagram privacy policy: http://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy/.
Functions and content of the Pinterest service, offered by Pinterest Inc, 635 High Street, Palo Alto, CA, 94301, USA, may be integrated into our online offering. This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or texts and buttons with which users can share content from this online offering within Pinterest. If the users are members of the Pinterest platform, Pinterest can assign the access to the above-mentioned content and functions to the users’ profiles there. Privacy policy of Pinterest: https://about.pinterest.com/de/privacy-policy.
Functions and content of the Xing service, offered by XING AG, Dammtorstraße 29-32, 20354 Hamburg, Germany, may be integrated into our online offering. This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or texts and buttons with which users can share content from this online offering within Xing. If the users are members of the Xing platform, Xing can assign the access to the above-mentioned content and functions to the users’ profiles there. Privacy policy of Xing: https://www.xing.com/app/share?op=data_protection..
Functions and content of the LinkedIn service, offered by LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland, may be integrated into our online offering. This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or texts and buttons with which users can share content from this online offering within LinkedIn. If the users are members of the LinkedIn platform, LinkedIn can assign the access to the above-mentioned content and functions to the users’ profiles there. LinkedIn privacy policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.. LinkedIn is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thus offers a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000L0UZAA0&status=Active). Privacy policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy, Opt-Out: https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.
Google+
Functions and content of the Google+ platform, offered by Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (“Google”), may be integrated into our online offering. This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or texts and buttons with which users can share content from this online offering within Google. If the users are members of the Google+ platform, Google can assign access to the above-mentioned content and functions to the users’ profiles there.
Google is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thus offers a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active).Further information on the use of data by Google, setting and objection options, can be found in Google’s privacy policy (https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads) and in the settings for the display of advertisements by Google (https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated).
