Privacy

Types of data processed

Inventory data (e.g., person master data, names or addresses).

Contact information (e.g., email, phone numbers).

Content data (e.g., text input, photographs, videos).

Usage data (e.g., web pages visited, interest in content, access times).

Meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).

Categories of affected persons

Visitors and users of the online offer (hereinafter we also refer to the data subjects collectively as "users").

Terminology used

"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.

"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.

"pseudonymization" means the processing of personal data in such a way that the personal data can no longer be attributed to a specific data subject without the use of additional information, provided that such additional information is kept separately and is subject to technical and organizational measures which ensure that the personal data are not attributed to an identified or identifiable natural person.

"profiling" means any automated processing of personal data which consists in using such personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyze or predict aspects relating to that natural person's performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, location or change of location.

Controller" means 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 DSGVO, we inform you about the legal basis of our data processing. For users from the area of application of the Basic Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO), i.e. the EU and the EEC, the following applies, unless the legal basis is stated in the privacy policy: The legal basis for obtaining consent is Art. 6 (1) lit. a and Art. 7 DSGVO; The legal basis for processing for the purpose of fulfilling our services and carrying out contractual measures as well as responding to inquiries is Art. 6 (1) lit. b DSGVO; The legal basis for processing to fulfill our legal obligations is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c DSGVO; In the event that vital interests of the data subject or another natural person make processing of personal data necessary, Art. 6 para. 1 lit. d DSGVO serves as the legal basis. The legal basis for the processing necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller is Art. 6 (1) lit. e DSGVO. The legal basis for processing to protect our legitimate interests is Art. 6 (1) lit. f DSGVO. The processing of data for purposes other than those for which it was collected is determined by the requirements of Art. 6 (4) DSGVO. The processing of special categories of data (according to Art. 9 (1) DSGVO) is determined according to the requirements of Art. 9 (2) DSGVO.

Security measures

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

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, transfer, safeguarding of availability and its separation. Furthermore, we have established procedures to ensure the exercise of data subjects' rights, deletion of data, and response to data compromise. Furthermore, we already take the protection of personal data into account during the development and selection of hardware, software and processes, in accordance with the principle of data protection through technology design and through data protection-friendly default settings.

Cooperation with processors, joint controllers and third parties

If, in the course of our processing, we disclose data to other persons and companies (order processors, jointly responsible persons or third parties), transmit it to them or otherwise grant them access to the data, this will only be done on the basis of a legal permission (e.g. if a transmission of the data to third parties, such as to payment service providers, is necessary for the fulfillment of the contract), users have consented, a legal obligation provides for this or on the basis of our legitimate interests (e.g. when using agents, web hosts, etc.).

If we disclose or transfer data to other companies in our group of companies or otherwise grant them access, this is done in particular for administrative purposes as a legitimate interest and, in addition, on a basis that complies with the legal requirements.

Transfers to third countries

If we process data in a third country (i.e. outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or the Swiss Confederation) or do so in the context of using third-party services or disclosing, or transferring data to other persons or companies, this will only be done if it is done to fulfill our (pre)contractual obligations, on the basis of your consent, due to a legal obligation or on the basis of our legitimate interests. Subject to explicit consent or contractually required transfer, we only process or allow data to be processed in third countries with a recognized level of data protection, which includes US processors certified under the "Privacy Shield" or on the basis of special guarantees, such as contractual obligation through so-called standard protection clauses of the EU Commission, the existence of certifications or binding internal data protection rules (Art. 44 to 49 DSGVO, information page of the EU Commission).

Rights of the data subjects

You have the right to request confirmation as to whether data in question is being processed and to information about this data, as well as further information and a copy of the data in accordance with the legal requirements.

In accordance with the legal requirements, you have the right to request that the data concerning you be completed or that the incorrect data concerning you be corrected.

In accordance with the statutory provisions, you have the right to demand that the data concerned be deleted without delay or, alternatively, to demand restriction of the processing of the data in accordance with the statutory provisions.

You have the right to request that the data concerning you that you have provided to us be received in accordance with the law and to request that it be transferred to other data controllers.

You also have the right to file a complaint with the competent supervisory authority in accordance with the law.

Right of withdrawal

You have the right to revoke given consents with effect for the future.

Right of objection

You may object to the future processing of data relating to you in accordance with the statutory provisions at any time. The objection can be made in particular against the processing for purposes of direct advertising.

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 his visit to an online offer. Temporary cookies, or "session cookies" or "transient cookies", are cookies that are deleted after a user leaves an online offer and closes his browser. Such a cookie may store, for example, the contents of a shopping cart in an online store or a login status. Cookies that remain stored even after the browser is closed are referred to as "permanent" or "persistent". For example, the login status can be stored if users visit them after several days. Likewise, the interests of users can be stored in such a cookie, which is used for range measurement or marketing purposes. Third-party cookies" are cookies that are offered by providers other than the responsible party that operates the online offer (otherwise, if it is only their cookies, it is called "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 disable 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 for online marketing purposes can be declared for a large number of services, especially in the case of tracking, via the U.S. site http://www.aboutads.info/choices/ or the EU site http://www.youronlinechoices.com/. Furthermore, the storage of cookies can be achieved by disabling them in the browser settings. Please note that in this case not all functions of this online offer can be used.

Data deletion

The data processed by us will be deleted or restricted in its processing in accordance with the legal requirements. Unless expressly stated within the scope of this data protection declaration, 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 is restricted. 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.

Changes and updates to the privacy policy

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.

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.

In doing so, 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 contract, term), payment data (e.g., bank details, payment history), usage and metadata (e.g., in the context of evaluating and measuring the success of marketing measures). As a matter of principle, we do not process special categories of personal data, unless these are components of commissioned processing. Data subjects include our customers, prospective customers as well as 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 DSGVO (contractual services), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO (analysis, statistics, optimization, security measures). We process data that are necessary for the justification and fulfillment of the contractual services and point out the necessity of their indication. 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 as well as the legal requirements of a commissioned processing pursuant to Art. 28 DSGVO and do not process the data for any other purposes than those specified in the order.

We delete the data after the expiry of statutory warranty and comparable obligations. The necessity of keeping the data is reviewed every three years; in the case of statutory archiving obligations, deletion takes place after their expiry (6 years, in accordance with § 257 para. 1 HGB, 10 years, in accordance with § 147 para. 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.

External payment service providers

We use external payment service providers through whose platforms users and we can make payment transactions. These payment service providers may include, in each case with a link to the privacy policy: Paypal (https://www.paypal.com/de/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full), Klarna (https://www.klarna.com/de/datenschutz/), Skrill (https://www.skrill.com/de/fusszeile/datenschutzrichtlinie/), Giropay (https://www.giropay.de/rechtliches/datenschutz-agb/), Visa (https://www.visa.de/datenschutz), Mastercard (https://www.mastercard.de/de-de/datenschutz.html), American Express (https://www.americanexpress.com/de/content/privacy-policy-statement.html), Stripe (https://stripe.com/de/privacy).

In the context of the performance of contracts, we use the payment service providers on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b. DSGVO. Furthermore, we use external payment service providers on the basis of our legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. DSGVO in order to offer our users effective and secure payment options.

The data processed by the payment service providers includes inventory data, such as the name and address, bank data, such as account numbers or credit card numbers, passwords, TANs and checksums, as well as the contract, totals and recipient-related information. The information is required to carry out the transactions. However, the data entered is only processed by the payment service providers and stored with them. I.e. we do not receive any account or credit card related information, but only information with confirmation or negative information of the payment. Under certain circumstances, the payment service providers transmit the data to credit agencies. The purpose of this transmission is to check identity and creditworthiness. In this regard, we refer to the terms and conditions and data protection notices of the payment service providers.

For payment transactions, the terms and conditions and the data protection notices of the respective payment service providers apply, which can be accessed within the respective websites or transaction applications. We also refer to these for the purpose of further information and assertion of revocation, information and other data subject rights.

Administration, financial accounting, office organization, contact management

We process data in the context of administrative tasks as well as organization of our operations, financial accounting and compliance with legal obligations, such as archiving. In this context, we process the same data that we process in the course of providing our contractual services. The processing bases are Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c. DSGVO, Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. DSGVO. 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 the maintenance of our business activities, performance of our tasks and provision of our services. The deletion of data with regard to contractual services and contractual communication corresponds to the information mentioned in these processing activities.

In this context, we disclose or transmit data to the tax authorities, advisors, such as tax consultants or auditors, as well as other fee offices and payment service providers.

Furthermore, based on our business interests, we store information on suppliers, organizers and other business partners, e.g. for the purpose of contacting them at a later date. This data, most of which is company-related, is generally stored permanently.

Business analyses and market research

In order to operate our business economically and to be able to identify market trends and the wishes of contractual partners and users, we analyze the data we have on business transactions, contracts, inquiries, etc.. In doing so, we process inventory data, communication data, contract data, payment data, usage data, metadata on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. DSGVO, whereby the data subjects include contractual partners, interested parties, customers, visitors and users of our online offer.

The analyses are carried out for the purpose of business evaluations, marketing and market research. In doing so, we may take into account the profiles of registered users with details, for example, of the services they have used. The analyses serve us to increase the user-friendliness, the optimization of our offer and the business management. The analyses serve us alone and are not disclosed externally, unless they are anonymous analyses with aggregated values.

If these analyses or profiles are personal, they will be deleted or anonymized upon termination of the users, otherwise after two years from the conclusion of the contract. Otherwise, the macroeconomic analyses and general tendency determinations are created anonymously if possible.

Google Cloud Services

We use the cloud and cloud software services offered by Google (so-called Software as a Service, e.g. Google Suite) for the following purposes: document storage and management, calendar management, emailing, spreadsheets and presentations, sharing documents, content and information with specific recipients or publishing web pages, forms or other content and information, as well as chats and participation in audio and video conferences.

In this context, the users' personal data is processed insofar as it becomes part of the documents and content processed within the services described or is part of communication processes. This may include, for example, master data and contact data of users, data on transactions, contracts, other processes and their content. Google also processes usage data and metadata used by Google for security purposes and service optimization.

In the course of using publicly available documents, web pages or other content, Google may store cookies on users' computers for purposes of web analytics or to remember users' preferences.

We use the Google Cloud services on the basis of our legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 (1) lit. f DSGVO in efficient and secure administration and collaboration processes. Furthermore, the processing takes place on the basis of an order processing agreement with Google (https://cloud.google.com/terms/data-processing-terms).

For further information, please refer to Google's privacy policy (https://www.google.com/policies/privacy) and the security notes for Google Cloud services (https://cloud.google.com/security/privacy/). You can object to the processing of your data in the Google Cloud in accordance with the legal requirements. In addition, the deletion of data within Google's cloud services is determined by the other processing processes in the context of which the data are processed (e.g., deletion of data no longer required for contractual purposes or storage of data required for taxation purposes).

The Google Cloud services are offered by Google Ireland Limited. Insofar as a transfer to the USA takes place, we refer to the certification of Google USA under the Privacy Shield(https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000000001L5AAI&status=Aktive) and standard protection clauses (https://cloud.google.com/terms/data-processing-terms).

Microsoft Cloud Services

We use the cloud and cloud software services offered by Microsoft (so-called Software as a Service, e.g. Microsoft Office) for the following purposes: document storage and management, calendar management, sending e-mails, spreadsheets and presentations, exchanging documents, content and information with specific recipients or publishing web pages, forms or other content and information, as well as chats and participation in audio and video conferences.

In this context, the users' personal data is processed insofar as it becomes part of the documents and content processed within the services described or is part of communication processes. This may include, for example, master data and contact data of users, data on transactions, contracts, other processes and their content. Microsoft also processes usage data and metadata used by Microsoft for security purposes and service optimization.

In the course of using publicly available documents, web pages or other content, Microsoft may store cookies on users' computers for purposes of web analytics or to remember users' preferences.

We use the Microsoft cloud services on the basis of our legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 (1) lit. f DSGVO in efficient and secure administration and collaboration processes. Furthermore, the processing takes place on the basis of an order processing contract with Microsoft.

For further information, please refer to the Microsoft data protection declaration (https://privacy.microsoft.com/de-de/privacystatement) and the security notes for Microsoft cloud services (https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/trustcenter). You can object to the processing of your data in the Microsoft Cloud in accordance with the legal requirements. In addition, the deletion of data within Microsoft's cloud services is determined by the other processing processes in the context of which the data is processed (e.g., deletion of data no longer required for contractual purposes or storage of data required for taxation purposes).

The Microsoft Cloud Services are provided by Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399 USA. Insofar as any processing of data takes place in the USA, we refer to Microsoft's certification under the Privacy Shield (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000KzNaAAK&status=Active).

Data protection information in the application process

We process the applicant data only for the purpose and within the scope of the application procedure in accordance with the legal requirements. The applicant data is processed to fulfill our (pre)contractual obligations within the scope of the application procedure in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b. DSGVO Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. DSGVO insofar as the data processing becomes necessary for us, e.g. within the scope of legal procedures (in Germany, § 26 BDSG also applies).

The application process requires applicants to provide us with applicant data. The necessary applicant data are marked if we offer an online form, otherwise result from the job descriptions and basically include the personal details, postal and contact addresses and the documents belonging to the application, such as cover letter, resume and the certificates. In addition, applicants can voluntarily provide us with additional information.

By submitting the application to us, applicants consent to the processing of their data for the purposes of the application process in accordance with the nature and scope set out in this privacy policy.

Insofar as special categories of personal data within the meaning of Art. 9 (1) DSGVO are voluntarily communicated within the scope of the application procedure, their processing shall additionally be carried out in accordance with Art. 9 (2) lit. b DSGVO (e.g. health data, such as severely disabled status or ethnic origin). Insofar as special categories of personal data within the meaning of Art. 9 (1) DSGVO are requested from applicants as part of the application process, their processing is additionally carried out in accordance with Art. 9 (2) a DSGVO (e.g. health data, if this is necessary for the exercise of the profession).

If provided, applicants can submit their applications to us using an online form on our website. The data is transmitted to us in encrypted form in accordance with the state of the art. Applicants can also send us their applications by e-mail. Please note, however, that e-mails are generally not sent in encrypted form and applicants must ensure that they are encrypted themselves. We cannot therefore accept any responsibility for the transmission path of the application between the sender and receipt on our server and therefore recommend rather using an online form or sending by post. Because instead of applying via the online form and e-mail, applicants still have the option of sending us the application by post.

The data provided by applicants may be processed by us for the purposes of the employment relationship in the event of a successful application. Otherwise, if the application for a job offer is not successful, the applicants' data will be deleted. Applicants' data will also be deleted if an application is withdrawn, which applicants are entitled to do at any time.

Subject to a justified revocation by the applicant, the data will be deleted after a period of six months so that we can answer any follow-up questions about the application and meet our obligations to provide evidence under the Equal Treatment Act. Invoices for any reimbursement of travel expenses will be archived in accordance with tax law requirements.

Contact

When contacting us (e.g. by contact form, e-mail, telephone or via social media), the user's data will be used to process the contact request and its settlement pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b. (in the context of contractual/pre-contractual relations), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. (other requests) DSGVO processed... The user's details may be stored in a customer relationship management system ("CRM system") or comparable inquiry organization.

We delete the requests if they are no longer necessary. We review the necessity every two years; Furthermore, the legal archiving obligations 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 described procedures.

Content of the newsletter: We send newsletters, e-mails and other electronic notifications with promotional information (hereinafter "newsletter") only with the consent of the recipients or a legal permission. Insofar as the contents of the Newsletter are specifically described in the context of a registration, they are decisive for the consent of the users. Otherwise, our newsletters contain information about our services and us.

Double-Opt-In and logging: The registration for our newsletter takes place in a so-called double-opt-in process. This means that after registration you will receive an e-mail in which you are asked to confirm your registration. This confirmation is necessary so that no one can register with other e-mail addresses. The registrations for the newsletter are logged in order to be able to prove the registration process according to the legal requirements. This includes the storage of the registration and confirmation time, as well as the IP address. Likewise, the changes to your data stored with the shipping service provider are 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, for the purpose of personal address in the newsletter.

The dispatch of the newsletter and the associated performance measurement are based on the consent of the recipients pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a, Art. 7 DSGVO in conjunction with § 7 para. 2 no. 3 UWG or, if consent is not required, on the basis of our legitimate interests in direct marketing pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lt. f. DSGVO in conjunction with. § Section 7 (3) UWG.

The logging of the registration process is based on our legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 (1) lit. f DSGVO. Our interest is directed towards the use of a user-friendly as well as secure newsletter system that serves our business interests as well as meets the expectations of the users and furthermore allows us to prove consent.

Cancellation/Revocation - You can cancel the receipt of our newsletter at any time, i.e. revoke your consents. You will find a link to cancel the newsletter at the end of each newsletter. We may store unsubscribed email addresses for up to three years based on our legitimate interests before deleting them to be able to prove consent formerly given. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defense against claims. An individual deletion request is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed at the same time.

Hosting and emailing

The hosting services used by us 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, which we use for the purpose of operating this online offering.

We, or our hosting provider, process inventory data, contact data, content data, contract data, usage data, meta data and communication data of customers, interested parties and visitors of this online offer on the basis of our legitimate interests in an efficient and secure provision of this online offer pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO in conjunction with Art. 28 DSGVO. Art. 28 DSGVO (conclusion of order processing contract).

Collection of access data and log files

We, or rather our hosting provider, collects on the basis of our legitimate interests within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. DSGVO, we collect data about each 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. for the clarification of abuse or fraud) for a maximum of 7 days and then deleted. Data whose further storage is required for evidentiary purposes is excluded from deletion until the final clarification of the respective incident.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrack House, Dublin Ireland ("Google"), on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimization and economic operation of our online offering within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. DSGVO) Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland ("Google"). Google uses cookies. The information generated by the cookie about the use of the online offer by the users is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there.

Google is certified under the Privacy Shield agreement and thereby 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 evaluate the use of our online offer by users, to compile reports on the activities within this online offer and to provide us with other services related to the use of this online offer and the Internet. In doing so, pseudonymous usage profiles of the users can be created from the processed data.

We only use Google Analytics with IP anonymization enabled. This means that the IP address of the user is shortened by Google within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states of 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 shortened there.

The IP address transmitted by the user's browser is not merged with other data from Google. Users can prevent the storage of cookies by setting their browser software accordingly; users can also prevent the collection of the data generated by the cookie and related to their use of the online offer to Google, as well as the processing of this data by Google, by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.

For more information about Google's use of data, settings and opt-out options, please refer to Google's privacy policy (https://policies.google.com/privacy) and the settings for the display of advertisements by Google (https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated).

Users' personal data is deleted or anonymized after 14 months.

Google AdWords and conversion measurement

We use the services of Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House Barclays Dublin Ireland ("Google") on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimization and economic operation of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. DSGVO). DSGVO) the services of Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, ("Google").

Google is certified under the Privacy Shield agreement and thereby offers a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active).

We use the online marketing method Google "AdWords" to place ads in the Google advertising network (e.g., in search results, in videos, on web pages, etc.) so that they are displayed to users who have a presumed interest in the ads. This allows us to display ads for and within our Online Offerings in a more targeted manner to present users only with ads that potentially match their interests. If, for example, a user is shown ads for products in which he or she has expressed interest on other online offers, this is referred to as "remarketing". For these purposes, when our website and other websites on which the Google advertising network is active are called up, a code is executed directly by Google and so-called (re)marketing tags (invisible graphics or code, also referred to 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 web pages the user has visited, which content the user is interested in and which offers the user has clicked on, as well as technical information about the browser and operating system, referring web pages, time of visit and other information about the use of the online offer.

Furthermore, we 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 learn the anonymous total number of users who clicked on our ad and were redirected to a page tagged with a conversion tracking tag. However, we do not receive any information that personally identifies users.

User data is processed pseudonymously within the Google advertising network. I.e. Google does not store and process e.g. the name or email address of the users, but processes the relevant data cookie-related within pseudonymous user profiles. I.e. from Google's perspective, the ads are not managed and displayed for a specifically identified person, but for the cookie holder, regardless of who this cookie holder is. This does not apply if a user has explicitly allowed Google to process the data without this pseudonymization. The information collected about the users is transmitted to Google and stored on Google's servers in the USA.

For more information about Google's use of data, settings and opt-out options, please refer to Google's privacy policy (https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads) and the settings for the display of advertisements by Google (https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated).

Facebook Pixel, Custom Audiences and Facebook Conversion

Within our online offer, the so-called "Facebook pixel" of the social network Facebook, which is operated by Facebook Inc., 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA, or if you are a resident of the EU, Facebook Ireland Ltd, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland ("Facebook"), is used due to our legitimate interests in the analysis, optimization and economic operation of our online offer and for these purposes.

Facebook is certified under the Privacy Shield agreement and thereby offers a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000GnywAAC&status=Active).

With the help of the Facebook pixel, it is possible for Facebook to determine the visitors to our online offer as a target group for the display of ads (so-called "Facebook ads"). Accordingly, we use the Facebook pixel to display the Facebook ads placed by us only to those Facebook users who have also shown an interest in our online offer or who have certain characteristics (e.g. interests in certain topics or products determined on the basis of the websites visited) that we transmit to Facebook (so-called "Custom Audiences"). With the help of the Facebook pixel, we also want to ensure that our Facebook ads correspond to the potential interest of users and do not have a harassing effect. With the help of the Facebook pixel, we can also track the effectiveness of the Facebook ads for statistical and market research purposes by seeing whether users were redirected to our website after clicking on a Facebook ad (so-called "conversion").

The processing of data by Facebook takes place within the framework of Facebook's data usage policy. Accordingly, general information on the display of Facebook ads, in Facebook's data usage policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy. Specific information and details about the Facebook Pixel and how it works can be found in Facebook's help section: https://www.facebook.com/business/help/651294705016616.

You can object to the collection by the Facebook pixel and use of your data to display Facebook ads. To adjust which types of ads are displayed to you within Facebook, you can visit the page set up by Facebook and follow the instructions there regarding the settings for usage-based advertising: https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=ads. The settings are platform-independent, i.e. they are applied to all devices, such as desktop computers or mobile devices.

You may further object to the use of cookies used for reach measurement and advertising purposes via the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page (http://optout.networkadvertising.org/) and additionally the U.S. website (http://www.aboutads.info/choices) or the European website (http://www.youronlinechoices.com/uk/your-ad-choices/).

Online presence in social media

We maintain online presences within social networks and platforms in order to be able to communicate with the customers, interested parties and users active there and to inform them about our services there.

We would like to point out that user data may be processed outside the European Union. This may result in risks for the users, because it could, for example, make it more difficult to enforce the rights of the users. With regard to U.S. providers that are certified under the Privacy Shield, we point out that they thereby commit themselves to comply with the data protection standards of the EU.

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

The processing of users' personal data is based on our legitimate interests in effectively informing users and communicating with users pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. DSGVO. If the users are asked by the respective providers of the platforms for consent to the aforementioned data processing, the legal basis of the processing is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a., Art. 7 DSGVO.

For a detailed description of the respective processing and the opt-out options, please refer to the information of the providers linked below.

Also in the case of requests for information and the assertion of user rights, we 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.

- Facebook, -pages, -groups, (Facebook Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland) on the basis of an agreement on joint processing of personal data - Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/, specifically for pages: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data , Opt-Out: https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=ads and http://www.youronlinechoices.com, Privacy Shield: https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000GnywAAC&status=Active.

- Google/ YouTube (Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland) - Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy, Opt-Out: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated, Privacy Shield: https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active.

- Instagram (Instagram Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA) - Privacy Policy/ Opt-Out: http://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy/.

Images/Graphics: Freepik and Pixabay.

- Twitter (Twitter Inc., 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA) - Privacy Policy: https://twitter.com/de/privacy, Opt-Out: https://twitter.com/personalization, Privacy Shield: https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000TORzAAO&status=Active.

- Pinterest (Pinterest Inc., 635 High Street, Palo Alto, CA, 94301, USA) - Privacy Policy/ Opt-Out: https://about.pinterest.com/de/privacy-policy.

- LinkedIn (LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland) - Privacy Policy https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy , Opt-Out: https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out, Privacy Shield: https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000L0UZAA0&status=Active.

- Xing (XING AG, Dammtorstraße 29-32, 20354 Hamburg, Germany) - Privacy Policy/ Opt-Out: https://privacy.xing.com/de/datenschutzerklaerung.

- Wakalet (Wakelet Limited, 76 Quay Street, Manchester, M3 4PR, United Kingdom) - Privacy Policy/ Opt-Out: https://wakelet.com/privacy.html.

- Soundcloud (SoundCloud Limited, Rheinsberger Str. 76/77, 10115 Berlin, Germany) - Privacy Policy/ Opt-Out: https://soundcloud.com/pages/privacy.

Integration of third-party services and content

Within our online offer, we use content or service offers of third-party providers on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimization and economic operation of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. DSGVO) content or service offers from third party providers in order to integrate their content and services, such as videos or fonts (hereinafter uniformly referred to as "content").

This always assumes that the third-party providers of this content are aware of 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. We endeavor to use only such content whose respective providers use the IP address only for the delivery of the 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 evaluate 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 combined with such information from other sources.

Youtube

We embed the videos of the platform "YouTube" of the provider Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. Privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/, Opt-Out: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.

Google ReCaptcha

We integrate the function for the recognition of bots, e.g. for entries in online forms ("ReCaptcha") of the provider GGoogle Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. Privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/, Opt-Out: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.

Google Maps

We integrate the maps of the service "Google Maps" of the provider Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. The processed data 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). The data may be processed in the USA. Privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/, Opt-Out: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.

Use of Facebook social plugins

We use social plugins ("plugins") of the social network facebook.com on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimization and economic operation of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 (1) lit. f. DSGVO) 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"). This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or texts and buttons with which users can share content of this online offer within Facebook. 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 thereby offers a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000GnywAAC&status=Active).

When a user calls up a function of this online offering that contains such a plugin, his or her 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 offer by the latter. In the process, usage profiles of the users 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 the 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 into Facebook, Facebook can assign the visit to his Facebook account. If users interact with the plugins, for example by clicking the Like button or posting a comment, the corresponding information is transmitted from your device directly to Facebook and stored there. If a user is not a member of Facebook, there is still the possibility that Facebook will learn and store his or her IP address. According to Facebook, only an anonymized 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 related rights and settings options for protecting the privacy of users, can be found in the privacy policy of Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/.

If a user is a Facebook member and does not want Facebook to collect data about him or her via this online offer and link it to his or her membership data stored on Facebook, he or she must log out of Facebook and delete his or her cookies before using our online offer. 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 site http://www.aboutads.info/choices/ or the EU site http://www.youronlinechoices.com/. The settings are platform-independent, i.e. they are applied to all devices, such as desktop computers or mobile devices.

Twitter

Within our online offer, functions and contents of the service Twitter, offered by Twitter Inc., 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA, may be integrated. This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or texts and buttons with which users can share content of this online offer within Twitter. If the users are members of the Twitter platform, Twitter can assign the call of the above-mentioned content and functions to the profiles of the users there. Twitter is certified under the Privacy Shield agreement and thereby offers a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000TORzAAO&status=Active). Privacy policy: https://twitter.com/de/privacy, Opt-Out: https://twitter.com/personalization.

Instagram

Within our online offer, functions and contents of the service Instagram, offered by Instagram Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA, may be integrated. This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or texts and buttons with which users can share content of this online offer within Instagram. If the users are members of the Instagram platform, Instagram can assign the call of the above-mentioned content and functions to the profiles of the users there. Privacy policy of Instagram: http://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy/.

Xing

Within our online offer, functions and contents of the service Xing, offered by XING AG, Dammtorstraße 29-32, 20354 Hamburg, Germany, may be integrated. This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or texts and buttons with which users can share content of this online offering within Xing. If the users are members of the Xing platform, Xing can assign the call-up of the above-mentioned content and functions to the users' profiles there. Privacy policy of Xing: https://privacy.xing.com/de/datenschutzerklaerung.

LinkedIn

Within our online offer, functions and contents of the service LinkedIn, offered by LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland, may be integrated. This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or texts and buttons with which users can share content of this online offer within LinkedIn. If the users are members of the LinkedIn platform, LinkedIn can assign the call of the above-mentioned content and functions to the profiles of the users there. Privacy policy of LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.. LinkedIn is certified under the Privacy Shield agreement and thereby 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+

Within our online offer, functions and contents of the Google+ platform, offered by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland ("Google"), may be integrated. This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or texts and buttons with which users can share content of this online offer within Google. If the users are members of the Google+ platform, Google can assign the call of the above-mentioned content and functions to the profiles of the users 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). For more information about Google's use of data, settings and opt-out options, please refer to Google's privacy policy (https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads) and the settings for the display of advertisements by Google (https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated).