Menü
We attach great importance to protecting your data and safeguarding your privacy. Below, we therefore provide information about the collection and use of personal data when using our website.
This privacy policy explains the nature, scope and purpose of the processing of personal data (hereinafter referred to as ‘data’) within our online offering and the associated websites, functions and content, as well as external online presences, such as our social media profiles (hereinafter collectively referred to as ‘online offering’). 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).
Michael Ballmann, Managing Director
Mandlstraße 22 80802 Munich, Germany
E-Mail: info@bpower.de
Managing Partner: Michael Ballmann
Link to legal notice: www.bpower.de/impressum
Contact Data Protection Officer: peter.sudhaus@bpower.de
– Inventory data (e.g.: names, adresses).
– Contact details (e.g.: email, 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 adresses).
Visitors and users of the online offering (hereinafter, we also refer to the data subjects collectively as ‘users’).
– Provision of the online offering, its functions and content
– Responding to contact requests and communicating with users
– Security measures
– Reach measurement / marketing
‘Personal data’ means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter referred to as ‘data subject’); A natural person is considered identifiable if they can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by association with an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier (e.g. cookie) or one or more special characteristics that express the physical, physiological, genetic, psychological, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.
‘Processing’ means any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means. The term is broad and covers virtually any handling of data.
‘Pseudonymisation’ means the processing of personal data in such a manner 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 organisational 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 analyse or predict aspects concerning that natural person's performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behaviour, location or movements.
‘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.
In accordance with Art. 13 GDPR, we hereby inform you of the legal basis for our data processing. If the legal basis is not mentioned 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 fulfilment of our services and the implementation of contractual measures as well as responding to enquiries 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 safeguard 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.
In accordance with Art. 32 GDPR, we take appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk, taking into account the state of the art, the costs of implementation and the nature, scope, context and purposes of the processing, as well as the varying likelihood and severity of the risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons.
These measures include, in particular, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data by controlling physical access to the data, as well as access, input, transfer, availability and separation. Furthermore, we have established procedures to ensure that data subjects' rights are exercised, data is deleted and responses are made to data breaches. Furthermore, we take the protection of personal data into account during the development or 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)
If, in the course of our processing, we disclose data to other persons and companies (contract processors or third parties), transfer 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 the transfer of data to third parties, such as payment service providers, is necessary for the performance of a contract in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR), you have given your consent, a legal obligation requires it, or it is based on our legitimate interests (e.g. when using agents, web hosts, etc.).
If we commission third parties to process data on the basis of a so-called ‘contract processing agreement’, this is done on the basis of Art. 28 GDPR.
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 using third-party services or disclosing or transferring data to third parties, this will only take place if it is necessary for the fulfilment of 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 legal or contractual permissions, we only process or have data processed in a third country if the special requirements of Art. 44 ff. GDPR are met. This means that processing is carried out, for example, on the basis of special guarantees, such as the officially recognised determination of a level of data protection equivalent to that of the EU (e.g. for the USA through the ‘Privacy Shield’) or compliance with officially recognised special contractual obligations (so-called ‘standard contractual clauses’).
You have the right to request confirmation as to whether data concerning you is being processed and to obtain 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 inaccurate data concerning you.
In accordance with Art. 17 GDPR, you have the right to request that the data in question be deleted immediately or, alternatively, in accordance with Art. 18 GDPR, to request a restriction on the processing of the data.
You have the right to request that the data concerning you that you have provided to us be retained in accordance with Art. 20 GDPR and to request that it be transferred to other controllers.
Furthermore, in accordance with Art. 77 GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.
You have the right to withdraw your consent in accordance with Art. 7(3) GDPR with effect for the future.
You may object to the future processing of data concerning you at any time in accordance with Art. 21 GDPR. In particular, you may object to processing for direct marketing purposes.
Cookies are small files that are stored on users' computers. Various types of information can be stored in cookies. The primary purpose of a cookie is 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. Such a cookie can store, for example, the contents of a shopping basket in an online shop or a login status. Cookies that remain stored even after the browser is closed are referred to as ‘permanent’ or ‘persistent’ cookies. For example, the login status can be stored if users visit the site after several days. Such cookies can also store the interests of users, which are used for reach measurement or marketing purposes. Cookies offered by providers other than the controller operating the online service are referred to as ‘third-party cookies’ (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 provide information about 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 their browser's system settings. Stored cookies can be deleted in the browser's system settings. Excluding cookies may 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 US website http://www.aboutads.info/choices/oder and the EU website http://www.youronlinechoices.com/. Furthermore, the storage of cookies can be prevented by disabling them in your browser settings. Please note that in this case, not all functions of this online service may be available.
The data we process will be deleted or restricted in its processing in accordance with Articles 17 and 18 of the 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 there are no legal retention obligations preventing its deletion. If the data is not deleted because it is required for other, legally permissible purposes, its processing will be restricted. This means that the data will be blocked and not processed for other purposes. This applies, for example, to data that must be retained for commercial or tax reasons.
In accordance with legal requirements in Germany, data is stored for 10 years in particular in accordance with Sections 147 (1) AO, Section 257 (1) No. 1 and 4, (4) HGB (books, records, management reports, accounting documents, trading books, documents relevant for taxation, etc.) and for 6 years in accordance with Section 257 (1) No. 2 and 3, (4) HGB (commercial letters).
According to legal requirements in Austria, records must be retained for 7 years in accordance with § 132 (1) BAO (accounting documents, receipts/invoices, accounts, receipts, business documents, statements of income and expenditure, etc.), for 22 years in connection with real estate, and for 10 years for documents relating to electronically supplied services, telecommunications, radio and television services provided to non-businesses in EU member states and for which the Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS) is used.
We process our customers' data within the scope 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., email addresses 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. in the context of evaluating and measuring the success of marketing measures). We do not process special categories of personal data as a matter of principle, unless they 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 to provide contractual services, billing and our customer service. The legal basis for processing is provided by Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR (contractual services) and Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (analysis, statistics, optimisation, security measures). We process data that is necessary for the establishment and fulfilment of contractual services and point out the necessity of providing this data.Disclosure to external parties only takes place if it is necessary within the scope of an order. When processing the data provided to us within the scope of an order, we act in accordance with the instructions of the client and the legal requirements for 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 data is deleted 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 within the scope of an order, we delete the data in accordance with the specifications of the order, generally after the end of the order.
We process the data of our contractual partners and interested parties as well as other clients, customers, clients or contractual partners (uniformly referred to as ‘contractual partners’) in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. b. GDPR in order to provide them with our contractual or pre-contractual services. The data processed in this context, the type, scope and purpose of the processing, and the necessity of the processing are determined by the underlying contractual relationship.
The data processed includes the master data of our contractual partners (e.g. names and addresses), contact details (e.g. email addresses and telephone numbers) as well as contract data (e.g. services used, contract content, contractual communication, names of contact persons) and payment data (e.g. bank details, payment history).
We do not process special categories of personal data as a matter of principle, unless they are part of commissioned or contractual processing.
We process data that is necessary for the establishment and fulfilment of contractual services and point out the necessity of providing this data if it is not evident to the contractual partners. Disclosure to external persons or companies only takes place if it is necessary within the framework of a contract. When processing data provided to us within the framework of an order, we act in accordance with the instructions of the client and the legal requirements.
When using our online services, we may store the IP address and the time of the respective user action. Storage is based on our legitimate interests, as well as the interests of users in protection against misuse and other unauthorised use. This data is not passed on to third parties unless it is necessary to pursue our claims in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. f. GDPR or there is a legal obligation to do so in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. c. GDPR.
The data will be deleted when it is no longer required for the fulfilment of contractual or statutory duties of care or for the handling of any warranty and comparable obligations, whereby the necessity of storing the data is reviewed every three years; otherwise, the statutory storage obligations apply.
We process data in the context of administrative tasks and the organisation of our business, financial accounting and compliance with legal obligations, such as archiving. In doing so, we process the same data that we process in the context of providing our contractual services. The basis for processing is Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR and Art. 6(1)(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 administration, financial accounting, office organisation, 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.
In doing so, we disclose or transfer data to the tax authorities, consultants, such as tax advisors or auditors, as well as other fee collection agencies and payment service providers.
Furthermore, based on our business interests, we store information about suppliers, event organisers and other business partners, e.g. for the purpose of contacting them at a later date. We generally store this data, most of which is company-related, on a permanent basis.
We process applicant data solely for the purpose of and within the scope of the application process in accordance with legal requirements. The processing of applicant data is carried out to fulfil our (pre)contractual obligations within the framework of the application process in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. b. GDPR Art. 6 (1) lit. f. GDPR if data processing becomes necessary for us, e.g. in the context of legal proceedings (in Germany, § 26 BDSG also applies).
The application process requires applicants to provide us with their application data. The necessary application data is marked if we offer an online form, otherwise it is derived from the job descriptions and generally includes personal details, postal and contact addresses and the documents relating to the application, such as cover letter, CV and references. In addition, applicants can voluntarily provide us with additional information.
By submitting their application to us, applicants consent to the processing of their data for the purposes of the application process in accordance with the type and scope set out in this privacy policy.
If special categories of personal data within the meaning of Art. 9 (1) GDPR are voluntarily provided during the application process, they will also be processed in accordance with Art. 9 (2) (b) GDPR (e.g. health data, such as severe disability or ethnic origin). If special categories of personal data within the meaning of Art. 9 (1) GDPR are requested from applicants as part of the application process, their processing is additionally carried out in accordance with Art. 9 (2) lit. a GDPR (e.g. health data, if this is necessary for the performance of the job).
If available, applicants can submit their applications to us using an online form on our website. The data is transmitted to us in encrypted form using state-of-the-art technology.
Applicants can also send us their applications by email. However, please note that emails are generally not sent in encrypted form and applicants must ensure encryption themselves. We cannot therefore accept any responsibility for the transmission of the application between the sender and the receipt on our server and therefore recommend using an online form or sending it by post. Instead of applying via the online form and email, applicants still have the option of sending us their application by post.
The data provided by applicants may be further processed by us for the purposes of the employment relationship in the event of a successful application. Otherwise, if the application for a job vacancy is unsuccessful, the applicant's data will be deleted. The applicant's 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 regarding the application and fulfil our obligations under the Equal Treatment Act. Invoices for any travel expense reimbursements will be archived in accordance with tax regulations.
As part of the application process, we offer applicants the opportunity to be included in our ‘talent pool’ for a period of two years on the basis of consent within the meaning of Art. 6 (1) lit. b. and Art. 7 GDPR.
The application documents in the talent pool will only be processed in the context of future job advertisements and employee searches and will be destroyed at the latest after the expiry of the deadline. Applicants are informed that their consent to be included in the talent pool is voluntary, has no influence on the current application process and that they can revoke this consent at any time for the future and declare their objection within the meaning of Art. 21 GDPR.
Users may create a user account on our platform. In the course of registration, we inform users of the required mandatory information. The processing of this data is carried out pursuant to Article 6 (1) (b) GDPR for the purpose of providing and maintaining the user account. The data processed includes, in particular, login credentials (name, password, and an email address). The information entered during registration will be used exclusively for the operation and use of the user account.
Users may be contacted by email regarding information relevant to their user account, such as technical updates. Upon termination of the user account, all data relating to the account will be deleted, unless statutory retention obligations require otherwise. It is the responsibility of the users to secure their data prior to termination of the agreement. We reserve the right to irreversibly delete all user data stored during the contractual term.
In connection with 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. Such storage is based on our legitimate interests, as well as those of the users, in protecting against misuse and unauthorized use. As a general rule, this data is not disclosed to third parties, unless such disclosure is necessary for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims, or where a legal obligation exists pursuant to Article 6 (1) (c) GDPR. IP addresses are anonymized or deleted no later than seven (7) days after collection.
When users post comments or other contributions, their IP addresses may be stored for a period of seven (7) days on the basis of our legitimate interests pursuant to Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR. This is done for security reasons, in the event that unlawful content is posted in comments or contributions (such as insults or prohibited political propaganda). In such cases, we may be held liable for the comment or contribution and therefore have a legitimate interest in the identity of the author.
In addition, on the basis of our legitimate interests pursuant to Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR, we reserve the right to process user information for the purpose of spam detection.
The data provided in connection with comments and contributions will be stored by us permanently until users object to such storage.
Users may subscribe to follow-up comments with their consent pursuant to Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR. To verify that the user is the owner of the specified email address, a confirmation email will be sent. Users may unsubscribe from ongoing comment subscriptions at any time. The confirmation email will include information regarding the available withdrawal options.
For the purpose of demonstrating consent, we store the registration time together with the user’s IP address. This information will be deleted once the user unsubscribes.
Users may withdraw their consent and unsubscribe from receiving comment notifications at any time. For evidentiary purposes, we may retain unsubscribed email addresses for up to three (3) years on the basis of our legitimate interests before permanently deleting them, in order to prove the existence of prior consent. The processing of this data is restricted solely to the purpose of potential defense against claims. Users may request erasure at any time, provided that they simultaneously confirm the former existence of their consent.
Our online offering uses the “Akismet” service, provided by Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA. The use of this service is based on our legitimate interests pursuant to Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR. This service helps to distinguish comments made by real people from spam comments. For this purpose, all comment data is transmitted to a server in the United States, where it is analyzed and stored for a period of four (4) days for comparison purposes. If a comment is classified as spam, the data will be retained beyond this period. The data transmitted includes the name entered, the email address, the IP address, the comment content, the referrer, details of the browser and computer system used, and the time of entry.
Further information regarding the collection and use of data by Akismet can be found in Automattic’s Privacy Policy: https://automattic.com/privacy/.
Users may use pseudonyms or omit entering their name or email address. Users may also completely prevent the transmission of data by not using our comment system. While this would be unfortunate, we have no alternative means that are equally effective.
Within our WordPress blog, graphical emojis (or “smilies”), i.e., small graphic files expressing emotions, are used. These are retrieved from external servers. In this process, the providers of these servers collect the IP addresses of users, as this is necessary in order to transmit the emoji files to the users’ browsers. The emoji service is provided by Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA. For further information, please refer to Automattic’s Privacy Policy: https://automattic.com/privacy/. The servers used are domains s.w.org and twemoji.maxcdn.com, which, to our knowledge, are content delivery networks (CDNs) intended solely to ensure fast and secure delivery of files. User data is deleted after transmission.
The use of emojis is based on our legitimate interests, namely our interest in providing an attractive design of our online offering pursuant to Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR.
When users contact us (e.g., via contact form, email, telephone, or social media), the information provided by the users will be processed for the purpose of handling the contact request and its execution pursuant to Article 6 (1) (b) GDPR. User details may be stored in a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system or comparable request management system.
We delete inquiries once they are no longer required. The necessity of retention is reviewed every two (2) years. Statutory archiving obligations also apply.
The following information provides details on the content of our newsletter, the registration, distribution, and statistical evaluation processes, as well as your rights of objection. By subscribing to our newsletter, you consent to receiving it and to the procedures described.
Content of the Newsletter: We send newsletters, emails, and other electronic notifications containing promotional information (hereinafter referred to as “newsletter”) only with the consent of the recipients or where legally permitted. Where the content of the newsletter is specifically described during the registration process, this description is decisive for the user’s consent. Otherwise, our newsletters contain information about our services and our company.
Double Opt-In and Logging: Registration for our newsletter takes place via a double opt-in process. After registration, users receive an email requesting confirmation of their subscription. This confirmation is necessary to prevent misuse of third-party email addresses. Subscriptions to the newsletter are logged to demonstrate compliance with legal requirements. The data recorded includes the time of registration and confirmation as well as the user’s IP address. Changes to data stored with the mailing service provider are also logged.
Registration Data: To register for the newsletter, it is sufficient to provide an email address. Optionally, users may also provide a name for personal salutation in the newsletter.
The distribution of the newsletter and performance measurement associated with it are based on the consent of recipients pursuant to Article 6 (1) (a), Article 7 GDPR in conjunction with Section 7 (2) No. 3 UWG, or, if consent is not required, on the basis of our legitimate interests in direct marketing pursuant to Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR in conjunction with Section 7 (3) UWG.
The logging of the registration process is carried out on the basis of our legitimate interests pursuant to Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR. Our interest lies in operating a user-friendly and secure newsletter system that serves our business interests, meets user expectations, and enables us to provide evidence of consent.
Termination / Withdrawal: Users may unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time, i.e., withdraw their consent. An unsubscribe link is provided at the end of every newsletter. We may retain unsubscribed email addresses for up to three (3) years on the basis of our legitimate interests before permanently deleting them, in order to prove prior consent. The processing of this data is strictly limited to potential defense against claims. A request for individual deletion is possible at any time, provided that the prior existence of consent is confirmed simultaneously.
The hosting services we use serve the provision of the following services: infrastructure and platform services, computing capacity, storage space and database services, email delivery, security services, and technical maintenance services that we employ for the purpose of operating this online offering.
In this regard, we and/or our hosting provider process inventory data, contact data, content data, contract data, usage data, meta and communication data of customers, prospects, and visitors of this online offering, on the basis of our legitimate interests in the efficient and secure provision of this online offering pursuant to Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR in conjunction with Article 28 GDPR (conclusion of a Data Processing Agreement).
We use Google Tag Manager, a solution that enables us to manage so-called website tags via an interface (and thereby integrate Google Analytics and other Google marketing services into our online offering). The Tag Manager itself (which implements the tags) does not process any personal data of users. With regard to the processing of personal data of users, reference is made to the following information on Google services. Usage policies: https://www.google.com/intl/en/tagmanager/use-policy.html.
On the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e., our interest in analyzing, optimizing, and operating our online offering efficiently within the meaning of Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR), we use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google LLC (“Google”). Google uses cookies. The information generated by the cookie about users’ use of this online offering is generally transmitted to a Google server in the United States and stored there.
Google is certified under the Privacy Shield framework and thereby guarantees compliance with European data protection law: Privacy Shield certification.
Google will use this information on our behalf to evaluate users’ use of our online offering, to compile reports on activities within this online offering, and to provide us with further services related to the use of this online offering and internet usage. Pseudonymous usage profiles of users may be created from the processed data.
We use Google Analytics only with IP anonymization enabled. This means that users’ IP addresses are truncated by Google within member states of the European Union or other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases is the full IP address transmitted to a Google server in the USA and truncated there.
The IP address transmitted by the user’s browser is not merged with other Google data. Users can prevent the storage of cookies by configuring their browser software accordingly. Users may also prevent Google from collecting data generated by the cookie and related to their use of the online offering 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=en.
Further information on data usage by Google, settings, and opt-out options can be found in Google’s Privacy Policy (https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads) and in Google’s ad settings: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
User-level and event-level data stored by Google Analytics is deleted or anonymized after fourteen (14) months.
We use Google Analytics in its implementation as “Universal Analytics.” “Universal Analytics” refers to a process in which user analysis is carried out on the basis of a pseudonymous user ID, thereby creating a pseudonymous profile of the user that contains information from the use of various devices (so-called “cross-device tracking”)
We use Google Analytics to display advertisements placed within Google’s and its partners’ advertising services only to users who have shown an interest in our online offering or who exhibit certain characteristics (e.g., interests in specific topics or products determined by the websites they visit) that we transmit to Google (so-called “remarketing” or “Google Analytics Audiences”). With the help of remarketing audiences, we aim to ensure that our ads correspond to the potential interests of users
On the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e., our interest in analyzing, optimizing, and efficiently operating our online offering within the meaning of Article 6 (1) (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 framework and thereby guarantees compliance with European data protection law: Privacy Shield certification.
We use the online marketing service Google AdWords to place ads in the Google advertising network (e.g., in search results, videos, on websites, etc.) so that they are displayed to users who are presumed to have an interest in the ads. This allows us to display ads more precisely within and in connection with our online offering, ensuring that they correspond to users’ potential interests. If, for example, users are shown ads for products they have previously shown interest in on other online offerings, this is referred to as “remarketing.”
For this purpose, a Google code is executed directly by Google upon visiting our or other websites on which the Google advertising network is active, 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 (a small file) is stored on the user’s device (comparable technologies may also be used instead of cookies). This file records which websites the user visits, which content they are interested in, and which offers they have clicked on, as well as technical information on the browser and operating system, referring websites, visit time, and other details about the use of the online offering.
In addition, we receive an individual “conversion cookie.” The information collected with the help of this cookie is used by Google to compile conversion statistics for us. However, we only receive the anonymous total number of users who clicked on our ad and were redirected to a page equipped with a conversion tracking tag. We do not receive any information that personally identifies users.
User data is processed pseudonymously within the Google advertising network. This means that Google does not store or process, for example, the name or email address of users, but processes the relevant cookie-related data within pseudonymous user profiles. In other words, from Google’s perspective, the ads are not managed and displayed for a specifically identified person but for the cookie owner, regardless of who the cookie owner is. This does not apply if a user has expressly allowed Google to process the data without pseudonymization.
The information collected about users is transmitted to Google and stored on Google’s servers in the USA.
Further information on data usage by Google, settings, and opt-out options can be found in Google’s Privacy Policy (https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads) and in Google’s ad settings: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
We maintain online presences within social networks and platforms in order to communicate with customers, prospects, and users active there and to inform them about our services. When accessing the respective networks and platforms, the terms and conditions and data processing policies of the respective operators apply.
Unless otherwise stated in our Privacy Policy, we process user data when they communicate with us within social networks and platforms, for example, by posting content on our online presences or sending us messages
Within our online offering, and on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e., interest in the analysis, optimization, and economic operation of our online offering pursuant to Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR), we incorporate content or service offerings from third-party providers in order to integrate their content and services, such as videos or fonts (hereinafter collectively referred to as “content”).
This always requires that the third-party providers of such content perceive the users’ IP address, as they would be unable to transmit the content to the users’ browser without the IP address. The IP address is therefore required for the display of this content. We make every effort to use only content whose respective providers use the IP address solely for the delivery of the content. Third-party providers may also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also referred to as “web beacons”) for statistical or marketing purposes. Through the “pixel tags,” information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website can be evaluated. The pseudonymous information may also be stored in cookies on the user’s device and may include, among other things, technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, visit time, and other details regarding the use of our online offering, as well as being linked with such information from other sources.
We integrate videos from the “YouTube” platform operated by 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
We integrate the fonts (“Google Fonts”) provided by 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
We integrate the function for the detection of bots, e.g., for inputs in online forms (“reCAPTCHA”), provided by 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
We integrate maps from the “Google Maps” service provided by Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. Data processed may include, in particular, users’ IP addresses and location data, which, however, are not collected without their consent (generally as part of the settings of their mobile devices). The data may be processed in the United States.Privacy Policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/Opt-Out: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated
On the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e., interest in the analysis, optimization, and efficient operation of our online offering pursuant to Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR), we incorporate external “Typekit” fonts provided by Adobe Systems Software Ireland Limited, 4–6 Riverwalk, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24, Republic of Ireland. Adobe is certified under the Privacy Shield framework, thereby providing a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000TNo9AAG&status=Active).
On the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e., interest in the analysis, optimization, and efficient operation of our online offering pursuant to Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR), we use social plugins (“plugins”) of the social network facebook.com, operated by Facebook Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland (“Facebook”). The plugins may represent interaction elements or content (e.g., videos, graphics, or text posts) and can be recognized by one of the Facebook logos (a white “f” on a blue tile, the terms “Like,” “Gefällt mir,” or a “thumbs up” symbol) or are marked with the label “Facebook Social Plugin.” A list and appearance of the Facebook Social Plugins can be found here: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/.
Facebook is certified under the Privacy Shield framework, thereby providing 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 to 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 may be created from the processed data. We have no influence on the scope of data collected by Facebook through the plugin and inform users according to our current knowledge.
By integrating the plugins, Facebook receives the information that a user has accessed the corresponding page of our online offering. If the user is logged into 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 their device to Facebook and stored there. If a user is not a Facebook member, there is still the possibility that Facebook obtains and stores their IP address. According to Facebook, only anonymized IP addresses are 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 settings options for protecting users’ privacy, can be found in Facebook’s Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/.
If a user is a Facebook member and does not wish Facebook to collect data about them via this online offering and link it to their Facebook membership data, they must log out of Facebook before using our online offering and delete their cookies. 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, via the U.S. page http://www.aboutads.info/choices/, or the EU page http://www.youronlinechoices.com/. The settings are platform-independent, meaning they apply to all devices, such as desktop computers or mobile devices.
Within our online offering, functions and content of the service Twitter, provided by Twitter Inc., 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA, may be integrated. Such content may include, for example, images, videos, or text, as well as buttons enabling users to share content of this online offering within Twitter. If users are members of the Twitter platform, Twitter may assign the access of the above-mentioned content and functions to the respective user profiles there. Twitter is certified under the Privacy Shield framework, thereby providing a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000TORzAAO&status=Active).
Privacy Policy: https://twitter.com/en/privacy
Opt-Out: https://twitter.com/personalization
Within our online offering, functions and content of the service Instagram, provided by Instagram Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA, may be integrated. Such content may include, for example, images, videos, or text, as well as buttons enabling users to share content of this online offering within Instagram. If users are members of the Instagram platform, Instagram may assign the access of the above-mentioned content and functions to the respective user profiles there.Privacy Policy: http://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy/
Within our online offering, functions and content of the service Pinterest, provided by Pinterest Inc., 635 High Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA, may be integrated. Such content may include, for example, images, videos, or text, as well as buttons enabling users to share content of this online offering within Pinterest. If users are members of the Pinterest platform, Pinterest may assign the access of the above-mentioned content and functions to the respective user profiles there.Privacy Policy: https://about.pinterest.com/en/privacy-policy
Within our online offering, functions and content of the service Xing, provided by XING AG, Dammtorstraße 29–32, 20354 Hamburg, Germany, may be integrated. Such content may include, for example, images, videos, or text, as well as buttons enabling users to share content of this online offering within Xing. If users are members of the Xing platform, Xing may assign the access of the above-mentioned content and functions to the respective user profiles there.Privacy Policy: https://www.xing.com/app/share?op=data_protection
Within our online offering, functions and content of the service LinkedIn, provided by LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland, may be integrated. Such content may include, for example, images, videos, or text, as well as buttons enabling users to share content of this online offering within LinkedIn. If users are members of the LinkedIn platform, LinkedIn may assign the access of the above-mentioned content and functions to the respective user profiles there. LinkedIn is certified under the Privacy Shield framework, thereby providing 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-policyOpt-Out: https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out
Within our online offering, functions and content of the Google+ platform, provided by Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (“Google”), may be integrated. Such content may include, for example, images, videos, or text, as well as buttons enabling users to share content of this online offering within Google+. If users are members of the Google+ platform, Google may assign the access of the above-mentioned content and functions to the respective user profiles there.
Google is certified under the Privacy Shield framework, thereby providing a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active).
Further information on Google’s use of data, as well as settings and opt-out options, can be found in Google’s Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads
and in the settings for the display of advertising by Google: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated