PREAMBLE:
Your privacy is important to us. We respect your privacy and handle your personal information in a responsible manner.
Our privacy policy explains the personal information we collect and how we use this information. It also explains your rights to access, update, or otherwise take control of the personal information we hold about you.
Processing of personal data, including your name, address, and email address will always be in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and in accordance with other data protection regulations applicable to purestmagazine.com
Purest Magazine Privacy Principles:
We commit to the following Privacy Principles:
1. We are committed to creating a safe and secure online environment for you.
2. We do not sell or lease your personal information to third parties.
3. We strive to provide you with access to and control over the information you give us, and we take the protection of your information very seriously.
4. We do not display advertising for other services or goods than our own
Data Security:
We take appropriate security measures (including physical, electronic, and procedural measures) to help safeguard your personal information from unauthorized access and disclosure. For example, only authorized employees are permitted to access personal information, and they may do so only for permitted business functions. In addition, our web hosting partner uses encryption in the transmission of your sensitive personal information between your system and ours and uses firewalls to help prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to your personal information.
However, as effective as these measures are, no security system is impenetrable. We cannot guarantee the security of our database, nor can we guarantee that the information you supply will not be intercepted while being transmitted to us over the Internet. The personal information we hold is stored on secure servers in secure facilities within the European Union.
The safety and security of your information also depend on you. Where we have given you (or where you have chosen) a password for access to certain parts of our website, you are responsible for keeping this password confidential and unique. We ask you not to share your password with anyone. We urge you to be careful about giving out any information in public areas of the website. The information you share in public areas may be viewed by any user of the website.
The Information We Collect:
We collect certain personal information in order to supply our services to you. On some pages, you can purchase a membership to purestmagazine.com, make requests or register to receive materials/online newsletters or be part of a promotion or contest, etc. This kind of personal information collected is typical: name, age, email address, gender, etc, and is the only information you choose to provide to us. We also record copies of your correspondence (including e-mail address), if you contact us. We use NAME third-party payment processing services, which also will obtain additional information typed by you in case you decide to buy a membership subscription on our website.
The second type of personal information we collect is recorded automatically, through the use of cookies, pixel tags, and other similar technologies. This information includes the link that directed you to our webpage, your IP address, and geographical location, the types of devices, operating systems, and web browsers you are using, and the date and time of your visit. The “Cookies” section of this policy explains more about how we use these technologies.
We do not collect personal information that is recognized as sensitive, such as information concerning health, ethnicity, or political opinions, and do not knowingly collect the personal information of any person under the age of 18. If we discover or have reason to believe, we are holding sensitive personal information we will delete that information within a reasonable period.
You also may provide information to be published or displayed (hereinafter, “posted”) on public areas of the website or transmitted to other users of the website or third parties (collectively, “User Contributions”). Your User Contributions are posted on and transmitted to others at your own risk. Although, we may limit access to certain pages, please be aware that no security measures are perfect or impenetrable. Additionally, we cannot control the actions of other users of the Website with whom you may choose to share your User Contributions. Therefore, we cannot and do not guarantee that your User Contributions will not be viewed or used by unauthorized persons.
Service Providers:
We may share information with vendors providing contractual services to us, such as hosting vendors. We also may share your information, including your payment information, as appropriate to process your payments for the services or complete a transaction.
Credit Card Info:
ATTENTION! The credit card info that you submit on the signup forms is submitted directly to the credit card companies and is not stored on our servers for security reasons. The signup pages are secure and encrypted.
Site Operations And Analytics:
We use the following third-party partners to enable features that are necessary for providing you with the services on our site and to allow us to understand how our services are being used, track site performance, and improve our services. To learn more about your rights with respect to these partners, including any opt-out rights, you can review their respective privacy policies.
Google Analytics https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en
*** Amazon Web Services https://aws.amazon.com/compliance/gdpr-center/
*** CCbill https://www.ccbill.com/cs/policies/PP-consumer-english.html
*** Epoch https://epoch.com/privacy.html
— insert correct data!
Affiliates:
We do not share your information with our affiliates.
Cookies:
When you visit the purestmagazine.com website, we send one or more cookies to your computer or other browsing devices. We use cookies to improve the quality of your experience, for storing your site preferences, improving search results, and tracking user trends, such as how people surf the site. We also use cookies to determine if the user is logged in as a member or not. These cookies do not contain any private information and can not be traced back to you as a user in any way.
The Way We Use Information:
The information collected by purestmagazine.com is used solely for the creation and maintenance of your membership account or subscription to our mailing lists. WE DO NOT sell, loan, lease, swap, trade, or otherwise disclose your personal data or email address. The information collected by our payment processing partner is only used by us for the purpose of processing payment of your membership to purestmagazine.com and documentation for accounting and tax purposes.
We may also use your personal information to send you emails with selected offers, which we feel may be of interest to you. If you decide you no longer want to receive these emails, you can opt-out at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link available in all these messages. Please note that it may take up to 48 hours for your opt-out to take effect and bear in mind that if you enquire about new products and services you may be opting back in to receive emails from us.
We’ll also use your personal information to respond to any comments, requests, or questions you may send us or to send you important messages we feel you should be made aware of, such as a significant change to this policy. We may also use your personal information to compile statistics on our marketing campaigns, in order to give us a better understanding of their performance and help us operate and improve our services. We may also share personal information with companies under the same ownership as us.
In general, we use information that we collect about you or that you provide to us, including any personal information:
- to present our Website and its contents to you;
- to provide you with information, products, or services that you request from us;
- to manage your account and provide you with customer support;
- to provide you with notices about your account or subscription, including expiration and renewal notices;
- to notify you about changes to our website or any products or services we offer or provide through it;
- to allow you to participate in interactive features on our website;
- to perform research and analysis about your use of, or interest in, our products, services, or content, or products, services or content offered by others;
- to determine whether users of the website are unique, or whether the same user is using the Website on multiple occasions;
- to track usage throughout various components of the website (e.g., tracking where traffic comes from, how traffic flows within the website, etc.)
- to monitor aggregate metrics such as the total number of visitors, pages viewed, demographic patterns, etc.
- to communicate with you about products or services that may be of interest to you from us;
- to develop and display our website content tailored to your interests;
- to verify your eligibility and deliver prizes in connection with contests and sweepstakes;
- diagnose or fix technology problems;
- to enforce our terms and conditions;
- to manage our business;
- in any other way we may describe when you provide the information;
- for any other purpose with your consent.
Transfers Of Personal Information Abroad
In order to deliver our services to you, we sometimes need to share your personal information with parties outside the European Economic Area (EEA). We’ll always ensure that any transfers of this nature are fully compliant with European Union data protection laws governing transfers of personal information outside the EEA so that your personal information is secure.
Some countries outside the EEA have been recognized by The European Union as having appropriate laws and safeguards protecting personal data, known as Adequate Jurisdictions, so that personal information may be freely transferred to them. The current list of these countries is Andorra, Argentina, Canada (commercial organizations), Faroe Islands, Guernsey, Israel, Isle of Man, Jersey, New Zealand, Switzerland, Uruguay, and the USA (limited to the privacy shield framework). Personal information may also be transferred to countries not recognized as having Adequate Jurisdictions, provided we inform you of the absence of appropriate safeguards to personal data in that country and you give your explicit consent to the proposed transfer. If we need to transfer your personal information to one of these countries, we will inform you in a clear, concise, and transparent manner and will only make the transfer when you have given us explicit consent to do so.
Other Parties In Connection With A Corporate Transaction:
We reserve the right to transfer any information we have about you in the event that we sell or transfer all or a portion of our business or assets to a third party, such as in the event of a merger, acquisition, or in connection with bankruptcy reorganization.
With Your Consent Or At Your Direction:
In addition to the sharing described in this Privacy Policy, we may share information about you with third parties whenever you consent to or direct such sharing.
We also may share other information with third parties in a manner that does not identify particular users, including, for example, aggregated data about how users are using our Services.
Changes To Our Privacy Policy
We may modify or revise our privacy policy from time to time at our sole discretion and you agree to be bound by such modifications or revisions. Although we may attempt to notify you when major changes are made to this privacy policy, you are expected to periodically review the most up-to-date version found at https://www.purestmagazine.com/privacy so you are aware of any changes, as they are binding on you.
If we change anything in our privacy policy, the date of change will be reflected in the “last updated date”. You agree that you will periodically review this privacy policy and refresh the page when doing so. You agree to note the date of the last revision to our privacy policy. If the “last updated” date is unchanged from the last time you reviewed our privacy policy, then it is unchanged. On the other hand, if the date has changed, then there have been changes, and you agree to re-review our privacy policy, and you agree to the new ones.
All changes are effective immediately when we post them and apply to all access to and use of the website thereafter. The updated version of our privacy policy supersedes any prior versions immediately upon being posted, and the prior version(s) shall have no continuing legal effect. If you do not review new terms as posted, then you agree that you have waived your right to do so, and you are therefore bound by the updated conditions, even if you failed to review the new ones. You are on notice of changes, and your failure to review the amended terms is your own omission. By continuing to use the website subsequent to us making available an amended version of our privacy policy, you thereby acknowledge, agree to, and consent to such amendment.
How You Can Access Or Correct Your Information:
You can access and update all your personally identifiable information that purestmagazine.com collects and maintains online by logging on to the “My Account” page on our site.
If you are unable to do so, you are most welcome to contact us via email at gdpr@purestmagazine.com and we will help you.
If you are not a member but subscribe to our free online newsletters you can click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of all newsletters we send out to manage your newsletter settings. We use this procedure to better safeguard your information.
If you would like to access/update your personal information stored by our third-party payment processing partner, you may contact them at any time at WEBSITE(S) PAYMENT PROCESSORS
How To Contact Us:
Should you have other questions or concerns about these privacy policies or would like us to delete the information that purestmagazine.com store about you, please contact gdpr@purestmagazine.com.
DETAILS
Table of contents
- Introduction and overview
- Scope of application
- Legal bases
- Contact details of the person responsible
- Contact details of the data protection officer
- Duration of storage
- Rights under the General Data Protection Regulation
- Data transfer to third countries
- Security of data processing
- Communication
- Order processing contract (AVV)
- Cookies
- Web Hosting Introduction
- Web Analytics Introduction
- Email Marketing Introduction
- Social media introduction
- Blogs and publication media Introduction
- Cookie Consent Management Platform Introduction
- Security & Anti Spam
- Payment Provider Introduction
- Web design introduction
- Online Map Services Introduction
- Content Search Provider Introduction
- Explanation of terms used
- Closing words
Introduction And Overview
We have written this data protection declaration (version 2023/01/27) in order to explain to you in accordance with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and applicable national laws which personal data (data for short) we as the person responsible – and that of processors commissioned by us (e.g. providers) – process, will process in the future and what legal options you have. The terms used are to be understood as gender-neutral. In short: We inform you comprehensively about the data that we process about you.
Privacy statements usually sound very technical and use legal jargon. This data protection declaration, on the other hand, is intended to describe the most important things as simply and transparently as possible. As far as transparency is conducive, technical terms are explained in a reader-friendly way and links to further information are provided. We are thus informing you in clear and simple language that we only process personal data in the course of our business activities if there is a corresponding legal basis. This is certainly not possible if you make the most concise, unclear, and legal-technical statements possible, as they are often standard on the Internet when it comes to data protection. I hope that you find the following explanations interesting and informative and that you may find some information that you did not already know. If you still have questions, we would like to ask you to contact the responsible person named below or in the imprint, follow the links provided, and look at further information on third-party websites. Our contact details can of course also be found in the imprint.
Scope Of Application
This data protection declaration applies to all personal data processed by us in the company and to all personal data that companies commissioned by us process (data processors). By personal data we mean information within the meaning of Article 4 No. 1 GDPR such as a person’s name, e-mail address, and postal address. The processing of personal data ensures that we can offer and bill our services and products, whether online or offline. The scope of this privacy policy includes:
- All online presences (websites, online shops) that we operate
- Social media appearances and email communication
- mobile apps for smartphones and other devices
In short: The data protection declaration applies to all areas in which personal data is processed in a structured manner in the company via the channels mentioned. If we enter into legal relationships with you outside of these channels, we will inform you separately if necessary.
Legal Bases
In the following data protection declaration, we provide you with transparent information on the legal principles and regulations, i.e. the legal basis of the General Data Protection Regulation, which enables us to process personal data. As far as EU law is concerned, we refer to REGULATION (EU) 2016/679 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of April 27, 2016. You can of course read this EU General Data Protection Regulation online on EUR-Lex, the gateway to the EU -Legal, read under https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32016R0679.
We only process your data if at least one of the following conditions applies:
- Consent (Article 6 Paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR): You have given us your consent to process data for a specific purpose. An example would be storing the data you entered on a contact form.
- Contract (Article 6 Paragraph 1 lit. b GDPR): We process your data in order to fulfill a contract or pre-contractual obligations with you. For example, if we conclude a sales contract with you, we need personal information in advance.
- Legal obligation (Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. c GDPR): If we are subject to a legal obligation, we process your data. For example, we are required by law to keep invoices for accounting purposes. These usually contain personal data.
- Legitimate interests (Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR): In the case of legitimate interests that do not restrict your fundamental rights, we reserve the right to process personal data. For example, we need to process certain data in order to be able to operate our website securely and economically. This processing is therefore a legitimate interest.
Other conditions such as the perception of recordings in the public interest and the exercise of public authority as well as the protection of vital interests do not usually apply to us. If such a legal basis should be relevant, it will be shown in the appropriate place.
In addition to the EU regulation, national laws also apply:
- In Austria, this is the Federal Act for the Protection of Natural Persons in the Processing of Personal Data (Data Protection Act), DSG for short.
- In Germany, the Federal Data Protection Act, or BDSG for short, applies.
If other regional or national laws apply, we will inform you about them in the following sections.
Contact Details Of The Person Responsible
If you have any questions about data protection or the processing of personal data, you will find the contact details of the person or position responsible below:
Günther Achleitner, Bakk.phil.
CEO brandgroup Kommunikation und digital Medien GmbH
Project “Purest Magazine”
Franckstraße 45, 4020 Linz – Austria
Email: gpdr(at)purestmagazine.com
Storage Duration
The fact that we only store personal data for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products is a general criterion for us. This means that we delete personal data as soon as the reason for the data processing no longer exists. In some cases, we are legally obliged to store certain data even after the original purpose has ceased to exist, for example for accounting purposes.
If you wish your data to be deleted or revoke your consent to data processing, the data will be deleted as quickly as possible and provided there is no obligation to store it.
We will inform you below about the specific duration of the respective data processing, provided that we have further information on this.
Rights Under The General Data Protection Regulation
In accordance with Articles 13 and 14 GDPR, we inform you about the following rights to which you are entitled so that data is processed fairly and transparently:
- According to Article 15 GDPR, you have a right to information as to whether we are processing your data. If this is the case, you have the right to receive a copy of the data and to be informed of the following information:
- for what purpose we carry out the processing;
- the categories, i.e. the types of data that are processed;
- who receives this data and if the data is transferred to third countries, how security can be guaranteed;
- how long the data is stored;
- the existence of the right to rectification, erasure, or restriction of processing and the right to object to processing;
- that you can complain to a supervisory authority (links to these authorities can be found below);
- the origin of the data if we did not collect it from you;
- whether profiling is carried out, i.e. whether data is automatically evaluated in order to create a personal profile for you.
- According to Article 16 GDPR, you have the right to correct the data, which means that we have to correct data if you find any errors.
- According to Article 17 GDPR, you have the right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”), which specifically means that you can request the erasure of your data.
- According to Article 18 GDPR, you have the right to restrict processing, which means that we may only store the data but not use it further.
- According to Article 20 GDPR, you have the right to data portability, which means that we can provide you with your data in a common format upon request.
- According to Article 21 GDPR, you have a right of objection, which, after enforcement, will result in a change in processing.
- If the processing of your data is based on Article 6 Paragraph 1 Letter e (public interest, exercise of official authority) or Article 6 Paragraph 1 Letter f (legitimate interest), you can object to the processing. We will then check as quickly as possible whether we can legally comply with this objection.
- If data is used for direct advertising, you can object to this type of data processing at any time. We may no longer use your data for direct marketing after this.
- If data is used to operate profiling, you can object to this type of data processing at any time. We may no longer use your data for profiling after this.
- According to Article 22 GDPR, you may have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing (e.g. profiling).
- According to Article 77 GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint. This means that you can complain to the data protection authority at any time if you believe that the processing of personal data violates the GDPR.
In short: You have rights – do not hesitate to contact the responsible person listed above!
If you believe that the processing of your data violates data protection law or your data protection rights have been violated in any other way, you can complain to the supervisory authority. This is the data protection authority for Austria, whose website can be found at https://www.dsb.gv.at/. In Germany, there is a data protection officer for each federal state. For more information, you can contact the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI). The following local data protection authority is responsible for our company:
Austria Data Protection Authority
Head: Mag. Andrea Jelinek
Address: Barichgasse 40-42, 1030 Vienna
Phone number: +43 1 52 152-0
Email address: dsb(at)dsb.gv.at
Website: https://www.dsb.gv.at/
Data Transfer To Third Countries
We only transfer or process data to countries outside the EU (third countries) if you agree to this processing if this is required by law or is contractually necessary and in any case only to the extent that this is generally permitted. In most cases, your consent is the most important reason that we have data processed in third countries. The processing of personal data in third countries such as the USA, where many software manufacturers offer services and have their server locations, may mean that personal data is processed and stored in unexpected ways.
We expressly point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. Data processing by US services (such as Google Analytics) may result in data not being processed and stored anonymously. In addition, US government authorities may have access to individual data. In addition, it may happen that collected data is linked to data from other services from the same provider, provided you have a corresponding user account. If possible, we try to use server locations within the EU, if this is offered.
We will inform you in more detail about data transfer to third countries at the appropriate points in this data protection declaration if this applies.
Security Of Data Processing
In order to protect personal data, we have implemented both technical and organizational measures. Where possible, we encrypt or pseudonymize personal data. In this way, we make it as difficult as possible for third parties to infer personal information from our data.
Art. 25 GDPR speaks here of “data protection through technology design and through data protection-friendly default settings” and means that one always thinks of security and corresponding security both with software (e.g. forms) and hardware (e.g. access to the server room). measures. If necessary, we will go into specific measures below.
TLS Encryption With HTTPS
TLS, encryption, and HTTPS all sound very technical and they are. We use HTTPS (the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure stands for “secure hypertext transfer protocol”) to transmit data securely on the Internet. This means that the complete transmission of all data from your browser to our web server is secured – nobody can “eavesdrop”.
We have thus introduced an additional security layer and comply with data protection through technology design (Article 25 Paragraph 1 GDPR). By using TLS (Transport Layer Security), an encryption protocol for secure data transmission on the Internet, we can ensure the protection of confidential data. You can recognize the use of this protection for data transmission by the small lock symbol in the top left of the browser, to the left of the internet address (purestmagazine.com), and by using the HTTPS scheme (instead of HTTP) as part of our internet address (https://www.purestmagazine.com). If you want to know more about encryption, we recommend a Google search for “Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure Wiki” to get valid links to further information.
Communication
Communication Summary
👥 Affected: Anyone who communicates with us by phone, email or online form
📓 Processed data: e.g. B. Telephone number, name, e-mail address, entered form data. More details can be found under the type of contact used
🤝 Purpose: Handling of communication with customers, business partners, etc.
📅 Duration of storage: Duration of the business case and the legal regulations
⚖️ Legal bases: Article 6(1)(a) GDPR (consent), Article 6(1)(b) GDPR (contract), Article 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interests)
If you contact us and communicate by telephone, e-mail or online form, personal data may be processed.
The data will be processed for the handling and processing of your question and the related business transaction. The data is stored for as long as the law requires.
Affected People
All those who seek contact with us via the communication channels provided by us are affected by the processes mentioned.
Phone
If you call us, the call data will be stored pseudonymously on the respective end device and with the telecommunications provider used. In addition, data such as name and telephone number can then be sent by e-mail and saved to answer inquiries. The data will be deleted as soon as the business case has ended and legal requirements permit.
E-Mail
If you communicate with us by e-mail, data may be stored on the respective end device (computer, laptop, smartphone,…) and data is stored on the e-mail server. The data will be deleted as soon as the business case has ended and legal requirements permit.
Online Forms
If you communicate with us using an online form, data will be stored on our web server and, if necessary, forwarded to an e-mail address from us. The data will be deleted as soon as the business case has ended and legal requirements permit.
Legal Bases
The processing of the data is based on the following legal bases:
- Article 6 paragraph 1 lit.
- Article 6(1)(b) GDPR (contract): There is a need to fulfill a contract with you or a processor, e.g. B. the telephone provider or we need the data for pre-contractual activities, such. B. the preparation of an offer, process;
- Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests): We want to conduct customer inquiries and business communication in a professional framework. These are certain technical facilities. E-mail programs, exchange servers, and mobile phone operators are necessary in order to be able to communicate efficiently.
Order processing contract (AVV)
In this section, we would like to explain what a data processing agreement is and why it is needed. Because the word “order processing contract” is quite a tongue twister, we will often only use the acronym AVV here in the text. Like most companies, we do not work alone, but also use the services of other companies or individuals ourselves. By involving different companies or service providers, we may pass on personal data for processing. These partners then act as processors with whom we conclude a contract, the so-called data processing contract (AVV). The most important thing for you to know is that the processing of your personal data takes place exclusively according to our instructions and must be regulated by the AVV.
Who Are Data Processors?
As a company and website owner, we are responsible for all data that we process from you. In addition to those responsible, there may also be so-called processors. This includes any company or person who processes personal data on our behalf. More precisely and according to the GDPR definition: any natural or legal person, authority, institution or other body that processes personal data on our behalf is considered a processor. Processors can therefore be service providers such as hosting or cloud providers, payment or newsletter providers or large companies such as Google or Microsoft.
To make the terminology easier to understand, here is an overview of the three roles in the GDPR:
Affected party (you as a customer or interested party) → Responsible party (we as a company and client) → Processor (service providers such as web hosts or cloud providers)
Content Of An Order Processing Contract
As already mentioned above, we have concluded an AVV with our partners who act as processors. First and foremost, it states that the processor processes the data to be processed exclusively in accordance with the GDPR. The contract must be concluded in writing, although in this context the electronic conclusion of the contract is also considered “in writing”. The processing of personal data only takes place on the basis of the contract. The contract must contain the following:
- Binding to us as responsible
- Obligations and rights of the controller
- Categories of data subjects
- Type of personal data
- Type and purpose of data processing
- Object and duration of data processing
- Place of execution of the data processing
Furthermore, the contract contains all the obligations of the processor. The most important obligations are: - Measures to ensure data security
- take possible technical and organizational measures to protect the rights of the data subject
- to maintain a data processing register
- to cooperate with the data protection supervisory authority at the request of the latter
- carry out risk analysis in relation to the personal data received
- Sub-processors may only be commissioned with the written consent of the person responsible
You can see what such an AVV looks like at https://www.wko.at/service/wirtschaftsrecht-gewerberecht/eu-dsgvo-mustervertrag-auftragsverarbeitung.html. A sample contract is presented here.
Cookies
Cookies Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: depending on the specific cookie. More details can be found below or from the manufacturer of the software that sets the cookie.
📓 Processed data: Depending on the cookie used. More details can be found below or from the manufacturer of the software that sets the cookie.
📅 Storage duration: depending on the respective cookie, can vary from hours to years
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit.f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What Are Cookies?
Our website uses HTTP cookies to store user-specific data. In the following, we explain what cookies are and why they are used so that you can better understand the following data protection declaration.
Whenever you surf the Internet, you use a browser. Well-known browsers include Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge. Most websites store small text files in your browser. These files are called cookies.
One thing cannot be denied: Cookies are really useful little helpers. Almost all websites use cookies. More precisely, they are HTTP cookies, as there are other cookies for other areas of the application. HTTP cookies are small files that are stored on your computer on our website. These cookie files are automatically stored in the cookie folder, which is basically the “brain” of your browser. A cookie consists of a name and a value. When defining a cookie, one or more attributes must also be specified.
Cookies store certain user data from you, such as language or personal page settings. When you visit our site again, your browser transmits the “user-related” information back to our site. Thanks to cookies, our website knows who you are and offers you the settings you are used to. In some browsers, each cookie has its own file, in others such as Firefox all cookies are stored in a single file.
There are both first-party cookies and third-party cookies. First-party cookies are created directly by our site, third-party cookies are created by partner websites (e.g. Google Analytics). Each cookie must be evaluated individually, since each cookie stores different data. The expiry time of a cookie also varies from a few minutes to a few years. Cookies are not software programs and do not contain viruses, Trojans, or other “pests”. Cookies also cannot access information on your PC.
For example, cookie data can look like this:
Name: _ga
Value: GA1.2.1326744211.152122398005-9
Purpose: Differentiation of website visitors
Expiration date: after 2 years
A browser should be able to support these minimum sizes:
- At least 4096 bytes per cookie
- At least 50 cookies per domain
- At least 3000 cookies in total
What types of cookies are there?
The question of which cookies we use in particular depends on the services used and is clarified in the following sections of the data protection declaration. At this point, we would like to briefly discuss the different types of HTTP cookies.
There are 4 types of cookies:
Essential Cookies
These cookies are necessary to ensure the basic functions of the website. For example, these cookies are needed if a user puts a product in the shopping cart, then continues surfing on other pages, and only goes to the checkout later. These cookies do not delete the shopping cart, even if the user closes their browser window.
Functional Cookies
These cookies collect information about user behavior and whether the user receives any error messages. In addition, these cookies are also used to measure the loading time and behavior of the website in different browsers.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies ensure better user-friendliness. For example, entered locations, font sizes or form data are saved.
Advertising Cookies
These cookies are also called targeting cookies. They are used to provide the user with individually tailored advertising. This can be very useful, but also very annoying.
Usually, when you visit a website for the first time, you will be asked which of these types of cookies you would like to allow. And of course, this decision is also stored in a cookie.
If you want to know more about cookies and don’t shy away from technical documentation, we recommend https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc6265, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request for Comments called “HTTP State Management Mechanism”.
Purpose Of Processing Via Cookies
The purpose ultimately depends on the respective cookie. More details can be found below or from the manufacturer of the software that sets the cookie.
Which Data Are Processed?
Cookies are little helpers for many different tasks. Unfortunately, it is not possible to generalize which data is stored in cookies, but we will inform you about the processed or stored data in the following data protection declaration.
Storage Duration Of Cookies
The storage period depends on the respective cookie and is specified below. Some cookies are deleted after less than an hour, others can remain stored on a computer for several years.
You can also influence the storage period yourself. You can manually delete all cookies at any time via your browser (see also “Right of objection” below). Furthermore, cookies that are based on consent will be deleted at the latest after you withdraw your consent, whereby the legality of storage remains unaffected until then.
Right To Object – How Can I Delete Cookies?
You decide for yourself how and whether you want to use cookies. Regardless of which service or website the cookies come from, you always have the option of deleting or deactivating cookies or only partially allowing them. For example, you can block third-party cookies but allow all other cookies.
If you want to find out which cookies have been stored in your browser, if you want to change or delete cookie settings, you can find this in your browser settings:
Chrome: Delete, enable, and manage cookies in Chrome
Safari: Managing Cookies and Website Data with Safari
Firefox: Clear cookies to remove data websites have placed on your computer
Internet Explorer: Delete and manage cookies
Microsoft Edge: Deleting and managing cookies
If you generally do not want any cookies, you can set up your browser so that it always informs you when a cookie is to be set. You can decide for each individual cookie whether you allow the cookie or not. The procedure differs depending on the browser. It is best to look for the instructions in Google with the search term “Delete cookies Chrome” or “Deactivate cookies Chrome” in the case of a Chrome browser.
Legal Basis
The so-called “Cookie Guidelines” have been in place since 2009. It states that the storage of cookies requires your consent (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR). Within the EU countries, however, there are still very different reactions to these directives. In Austria, however, this directive was implemented in Section 96 (3) of the Telecommunications Act (TKG). In Germany, the cookie guidelines have not been implemented as national law. Instead, this guideline was largely implemented in Section 15 (3) of the Telemedia Act (TMG).
For cookies that are absolutely necessary, even if no consent has been given, there are legitimate interests (Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR), which in most cases are of an economic nature. We want to provide visitors to our website with a pleasant user experience and certain cookies are often strictly necessary for this.
If cookies that are not absolutely necessary are used, this will only happen with your consent. In this respect, the legal basis is Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR.
In the following sections, you will be informed in more detail about the use of cookies if the software used uses cookies.
Web Hosting Introduction
Web Hosting Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: professional website hosting and operation security
📓 Processed data: IP address, time of website visit, browser used, and other data. More details can be found below or from the web hosting provider used.
📅 Duration of storage: depends on the respective provider, but usually 2 weeks
⚖️ Legal basis: Art. 6 Para. 1 lit.f GDPR (legitimate interests)
Customer Data
Customer Data Summary
👥 Affected: Customers or business and contractual partners
🤝 Purpose: Provision of the contractually or pre-contractually agreed services, including associated communication
📓 Data processed: name, address, contact details, email address, telephone number, payment information (such as invoices and bank details), contract data (such as duration and subject matter of the contract), IP address, order data
📅 Storage period: the data will be deleted as soon as they are no longer required for our business purposes and there is no legal obligation to retain them.
⚖️ Legal bases: Legitimate interest (Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR), contract (Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. b GDPR)
What Is Customer Data?
In order to be able to offer our service or our contractual services, we also process data from our customers and business partners. This data always includes personal data. Customer data is all information that is processed on the basis of contractual or pre-contractual cooperation in order to be able to provide the services offered. Customer data is therefore all the information we collect and process about our customers.
Why Do We Process Customer Data?
There are many reasons why we collect and process customer data. The main one is that we simply need different data to provide our services. Sometimes your e-mail address is enough here, but if you purchase a product or service, for example, we also need data such as name, address, bank details, or contract data. We subsequently also use the data for marketing and sales optimization so that we can improve our overall service for our customers. Another important point is our customer service, which is always very important to us. We want you to be able to contact us at any time with questions about our offers and for this, we need at least your e-mail address.
Which Data Are Processed?
Exactly which data is stored can only be shown here using categories. This always depends on which services you receive from us. In some cases, you only give us your e-mail address so that we can, for example, contact you or answer your questions. In other cases, you purchase a product or service from us and for this, we need significantly more information, such as your contact details, payment details, and contract details.
Here is a list of possible data that we receive from you and process:
- Surname
- contact address
- E-mail address
- phone number
- Date of birth
- Payment data (invoices, bank details, payment history, etc.)
- Contract data (duration, content)
- Usage data (websites visited, access data, etc.)
- Metadata (IP address, device information)
How Long Is The Data Stored?
As soon as we no longer need the customer data to fulfill our contractual obligations and our purposes and the data is also no longer necessary for possible warranty and liability obligations, we delete the corresponding customer data. This is the case, for example, when a business contract ends. Thereafter, the limitation period is usually 3 years, although longer periods are possible in individual cases. Of course, we also comply with the statutory retention requirements. Your customer data will certainly not be passed on to third parties unless you have given your explicit consent.
Legal Basis
The legal basis for the processing of your data is Article 6 Paragraph 1 Letter a GDPR (consent), Article 6 Paragraph 1 Letter b GDPR (contract or pre-contractual measures), Article 6 Paragraph 1 Letter f GDPR (legitimate interests), and in special cases (e.g. medical services) Article 9 Paragraph 2 lit. GDPR (Special Category Processing).
In the case of protection of vital interests, data processing is carried out in accordance with Article 9 Paragraph 2 Letter c. GDPR. For the purposes of health care, occupational medicine, medical diagnostics, care, or treatment in the health or social area or for the administration of systems and services in the health or social area, the processing of personal data takes place in accordance with Art. 9 Para. 2 lit. H. GDPR. If you voluntarily provide data on the special categories, the processing takes place on the basis of Article 9 Paragraph 2 lit. GDPR.
Registration
Registration Summary
👥 Affected: Anyone who registers, creates an account, logs in, and uses the account.
📓 Processed data: email address, name, password, and other data collected in the course of registration, login, and account use.
🤝 Purpose: To provide our services. Communications with Customers in connection with the Services.
📅 Storage period: As long as the company account associated with the texts exists and then usually 3 years.
⚖️ Legal bases: Article 6(1)(b) GDPR (contract), Article 6(1)(a) GDPR (consent), Article 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interests)
If you register with us, personal data may be processed, if you enter personal data or data such as the IP address is recorded in the course of processing. You can read below what we mean by the rather cumbersome term “personal data”.
Please only enter data that we need for the registration and for which you have the approval of a third party if you are registering on behalf of a third party. If possible, use a secure password that you do not use anywhere else and an e-mail address that you check regularly.
In the following, we will inform you about the exact type of data processing, because we want you to feel comfortable!
What Is A Registration?
When you register, we receive certain data from you and later make it easy for you to register with us online and use your account with us. An account with us has the advantage that you don’t have to re-enter everything every time. Saves time, and effort and ultimately prevents errors in the delivery of our services.
Why Do We Process Personal Data?
In short, we process personal data to enable the creation and use of an account with us. If we didn’t do that, you would have to enter all the data each time, wait for approval from us, and enter everything again. We and many, many customers would not find that so good. How would you like that?
Which Data Are Processed?
Enter all the data that you provided during registration when registering or enter it in the context of managing your data in the account.
When Registering, We Process The Following Types Of Data:
- First name
- Surname
- E-mail address
- Company name
- Street + house number
- Residence
- Postal code
- country
When registering, we process the data you enter during registration, such as username and password, and data collected in the background, such as device information and IP addresses.
When using the account, we process data that you enter while using the account and which is created as part of the use of our services.
Storage Duration
We store the data entered at least for as long as the account linked to the data exists with us and is used, as long as there are contractual obligations between us and when the contract ends, until the respective claims from it are statute-barred. In addition, we store your data as long as and insofar as we are subject to legal storage obligations. After that, we keep the accounting documents belonging to the contract (invoices, contract documents, bank statements, etc.) as well as other relevant business documents for the legally prescribed period (usually several years).
Right To Object
You have registered, entered data, and want to revoke the processing? No problem. As you can read above, the rights under the General Data Protection Regulation also exist at and after registration, login, or account with us. Contact the Data Protection Officer above to exercise your rights. If you already have an account with us, you can easily view and manage your data and texts in the account.
Legal Basis
By completing the registration process, you approach us pre-contractually in order to conclude a usage contract for our platform (although a payment obligation does not automatically arise). You invest time to enter data and register and we offer you our services after logging into our system and viewing your customer account. We also meet our contractual obligations. Finally, we need to email registered users about important changes. Article 6(1)(b) GDPR (implementation of pre-contractual measures, fulfillment of a contract) applies.
If necessary, we will also obtain your consent, e.g. if you voluntarily provide more data than is absolutely necessary or if we are allowed to send you advertising. Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent) therefore applies.
We also have a legitimate interest in knowing who we are dealing with in order to get in touch in certain cases. We also need to know who is using our services and whether they are being used in accordance with our terms of use, i.e. Article 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interests) applies.
Note: The following sections are to be ticked by users (as required):
- Registration with real names: Since we need to know in business operations who we are dealing with, registration is only possible with your real name (real name) and not with pseudonyms.
- Registration with pseudonyms: Pseudonyms can be used when registering, which means you do not have to register with us using your real name. This ensures that your name cannot be processed by us.
- Storage of the IP address: In the course of registration, login, and account use, we store the IP address in the background for security reasons in order to be able to determine legitimate use.
- Public profile: The user profiles are publicly visible, i.e. parts of the profile can also be viewed on the Internet without entering a username and password.
- 2-factor authentication (2FA): Two-factor authentication (2FA) offers additional security when logging in, as it prevents you from logging in without a smartphone, for example. This technical measure to secure your account protects you against the loss of data or unauthorized access, even if you know your username and password. You can find out which 2FA is used during registration, login, and in the account itself
What Is Web Hosting?
When you visit websites today, certain information – including personal data – is automatically created and stored on this website. This data should be processed as sparingly as possible and only with justification. By the way, by website, we mean the entirety of all web pages on a domain, i.e. everything from the start page (homepage) to the very last subpage (like this one). By domain, we mean, for example, purestmagazine.com.
When you want to view a website on a computer, tablet, or smartphone, you use a program called a web browser to do so. You probably know a few web browsers by name: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari. We call it “browser” or “web browser” for short.
To view the website, the browser needs to connect to another computer where the website’s code is stored: the web server. The operation of a web server is a complicated and time-consuming task, which is why this is usually taken on by professional “providers”. These offer web hosting and thus ensure reliable and error-free storage of website data. A whole lot of jargon, but please stay tuned, it gets even better!
Personal data may be processed when the browser on your computer (desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone) connects and during data transfer to and from the web server. On the one hand, your computer stores data, on the other hand, the web server also has to store data for a period of time in order to ensure proper operation.
Why Do We Process Personal Data?
The purposes of data processing are:
- Professional website hosting and operation security
- to maintain operational and IT security
- Anonymous evaluation of access behavior to improve our offer and, if necessary, for criminal prosecution or the pursuit of claims
Which Data Are Processed?
Even while you are visiting our website, our web server, which is the computer on which this website is stored, usually automatically saves data such as
- the complete internet address (URL) of the accessed website
- Browser and browser version (e.g. Chrome 87)
- the operating system used (e.g. Windows 10)
- the address (URL) of the previously visited page (referrer URL) (e.g. https://www.beispielquellsite.de/vondabinichkommen/)
- the hostname and IP address of the device being accessed from (e.g. COMPUTERNAME and 194.23.43.121)
- Date and Time
- in files, the so-called web server log files
How Long Is Data Stored?
As a rule, the above data is stored for two weeks and then automatically deleted. We do not pass on this data, but we cannot rule out that this data will be viewed by authorities in the event of illegal behavior.
In short: Your visit will be logged by our provider (the company that runs our website on special computers (servers)), but we will not pass on your data without your consent!
Legal Basis
The legality of the processing of personal data in the context of web hosting results from Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR (protection of legitimate interests), because the use of professional hosting with a provider is necessary to make the company safe and user-friendly on the Internet present and to be able to pursue attacks and claims from this if necessary.
There is usually a contract between us and the hosting provider for order processing in accordance with Art. 28 f. GDPR, which ensures compliance with data protection and guarantees data security.
Hetzner Privacy Policy
We use Hetzner for our website, including a web hosting provider. Service provider is the German company Hetzner Online GmbH, Industriestr. 25, 91710 Gunzenhausen, Germany.
You can find out more about the data processed through the use of Hetzner in the data protection declaration at https://www.hetzner.com/de/legal/privacy-policy.
ODER!!!! ANDERER PROVIDER!
KORREKTE DATEN!!!!! Web Hosting Provider External Data Protection Declaration
Below you will find the contact details of our external hosting provider, where you can find out more about data processing, in addition to the information above:
Sample Company GmbH
Sample Street 47
12312 Sample Town, Austria
You can find out more about data processing at this provider in the data protection declaration.
WordPress.com Privacy Policy
We use WordPress.com, a website construction kit, for our website. Service provider is the American company Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA.
WordPress also processes your data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This can be associated with various risks to the legality and security of data processing.
WordPress uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 Para. 2 and 3 GDPR) as the basis for data processing by recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or data transfer there. Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data also comply with European data protection standards if they are transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through these clauses, WordPress undertakes to comply with European data protection standards when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed, and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementation decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de
The Data Processing Agreements, which correspond to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://wordpress.com/support/data-processing-agreements/.
You can find out more about the data processed by using WordPress.com in the data protection declaration at https://automattic.com/de/privacy/.
Web Analytics Introduction
Web Analytics Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: Evaluation of visitor information to optimize the website.
📓 Data processed: Access statistics, which includes data such as access locations, device data, access duration and time, navigation behavior, click behavior, and IP addresses. More details can be found in the web analytics tool used in each case.
📅 Duration of storage: depends on the web analytics tool used
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What Is Web Analytics?
We use the Google Analytics (GA) analysis tracking tool from the American company Google Inc. on our website. The company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services in Europe. Google Analytics collects data about your actions on our website. For example, if you click on a link, this action is stored in a cookie and sent to Google Analytics. The reports we receive from Google Analytics allow us to better tailor our website and service to your needs. In the following, we will go into more detail about the tracking tool and, above all, inform you about which data is stored and how you can prevent this.
Google Analytics is a tracking tool used to analyze traffic on our website. In order for Google Analytics to work, a tracking code is built into the code of our website. When you visit our website, this code records various actions that you take on our website. As soon as you leave our website, this data is sent to the Google Analytics servers and stored there.
Google processes the data and we receive reports on your user behavior. These reports may include the following:
- Target group reports: With target group reports, we get to know our users better and know more precisely who is interested in our service.
- Ad reports: Ad reports make it easier for us to analyze and improve our online advertising.
- Acquisition Reports: Acquisition reports provide us with helpful information on how to attract more people to our service.
- Behavior Reports: Here we learn how you interact with our website. We can understand which path you take on our site and which links you click on.
- Conversion reports: Conversion is a process in which you perform a desired action based on a marketing message. For example, when you go from being a mere website visitor to a buyer or newsletter subscriber. These reports enable us to learn more about how our marketing measures are resonating with you. This is how we want to increase our conversion rate.
- Real-time reports: Here we always know immediately what is happening on our website. For example, we can see how many users are currently reading this text.
Why Do We Run Web Analytics?
With our website we have a clear goal in mind: we want to deliver the best web offer on the market for our industry. In order to achieve this goal, on the one hand, we want to offer the best and most interesting offer and on the other hand, we want to make sure that you feel completely comfortable on our website. With the help of web analysis tools, we can take a closer look at the behavior of our website visitors and then improve our website for you and us accordingly. For example, we can see how old our visitors are on average, where they come from when our website is visited the most, or which content or products are particularly popular. All this information helps us to optimize the website and thus adapt it to your needs, interests, and wishes in the best possible way.
Which Data Are Processed?
Which data is stored exactly depends of course on the analysis tools used. As a rule, however, what is stored is, for example, what content you view on our website, which buttons or links you click on when you call up a page, which browser you use, which device (PC, tablet, smartphone, etc.) you use Visit the website or what computer system you are using. If you agree that location data may also be collected, these can also be processed by the web analysis tool provider.
Your IP address will also be saved. According to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), IP addresses are personal data. However, your IP address is usually stored in a pseudonymized form (i.e. in an unrecognizable and shortened form). For the purposes of testing, web analysis, and web optimization, no direct data such as your name, age, address, or e-mail address is stored. All of this data, if collected, is stored pseudonymized. This way you cannot be identified as a person.
How long the respective data is stored always depends on the provider. Some cookies only store data for a few minutes or until you leave the website, while other cookies can store data for several years.
Duration Of Data Processing
We will inform you below about the duration of data processing if we have further information on this. In general, we only process personal data for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products. If it is required by law, such as in the case of accounting, this storage period can also be exceeded.
Right To Object
You also have the right and the option to revoke your consent to the use of cookies or third-party providers at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating, or deleting the cookies in your browser.
Legal Basis
The use of web analytics requires your consent, which we have obtained with our cookie popup. According to Article 6 Paragraph 1 Letter a GDPR (consent), this consent represents the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when it is collected by web analytics tools.
In addition to consent, we have a legitimate interest in analyzing the behavior of website visitors and thus improving our offer technically and economically. With the help of web analytics, we can identify errors on the website, identify attacks and improve profitability. The legal basis for this is Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests). However, we only use the tools if you have given your consent.
As web analytics tools use cookies, we also recommend that you read our general privacy policy on cookies. To find out precisely what data is stored and processed by you, you should read the data protection declarations of the respective tools.
Information on special web analytics tools, if available, can be found in the following sections.
Google Analytics Privacy Policy
Google Analytics Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: Evaluation of visitor information to optimize the website.
📓 Data processed: Access statistics, which includes data such as access locations, device data, access duration and time, navigation behavior, click behavior, and IP addresses. More details can be found below in this data protection declaration.
📅 Storage duration: depends on the properties used
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What Is Google Analytics?
We use the Google Analytics (GA) analysis tracking tool from the American company Google Inc. on our website. The company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services in Europe. Google Analytics collects data about your actions on our website. For example, if you click on a link, this action is stored in a cookie and sent to Google Analytics. The reports we receive from Google Analytics allow us to better tailor our website and service to your needs. In the following, we will go into more detail about the tracking tool and, above all, inform you about which data is stored and how you can prevent this.
Google Analytics is a tracking tool used to analyze traffic on our website. In order for Google Analytics to work, a tracking code is built into the code of our website. When you visit our website, this code records various actions that you take on our website. As soon as you leave our website, this data is sent to the Google Analytics servers and stored there.
Google processes the data and we receive reports on your user behavior. These reports may include the following:
- Target group reports: With target group reports, we get to know our users better and know more precisely who is interested in our service.
- Ad reports: Ad reports make it easier for us to analyze and improve our online advertising.
- Acquisition Reports: Acquisition reports provide us with helpful information on how to attract more people to our service.
- Behavior Reports: Here we learn how you interact with our website. We can understand which path you take on our site and which links you click on.
- Conversion reports: Conversion is a process in which you perform a desired action based on a marketing message. For example, when you go from being a mere website visitor to a buyer or newsletter subscriber. These reports enable us to learn more about how our marketing measures are resonating with you. This is how we want to increase our conversion rate.
- Real-time reports: Here we always know immediately what is happening on our website. For example, we can see how many users are currently reading this text.
Why Do We Use Google Analytics On Our Website?
Our goal with this website is clear: We want to offer you the best possible service. The statistics and data from Google Analytics help us to achieve this goal.
The statistically evaluated data give us a clear picture of the strengths and weaknesses of our website. On the one hand, we can optimize our site so that interested people can find it more easily on Google. On the other hand, the data helps us to better understand you as a visitor. We, therefore, know exactly what we need to improve on our website in order to offer you the best possible service. The data also helps us to carry out our advertising and marketing measures more individually and cost-effectively. After all, it only makes sense to show our products and services to people who care.
What Data Is Stored By Google Analytics?
Google Analytics uses a tracking code to create a random, unique ID that is linked to your browser cookie. This is how Google Analytics recognizes you as a new user. The next time you visit our site, you will be recognized as a “returning” user. All collected data is stored together with this user ID. This makes it possible to evaluate pseudonymous user profiles in the first place.
In order to be able to analyze our website with Google Analytics, a property ID must be included in the tracking code. The data is then stored in the corresponding property. For each newly created property, the Google Analytics 4 property is the default. Alternatively, you can also create the Universal Analytics property. Depending on the property used, data is stored for different lengths of time.
Identifiers such as cookies and app instance IDs are used to measure your interactions on our website. Interactions are any type of action you take on our website. If you also use other Google systems (such as a Google account), data generated via Google Analytics can be linked to third-party cookies. Google does not pass on Google Analytics data unless we as the website operator authorize this. Exceptions may arise if required by law.
The Following Cookies Are Used By Google Analytics:
Name: _ga
Value: 2.1326744211.152122398005-5
Purpose: By default, analytics.js uses the _ga cookie to store the user ID. Basically, it serves to differentiate between website visitors.
Expiry date: after 2 years
Name: _gid
Value: 2.1687193234.152122398005-1
Purpose: The cookie is also used to distinguish between website visitors
Expiry date: after 24 hours
Name: gat_gtag_UA
Value: 1
Purpose: Used to lower request rate. If Google Analytics is provided via Google Tag Manager, this cookie is given the name dc_gtm.
Expiration Date: After 1 minute
Name: AMP_TOKEN
Value: No information
Purpose: The cookie has a token that can be used to retrieve a user ID from the AMP Client ID service. Other possible values indicate an opt-out, a request, or an error.
Expiration Date: After 30 seconds to one year
Name: __utma
Value: 1564498958.1564498958.1564498958.1
Purpose: This cookie can be used to track your behavior on the website and measure performance. The cookie is updated each time information is sent to Google Analytics.
Expiry date: after 2 years
Name: _utmt
Value: 1
Purpose: Like _gat_gtag_UA, the cookie is used to throttle the request rate.
Expiration Date: After 10 minutes
Name: __utmb
Value: 3.10.1564498958
Purpose: This cookie is used to determine new sessions. It is updated every time new data or information is sent to Google Analytics.
Expiration Date: After 30 minutes
Name: __utmc
Value: 167421564
Purpose: This cookie is used to set new sessions for returning visitors. This is a session cookie and is only stored until you close the browser.
Expiration Date: After closing the browser
Name: __utmz
Value: m|utmccn=(referral)|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/
Purpose: The cookie is used to identify the source of the traffic to our website. This means that the cookie stores where you came from to our website. That could have been another page or an advertisement.
Expiry date: after 6 months
Name: __utmv
Value: not specified
Purpose: The cookie is used to store user-defined user data. It is always updated when information is sent to Google Analytics. Expiry date: after 2 years
Note: This list cannot claim to be complete, since Google is constantly changing the choice of its cookies.
Here We Show You An Overview Of The Most Important Data That Is Collected With Google Analytics:
Heatmaps: Google creates so-called heatmaps. Heatmaps show exactly those areas that you click on. This is how we get information about where you are on our site.
Session duration: Google defines the session duration as the time you spend on our site without leaving the site. If you have been inactive for 20 minutes, the session ends automatically.
Bounce rate: A bounce occurs when you only view one page on our website and then leave our website again.
Account creation: When you create an account or place an order on our website, Google Analytics collects this data.
IP address: The IP address is only displayed in abbreviated form so that no clear assignment is possible.
Location: The country and your approximate location can be determined via the IP address. This process is also referred to as IP location determination.
Technical information: Technical information includes, among other things, your browser type, your Internet provider, or your screen resolution.
Source of origin: Google Analytics or we are of course also interested in which website or which advertisement you came to our site from.
Other data are contact details, any ratings, playing media (e.g. if you play a video on our site), sharing content via social media or adding it to your favorites. The list does not claim to be complete and only serves as a general guide to data storage by Google Analytics.
How Long And Where Is The Data Stored?
Google has distributed its servers all over the world. Most of the servers are located in America and consequently, your data is mostly stored on American servers. Here you can read exactly where the Google data centers are located:
https://www.google.com/about/datacenters/locations/?hl=de
Your data is distributed across different physical media. This has the advantage that the data can be called up more quickly and is better protected against manipulation. Every Google data center has emergency programs for your data. For example, if Google’s hardware fails or natural disasters paralyze servers, the risk of a service interruption at Google remains low.
The retention period of the data depends on the properties used. When using the newer Google Analytics 4 properties, the retention period for your user data is fixed at 14 months. For other so-called event data, we have the option of choosing a retention period of 2 months or 14 months.
With Universal Analytics properties, Google Analytics has a standardized retention period of 26 months for your user data. Then your user data will be deleted. However, we have the option of choosing the retention period for user data ourselves. We have five options available for this:
- Deletion after 14 months
- Deletion after 26 months
- Deletion after 38 months
- Deletion after 50 months
- No automatic deletion
In addition, there is also the option that data will only be deleted if you no longer visit our website within the period of time chosen by us. In this case, the retention period will be reset each time you visit our website again within the specified period.
When the specified period has expired, the data will be deleted once a month. This retention period applies to your data associated with cookies, user recognition, and advertising IDs (e.g. cookies from the DoubleClick domain). Report results are based on aggregated data and are stored independently of user data. Aggregated data is a merging of individual data into a larger unit.
How Can I Delete My Data Or Prevent Data Storage?
Under European Union data protection law, you have the right to access, update, delete or restrict your data. You can prevent Google Analytics from using your data by using the browser add-on to disable Google Analytics JavaScript (ga.js, analytics.js, dc.js). You can download and install the browser add-on at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de. Please note that this add-on only disables data collection by Google Analytics.
If you generally want to deactivate, delete or manage cookies, you will find the corresponding links to the instructions for the most popular browsers under the “Cookies” section.
Legal Basis
The use of Google Analytics requires your consent, which we have obtained with our cookie popup. According to Article 6 Paragraph 1 Letter a GDPR (consent), this consent represents the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when it is collected by web analytics tools.
In addition to consent, there is a legitimate interest on our part in analyzing the behavior of website visitors and thus improving our offer technically and economically. With the help of Google Analytics, we can identify errors on the website, identify attacks and improve profitability. The legal basis for this is Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests). However, we only use Google Analytics if you have given your consent.
Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This can be associated with various risks for the legality and security of data processing.
As the basis for data processing by recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or data transfer there, Google uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 Para. 2 and 3 DSGVO). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data also comply with European data protection standards if they are transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through these clauses, Google undertakes to comply with European data protection standards when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed, and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementation decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de
The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at
https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/.
We hope we were able to give you an understanding of the most important information about data processing by Google Analytics. If you want to learn more about the tracking service, we recommend these two links:
https://marketingplatform.google.com/about/analytics/terms/de/ and https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/ 6004245?hl=de.
Order Processing Contract (AVV) Google Analytics
We have concluded an order processing contract (AVV) with Google in accordance with Article 28 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can read about exactly what an AVV is and, above all, what must be contained in an AVV in our general section “Order Processing Agreement (AVV)”.
This contract is required by law because Google processes personal data on our behalf. This clarifies that Google may only process data that you receive from us according to our instructions and must comply with the GDPR. You can find the link to the order data processing conditions at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/
Google Analytics Reports On Demographics And Interests
We have activated the functions for advertising reports in Google Analytics. The Demographics and Interests reports include information about age, gender, and interests. This enables us to get a better picture of our users without being able to assign this data to individual persons. You can find out more about the advertising functions at
https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/3450482?hl=de_AT&utm_id=ad.
You can stop the use of the activities and information from your Google account under “Advertising settings” at
https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated using the checkbox.
Google Analytics IP Anonymization
We have implemented Google Analytics IP address anonymization on this website. This function was developed by Google so that this website can comply with applicable data protection regulations and recommendations from local data protection authorities if they prohibit the storage of the full IP address. The IP is anonymized or masked as soon as the IP addresses arrive in the Google Analytics data collection network and before the data is stored or processed.
You can find more information on IP anonymization at https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/2763052?hl=de.
Jetpack Privacy Policy
Jetpack Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: Evaluation of visitor information to optimize the website.
📓 Data processed: Access statistics, which includes data such as access locations, device data, access duration and time, navigation behavior, click behavior, and IP addresses.
📅 Storage period: until the data is no longer needed for the services
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What Is Jetpack?
We use the WordPress plugin Jetpack on our website. Jetpack is a software that, among other things, provides us with web analytics. Jetpack is operated by Automattic (Inc. 132 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94107, USA), which uses the technology from Quantcast (Inc., 201 3rd St, Floor 2, San Francisco, CA 94103-3153, USA) for this product. USA) uses. The integrated tracking tool also collects, stores, and processes personal data from you. In this data protection declaration, we will show you exactly what data is involved, why we use Jetpack, and how you can prevent this data storage.
Jetpack is a WordPress website plugin with many different features and modules. All these tools help us to make our website more beautiful, and more secure and to welcome more visitors here. The tool can also be used to display related posts, content can be shared and the loading speed of our website can also be improved with Jetpack. All features are hosted and provided by WordPress.
Why Do We Use Jetpack?
It is crucial for us that you feel comfortable on our website and that you find what you are looking for. We can only be successful if you are satisfied with our service. And so that we know how and where we can improve our website, we need information. Jetpack lets us see, for example, how often and how long you are on an individual website or which buttons you like to click. With the help of this information, we can improve our website and adapt it to your wishes and preferences.
What Data Is Stored By Jetpack?
Especially through the built-in tracking tool WordPress.com-Statistics, your personal data is also recorded, stored, and processed. In order for the Jetpack tool to work properly, Jetpack places a cookie on your browser when you open a web page that has built-in components of the tool. The collected data is synchronized with Automattic and stored there.
In addition to the IP address (is anonymized before storage) and data on user behavior, this includes, for example, browser type, unique device ID, preferred language, date and time of page entry, operating system, and information on the mobile network. Jetpack uses this information to improve its own services and offers and to get better insights into the use of its own service. The following data can also be synchronized and saved:
- For Google Ads clients, the email address and the physical address of the account are synchronized
- Successful and failed login attempts. Your IP address and the user agent are also saved for this purpose
- The user IDs, usernames, email addresses, roles, and skills of the registered users. But no passwords are saved
- The user ID of users making changes on the site
- The Twitter username if configured with Jetpack
Jetpack also uses cookies to store data. In the following we show you a few selected, exemplary cookies that Jetpack uses:
Name: eucookielaw
Value: 1613651061376122398005-6
Purpose: Stores the status of the user’s consent to the use of cookies.
Expiry date: after 180 days
Name: tk_ai
Value: 0
Purpose: This cookie stores a randomly generated anonymous ID. It is only used within the admin panel for tracking general analytics.
Expiration Date: After session ends
Name: tk_tc
Value: E3%2BgJ1Pw6iYKk%2Fvj122398005-3
Purpose: This is a so-called referral cookie. This analyzes the connection between WooCommerce and a website with a Jetpack plugin.
Expiration Date: After session ends
Note: Jetpack uses many different cookies. Which cookies are specifically used depends on the Jetpack functions used on the one hand and on your actions on the websites with an integrated Jetpack plug-in on the other. At https://de.jetpack.com/support/cookies/ you can see a list of possible cookies that Jetpack uses.
How Long And Where Is The Data Stored?
Automattic stores the collected data until it is no longer used for its own services. Beyond this period, the data will only be kept if the company is obliged to do so for legal reasons. Web server logs such as your IP address, browser type, and operating system are deleted after about 30 days. The data is stored on the company’s American servers.
How Can I Delete My Data Or Prevent Data Storage?
As mentioned above, Jetpack uses cookies to store data. If you do not want Jetpack to collect data from you in the future, you can request an “opt-out” cookie at https://www.quantcast.com/opt-out/. Quantcast sets this cookie and thus no visitor data is stored from you. This is the case until you delete this cookie again.
Alternatively, you can also easily manage, deactivate or delete cookies yourself in your browser. Depending on the browser type, cookie management works a little differently. Under the “Cookies” section you will find the relevant links to the relevant instructions for the most popular browsers.
Legal Basis
The use of Jetpack requires your consent, which we have obtained with our cookie popup. According to Article 6 Paragraph 1 Letter a GDPR (consent), this consent represents the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when it is collected by web analytics tools.
In addition to consent, there is a legitimate interest on our part in analyzing the behavior of website visitors and thus improving our offer technically and economically. With the help of Jetpack, we can detect errors on the website, identify attacks and improve profitability. The legal basis for this is Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests). However, we only use Jetpack if you have given your consent.
Jetpack also processes data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This can be associated with various risks to the legality and security of data processing.
Jetpack uses standard contractual clauses approved by the EU Commission (= Art. 46. Para. 2 and 3 GDPR). These clauses oblige Jetpack to comply with EU data protection standards when processing relevant data outside of the EU. These clauses are based on an implementation decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the clauses here: https://germany.representation.ec.europa.eu/index_de.
If you want to find out more about the data protection guidelines and the processing of data by Jetpack or Automattic, we recommend the data protection declaration at https://automattic.com/privacy/, the cookie guidelines at https://automattic.com/cookies/ and also the information page https://jetpack.com/support/what-data-does-jetpack-sync/. We hope we were able to give you a good insight into how Jetpack processes data.
Matomo Privacy Policy
We use Matomo, an analysis software for websites, on our website. The service provider is the New Zealand company InnoCraft Ltd, 7 Waterloo Quay PO625, 6140 Wellington, New Zealand.
You can find out more about the data processed by using Matomo in the privacy policy at https://matomo.org/privacy-policy/. Questions about privacy can be emailed to privacy(at)matomo.org.
WP Statistics Privacy Policy
WP Statistics Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: Evaluation of visitor information to optimize the website.
📓 Processed data: Access statistics that contain data such as anonymized IP addresses, duration of the website visit or your click behavior.
📅 Storage period: the data is stored until it is no longer needed for the purpose
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What is WP Statistics?
We use the analysis plugin WP Statistics on our website. This plugin was developed by Veronalabs (5460 W Main St, Verona, NY 13478, United States), an American software company. With this plugin, we receive simple statistics on how you as a user use our website. In this data protection declaration, we go into more detail about the analysis tool and show you which data is stored where and for how long.
This plugin is an analysis software that was specially developed for websites that use the WordPress content management system. WordPress helps us to easily edit our website even without any coding knowledge. For example, WP Statistics can collect data about how long you stay on our website, which subpages you visit, how many visitors are on the website, or from which website you came to us. No cookies are set by WP Statistics and you cannot be identified as a person through the data collected.
Why Do We Use WP Statistics?
With the help of WP Statistics, we get simple statistics that help us to make our website even more interesting and better for you. Our website and the content, products, and/or services offered on it should meet your requirements and wishes as well as possible. Of course, in order to achieve this goal, we also need to know where to make improvements and changes. The statistics obtained help us to get one step closer to this goal.
What Data Is Stored By WP Statistics?
WP Statistics does not set any cookies and the data collected is only used to create anonymous statistics on the use of our website. WP Statistics also anonymizes your IP address. You as a person cannot be identified.
WP Statistics collects visitor data (so-called Visitos´Data) when your web browser connects to our web server. This data is stored in our database on our server. These include, for example:
- the address (URL) of the accessed website
- Browser and browser version
- the operating system used
- the address (URL) of the previously visited page (referrer URL)
- the hostname and IP address of the device being accessed from
- Date and Time
- Country/City information
- Number of visitors coming from a search engine
- Length of stay on the website
- Clicks on the site
The data will not be passed on and also not sold.
How long and where is the data stored?
All data is stored locally on our web server. The data is stored on our web server until it is no longer required for the purposes listed above.
How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?
You have the right to information, correction or deletion, and restriction of the processing of your personal data at any time. You can also revoke your consent to the processing of data at any time.
Legal Basis
The use of WP Statistics requires your consent, which we have obtained with our cookie popup. This consent represents – according to Article 6 Paragraph 1 lit.a GDPR (consent) – the legal basis for the processing of personal data as it may occur when it is collected by web analytics tools.
In addition to consent, there is a legitimate interest on our part in analyzing the behavior of website visitors and thus improving our offer technically and economically. With the help of WP Statistics, we can identify errors on the website, identify attacks and improve profitability. The legal basis for this is Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests). However, we only use WP Statistics if you have given your consent.
We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. The data processing is essentially done by WP Statistics. This can mean that data may not be processed and stored anonymously. In addition, US government authorities may have access to individual data. It may also happen that this data is linked to data from other possible WP Statistics services for which you have a user account.
We have now given you the most important information about data processing by WP Analytics. Because the plugin does not use cookies and the data for statistical evaluation is stored locally on the web server, your data is handled very carefully here. If you want to learn more about WP Analytics, you should see the company’s privacy policy at https://wp-statistics.com/privacy-and-policy/.
Email Marketing Introduction
Email Marketing Summary
👥 Affected: Newsletter subscribers
🤝 Purpose: direct mailing, notification of systemic events
📓 Processed data: Data entered during registration, but at least the email address. You can find more details on this with the email marketing tool used in each case.
📅 Storage duration: Duration of the existence of the subscription
⚖️ Legal bases: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What Is Email Marketing?
In order to always keep you up to date, we also use the possibility of e-mail marketing. If you have agreed to receive our e-mails or newsletters, your data will also be processed and stored. Email marketing is a subset of online marketing. This involves sending news or general information about a company, product, or service via email to a specific group of people who are interested in it.
If you want to take part in our e-mail marketing (usually via newsletter), you usually just have to register with your e-mail address. To do this, fill out an online form and send it off. However, it can also happen that we ask you for your title and your name so that we can also write to you personally.
Basically, registering for newsletters works with the help of the so-called “double opt-in procedure”. After you have registered for our newsletter on our website, you will receive an e-mail confirming your subscription to the newsletter. This ensures that you own the e-mail address and that no one has signed up with someone else’s e-mail address. We or a notification tool used by us logs every single registration. This is necessary so that we can also prove the legally correct registration process. As a rule, the time of registration, the time of registration confirmation, and your IP address are saved. In addition, it is also logged if you make changes to your stored data.
Why Do We Use Email Marketing?
Of course, we want to stay in touch with you and always present you with the most important news about our company. Among other things, we use e-mail marketing – often just referred to as “newsletter” – as an essential part of our online marketing. If you consent to this or it is permitted by law, we will send you newsletters, system emails, or other notifications by email. When we use the term “newsletter” in the following text, we mean mainly e-mails that are sent regularly. Of course, we don’t want to bother you in any way with our newsletter. That’s why we always try to offer only relevant and interesting content. For example, you can find out more about our company, our services or our products. Since we are always improving our offers, you will always find out via our newsletter when there is news or when we are currently offering special, lucrative promotions. If we commission a service provider who offers a professional sending tool for our e-mail marketing, we do this in order to be able to offer you fast and secure newsletters. The purpose of our e-mail marketing is basically to inform you about new offers and also to get closer to our business goals.
Which Data Are Processed?
If you become a subscriber to our newsletter through our website, you confirm membership in an email list by email. In addition to your IP address and e-mail address, your title, your name, your address and your telephone number can also be saved. However, only if you agree to this data storage. The data marked as such are necessary so that you can participate in the service offered. Providing this information is voluntary, but not providing it will result in you not being able to use the service. In addition, information about your device or your preferred content can be stored on our website. For more information about how we store data when you visit a website, see the Automatic Data Storage section. We record your declaration of consent so that we can always prove that it complies with our laws.
Duration Of Data Processing
If you remove your e-mail address from our e-mail/newsletter distribution list, we may store your address for up to three years on the basis of our legitimate interests so that we can still prove your consent at the time. We may only process this data if we have to defend ourselves against any claims.
However, if you confirm that you have given us your consent to subscribe to the newsletter, you can submit an individual deletion request at any time. If you object to the consent permanently, we reserve the right to save your e-mail address on a blacklist. As long as you have voluntarily subscribed to our newsletter, we will of course keep your e-mail address.
Right To Object
You have the option to cancel your subscription to the newsletter at any time. All you have to do is revoke your consent to register for the newsletter. This normally only takes a few seconds or one or two clicks. Most of the time you will find a link at the end of each email to unsubscribe from the newsletter. If you really cannot find the link in the newsletter, please contact us by email and we will immediately cancel your newsletter subscription.
Legal Basis
Our newsletter is sent on the basis of your consent (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR). This means that we may only send you a newsletter if you have previously actively registered for it. If necessary, we can also send you advertising messages if you have become our customer and have not objected to the use of your e-mail address for direct advertising.
Information on special e-mail marketing services and how they process personal data can be found – if available – in the following sections.
MailChimp Privacy Policy
MailChimp Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Affected: Newsletter subscribers
🤝 Purpose: direct mail, notification of systemic events
📓 Processed data: Data entered during registration, but at least the email address.
📅 Storage duration: Duration of the existence of the subscription
⚖️ Legal bases: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What Is MailChimp?
Like many other websites, we also use the services of the newsletter company MailChimp on our website. MailChimp is operated by The Rocket Science Group, LLC, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Suite 5000, Atlanta, GA 30308 USA. Thanks to MailChimp, we can send you interesting news very easily via newsletter. With MailChimp we don’t have to install anything and can still draw from a pool of really useful functions. In the following, we will go into more detail about this e-mail marketing service and inform you about the most important aspects relevant to data protection.
MailChimp is a cloud-based newsletter management service. “Cloud-based” means that we don’t have to install MailChimp on our own computers or server. Instead, we use the service via an IT infrastructure – which is available via the Internet – on an external server. This way of using software is also called SaaS (Software as a Service).
With MailChimp we can choose from a wide range of different email types. Depending on what we want to achieve with our newsletter, we can run single campaigns, regular campaigns, autoresponders (automatic emails), A/B tests, RSS campaigns (sending at a predefined time and frequency), and follow-up campaigns.
Why Do We Use MailChimp On Our Website?
Basically, we use a newsletter service so that we can keep in touch with you. We want to tell you what’s new with us or what attractive offers we currently have in our program. We are always looking for the simplest and best solutions for our marketing measures. And that’s also why we chose MailChimp’s newsletter management service. Although the software is very easy to use, it offers a large number of helpful features. In this way, we can create interesting and beautiful newsletters in just a short time. With the design templates offered, we design each newsletter individually, and thanks to the “responsive design” our content is also displayed legibly and beautifully on your smartphone (or other mobile end devices).
With tools such as the A/B test or the extensive analysis options, we can see very quickly how our newsletter is received by you. This enables us to react if necessary and improve our offer or our services.
Another advantage is MailChimp’s “cloud system”. The data is not stored and processed directly on our server. We can retrieve the data from external servers and in this way save our storage space. In addition, the maintenance effort is significantly lower.
What Data Is Stored By MailChimp?
Rocket Science Group LLC (MailChimp) maintains online platforms that enable us to get in touch with you (if you have subscribed to our newsletter). If you become a subscriber to our newsletter through our website, you confirm by email that you are a member of a MailChimp email list. So that MailChimp can also prove that you have entered the “list provider”, the date of entry, and your IP address are saved. Furthermore, MailChimp stores your e-mail address, your name, your physical address, and demographic information such as language or location.
This information is used to send you emails and to enable certain other MailChimp functions (such as evaluating the newsletter).
MailChimp also shares information with third parties to provide better services. MailChimp also shares some data with third-party advertising partners to better understand the interests and concerns of its customers so that more relevant content and targeted advertising can be provided.
With so-called “web beacons” (small graphics in HTML e-mails), MailChimp can determine whether the e-mail has arrived, whether it has been opened, and whether links have been clicked on. All of this information is stored on the MailChimp servers. This gives us statistical evaluations and allows us to see exactly how well you received our newsletter. In this way, we can adapt our offer much better to your wishes and improve our service.
MailChimp may also use this data to improve its own service. This means, for example, that the dispatch can be technically optimized or the location (country) of the recipient can be determined.
The following cookies can be set by MailChimp. This is not a complete list of cookies, but rather an exemplary selection:
Name: AVESTA_ENVIRONMENT
Value: Prod
Purpose: This cookie is necessary to provide Mailchimp services. It is always set when a user registers for a newsletter mailing list.
Expiration Date: After the session ends
Name: ak_bmsc
Value: F1766FA98C9BB9DE4A39F70A9E5EEAB55F6517348A7000001135164452-3
Purpose: The cookie is used to distinguish a human from a bot. This allows secure reports to be generated on the use of a website.
Expiration Date: After 2 hours
Name: bm_sv
Value: A5A322305B4401C2451FC22FFF547486~FEsKGvX8eovCwTeFTzb8//I3ak2Au…
Purpose: The cookie is from MasterPass Digital Wallet (a MasterCard service) and is used to offer a visitor a virtual payment transaction securely and easily. For this purpose, the user is identified anonymously on the website.
Expiration Date: After 2 hours
Name: _abck
Value: 8D545C8CCA4C3A50579014C449B045135164452-9
Purpose: We were not able to find out any further information about the purpose of this cookie
Expiration date: After one year
Sometimes it can happen that you open our newsletter for a better display via a given link. This is the case, for example, if your e-mail program does not work or the newsletter is not displayed properly. The newsletter is then displayed on a MailChimp website. MailChimp also uses cookies (small text files that store data on your browser) on its own websites. Personal data can be processed by MailChimp and its partners (e.g. Google Analytics). This data collection is the responsibility of MailChimp and we have no control over it. MailChimp’s “Cookie Statement” (located at: https://mailchimp.com/legal/cookies/) explains exactly how and why the company uses cookies.
How Long And Where Is The Data Stored?
Since MailChimp is an American company, all data collected is also stored on American servers. In principle, the data is permanently stored on the MailChimp servers and is only deleted when you request it. You can have your contact deleted by us. This permanently removes all your personal data for us and makes you anonymous in the MailChimp reports. However, you can also request the deletion of your data directly from MailChimp. Then all your data will be removed there and we will receive a notification from MailChimp. After receiving the email, we have 30 days to delete your contact from all connected integrations.
How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?
You can withdraw your consent to receive our newsletter at any time by clicking on the link at the bottom of the email received. If you have unsubscribed by clicking on the unsubscribe link, your data will be deleted from MailChimp.
If you access a MailChimp website via a link in our newsletter and cookies are set in your browser, you can delete or deactivate and manage these cookies at any time. Under the “Cookies” section you will find the relevant links to the relevant instructions for the most popular browsers.
If you generally do not want any cookies, you can set up your browser so that it always informs you when a cookie is to be set. You can decide for each individual cookie whether you allow it or not.
Legal Basis
MailChimp sends our newsletter on the basis of your consent (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR). This means that we may only send you a newsletter if you have previously actively registered for it. If consent is not required, the newsletter will be sent on the basis of the legitimate interest in direct marketing (Article 6 Para. 1 lit. f), insofar as this is legally permitted. We record your registration process so that we can always prove that it complies with our laws.
MailChimp also processes your data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This can be associated with various risks to the legality and security of data processing.
MailChimp uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 Para. 2 and 3 GDPR) as the basis for data processing by recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or data transfer there. Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data also comply with European data protection standards if they are transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through these clauses, MailChimp undertakes to comply with European data protection standards when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed, and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementation decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de
The Mailchimp Data Processing Addendum, which corresponds to the Standard Contractual Clauses, can be found at https://mailchimp.com/legal/data-processing-addendum/#Annex_C_-_Standard_Contractual_Clauses.
You can find out more about the use of cookies at MailChimp at https://mailchimp.com/legal/cookies/, information on data protection at MailChimp (privacy) can be found at https://www.intuit.com/privacy/statement/.
MailPoet Privacy Policy
We use MailPoet, a WordPress plugin for our email marketing on our website. The service provider is the Irish company Aut O’Mattic A8C Ireland Ltd, Grand Canal Dock, 25 Herbert Pl, Dublin, D02 AY86, Ireland. You can find out more about the data processed by using MailPoet in the Privacy Policy at https://automattic.com/privacy/.
Social Media Introduction
Social Media Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: Presentation and optimization of our service, contact with visitors, interested parties, etc., advertising
📓 Data processed: data such as phone numbers, email addresses, contact details, user behavior data, information about your device, and your IP address.
More details can be found in the respective social media tool used.
📅 Duration of storage: depends on the social media platforms used
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What Is Social Media?
In addition to our website, we are also active on various social media platforms. Data from users can be processed so that we can specifically address users who are interested in us via social networks. In addition, elements of a social media platform may also be embedded directly into our website. This is the case, for example, if you click on a so-called social button on our website and are forwarded directly to our social media presence. So-called social media or social media refers to websites and apps through which registered members can produce content, exchange content openly or in certain groups, and network with other members.
Why Do We Use Social Media?
For years, social media platforms have been where people communicate and connect online. With our social media appearances, we can bring our products and services closer to interested parties. The social media elements integrated into our website help you to be able to switch to our social media content quickly and without complications.
The data that is stored and processed as a result of your use of a social media channel is primarily intended to be able to carry out web analyses. The aim of these analyzes is to be able to develop more precise and personal marketing and advertising strategies. Depending on your behavior on a social media platform, the evaluated data can be used to draw appropriate conclusions about your interests and so-called user profiles can be created. It is also possible for the platforms to present you with customized advertisements. In most cases, cookies are set in your browser for this purpose, which stores data on your usage behavior.
We generally assume that we remain responsible under data protection law, even if we use the services of a social media platform. However, the European Court of Justice has decided that in certain cases the operator of the social media platform can be jointly responsible with us within the meaning of Art. 26 DSGVO. If this is the case, we will point this out separately and work on the basis of a relevant agreement. The essence of the agreement is then reproduced below for the platform concerned.
Please note that when using the social media platforms or our built-in elements, your data may also be processed outside the European Union, as many social media channels, such as Facebook or Twitter, are American companies. As a result, you may not be able to claim or enforce your rights in relation to your personal data as easily.
Which Data Are Processed?
Exactly which data is stored and processed depends on the respective provider of the social media platform. But usually, it is data such as telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, data that you enter in a contact form, user data such as which buttons you click, who you like or follow, when you visited which pages, information about your device, and your IP address. Most of this data is stored in cookies. Especially if you have a profile on the visited social media channel and are logged in, data can be linked to your profile.
All data collected via a social media platform is also stored on the providers’ servers. This means that only the providers have access to the data and can give you the right information or make changes.
If you want to know exactly what data is stored and processed by social media providers and how you can object to data processing, you should carefully read the company’s data protection declaration. Even if you have questions about data storage and processing or want to assert corresponding rights, we recommend contacting the provider directly.
Duration Of Data Processing
We will inform you below about the duration of data processing if we have further information on this. For example, the social media platform Facebook stores data until it is no longer needed for its own purposes. Customer data that is compared with your own user data will be deleted within two days. In general, we only process personal data for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products. If it is required by law, such as in the case of accounting, this storage period can also be exceeded.
Right To Object
You also have the right and the ability to revoke your consent to the use of cookies or third-party providers such as embedded social media elements at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating, or deleting the cookies in your browser.
Since cookies can be used with social media tools, we also recommend our general data protection declaration on cookies. To find out precisely what data is stored and processed by you, you should read the data protection declarations of the respective tools.
Legal Basis
If you have agreed that your data can be processed and stored by integrated social media elements, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR). In principle, if you have given your consent, your data will also be stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in quick and effective communication with you or other customers and business partners. However, we only use the tools if you have given your consent. Most social media platforms also set cookies on your browser to store data. We, therefore, recommend that you read our privacy statement on cookies carefully and consult the privacy statement or cookie policy of the relevant service provider.
Information on special social media platforms – if available – can be found in the following sections.
Facebook Privacy Policy
Facebook Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: Optimization of our service
📓 Data processed: data such as customer data, user behavior data, information about your device, and your IP address.
More details can be found below in the data protection declaration.
📅 Storage period: until the data is no longer useful for Facebook’s purposes
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What Are Facebook Tools?
We use selected Facebook tools on our website. Facebook is a social media network of the company Meta Platforms Inc. or for the European area of the company Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland. These tools allow us to offer you and people who are interested in our products and services the best possible offer.
If data is collected and forwarded from you via our embedded Facebook elements or via our Facebook page (fan page), both we and Facebook Ireland Ltd. are responsible for it. Facebook is solely responsible for the further processing of this data. Our shared commitments have also been enshrined in a publicly available agreement at https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum.
This states, for example, that we must clearly inform you about the use of Facebook tools on our site. Furthermore, we are also responsible for ensuring that the tools are securely integrated into our website in accordance with data protection law. Facebook, on the other hand, is responsible for the data security of Facebook products, for example. If you have any questions about data collection and data processing by Facebook, you can contact the company directly. If you address the question to us, we are obliged to forward it to Facebook.
Below we provide an overview of the various Facebook tools, what data is sent to Facebook, and how you can delete this data.
In addition to many other products, Facebook also offers the so-called “Facebook Business Tools”. This is the official name of Facebook. But since the term is hardly known, we decided to just call them Facebook tools. These include, among others:
- Facebook pixel
- social plugins (such as the “Like” or “Share” button)
- Facebook login
- Account Kit
- APIs (programming interface)
- SDKs (collection of programming tools)
- Platform integrations
- Plugins
- codes
- Specifications
- Documentations
- Technologies and Services
Through these tools, Facebook expands its services and has the ability to receive information about user activities outside of Facebook.
Why Do We Use Facebook Tools On Our Website?
We only want to show our services and products to people who are really interested in them. With the help of advertisements (Facebook ads), we can reach exactly these people. In order to be able to show users appropriate advertising, however, Facebook needs information about people’s wishes and needs. In this way, information about user behavior (and contact details) is made available to the company on our website. As a result, Facebook collects better user data and can show interested people appropriate advertising about our products or services. The tools thus enable tailor-made advertising campaigns on Facebook.
Facebook calls data about your behavior on our website “event data”. These are also used for measurement and analysis services. Facebook can thus create “campaign reports” on our behalf about the effect of our advertising campaigns. Furthermore, through analysis, we get a better insight into how you use our services, website, or products. As a result, we use some of these tools to optimize your user experience on our website. For example, you can use social plug-ins to share content on our site directly on Facebook.
What Data Is Stored By Facebook Tools?
By using individual Facebook tools, personal data (customer data) can be sent to Facebook. Depending on the tools used, customer data such as name, address, telephone number, and IP address can be sent.
Facebook uses this information to match the data with the data it has about you (if you are a Facebook member). Before customer data is transmitted to Facebook, so-called “hashing” takes place. This means that a data set of any size is transformed into a character string. This is also used to encrypt data.
In addition to the contact data, “event data” is also transmitted. “Event data” means the information that we receive about you on our website. For example, which subpages you visit or which products you buy from us. Facebook does not share the information it receives with third parties (such as advertisers) unless the company has explicit permission or is legally required to do so. “Event data” may also be linked to contact information. This allows Facebook to offer better-personalized advertising. After the matching process already mentioned, Facebook deletes the contact data again.
In order to be able to deliver advertisements in an optimized manner, Facebook only uses the event data if it has been combined with other data (which was collected by Facebook in a different way). Facebook also uses this event data for security, protection, development, and research purposes. Much of this data is transmitted to Facebook via cookies. Cookies are small text files that are used to store data or information in browsers. Depending on the tools used and whether you are a Facebook member, a different number of cookies will be created in your browser. In the descriptions of the individual Facebook tools, we go into more detail about individual Facebook cookies. You can also find general information about the use of Facebook cookies at https://www.facebook.com/policies/cookies.
How Long And Where Is The Data Stored?
In principle, Facebook stores data until it is no longer required for its own services and Facebook products. Facebook has servers all over the world where its data is stored. However, customer data will be deleted within 48 hours after it has been compared with your own user data.
How Can I Delete My Data Or Prevent Data Storage?
In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation, you have the right to information, correction, transferability, and deletion of your data.
The data will only be completely deleted if you completely delete your Facebook account. And this is how deleting your Facebook account works:
1) Click Settings on the right side of Facebook.
2) Then click on “Your Facebook Information” in the left column.
3) Now click “Deactivation and Deletion”.
4) Now select “Delete Account” and then click “Next and Delete Account”
5) Now enter your password, click on “Next” and then on “Delete Account”
The data that Facebook receives via our site is stored, among other things, via cookies (e.g. in the case of social plugins). You can deactivate, delete or manage individual or all cookies in your browser. Depending on which browser you use, this works in different ways. Under the “Cookies” section you will find the relevant links to the relevant instructions for the most popular browsers.
If you generally do not want any cookies, you can set up your browser so that it always informs you when a cookie is to be set. You can decide for each individual cookie whether you allow it or not.
Legal Basis
If you have agreed that your data can be processed and stored by integrated Facebook tools, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR). In principle, your data will also be stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in quick and effective communication with you or other customers and business partners. However, we only use the tools if you have given your consent. Most social media platforms also set cookies on your browser to store data. We, therefore, recommend that you read our privacy statement on cookies carefully and consult Facebook’s privacy policy or cookie policy.
Facebook also processes your data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This can be associated with various risks to the legality and security of data processing.
Facebook uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 Para. 2 and 3 GDPR) as the basis for data processing by recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or data transfer there. Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data also comply with European data protection standards if they are transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through these clauses, Facebook undertakes to comply with European data protection standards when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed, and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementation decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de
The Facebook data processing terms, which correspond to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at
https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing.
We hope we have given you the most important information about the use and data processing by the Facebook tools. If you want to learn more about how Facebook uses your data, we recommend the data guidelines at
https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/update.
Facebook Social Plugins Privacy Policy
So-called social plug-ins from Meta Platforms Inc. are installed on our website. You can recognize these buttons by the classic Facebook logo, such as the “Like” button (the hand with the thumb raised), or by a clear “Facebook plug-in” label. A social plugin is a small piece of Facebook that is integrated into our site. Each plugin has its own function. The most used features are the familiar “Like” and “Share” buttons.
The following social plug-ins are offered by Facebook:
- The “Save” button
- Like button, share, send, and quote
- Page Plugin
- Comments
- Messenger Plugin
- Embedded posts and video player
- Groups Plugin
Visit https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins for more information on how the individual plug-ins are used. We use the Social Plug-ins on the one hand to offer you a better user experience on our site and on the other hand because Facebook can use them to optimize our advertisements.
If you have a Facebook account or have already visited https://www.facebook.com/, Facebook has already set at least one cookie in your browser. In this case, your browser sends information to Facebook via this cookie as soon as you visit our site or interact with social plug-ins (e.g. the “Like” button).
The information received will be deleted or made anonymous within 90 days. According to Facebook, this data includes your IP address, which website you visited, the date, time, and other information relating to your browser.
In order to prevent Facebook from collecting a lot of data during your visit to our website and connecting it to Facebook data, you must log out of Facebook while you are visiting the website (log out).
If you are not logged into Facebook or do not have a Facebook account, your browser will send less information to Facebook because you have fewer Facebook cookies. Nevertheless, data such as your IP address or which website you visit can be transmitted to Facebook. We would like to expressly point out that we do not know the exact content of the data. However, based on our current state of knowledge, we try to inform you as much as possible about data processing. You can also read about how Facebook uses the data in the company’s data guidelines at https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/update.
At least the following cookies are set in your browser when you visit a website with social plug-ins from Facebook:
Name: dpr
Value: No information
Purpose: This cookie is used to make the social plug-ins work on our website.
Expiration Date: After the session ends
Name: fr
Value: 0jieyh4122398005c2GnlufEJ9..Bde09j…1.0.Bde09j
Purpose: The cookie is also necessary for the plug-ins to work properly.
Expiry date:: after 3 months
Note: These cookies were set after testing, even if you are not a Facebook member. If you are logged in to Facebook, you can change your settings for advertisements yourself at https://www.facebook.com/adpreferences/advertisers/. If you are not a Facebook user, you can basically manage your usage-based online advertising at
https://www.youronlinechoices.com/de/praferenzmanagement/?tid=122398005.
There you have the option of deactivating or activating providers.
If you want to learn more about Facebook’s privacy policy, we recommend the company’s own privacy policy at https://www.facebook.com/policy.php?tip=122398005.
Facebook Fan Page Privacy Policy
We also have a Facebook fan page for our website. The service provider is the American company Meta Platforms Inc. The company Meta Platforms Ireland Limited (4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland) is responsible for the European area.
Facebook also processes your data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This can be associated with various risks to the legality and security of data processing.
Facebook uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 Para. 2 and 3 GDPR) as the basis for data processing by recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or data transfer there. Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data also comply with European data protection standards if they are transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through these clauses, Facebook undertakes to comply with European data protection standards when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed, and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementation decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de
The Facebook data processing terms, which correspond to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing.
You can find out more about the data processed by using Facebook in the privacy policy at https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy.
Gravatar Privacy Policy
Gravatar Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: Optimization of our service
📓 Processed data: including your encrypted email address, IP address, and URL of our server
More details can be found below in the data protection declaration.
📅 Duration of storage: in principle, the data is deleted when it is no longer useful for the provider’s services.
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What is Gravatar?
We have integrated the Gravatar plug-in from Automattic Inc. (60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA) on our website. Among other things, Gravatar is automatically activated on all WordPress websites. The function makes it possible to display user images (avatars) in published articles or comments, provided the corresponding e-mail address is registered at www.gravatar.com.
This function sends data to the company Gravatar or Automattic Inc., saves it, and processes it there. In this data protection declaration, we want to inform you what data is involved, how the network uses this data, and how you can manage or prevent data storage.
Gravatar basically stands for “Globally Recognized Avatar” and this means a globally available avatar (a user image) that is linked to the email address. Gravatar is the world’s leading provider of this service. As soon as a user enters the e-mail address on a website that is also registered with the company Gravatar at www.gravatar.com, a previously stored image is automatically displayed together with a published contribution or comment.
Why Do We Use Gravatar On Our Website?
Anonymity on the Internet is often talked about. An avatar gives the commenting person “a face”. In addition, one is generally recognized more easily on the Internet and can thus build up a certain degree of awareness. Many users enjoy the advantages of such a user picture and also want to appear personally and authentically on the Internet. Of course, we want to give you the option of displaying your Gravatar on our website. We also like to see the faces of our commenting users. With the activated Gravatar function, we are also expanding our service on our website. After all, we want you to feel comfortable on our website and to get a comprehensive and interesting offer.
What Data Is Stored By Gravatar?
For example, as soon as you publish a comment on a blog post that requires an email address, WordPress checks whether the email address is linked to an avatar on Gravatar. For this request, your e-mail address will be sent to the Gravatar or Automattic servers in encrypted or hashed form, including your IP address and our URL. This is how it is checked whether this email address is registered with Gravatar.
If this is the case, the image stored there (Gravatar) is displayed together with the published comment. If you have registered an email address with Gravatar and comment on our website, further data will be transmitted to Gravatar, stored, and processed. In addition to IP address and data on user behavior, this includes, for example, browser type, unique device ID, preferred language, date and time of page entry, operating system, and information on the mobile network. Gravatar uses this information to improve its own services and offers and to get better insights into the use of its own service.
The following cookies are set by Automattic when a user uses an email address registered with Gravatar for a comment:
Name: gravatar
Value: 16b3191024acc05a238209d51ffcb92bdd710bd19122398005-7
Purpose: We could not find out any precise information about the cookie.
Expiry date: after 50 years
Name: is-logged-in
Value: 1122398005-1
Purpose: This cookie stores the information that the user is logged in via the registered email address.
Expiry date: after 50 years
How Long And Where Is The Data Stored?
Automattic deletes the collected data when it is no longer used for its own services and the company is not legally obliged to keep the data. Web server logs such as IP address, browser type, and operating system are deleted after approximately 30 days. Until then, Automattic uses the data to analyze the traffic on its own websites (e.g. all WordPress sites) and to fix any problems. The data is also stored on Automattic’s American servers.
How Can I Delete My Data Or Prevent Data Storage?
You have the right to access and delete your personal data at any time. If you have registered with Gravatar with an email address, you can delete your account or email address there at any time.
Since an image is only displayed when using an e-mail address registered with Gravatar and data is thus transferred to Gravatar, you can also prevent the transfer of your data to Gravatar by using an e-mail address not registered with Gravatar while commenting or writing articles on our website.
You can manage, deactivate or delete possible cookies that are set during commenting in your browser. Please note that any comment functions will then no longer be fully available. Depending on which browser you use, managing cookies works a little differently. Under the “Cookies” section you will find the relevant links to the relevant instructions for the most popular browsers.
Legal Basis
If you have agreed that your data can be processed and stored by integrated social media elements, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR). In principle, your data will also be stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in quick and effective communication with you or other customers and business partners.
However, we only use the integrated social media elements if you have given your consent. Most social media platforms also set cookies on your browser to store data. We, therefore, recommend that you read our privacy statement on cookies carefully and consult the privacy statement or cookie policy of the relevant service provider.
Gravatar also processes data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This can be associated with various risks to the legality and security of data processing.
Gravatar uses standard contractual clauses approved by the EU Commission (= Art. 46. Para. 2 and 3 GDPR). These clauses oblige Gravatar to comply with the EU data protection level when processing relevant data outside of the EU. These clauses are based on an implementation decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the clauses here:
https://germany.representation.ec.europa.eu/index_de.
You can find more details on the data protection policy and which data is collected by Gravatar in which way at https://automattic.com/privacy/, and general information about Gravatar at https://de.gravatar.com/.
Instagram Privacy Policy
Instagram Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: Optimization of our service
📓 Data processed: Data such as user behavior data, information about your device and your IP address.
More details can be found below in the data protection declaration.
📅 Storage period: until Instagram no longer needs the data for its purposes
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What Is Instagram?
We have integrated Instagram functions on our website. Instagram is a social media platform operated by Instagram LLC, 1601 Willow Rd, Menlo Park CA 94025, USA. Instagram has been a subsidiary of Meta Platforms Inc. since 2012 and is one of the Facebook products. Embedding Instagram content on our website is called embedding. This enables us to show you content such as buttons, photos, or videos from Instagram directly on our website. If you call up web pages on our website that have an integrated Instagram function, data will be transmitted to Instagram, stored, and processed. Instagram uses the same systems and technologies as Facebook. Your data will thus be processed across all Facebook companies.
In the following, we would like to give you a more detailed insight into why Instagram collects data, what data it is, and how you can largely control the data processing. Since Instagram is owned by Meta Platforms Inc., we get our information from the Instagram policies on the one hand, but also from the Meta Privacy Policy on the other.
Instagram is one of the most well-known social media networks worldwide. Instagram combines the advantages of a blog with the advantages of audiovisual platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo. You can upload photos and short videos to “Insta” (as many users casually call the platform), edit them with various filters, and also share them on other social networks. And if you don’t want to be active yourself, you can just follow other interesting users.
Why Do We Use Instagram On Our Website?
Instagram is the social media platform that has really taken off in recent years. And of course, we also reacted to this boom. We want you to feel as comfortable as possible on our website. Therefore, a varied preparation of our content is a matter of course for us. The embedded Instagram functions allow us to enrich our content with helpful, funny, or exciting content from the Instagram world. Since Instagram is a subsidiary of Facebook, the data collected can also be useful for personalized advertising on Facebook. In this way, our advertisements only get to people who are really interested in our products or services.
Instagram also uses the collected data for measurement and analysis purposes. We get summarized statistics and thus more insight into your wishes and interests. It is important to note that these reports do not personally identify you.
What Data Is Stored By Instagram?
When you come across one of our pages that has Instagram features (such as Instagram images or plugins) built in, your browser automatically connects to Instagram’s servers. Data is sent to Instagram, stored, and processed. This is regardless of whether you have an Instagram account or not. This includes information about our website, about your computer, about purchases made, about advertisements that you see, and how you use our offer. Furthermore, the date and time of your interaction with Instagram are also saved. If you have an Instagram account or are logged in, Instagram stores significantly more data about you.
Facebook distinguishes between customer data and event data. We assume that this is the case with Instagram as well. Customer data are, for example, name, address, telephone number, and IP address. This customer data will only be transmitted to Instagram if it has been “hashed” beforehand. Hashing means converting a record into a string. This allows you to encrypt the contact data. In addition, the “event data” mentioned above are also transmitted. Facebook – and consequently also Instagram – understands “event data” to be data about your user behavior. It can also happen that contact data is combined with event data. The contact data collected will be compared with the data that Instagram already has from you.
The collected data is transmitted to Facebook via small text files (cookies), which are usually set in your browser. Depending on the Instagram functions used and whether you have an Instagram account yourself, different amounts of data are stored.
We assume that data processing works the same on Instagram as on Facebook. This means: if you have an Instagram account or have visited www.instagram.com, Instagram has set at least one cookie. If this is the case, your browser sends information to Instagram via the cookie as soon as you come into contact with an Instagram function. This data will be deleted or made anonymous again after 90 days at the latest (after comparison). Although we have dealt intensively with Instagram’s data processing, we cannot say exactly what data Instagram collects and stores.
In the following, we show you cookies that are set in your browser at least when you click on an Instagram function (such as a button or an Insta image). In our test, we assume that you do not have an Instagram account. Of course, if you are logged in to Instagram, significantly more cookies will be set in your browser.
These cookies were used in our test:
Name: csrftoken
Value: “”
Purpose: This cookie is set with high probability for security reasons to prevent the falsification of requests. However, we could not find out more precisely.
Expiry date: after one year
Name: mid
Value: “”
Purpose: Instagram sets this cookie to optimize its own services and offers on and off Instagram. The cookie defines a unique user ID.
Expiration Date: After the end of the session
Name: fbsr_122398005124024
Value: no information
Purpose: This cookie stores the log-in request for users of the Instagram app.
Expiration Date: After the end of the session
Name: rur
Value: ATN
Purpose: This is an Instagram cookie that ensures functionality on Instagram.
Expiration Date: After the end of the session
Name: Urlgen
Value: “{”194.96.75.33”: 1901}:1iEtYv:Y833k2_UjKvXgYe122398005”
Purpose: This cookie is used for Instagram marketing purposes.
Expiration Date: After the end of the session
Note: We cannot claim completeness here. Which cookies are set in the individual case depends on the embedded functions and your use of Instagram.
How Long And Where Is The Data Stored?
Instagram shares the information it receives between the Facebook companies with external partners and with people you connect with around the world. Data processing is carried out in compliance with our own data policy. For security reasons, among other things, your data is distributed across the world on Facebook servers. Most of these servers are located in the USA.
How Can I Delete My Data Or Prevent Data Storage?
Thanks to the General Data Protection Regulation, you have the right to information, transferability, correction, and deletion of your data. You can manage your data in the Instagram settings. If you want to completely erase your data on Instagram, you need to permanently delete your Instagram account.
And this is how the Instagram account deletion works:
First, open the Instagram app. On your profile page, go down and click on “Help Center”. You are now on the company’s website. On the webpage, click “Manage Account” and then click “Delete Your Account”.
If you delete your account entirely, Instagram will delete posts such as your photos and status updates. Information that other people have shared about you is not part of your account and consequently will not be deleted.
As already mentioned above, Instagram stores your data primarily via cookies. You can manage, deactivate or delete these cookies in your browser. Management always works a bit differently depending on your browser. Under the “Cookies” section you will find the relevant links to the relevant instructions for the most popular browsers.
You can also basically set up your browser so that you are always informed when a cookie is to be set. Then you can always decide individually whether you want to allow the cookie or not.
Legal Basis
If you have agreed that your data can be processed and stored by integrated social media elements, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR). In principle, your data will also be stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in quick and effective communication with you or other customers and business partners.
However, we only use the integrated social media elements if you have given your consent. Most social media platforms also set cookies on your browser to store data. We, therefore, recommend that you read our privacy statement on cookies carefully and consult the privacy statement or cookie policy of the relevant service provider.
Instagram and Facebook also process data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This can be associated with various risks to the legality and security of data processing.
Facebook uses standard contractual clauses approved by the EU Commission (= Art. 46. Para. 2 and 3 GDPR). These clauses oblige Facebook to comply with EU data protection standards when processing relevant data outside of the EU. These clauses are based on an implementation decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the clauses here:
https://germany.representation.ec.europa.eu/index_de.
We have tried to give you the most important information about data processing by Instagram. You can learn more about Instagram’s data policies at https://help.instagram.com/519522125107875.
Twitter Privacy Policy
Twitter Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: Optimization of our service
📓 Data processed: Data such as user behavior data, information about your device, and your IP address.
More details can be found below in the data protection declaration.
📅 Storage period: Twitter deletes data collected from other websites after 30 days at the latest
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What is Twitter?
We have integrated functions from Twitter on our website. These are, for example, embedded tweets, timelines, buttons, or hashtags. Twitter is a short message service and social media platform operated by Twitter Inc., One Cumberland Place, Fenian Street, Dublin 2 D02 AX07, Ireland.
As far as we know, in the European Economic Area and in Switzerland, the mere integration of the Twitter function does not transfer any personal data or data about your web activities to Twitter. Only when you interact with the Twitter functions, such as by clicking on a button, can data be sent to Twitter, stored, and processed there. We have no influence on this data processing and bear no responsibility. As part of this data protection declaration, we want to give you an overview of what data Twitter stores, what Twitter does with this data, and how you can largely protect yourself from data transmission.
For some, Twitter is a news service, for others a social media platform, and still, others speak of a microblogging service. All of these terms have their place and mean more or less the same thing.
Both private individuals and companies use Twitter to communicate with interested people via short messages. Twitter only allows 280 characters per message. These messages are called “tweets”. Unlike Facebook, for example, the service does not focus on expanding a network of “friends”, but wants to be understood as a worldwide and open news platform. You can also have an anonymous account on Twitter and tweets can be deleted by the company on the one hand and by the users themselves on the other.
Why Do We Use Twitter On Our Website?
Like many other websites and companies, we try to offer our services and services through different channels and to communicate with our customers. Twitter, in particular, has become dear to us as a useful “small” news service. Again and again, we tweet or retweet exciting, funny, or interesting content. We realize that you cannot follow every channel separately. After all, you have other things to do as well. That is why we have also included Twitter functions on our website. You can experience our Twitter activity ‘on the spot’ or follow a direct link to our Twitter page. With the integration, we want to strengthen our service and user-friendliness on our website.
What Data Does Twitter Store?
On some of our subpages, you will find the built-in Twitter functions. If you interact with Twitter content, such as by clicking on a button, Twitter can collect and store data. Even if you don’t have a Twitter account yourself. Twitter calls this data “log data”. This includes demographic data, browser cookie IDs, your smartphone ID, hashed email addresses, and information about which pages you have visited on Twitter and what actions you have taken. Of course, Twitter stores more data if you have a Twitter account and are logged in. This storage is mostly done via cookies. Cookies are small text files that are usually set in your browser and transmit various information to Twitter.
We will now show you which cookies are set if you are not logged in to Twitter but visit a website with built-in Twitter functions. Please consider this list as an example. Under no circumstances can we guarantee completeness here, since the choice of cookies is always changing and depends on your individual actions with the Twitter content.
These cookies were used in our test:
Name: personalization_id
Value: “v1_cSJIsogU51SeE122398005”
Purpose: This cookie stores information about how you use the website and which advertisements may have brought you to Twitter.
Expiry date: after 2 years
Name: long
Value: de
Purpose: This cookie saves your default or preferred language.
Expiration Date: After the session ends
Name: guest_id
Value: 122398005v1%3A157132626
Purpose: This cookie is set to identify you as a guest.
Expiry date: after 2 years
Name: FM
Value: 0
Purpose: Unfortunately we could not find out the purpose of this cookie.
Expiration Date: After the session ends
Name: external_referer
Value: 1223980052beTA0sf5lkMrlGt
Purpose: This cookie collects anonymous data, such as how often you visit Twitter and how long you visit Twitter.
Expiration Date: After 6 days
Name: eu_cn
Value: 1Purpose: This cookie stores user activity and is used for various advertising purposes by Twitter.
Expiration Date: After one year
Name: ct0
Value: c1179f07163a365d2ed7aad84c99d966
Purpose: Unfortunately we did not find any information on this cookie.
Expiration Date: After 6 hours
Name: _twitter_sess
Value: 53D%253D–dd0248122398005
Purpose: With this cookie, you can use functions within the Twitter website.
Expiration Date: After the session ends
Note: Twitter also works with third parties. That’s why we also recognized the three Google Analytics cookies _ga, _gat, _gid in our test.
On the one hand, Twitter uses the collected data to better understand user behavior and thus to improve its own services and advertising offers, on the other hand, the data is also used for internal security measures.
How Long And Where Is The Data Stored?
If Twitter collects data from other websites, it will be deleted, aggregated, or otherwise hidden after a maximum of 30 days. The Twitter servers are located at various server centers in the United States. It can therefore be assumed that the data collected will be collected and stored in America. After our research, we were not able to determine for sure whether Twitter also has its own servers in Europe. In principle, Twitter can store the collected data until it is no longer useful for the company, you delete the data or there is a legal deletion period.
How Can I Delete My Data Or Prevent Data Storage?
In its data protection guidelines, Twitter repeatedly emphasizes that it does not store any data from external website visits if you or your browser are located in the European Economic Area or Switzerland. However, if you interact directly with Twitter, Twitter will of course also store your data.
If you have a Twitter account, you can manage your information by clicking “More” under the “Profile” button. Then click on “Settings and data protection”. Here you can manage the data processing individually.
If you don’t have a Twitter account, you can go to twitter.com and then click Personalization. You can manage the data you have collected under the item “Individualization and data”.
As mentioned above, most data is stored via cookies and you can manage, deactivate or delete them in your browser. Please note that you only “edit” the cookies in the browser you have chosen. This means: if you use a different browser in the future, you will have to manage your cookies there again according to your wishes. Under the “Cookies” section you will find the relevant links to the relevant instructions for the most popular browsers.
You can also manage your browser so that you are informed of each individual cookie. Then you can always decide individually whether you allow a cookie or not.
Twitter also uses the data for personalized advertising inside and outside of Twitter. You can switch off personalized advertising in the settings under “Individualization and data”. If you use Twitter on a browser, you can opt out of personalized advertising at https://optout.aboutads.info/?c=2&lang=EN.
Legal Basis
If you have agreed that your data can be processed and stored by integrated social media elements, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR). In principle, your data will also be stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in quick and effective communication with you or other customers and business partners.
However, we only use the integrated social media elements if you have given your consent. Most social media platforms also set cookies on your browser to store data. We, therefore, recommend that you read our privacy statement on cookies carefully and consult the privacy statement or cookie policy of the relevant service provider.
Twitter also processes your data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This can be associated with various risks to the legality and security of data processing.
As a basis for data processing by recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or data transfer there, Twitter uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46. Para. 2 and 3 DSGVO). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data also comply with European data protection standards if they are transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through these clauses, Twitter undertakes to comply with European data protection standards when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed, and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementation decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de
You can find more information about the standard contractual clauses on Twitter at https://gdpr.twitter.com/en/controller-to-controller-transfers.html.
We hope we have given you a basic overview of data processing by Twitter. We do not receive any data from Twitter and are not responsible for what Twitter does with your data. If you have any further questions on this topic, we recommend the Twitter data protection declaration at https://twitter.com/de/privacy.
Blogs And Publication Media – Introduction
Blogs and Publication Media Privacy Statement Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: Presentation and optimization of our service as well as communication between website visitors, security measures, and administration
📓 Data processed: Data such as contact details, IP address, and published content.
More details can be found under the tools used.
📅 Storage duration: depends on the tools used
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 letter a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 letter f GDPR (legitimate interests), Article 6 paragraph 1 sentence 1 letter b. GDPR (contract)
What Are Blogs And Publication Media?
We use blogs or other means of communication on our website with which we can communicate with you on the one hand and you can also communicate with us on the other. Your data can also be stored and processed by us. This may be necessary so that we can display content appropriately, communication works, and security is increased. In our data protection text, we go into general information about which of your data can be processed. Exact information on data processing always depends on the tools and functions used. You will find detailed information about data processing in the data protection notices of the individual providers.
Why Do We Use Blogs And Publication Media?
Our greatest concern with our website is to offer you interesting and exciting content, and at the same time, your opinions and content are important to us. That’s why we want to create a good interactive exchange between us and you. With various blogs and publication options, we can achieve exactly that. For example, you can post comments about our content, comment on others’ comments, or, in some cases, post posts yourself.
Which Data Are Processed?
Exactly which data is processed always depends on the communication functions we use. Very often IP address, username, and published content are saved. This is done primarily to ensure security protection, prevent spam, and to be able to take action against illegal content. Cookies can also be used for data storage. These are small text files that are stored with information in your browser. You can find more information about the collected and stored data in our individual sections and in the data protection declaration of the respective provider.
Duration Of Data Processing
We will inform you below about the duration of data processing if we have further information on this. For example, post and comment functions store data until you revoke data storage. In general, personal data is only stored for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services.
Right To Object
You also have the right and the option to revoke your consent to the use of cookies or third-party communication tools at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating, or deleting the cookies in your browser.
Since cookies can also be used in publication media, we also recommend our general data protection declaration on cookies. To find out precisely what data is stored and processed by you, you should read the data protection declarations of the respective tools.
Legal Basis
We use the means of communication mainly on the basis of our legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in fast and good communication with you or other customers, business partners, and visitors. Insofar as the use serves to process contractual relationships or to initiate them, the legal basis is also Article 6 Paragraph 1 Sentence 1 lit. b. GDPR.
Certain types of processing, in particular the use of cookies and the use of comment or message functions, require your consent. If and to the extent that you have consented to data being processed and stored by integrated publication media, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR). Most of the communication features we use set cookies on your browser to store data. We, therefore, recommend that you read our privacy statement on cookies carefully and consult the privacy statement or cookie policy of the relevant service provider.
You can find information on special tools – if available – in the following sections.
Blog Posts And Comment Functions Privacy Policy
There are various online communication tools that we can use on our website. For example, we use blog posts and comment functions. This gives you the option of commenting on content or writing articles. If you use this function, your IP address can be saved for security reasons. This is how we protect ourselves from illegal content such as insults, illegal advertising or prohibited political propaganda. In order to recognize whether comments are spam, we can also store and process user information on the basis of our legitimate interests. If we start a survey, we also save your IP address for the duration of the survey so that we can be sure that everyone involved really only votes once. Cookies can also be used for storage purposes. All data that we store about you (e.g. content or information about you) remains stored until you object.
WordPress Emojis Privacy Policy
We also use so-called emojis and smilies in our blog. What emojis are exactly, we probably don’t need to explain in more detail here. You know those laughing, angry, or sad faces. They are graphic elements or files that we make available and are loaded from another server. The service provider for retrieving WordPress emojis and smilies is Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA. This third party stores your IP address in order to be able to send the emoji files to your browser.
WordPress also processes your data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This can be associated with various risks to the legality and security of data processing.
WordPress uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 Para. 2 and 3 GDPR) as the basis for data processing by recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or data transfer there. Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data also comply with European data protection standards if they are transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through these clauses, WordPress undertakes to comply with European data protection standards when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed, and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementation decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de
The Data Processing Agreements, which correspond to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://wordpress.com/support/data-processing-agreements/.
You can find out more about the data processed by using Automattic in the privacy policy at https://automattic.com/privacy/.
Cookie Consent Management Platform – Introduction
Cookie Consent Management Platform Summary
👥 Affected: Website visitors
🤝 Purpose: Obtaining and managing consent to certain cookies and thus the use of certain tools
📓 Processed data: Data for managing the set cookie settings such as IP address, time of consent, type of consent, and individual consent. You can find more details on this for the tool used in each case.
📅 Duration of storage: Depends on the tool used, you have to be prepared for periods of several years
⚖️ Legal bases: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit.f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What Is A Cookie Consent Management Platform?
We use Consent Management Platform (CMP) software on our website, which makes it easier for us and you to handle the scripts and cookies used correctly and securely. The software automatically creates a cookie pop-up, scans, and controls all scripts and cookies, offers you cookie consent required by data protection law, and helps us and you keep track of all cookies. Most cookie consent management tools identify and categorize all existing cookies. As a website visitor, you then decide for yourself whether and which scripts and cookies you want to allow or not.
Why Do We Use A Cookie Management Tool?
Our goal is to offer you the best possible transparency in the area of data protection. We are also legally obliged to do so. We want to inform you as well as possible about all tools and all cookies that can store and process data from you. It is also your right to decide which cookies you accept and which you do not. In order to grant you this right, we first need to know exactly which cookies landed on our website in the first place. Thanks to a cookie management tool, which regularly scans the website for all existing cookies, we know about all cookies and can provide you with GDPR-compliant information about them. You can then accept or reject cookies via the consent system.
Which Data Are Processed?
As part of our cookie management tool, you can manage each individual cookie yourself and have complete control over the storage and processing of your data. The declaration of your consent will be saved so that we do not have to ask you each time you visit our website and we can also prove your consent if required by law. This is stored either in an opt-in cookie or on a server. Depending on the provider of the cookie management tool, the storage period of your cookie consent varies. This data (e.g. pseudonymous user ID, time of consent, detailed information on the cookie categories or tools, browser, and device information) is usually stored for up to two years.
Duration Of Data Processing
We will inform you below about the duration of data processing if we have further information on this. In general, we only process personal data for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products. Data stored in cookies are stored for different lengths of time. Some cookies are already deleted after leaving the website, others can be stored in your browser for several years. The exact duration of the data processing depends on the tool used, in most cases, you should be prepared for a storage period of several years. In the respective data protection declarations of the individual providers, you will usually receive precise information about the duration of the data processing.
Right To Object
You also have the right and the opportunity to revoke your consent to the use of cookies at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating, or deleting the cookies in your browser.
Information on special cookie management tools, if available, can be found in the following sections.
Legal Basis
If you agree to cookies, your personal data will be processed and stored via these cookies. If we are allowed to use cookies with your consent (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR), this consent is also the legal basis for the use of cookies and the processing of your data. In order to be able to manage the consent to cookies and to enable you to give your consent, a cookie consent management platform software is used. The use of this software enables us to operate the website in an efficient, legally compliant manner, which represents a legitimate interest (Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR).
Cookie Compliance Privacy Policy
We use Cookie Compliance, a cookie banner solution from Hu-manity.co, on our website. Service provider is the US company Hu-manity.co, 300 Carnegie Center, Suite 150, Princeton, NJ, New Jersey 08540, US. You can find out more about the data processed by using Cookie Compliance in the privacy policy at https://hu-manity.co/privacy-policy/.
Security & Anti Spam
Security & Anti-Spam Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: cyber security
📓 Processed data: Data such as your IP address, name, or technical data such as browser version
More details can be found below and in the individual data protection texts.
📅 Duration of storage: In most cases, the data is stored until it is no longer required to provide the service
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What Is Security & Anti-Spam Software?
With so-called security & anti-spam software, you can protect yourself and us from various spam or phishing e-mails and possible other cyber attacks. Spam is understood to be advertising emails from a mass mailing that you did not ask for yourself. Such emails are also called data garbage and can also cause costs. Phishing emails, on the other hand, are messages that aim to build trust via fake messages or websites in order to obtain personal information. Anti-spam software usually protects against unwanted spam messages or malicious emails that could inject viruses into our system. We also use a general firewall and security systems that protect our computers from unwanted network attacks.
Why Do We Use Security & Anti-Spam Software?
We attach great importance to security on our website. After all, it’s not just about our safety, it’s also about your safety. Unfortunately, cyber threats are now part of everyday life in the world of IT and the Internet. Hackers often try to steal personal data from an IT system with the help of a cyber attack. And therefore a good defense system is absolutely necessary. A security system monitors all incoming and outgoing connections to our network or computer. In order to achieve even greater security against cyber attacks, we also use other external security services in addition to the standardized security systems on our computers. Unauthorized traffic of data is thus better prevented and this is how we protect ourselves from cybercrime.
Which Data Is Processed By Security & Anti-Spam Software?
Which data is collected and stored depends of course on the respective service. However, we always try to only use programs that collect data very sparingly or only store data that is necessary for the fulfillment of the service offered. In principle, the service can store data such as name, address, IP address, e-mail address, and technical data such as browser type or browser version. Any performance and log data can also be collected in order to identify possible incoming threats in good time. This data will be processed as part of the Services and in compliance with applicable laws. This also includes the GDPR for US providers (via the standard contractual clauses). In some cases, these security services also work with third parties who may store and/or process data under instructions and in accordance with privacy policies and other security measures. Data is usually stored using cookies.
Duration Of Data Processing
We will inform you below about the duration of data processing if we have further information on this. For example, security programs store data until you or we revoke data storage. In general, personal data is only stored for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of the services. Unfortunately, in many cases, we do not have precise information from the providers about the length of storage.
Right To Object
You also have the right and the option to revoke your consent to the use of cookies or third-party security software at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating, or deleting the cookies in your browser.
Since cookies can also be used with such security services, we recommend our general data protection declaration on cookies. To find out precisely what data is stored and processed by you, you should read the data protection declarations of the respective tools.
Legal Basis
We use the security services mainly on the basis of our legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in a good security system against various cyber attacks.
Certain types of processing, in particular the use of cookies and security functions, require your consent. If you have agreed that your data can be processed and stored by integrated security services, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR). Most of the services we use set cookies on your browser to store data. We, therefore, recommend that you read our privacy statement on cookies carefully and consult the privacy statement or cookie policy of the relevant service provider.
You can find information on special tools – if available – in the following sections.
Akismet Privacy Policy
We use Akismet, an anti-spam solution for WordPress, for our website. Service provider is the American company Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA.
Akismet also processes your data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This can be associated with various risks to the legality and security of data processing.
Akismet or WordPress uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46. Para. 2 and 3 GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data also comply with European data protection standards if they are transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through these clauses, WordPress undertakes to comply with European data protection standards when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed, and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementation decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de
The Data Processing Agreements, which refer to the Standard Contractual Clauses, can be found at https://wordpress.com/support/data-processing-agreements/.
You can find out more about the data processed by using Akismet or WordPress in the data protection declaration at https://automattic.com/de/privacy/.
Google reCAPTCHA Privacy Policy
Google reCAPTCHA Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: Optimizing our service and protecting against cyber attacks
📓 Data processed: Data such as IP address, browser information, your operating system, restricted location and usage data
More details can be found below in this data protection declaration.
📅 Storage duration: depends on the stored data
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What Is reCAPTCHA?
Our primary goal is to secure and protect our website for you and for us in the best possible way. To ensure this, we use Google reCAPTCHA from Google Inc. The company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services in Europe. With reCAPTCHA, we can determine if you really are a real human being and not a robot or other spam software. We understand spam to mean any unwanted information that is sent to us electronically, unsolicited. With the classic CAPTCHAS, you usually had to solve text or image puzzles to check them. With reCAPTCHA from Google, we don’t have to bother you with such puzzles most of the time. In most cases, it is sufficient if you simply tick the box and confirm that you are not a bot. With the new Invisible reCAPTCHA version, you don’t even have to check the box. You can find out exactly how this works and, above all, what data is used for this in the course of this data protection declaration.
reCAPTCHA is a free captcha service provided by Google that protects websites from spam software and abuse by non-human visitors. Most often, this service is used when filling out forms on the Internet. A captcha service is a type of automated Turing test designed to ensure that an action on the internet is being performed by a human and not a bot. In the classic Turing test (named after the computer scientist Alan Turing), a human determines the difference between a bot and a human. In the case of captchas, the computer or a software program also takes care of this. Classic captchas work with small tasks that are easy for humans to solve, but present significant difficulties for machines. With reCAPTCHA, you no longer have to actively solve puzzles. The tool uses modern risk techniques to distinguish humans from bots. Here you only have to tick the text field “I’m not a robot” or with Invisible reCAPTCHA, even that is no longer necessary. With reCAPTCHA, a JavaScript element is integrated into the source text and then the tool runs in the background and analyzes your user behavior. The software calculates a so-called Captcha score from these user actions. Google uses this score to calculate the probability that you are a human before entering the Captcha. reCAPTCHA or Captchas in general are always used when bots could manipulate or misuse certain actions (e.g. registrations, surveys, etc.).
Why Do We Use reCAPTCHA On Our Website?
We only want to welcome flesh and blood people to our site. Bots or spam software of all kinds can safely stay at home. That’s why we’re doing everything we can to protect ourselves and offer you the best possible user experience. For this reason, we use Google reCAPTCHA from Google. So we can be pretty sure that we remain a “bot-free” website. By using reCAPTCHA, data is transmitted to Google to determine whether you are really a human being. reCAPTCHA, therefore, serves to ensure the security of our website and subsequently also your security. For example, without reCAPTCHA, it could happen that a bot registers as many email addresses as possible during registration in order to then “spam” forums or blogs with unwanted advertising content. With reCAPTCHA, we can avoid such bot attacks.
What Data Is Stored By reCAPTCHA?
reCAPTCHA collects personal data from users to determine whether the actions on our website really come from people. The IP address and other data that Google needs for the reCAPTCHA service can therefore be sent to Google. IP addresses are almost always shortened within the member states of the EU or other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area before the data ends up on a server in the USA. The IP address is not combined with other data from Google unless you are logged in with your Google account while using reCAPTCHA. First, the reCAPTCHA algorithm checks whether Google cookies from other Google services (YouTube, Gmail, etc.) are already placed on your browser. Then reCAPTCHA sets an additional cookie in your browser and captures a snapshot of your browser window.
The following list of collected browser and user data does not claim to be complete. Rather, they are examples of data that, to our knowledge, are processed by Google.
- Referrer URL (the address of the page the visitor came from)
- IP address (e.g. 256.123.123.1)
- Information about the operating system (the software that enables your computer to operate. Known operating systems are Windows, Mac OS X, or Linux)
- Cookies (small text files that store data in your browser)
- Mouse and keyboard behavior (every action you perform with the mouse or keyboard is saved)
- Date and language settings (which language or which date you have preset on your PC is saved)
- All Javascript objects (JavaScript is a programming language that allows websites to adapt to the user. JavaScript objects can collect all kinds of data under one name)
- Screen resolution (shows how many pixels the image display consists of)
It is undisputed that Google uses and analyzes this data even before you click on the “I’m not a robot” tick. With the Invisible reCAPTCHA version, you don’t even have to check the box and the whole recognition process runs in the background. Google does not tell you in detail how much and what data Google stores.
The following cookies are used by reCAPTCHA: Here we refer to the reCAPTCHA demo version from Google at https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api2/demo. All of these cookies require a unique identifier for tracking purposes. Here is a list of cookies set by Google reCAPTCHA on the demo version:
Name: IDE
Value: WqTUmlnmv_qXyi_DGNPLESKnRNrpgXoy1K-pAZtAkMbHI-122398005-8
Purpose: This cookie is set by DoubleClick (also owned by Google) to register and report the actions of a user on the website when dealing with advertisements. In this way, the effectiveness of the advertising can be measured and appropriate optimization measures can be taken. IDE is stored in browsers under doubleclick.net domain.
Expiry date: after one year
Name: 1P_JAR
Value: 2019-5-14-12
Purpose: This cookie collects statistics on website usage and measures conversions. A conversion occurs, for example, when a user becomes a buyer. The cookie is also used to display relevant advertisements to users. Furthermore, the cookie can be used to prevent a user from seeing the same ad more than once.
Expiry date: after one month
Name: ANID
Value: U7j1v3dZa1223980050xgZFmiqWppRWKOr
Purpose: We were not able to find out much information about this cookie. In Google’s privacy policy, the cookie is used in connection with “advertising cookies” such as e.g. For example, “DSID”, “FLC”, “AID”, “TAID” are mentioned. ANID is stored under the domain google.com.
Expiry date: after 9 months
Name: CONSENT
Value: YES+AT.de+20150628-20-0
Purpose: The cookie stores the status of a user’s consent to the use of various Google services. CONSENT is also used for security purposes to screen users, prevent fraudulent login information and protect user data from unauthorized attacks.
Expiry date: after 19 years
Name: NID
Value: 0WmuWqy122398005zILzqV_nmt3sDXwPeM5Q
Purpose: NID is used by Google to adapt advertisements to your Google search. With the help of the cookie, Google “remembers” your most frequently entered search queries or your previous interaction with ads. So you always get tailor-made advertisements. The cookie contains a unique ID to collect the user’s personal settings for advertising purposes.
Expiry date: after 6 months
Name: DV
Value: gEAABBCjJMXcI0dSAAAANbqc122398005-4
Purpose: As soon as you have ticked the “I’m not a robot” checkbox, this cookie will be set. The cookie is used by Google Analytics for personalized advertising. DV collects information in an anonymous form and is further used to make user distinctions.
Expiration Date: After 10 minutes
Note: This list cannot claim to be complete, as experience has shown that Google changes the choice of its cookies again and again.
How Long And Where Is The Data Stored?
By inserting reCAPTCHA, your data will be transferred to the Google server. Where exactly this data is stored is not made clear by Google, even after repeated inquiries. Without having received confirmation from Google, it can be assumed that data such as mouse interaction, time spent on the website, or language settings on the European or American Google servers are stored. The IP address that your browser transmits to Google is generally not merged with other Google data from other Google services. However, if you are logged into your Google account while using the reCAPTCHA plugin, the data will be merged. The deviating data protection regulations of the company Google apply.
How Can I Delete My Data Or Prevent Data Storage?
If you do not want any data about you and your behavior to be transmitted to Google, you must log out of Google completely and delete all Google cookies before you visit our website or use the reCAPTCHA software. In principle, the data is automatically transmitted to Google as soon as you access our site. To delete this data again, you must contact Google Support at https://support.google.com/?hl=de&tid=122398005.
So if you use our website, you agree that Google LLC and its representatives automatically collect, process, and use data.
Please note that when using this tool, your data may also be stored and processed outside the EU. Most third countries (including the USA) are not considered secure under current European data protection law. Data may not simply be transferred to unsafe third countries, stored there, and processed unless there are suitable guarantees (such as EU standard contractual clauses) between us and the non-European service provider.
Legal Basis
If you have consented to Google reCAPTCHA being used, the legal basis for the corresponding data processing is this consent. According to Article 6(1)(a) GDPR (consent), this consent represents the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when it is collected by Google reCAPTCHA.
We also have a legitimate interest in using Google reCAPTCHA to optimize our online service and make it more secure. The corresponding legal basis for this is Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests). However, we only use Google reCAPTCHA if you have given your consent.
Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This can be associated with various risks to the legality and security of data processing.
As the basis for data processing by recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or data transfer there, Google uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 Para. 2 and 3 DSGVO). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data also comply with European data protection standards if they are transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through these clauses, Google undertakes to comply with European data protection standards when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed, and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementation decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de
The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/.
You can learn a little more about reCAPTCHA on Google’s web developer page at https://developers.google.com/recaptcha/. Google goes into the technical development of reCAPTCHA in more detail here, but you won’t find precise information about data storage and data protection-related topics there either. A good overview of the basic use of data at Google can be found in the in-house data protection declaration at https://www.google.com/intl/de/policies/privacy/.
UpdraftPlus Privacy Policy
We use UpdraftPlus, a backup and security system, for our website. Service provider is the British company Updraft WP Software Ltd. 11 Barringer Way, St Neots, PE19 1LW, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
With Great Britain leaving the European Union, the GDPR no longer applies to data transfers there. However, the European Commission has decided on the basis of Art. 45 GDPR that Great Britain offers an adequate level of protection compared to the GDPR. The data transfer there is therefore permissible. You can view the decision here (download):
You can read more about the data processed through the use of UpdraftPlus in the Privacy Policy at https://updraftplus.com/data-protection-and-privacy-centre/.
Wordfence Privacy Policy
We use Wordfence, a WordPress security plugin, for our website. The service provider is the American company Defiant, Inc., 1700 Westlake Ave N Ste 200, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
Wordfence also processes your data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This can be associated with various risks to the legality and security of data processing.
Wordfence uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 Para. 2 and 3 GDPR) as the basis for data processing by recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or data transfer there. Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data also comply with European data protection standards if they are transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through these clauses, Wordfence undertakes to comply with European data protection standards when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed, and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementation decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de
The data processing conditions (Data Protection Regulation), which correspond to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://www.wordfence.com/help/general-data-protection-regulation/.
You can find out more about the data processed by using Wordfence in the data protection declaration at https://www.wordfence.com/privacy-policy/.
Payment Provider – Introduction
Payment Provider Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: To enable and optimize the payment process on our website
📓 Processed data: Data such as name, address, bank details (account number, credit card number, passwords, TANs, etc.), IP address, and contract data
More details can be found in the respective payment provider tool used.
📅 Storage duration: depends on the payment provider used
⚖️ Legal bases: Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR (performance of a contract)
What Is A Payment Provider?
We use online payment systems on our website, which enable us and you to make a secure and smooth payment process. Among other things, personal data can be sent to the respective payment provider, stored, and processed there. Payment providers are online payment systems that enable you to place an order via online banking. The payment processing is carried out by the payment provider you have chosen. We will then receive information about the payment made. Any user who has an active online banking account with PIN and TAN can use this method. There are hardly any banks that do not offer or accept such payment methods.
Why Do We Use Payment Providers On Our Website?
Of course, we want to offer the best possible service with our website, our membership sections, and our integrated online shop, so that you feel comfortable on our site and use our offers. We know that your time is precious and that payment processing in particular has to work quickly and smoothly. For these reasons, we offer you third-party payment solutions. You can choose your preferred payment provider and pay in the usual way.
Which Data Are Processed?
Which data is processed exactly depends on the respective payment provider. Basically, however, data such as name, address, and bank details (account number, credit card number, passwords, TANs, etc.) are stored. This is necessary data in order to be able to carry out a transaction at all. In addition, any contract data and user data, such as when you visit our website, what content you are interested in, or which subpages you click on, can also be stored. Most payment providers also store your IP address and information about the computer you are using.
The data is usually stored and processed on the servers of the payment providers. As the website operator, we do not receive this data. We are only informed whether the payment worked or not. For identity and credit checks, payment providers may forward data to the appropriate authority. The business and data protection principles of the respective provider always apply to all payment transactions. Therefore, please always take a look at the general terms and conditions and the data protection declaration of the payment provider. You also have the right, for example, to have data deleted or corrected at any time. Please contact the respective service provider regarding your rights (right of withdrawal, right to information, and right to be affected).
Duration Of Data Processing
We will inform you below about the duration of data processing if we have further information on this. In general, we only process personal data for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products. If it is required by law, for example in the case of accounting, this storage period can also be exceeded. We keep accounting documents (invoices, contract documents, account statements, etc.) belonging to a contract for 10 years (§ 147 AO) and other relevant business documents for 6 years (§ 247 HGB) after they have been incurred.
Right To Object
You always have the right to information, correction, and deletion of your personal data. If you have any questions, you can also contact the person responsible for the payment provider used at any time. You can find contact details either in our specific privacy policy or on the website of the relevant payment provider.
You can delete, disable or manage cookies that payment providers use for their functions in your browser. Depending on which browser you use, this works in different ways. Please note, however, that the payment process may then no longer work.
Legal Basis
We, therefore, offer other payment service providers in addition to the conventional bank/credit institutions for the processing of contractual or legal relationships (Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. b DSGVO). The data protection declarations of the individual payment providers (such as Amazon Payments, Apple Pay, or Discover) provide you with a detailed overview of data processing and data storage. In addition, you can always contact the person responsible if you have any questions about data protection-related topics.
Information on the special payment providers – if available – can be found in the following sections.
GoCardless Privacy Policy
We use the payment provider GoCardless on our website. Service provider is the British company GoCardless Ltd Sutton Yard, 65 Goswell Road, London, EC1V 7EN, United Kingdom.
With Great Britain leaving the European Union, the GDPR no longer applies to data transfers there. However, the European Commission has decided on the basis of Art. 45 GDPR that Great Britain offers an adequate level of protection compared to the GDPR. The data transfer there is therefore permissible. You can view the decision here (download):
You can find out more about the data processed through the use of GoCardless in the privacy policy at https://gocardless.com/de-de/rechts/datenschutz/.
PayPal Privacy Policy
We use the online payment service PayPal on our website. The service provider is the American company PayPal Inc. The company PayPal Europe (S.à rl et Cie, SCA, 22-24 Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg) is responsible for the European area.
PayPal also processes your data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This can be associated with various risks to the legality and security of data processing.
PayPal uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 Para. 2 and 3 GDPR) as the basis for data processing for recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or data transfer there. Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data also comply with European data protection standards if they are transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through these clauses, PayPal undertakes to comply with European data protection standards when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed, and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementation decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de
You can find more information about the standard contractual clauses and the data that is processed by using PayPal in the data protection declaration at https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full.
Single Sign-On Logins – Introduction
Single Sign-On Logins Privacy Statement Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: To simplify the authentication process
📓 Processed data: Depends heavily on the respective provider, mostly e-mail addresses and user-names can be saved.
You can find more details on this for the tool used in each case.
📅 Storage duration: depends on the tools used
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 letter a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 letter b GDPR (performance of the contract), Article 6 paragraph 1 letter f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What Are Single Sign-On Logins?
On our website, you have the option of registering quickly and easily for our online service using a user account from another provider (e.g. via Facebook). This authentication method is also known as “single sign-on”. Of course, this registration process only works if you are registered with the other provider or have a user account and enter the relevant access data in the online form. In many cases you are already registered, the access data is automatically entered in the form and you only have to confirm the single sign-on registration with a button. In the course of this registration, your personal data can also be processed and stored. In this data protection text, we generally deal with data processing through single sign-on registrations. You can find more information in the data protection declarations of the respective providers.
Why Do We Use Single Sign-On Logins?
We want to make your life on our website as easy and pleasant as possible. Therefore, we also offer single sign-on logins. This saves you valuable time because you only need one authentication. Since you only have to remember one password and it is only transmitted once, security is also increased. In many cases, you have already saved your password automatically using cookies, so the login process on our website only takes a few seconds.
What Data Is Stored By Single Sign-On Logins?
Although you log in to our website using this special login procedure, the actual authentication takes place with the relevant single sign-on provider. As the website operator, we receive a user ID as part of the authentication process. It states that you are registered with the relevant provider under this ID. This ID cannot be used for any other purpose. Other data may also be transmitted to us, but this depends on the single sign-on providers used. It also depends on which data you voluntarily provide during the authentication process and which data you basically release in your settings with the provider. Mostly it is data like your e-mail address and your username. We do not know your password, which is required for registration, and it is not saved by us. It is also important for you to know that data stored by us can be automatically compared with the data of the respective user account during the registration process.
Duration Of Data Processing
We will inform you below about the duration of data processing if we have further information on this. For example, the social media platform Facebook stores data until it is no longer needed for its own purposes. Customer data that is compared with your own user data will be deleted within two days. In general, we only process personal data for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products.
Right To Object
You also have the right and ability to revoke your consent to the use of single sign-on logins at any time. This usually works via the provider’s opt-out functions. If available, you will also find links to the corresponding opt-out functions in our data protection texts for the individual tools.
Legal Basis
If it has been agreed with you and this is done as part of the fulfillment of the contract (Article 6 Paragraph 1 lit. b GDPR) and the consent (Article 6 Paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR), we can use the single sign-on procedure on their legal basis insert.
In addition to consent, we have a legitimate interest in offering you a quick and easy registration process. The legal basis for this is Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests). However, we only use single sign-on registration if you have given your consent.
If you no longer want this link to the provider with the single sign-on registration, please cancel it in your user account with the respective provider. If you also want to delete data from us, you must cancel your registration.
Web Design – Introduction
Web design privacy policy summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: Improve the user experience
📓 Processed data: Which data is processed depends heavily on the services used. Usually, it is about IP address, technical data, language settings, browser version, screen resolution, and name of the browser. More details can be found in the web design tools used.
📅 Storage duration: depends on the tools used
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What Is Web Design?
We use various tools on our website that serve our web design. Web design is not just about making our website look pretty, as is often assumed, but also about functionality and performance. But of course, the right look of a website is also one of the major goals of professional web design. Web design is a part of media design and deals with the visual as well as the structural and functional design of a website. The aim is to improve your experience on our website with the help of web design. In web design jargon, one speaks of user experience (UX) and usability in this context. User experience is understood to mean all impressions and experiences that the website visitor experiences on a website. A sub-point of the user experience is usability. This is about the user-friendliness of a website. Above all, value is placed on the fact that content, subpages, or products are clearly structured and that you can find what you are looking for quickly and easily. In order to offer you the best possible experience on our website, we also use so-called third-party web design tools. In this data protection declaration, all services that improve the design of our website fall under the category “web design”. This can be, for example, fonts, various plugins, or other integrated web design functions.
Why Do We Use Web Design Tools?
How you absorb information on a website depends very much on the structure, functionality, and visual perception of the website. Therefore, good and professional web design became more and more important for us. We are constantly working on improving our website and see this as an extended service for you as a website visitor. Furthermore, a beautiful and functioning website also has economic advantages for us. After all, you will only visit us and take advantage of our offers if you feel completely at ease.
What Data Is Stored By Web Design Tools?
When you visit our website, web design elements can be integrated into our pages, which can also process data. Which data exactly depends on the tools used, of course. Below you can see exactly which tools we use for our website. For more information about data processing, we recommend that you also read the respective data protection declaration of the tools used. You can usually find out there which data is processed, whether cookies are used, and how long the data is stored. Fonts such as Google Fonts also automatically transmit information such as language settings, IP address, browser version, browser screen resolution, and browser name to the Google servers.
Duration Of Data Processing
How long data is processed is very individual and depends on the web design elements used. For example, when cookies are used, the retention period can be as little as a minute, but it can also be a few years. Please be smart about this. On the one hand, we recommend our general text section on cookies and the data protection declarations of the tools used. There you can usually find out exactly which cookies are used and what information is stored in them. For example, Google Font files are stored for one year. This is to improve the loading time of a website. In principle, data is only kept for as long as is necessary to provide the service. In the case of legal requirements, data can also be stored for longer.
Right To Object
You also have the right and the option to revoke your consent to the use of cookies or third-party providers at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. You can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating or deleting the cookies in your browser. However, among web design elements (typically fonts) there is also data that cannot be easily deleted. This is the case when data is automatically collected directly when a page is accessed and transmitted to a third party (e.g. Google). Then please contact the support of the respective provider. In the case of Google, you can reach support at https://support.google.com/?hl=de.
Legal Basis
If you have consented to the use of web design tools, the legal basis for the relevant data processing is this consent. According to Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), this consent represents the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as it can occur when it is collected by web design tools. We also have a legitimate interest in web design to improve on our website. After all, only then can we provide you with a beautiful and professional web offer. The corresponding legal basis for this is Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests). However, we only use web design tools if you have given your consent. We definitely want to emphasize that again.
Information on special web design tools – if available – can be found in the following sections.
Google Fonts Privacy Policy
Google Fonts Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: Optimization of our service
📓 Data processed: data such as IP address and CSS and font requests
More details can be found below in this data protection declaration.
📅 Storage duration: Font files are stored on Google for one year
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What Are Google Fonts?
We use Google Fonts on our website. These are the “Google fonts” from Google Inc. The company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services in Europe.
You do not need to register or enter a password to use Google fonts. Furthermore, no cookies are stored in your browser. The files (CSS, typefaces/fonts) are requested via the Google domains fonts.googleapis.com and fonts.gstatic.com. According to Google, requests for CSS and fonts are completely separate from all other Google services. If you have a Google account, you don’t have to worry about your Google account data being transmitted to Google while using Google Fonts. Google records the use of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and the fonts used and stores this data securely. How the data storage looks exactly, we will look at it in detail.
Google Fonts (formerly Google Web Fonts) is a directory of over 800 fonts that Google makes available to its users for free.
Many of these fonts are released under the SIL Open Font License, while others have been released under the Apache License. Both are free software licenses.
Why Do We Use Google Fonts On Our Website?
With Google Fonts we can use fonts on our own website and do not have to upload them to our own server. Google Fonts is an important component in keeping the quality of our website high. All Google fonts are automatically optimized for the web and this saves data volume and is a great advantage, especially for use with mobile devices. When you visit our site, the small file size ensures a fast loading time. Furthermore, Google Fonts are secure web fonts. Different image synthesis systems (rendering) in different browsers, operating systems, and mobile devices can lead to errors. Such errors can partially distort texts or entire websites. Thanks to the fast Content Delivery Network (CDN), there are no cross-platform problems with Google Fonts. Google Fonts supports all major browsers (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera) and works reliably on most modern mobile operating systems, including Android 2.2+ and iOS 4.2+ (iPhone, iPad, iPod). So we use Google Fonts so that we can present our entire online service as beautifully and uniformly as possible.
Which Data Is Stored By Google?
When you visit our website, the fonts are reloaded via a Google server. This external call transmits data to the Google servers. In this way, Google also recognizes that you or your IP address is visiting our website. The Google Fonts API was designed to reduce the use, storage, and collection of end-user data to what is necessary for proper font delivery. Incidentally, API stands for “Application Programming Interface” and serves, among other things, as a data transmitter in the software sector.
Google Fonts securely stores CSS and font requests on Google and is therefore protected. The collected usage figures allow Google to determine how well the individual fonts are received. Google publishes the results on internal analysis pages, such as Google Analytics. Google also uses data from its own web crawler to determine which websites use Google fonts. This data is published in the Google Fonts BigQuery database. Entrepreneurs and developers use the Google web service BigQuery to examine and move large amounts of data.
It should be noted, however, that with each Google Font request, information such as language settings, IP address, browser version, browser screen resolution, and browser name is automatically transmitted to the Google servers. Whether this data is also stored cannot be clearly determined or is not clearly communicated by Google.
How Long And Where Is The Data Stored?
Google stores requests for CSS assets for one day on its servers, which are mainly located outside the EU. This enables us to use the fonts using a Google-style sheet. A style sheet is a template that you can use to quickly and easily change the design or font of a website, for example.
The font files are stored by Google for one year. Google is thus pursuing the goal of fundamentally improving the loading time of websites. When millions of websites refer to the same fonts, they are cached after the first visit and immediately reappear on all other websites visited later. Sometimes Google updates font files to reduce file size, increase language coverage, and improve the design.
How Can I Delete My Data Or Prevent Data Storage?
The data that Google stores for a day or a year cannot simply be deleted. The data is automatically transmitted to Google when the page is accessed. In order to be able to delete this data prematurely, you must contact Google Support at https://support.google.com/?hl=de&tid=122398005. In this case, you only prevent data storage if you do not visit our site.
Unlike other web fonts, Google allows us unlimited access to all fonts. So we have unlimited access to a sea of fonts and thus get the best out of our website. You can find more about Google Fonts and other questions at https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq?tid=122398005. Although Google addresses data protection issues there, it does not contain really detailed information about data storage. It is relatively difficult to get really precise information about stored data from Google.
Legal Basis
If you have consented to the use of Google Fonts, the legal basis for the corresponding data processing is this consent. According to Article 6(1)(a) GDPR (consent), this consent represents the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when it is collected by Google Fonts.
We also have a legitimate interest in using Google Fonts to optimize our online service. The corresponding legal basis for this is Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests). However, we only use Google Fonts if you have given your consent.
Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This can be associated with various risks to the legality and security of data processing.
As the basis for data processing by recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or data transfer there, Google uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 Para. 2 and 3 DSGVO). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data also comply with European data protection standards if they are transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through these clauses, Google undertakes to comply with European data protection standards when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed, and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementation decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de
The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which also correspond to the standard contractual clauses for Google Fonts, can be found at https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms/.
You can also read about what data Google collects and what this data is used for at https://www.google.com/intl/de/policies/privacy/.
WooCommerce Privacy Policy
WooCommerce Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Affected: Visitors to the website
🤝 Purpose: Optimization of our service
📓 Data processed: Data such as IP address, browser information, language preferences, date and time of web access
More details can be found below in this data protection declaration.
📅 Storage period: Server log files, technical data, and your IP address will be deleted after about 30 days
⚖️ Legal basis: Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)
What Is WooCommerce?
We have integrated the open-source shop system WooCommerce as a plugin on our website. This WooCommerce plugin is based on the WordPress content management system, which is a subsidiary of Automattic Inc. (60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA). The implemented functions send, store, and process data to Automattic Inc. In this data protection declaration, we inform you what data is involved, how the network uses this data, and how you can manage or prevent data storage.
WooCommerce is an online shop system that has been part of the WordPress directory since 2011 and was specially developed for WordPress websites. It’s a customizable, open-source eCommerce platform built on WordPress, which has also been integrated into our website as a WordPress plugin.
Why Do W Use WooCommerce On Our Website?
We use this practical online shop solution to be able to offer you our physical or digital products or services on our website in the best possible way. The aim is to give you simple and easy access to our range of products so that you can get the products you want quickly and easily. With WooCommerce we have found a good plugin that meets our requirements for an online shop.
What data is stored by WooCommerce?
Information that you actively enter into a text field in our online shop can be collected and stored by WooCommerce or Automattic. So if you register with us or order a product, Automattic can collect, process, and store this data. In addition to e-mail address, name, or address, this can also be credit card or billing information. Automattic can subsequently use this information for its own marketing campaigns.
There is also information that Automattic automatically collects from you in so-called server log files:
- IP address
- Browser information
- Default language setting
- Date and time of web access
WooCommerce also sets cookies in your browser and uses technologies such as pixel tags (web beacons), for example, to clearly identify you as a user and to be able to offer interest-based advertising. WooCommerce uses a number of different cookies that are set depending on user action. This means that if you put a product in the shopping cart, for example, a cookie will be set so that the product remains in the shopping cart if you leave our website and come back at a later time.
Here we show you an example list of possible cookies that can be set by WooCommerce:
Name: woocommerce_items_in_cart
Value: 1
Purpose: The cookie helps WooCommerce determine when the content in the shopping cart changes.
Expiry date: after the end of the session
Name: woocommerce_cart_hash
Value: 447c84f810834056ab37cfe5ed27f204135166633-7
Purpose: This cookie is also used to recognize and save changes in your shopping cart.
Expiry date: after the end of the session
Name: wp_woocommerce_session_d9e29d251cf8a108a6482d9fe2ef34b6
Value: 1146%7C%7C1589034207%7C%7C95f8053ce0cea135bbce671043e740135166633-4aa
Purpose: This cookie contains a unique identifier so that the shopping cart data can also be found in the database.
Expiry date: after 2 days
How Long And Where Is The Data Stored?
Unless there is a legal obligation to keep data for a longer period, WooCommerce will delete the data when it is no longer needed for its own purposes for which it was stored. For example, server log files that contain technical data about your browser and your IP address are deleted after about 30 days. Until then, Automattic uses the data to analyze the traffic on its own websites (e.g. all WordPress sites) and to fix possible problems. The data is stored on Automattic’s American servers.
How Can I Delete My Data Or Prevent Data Storage?
You have the right to access your personal data and to object to the use and processing of your personal data at any time. You can also lodge a complaint with a governmental supervisory authority at any time.
In your browser you also have the option of individually managing, deleting, or deactivating cookies. However, please note that disabling or deleting cookies may have a negative impact on the functionality of our WooCommerce online shop. Depending on which browser you use, managing cookies works a little differently. Under the “Cookies” section you will find the relevant links to the relevant instructions for the most popular browsers.
Legal Basis
If you have agreed that WooCommerce may be used, the legal basis for the corresponding data processing is this consent. This consent represents – according to Article 6 Paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR (consent) – the legal basis for the processing of personal data as it may occur when collected by WooCommerce.
We also have a legitimate interest in using WooCommerce to optimize our online service and present it beautifully for you. The corresponding legal basis for this is Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests). However, we only use WooCommerce if you have given your consent.
WooCommerce also processes data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This can be associated with various risks to the legality and security of data processing.
WooCommerce uses standard contractual clauses approved by the EU Commission (= Art. 46. Para. 2 and 3 GDPR). These clauses oblige WooCommerce to comply with the EU data protection level when processing relevant data outside of the EU. These clauses are based on an implementation decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the clauses here:
https://germany.representation.ec.europa.eu/index_de.
More details on the privacy policy and what data is collected by WooCommerce and how can be found at https://automattic.com/privacy/ and general information about WooCommerce at https://woocommerce.com/.
EXPLANATION OF TERMS USED
We always try to make our privacy policy as clear and understandable as possible. However, this is not always easy, especially when it comes to technical and legal issues. It often makes sense to use legal terms (such as personal data) or certain technical terms (such as cookies, and IP address). But we don’t want to use them without explanation. Below you will find an alphabetical list of important terms used, which we may not have sufficiently addressed in the previous data protection declaration. If these terms were taken from the GDPR and they are definitions, we will also list the GDPR texts here and add our own explanations if necessary.
Processor
Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR
For the purposes of this Regulation, the term means: “Processor” a natural or legal person, public authority, agency, or other body that processes personal data on behalf of the person responsible;
Explanation: As a company and website owner, we are responsible for all data that we process from you. In addition to those responsible, there may also be so-called processors. This includes any company or person who processes personal data on our behalf. In addition to service providers such as tax consultants, processors can also be hosting or cloud providers, payment or newsletter providers, or large companies such as Google or Microsoft.
Consent
Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR
For the purposes of this Regulation, the term means: “Consent” of the data subject means any voluntary, informed, and unequivocal expression of will in the specific case, in the form of a declaration or other clear affirmative action, with which the data subject indicates that they consent to the processing of their personal data agrees;
Explanation: Usually, websites give such consent via a cookie consent tool. I’m sure you know that. Whenever you visit a website for the first time, you will usually be asked via a banner whether you agree or consent to the data processing. You can usually also make individual settings and thus decide for yourself which data processing you allow and which do not. If you do not give your consent, no personal data may be processed. In principle, consent can of course also be given in writing, i.e. not via a tool.
Personal Data
Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR
For the purposes of this Regulation, the term means: “Personal data” is any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter “data subject”); an identifiable natural person is one who, directly or indirectly, in particular by association with an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or one or more special features, expresses the physical, physiological, genetic, psychological, economic, cultural or social identity of this natural person can be identified;
Explanation: Personal data is all data that can identify you as a person. This is usually data such as:
- Surname
- Address
- E-mail address
- Postal address
- phone number
- Date of birth
- Identification numbers such as social security number, tax identification number, ID card number, or matriculation number
- Bank details such as account number, credit information, account balances, and much more.
- According to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), your IP address is also considered personal data. IT experts can use your IP address to determine at least the approximate location of your device and subsequently you as the connection owner. Therefore, storing an IP address also requires a legal basis within the meaning of the GDPR. There are also so-called “special categories” of personal data, which are also particularly worthy of protection. These include:
- racial and ethnic origin
- political opinions
- Religious or ideological beliefs
- Union membership
- Genetic data such as data obtained from blood or saliva samples
- biometric data (this is information about psychological, physical, or behavioral characteristics that can identify a person). health data
- Data related to sexual orientation or sex life
Profiling
Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR
For the purposes of this Regulation, the term means: “Profiling” is any type of automated processing of personal data consisting in using this personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular, aspects related to work performance, economic situation, health, personal Analyze or predict that natural person’s preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, location or relocation;
Explanation: Profiling gathers various pieces of information about an individual in order to learn more about that individual. On the web, profiling is often used for advertising purposes or for credit checks. For example, web and advertising analysis programs collect data about your behavior and your interests on a website. This results in a special user profile that can be used to target advertising to a specific target group.
Responsible
Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR
For the purposes of this Regulation, the term means: “Responsible person” is the natural or legal person, public authority, agency, or other body that alone or jointly with others decides on the purposes and means of the processing of personal data; if the purposes and means of this processing are specified by Union law or the law of the Member States, the person responsible or the specific criteria for his naming can be provided for by Union law or the law of the Member States;
Explanation: In our case, we are responsible for the processing of your personal data and consequently the “controller”. If we pass on collected data to other service providers for processing, these are “processors”. For this, an “order processing contract (AVV)” must be signed.
Processing
Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR
For the purposes of this Regulation, the term means: “Processing” is any process or series of processes in connection with personal data, such as collection, recording, organization, ordering, storage, adjustment or modification, reading, querying, use, carried out with or without the aid of automated processes, disclosure by transmission, distribution or any other form of making available, matching or linking, restriction, deletion or destruction;
Note: When we talk about processing in our privacy policy, we mean any type of data processing. As mentioned above in the original GDPR declaration, this includes not only the collection but also the storage and processing of data.
FINAL WORD
Congratulations! If you are reading these lines, you have really “fought” your way through our entire privacy policy, or at least scrolled down here. As you can see from the scope of our data protection declaration, we do not take the protection of your personal data lightly.
It is important to us to inform you about the processing of personal data to the best of our knowledge and belief. In doing so, we not only want to tell you which data is processed but also explain the reasons for using various software programs. As a rule, data protection declarations sound very technical and legal. However, since most of you are not web developers or lawyers, we wanted to take a different approach and explain the facts in simple and clear language. Of course, this is not always possible due to the subject matter. Therefore, the most important terms are explained in more detail at the end of the data protection declaration.
If you have any questions about data protection on our website, please do not hesitate to contact us or the responsible body. We wish you a nice time and hope you enjoy the content of our website.
Version dated 2023/01/27