Data Protection
This data protection declaration clarifies the type, scope and purpose of the processing of personal data (hereinafter referred to as "data") as part of the provision of our services as well as within our online offer and the websites, functions and contents connected to it, as well as external online presences, e.g. our social media profile (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "online offer"). With regard to the terminology used, e.g. “Processing” or “responsible person”, we refer to the definitions in Art. 4 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Responsible
Silvester Group GmbH
Glockengießerwall 26
20095, Hamburg, Deutschland
E-Mail address: info@silvestergroup.com
Managing Directors: Christina Rahtgens, Thilo M. Tern
Link to the Legal Notice: https://silvestergroup.com/LegalNotice
Contact data protection officer: paul.maibach@silvestergroup.de
Types of data processed
- Inventory data (e.g. personal master data, names or addresses).
- Contact details (e.g. e-mail, phone numbers).
- Content data (e.g. text input, photographs, videos).
- Usage data (e.g. visited websites, interest in content, access times).
- Meta / communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
Categories of data subjects
Visitors and users of the online offer (in the following we refer to the data subjects collectively as "users").
Purpose of processing
- Providing the online offer, its functions and content.
- Answering contact inquiries and communicating with users.
- Security measures.
- Reach measurement/marketing.
Terms used
"Personal data" are all information that relate to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter "data subject"); An identifiable person is a natural person who can be identified directly or indirectly, in particular by assigning an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier (e.g. cookie) or one or more special features, expressing the physical, physiological, genetic, psychological, economic, cultural or social identity of this natural person.
"Processing" is any process carried out with or without the help of automated processes or any such series of processes in connection with personal data. The term has a broad meaning and covers practically every handling of data.
"Pseudonymization" is the processing of personal data in such a way that the personal data can no longer be assigned to a specific data subject without the use of additional information, provided that this additional information is kept separately and is subject to technical and organizational measures that ensure that the personal data is not assigned to an identified or identifiable natural person.
"Profiling" any type of automated processing of personal data, which consists in using this personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects related to a natural person, in particular to analyze or predict aspects related to work performance, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, location or change of location of this natural person.
The "person responsible" is the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body that alone or together with others decides on the purposes and means of processing personal data.
"Processor" is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body that processes personal data on behalf of the person responsible.
Relevant legal bases
In accordance with Art. 13 GDPR, we inform you of the legal basis for our data processing. For users from the scope of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), i.e. in the EU and the EEC, unless the legal basis is mentioned in the data protection declaration, the following applies:
The legal basis for obtaining consent is Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. a and Art. 7 GDPR;
The legal basis for processing for the performance of our services and implementation of contractual measures as well as answering inquiries is Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. b GDPR;
The legal basis for processing to fulfill our legal obligations is Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. c GDPR;
In case that vital interests of the data subject or another natural person require the processing of personal data, Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. d GDPR serves as the legal basis;
The legal basis for the processing required to perform a task that is in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority, which has been transferred to the person responsible, is Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. e GDPR;
The legal basis for processing to protect our legitimate interests is Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR;
The processing of data for purposes other than those for which it was collected is determined in accordance with the provisions of Art. 6 Para. 4 GDPR;
The processing of special categories of data (in accordance with Art. 9 Para. 1 GDPR) is determined according to the stipulations of Art. 9 Para. 2 GDPR;
Safety measures
We take appropriate technical and organizational measures in accordance with the legal requirements, taking into account the state of the art, the implementation costs and the type, scope, circumstances and purposes of processing, as well as the different probability and severity of the risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons to ensure a level of protection appropriate to the risk.
The measures include, in particular, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data by controlling the physical access to the data, as well as the access, input, transfer, securing availability and their separation. Furthermore, we have set up procedures that guarantee the exercise of data subject rights, deletion of data and reaction to data threats. We also take the protection of personal data into account when developing or selecting hardware, software and processes, in accordance with the principle of data protection through technology design and data protection-friendly default settings.
Cooperation with processors, jointly responsible and third parties
As long as as we disclose data to other people and companies (processors, jointly responsible or third parties) as part of our processing, transmit the data to them or otherwise give them access to the data, this only takes place on the basis of a legal permission (e.g. if a transfer of the data to third parties, such as payment service providers, is necessary for the fulfillment of the contract), users have consented, a legal obligation provides for this or on the basis of our legitimate interests (e.g. with the use of authorized agents, Web hosts, etc.).
If we disclose, transmit or otherwise grant data to other companies from our group of companies, this is done in particular for administrative purposes as a legitimate interest and also on a basis that complies with the legal requirements.
Transfers to third-party countries
If we process data in a third-party country (i.e. outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or the Swiss Confederation) or if we use third-party services or disclosure, or the transfer of data to other people or companies, this only takes place if it happens to fulfill our (pre)contractual obligations, on the basis of your consent, on the basis of a legal obligation or on the basis of our legitimate interests. Subject to express consent or contractually required transmission, we only process or leave the data in third-party countries with a recognized level of data protection, which include the US processors certified under the "Privacy Shield" or on the basis of special guarantees, such as process contractual obligations through so-called standard protection clauses of the EU Commission, the presence of certifications or binding internal data protection regulations (Art. 44 to 49 GDPR, Information page of the EU Commission).
Rights of data subjects
You have the right to request confirmation whether the respective data are being processed and for information about this data as well as for further information and a copy of the data in accordance with the legal requirements.
You have according to the legal requirements the right to request the completion of the data concerning you or the correction of the incorrect data concerning you.
In accordance with the legal requirements, you have the right to request that the respective data be deleted immediately or, alternatively, to request that the processing of the data be restricted in accordance with the legal requirements.
In accordance with the legal requirements, you have the right to request receiving the data relating to you, which you have provided to us, and to request their transmission to other responsible parties.
Furthermore, in accordance with the legal requirements, you have the right to file a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority.
Rights of Withdrawal
You have the right to withdraw your consent with future effect.
Right of objection
You can object to the future processing of your data at any time in accordance with the legal requirements. The objection can in particular be made against processing for direct advertising purposes.
Cookies and the right of objection to direct advertising
"Cookies" are referred as small files that are stored on users' computers. Different information can be stored within the cookies. A cookie is primarily used to store information about a user (or the device on which the cookie is stored) during or after their visit within an online offer. Temporary cookies, or “session cookies” or “transient cookies”, are cookies that are deleted after a user leaves an online offer and closes his browser. In such a cookie e.g. the content of a shopping cart in an online shop or a login status can be saved. Cookies, which are referred to as "permanent" or "persistent", remain saved even after the browser is closed. For example, the login status can be saved if the users visit it after several days. In such a cookie the interests of users can be stored and used for range measurement or marketing purposes. A "third-party cookie" refers to cookies that are offered by providers other than the person responsible for operating the online offer (otherwise, if they are only their cookies, we speak of "first-party cookies").
We can use temporary and permanent cookies and clarify this in the context of our data protection declaration.
If we ask the user for their consent to the use of cookies (e.g. in the context of a cookie consent), the legal basis for this processing is Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. a. GDPR. Otherwise, the personal cookies of the users are used in accordance with the following explanations in the context of this data protection declaration on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimization and economic operation of our online offer acc. Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f. GDPR) or as long as the use of cookies is necessary to provide our contract-related services, in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. b. GDPR, or if the use of cookies is necessary to perform a task that is in the public interest or in the exercise of public authority, acc. Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. e. GDPR, processed.
If users do not want cookies to be stored on their computer, they are asked to deactivate the corresponding option in the system settings of their browser. Stored cookies can be deleted in the system settings of the browser. The exclusion of cookies can lead to functional restrictions of this online offer.
A general objection to the use of cookies used for online marketing purposes are explained on a large number of services, especially in the case of tracking, via the US website http://www.aboutads.info/choices/ or the EU website http://www.youronlinechoices.com/ . Furthermore, cookies can be saved by switching them off in the browser settings. Please note that you may not be able to use all functions of this online offer.
Deletion of data
The data processed by us are deleted in accordance with the legal requirements or their processing restricted. Unless explicitly stated in this data protection declaration, the data stored by us will be deleted as soon as they are no longer required for their intended purpose and provided that no legal obligation exists that is in conflict with the deletion.
If the data is not deleted because it is required for other and lawful purposes, its processing will be restricted. I.e. the data will be blocked and not processed for other purposes. This applies e.g. for data that must be kept for commercial or tax reasons.
Changes and updates to the data protection declaration
We kindly ask you to inform yourself regularly about the content of our data protection declaration. We modify the data protection declaration if changes to the data processing, which are carried out by us, make this necessary. We will inform you as soon as the changes require your participation (e.g. consent) or other individual notification.
Business-related processing
We further process
from our customers, interested parties and business partners for the purpose of providing contractual services, service and customer care, marketing, advertising and market research.
Agency services
We process our customers' data as part of our contractual services, which include conceptual and strategic consulting, campaign planning, software and design development / consulting or maintenance, implementation of campaigns and processes / handling, server administration, data analysis / consulting services and training services.
We process inventory data (e.g. customer master data, such as names or addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. text input, photographs, videos), contract data (e.g. contract object, term), payment data (e.g. bank details, payment history), usage and metadata (e.g. as part of the evaluation and success measurement of marketing measures). We generally do not process special categories of personal data, unless they are part of a commissioned processing. Those are our customers, interested parties and their customers, users, website visitors or employees as well as third parties. The purpose of processing is to provide contractual services, billing and our customer service. The legal basis for processing is based upon Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. b GDPR (contractual services), Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR (analysis, statistics, optimization, security measures). We process data that are necessary for the establishment and fulfillment of the contractual services and point out the necessity of their specification. A disclosure to external parties only takes place if it is required within an order. When processing the data provided to us in the context of an order, we act in accordance with the instructions of the client and the legal requirements for order processing in accordance with. Art. 28 GDPR and process the data for no other purposes than those specified in the order.
We delete the data after expiry of the statutory warranty and comparable obligations. The necessity of storing the data is checked every three years; in the case of statutory archiving obligations, deletion takes place after its expiry (6 years, in accordance with section 257 (1) HGB, 10 years, in accordance with section 147 (1) AO). In the case of data that has been disclosed to us in the context of an order by the client, we delete the data according to the specifications of the order, generally after the end of the order.
Contractual Services
We process the data of our contractual partners and interested parties as well as of other clients, customers, or contractual partners (uniformly referred to as "contractual partner") in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. b. GDPR in order to provide you with our contractual or pre-contractual services. The data processed here, the type, scope and purpose and the necessity of their processing are determined by the underlying contractual relationship.
The processed data include the master data of our contractual partners (e.g. names and addresses), contact details (e.g. e-mail addresses and telephone numbers) as well as contract data (e.g. services used, terms of the contract, contractual communication, names of contact persons) and payment data (e.g. bank details, payment history).
We generally do not process special categories of personal data, unless they are part of a commissioned or contractual processing.
We process data that are necessary for the establishment and fulfillment of the contractual services and point out the necessity of their specification, unless this is evident for the contractual partners. Disclosure to external persons or companies only takes place if it is required under a contract. When processing the data provided to us in the context of an order, we act in accordance with the instructions of the client and the legal requirements.
As part of the use of our online services, we can save the IP address and the time of the respective user action. The storage is based on our legitimate interests, as well as the interests of the users in the protection against data abuse and other unauthorized use. These data are not passed down to third parties, except if it is required to pursue our claims as per Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f. GDPR or if there is a legal obligation on basis of Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. c. GDPR.
The data will be deleted if the data are no longer required to fulfill contractual or statutory care obligations and to deal with any warranty and comparable obligations. The necessity of storing the data is being checked every three years; apart from that the statutory retention obligation apply.
Administration, financial accounting, office organization, contact management
We process data in the context of administrative tasks and organization of our company, financial accounting and compliance with legal obligations, such as archiving. We process the same data that we process as part of the provision of our contractual services. The processing bases are Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. c. GDPR, Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f. GDPR. Customers, interested parties, business partners and website visitors are affected by the processing. The purpose and our interest in processing lies in administration, financial accounting, office organization, archiving of data, i.e. tasks that serve to maintain our business activities, perform our tasks and provide our services. The deletion of the data with regard to contractual services and contractual communication corresponds to the information mentioned in these processing activities.
We disclose or transmit data to financial management, consultants, such as Tax consultants or auditors as well as other fee agencies and payment service providers.
Furthermore, based on our business interests, we store information about suppliers, organizers and other business partners, e.g. for later contact. We generally store this mostly company-related data permanently.
Business analysis and market research
To be able to operate our business economically, to recognize market trends, wishes of the contractual partners and users, we analyze the data available to us regarding business transactions, contracts, inquiries, etc. We process inventory data, communication data, contract data, payment data, usage data, metadata based on Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f. GDPR, whereby the data subjects include contractual partners, interested parties, customers, visitors and users of our online offer.
The analysis are carried out for the purpose of business evaluations, marketing and market research. We can take into account the profiles of registered users with information, e.g. regarding their services used. The analysis help us to increase user-friendliness, optimize our offer and business efficiency. The analysis serve us alone and are not disclosed externally unless they are anonymous analysis with summarized values.
If these analysis or profiles are personal, they will be deleted or anonymized upon termination of the user, otherwise after two years from the conclusion of the contract. In addition, the overall business analysis and general tendency determinations are created anonymously if possible.
Microsoft Cloud Services
We use the cloud offered by Microsoft and the cloud software services (so-called software as a service, e.g. Microsoft Office) for the following purposes: document storage and management, calendar management, e-mail dispatch, spreadsheets and presentations, exchange of documents, content and information with certain recipients or publication of websites, forms or other content and information as well as chats and participation in audio and video conferences.
Here, the personal data of the users are processed as far as they become a part of the documents and contents processed within the described services or are part of communication processes. This can include e.g. master data and contact details of users, data relating to processes, contracts, other processes and their content. Microsoft also processes usage data and metadata, which Microsoft uses for security purposes and service optimization.
As part of the use of publicly accessible documents, websites or other content, Microsoft can save cookies on the user's computer for the purposes of web analysis or to remember user settings.
We use the Microsoft cloud services based on our legitimate interests in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR in efficient and secure administrative and cooperative processes. Furthermore, the processing is based on an order processing contract with Microsoft.
Further information can be found in Microsoft's data protection declaration (https://privacy.microsoft.com/de-de/privacystatement) and the security notices for Microsoft Cloud services (https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/trustcenter). According to the legal requirements, you can object to the processing of your data in the Microsoft Cloud. Incidentally, the deletion of the data within Microsoft's cloud services is determined by the other processing processes in which the data is processed (e.g. deletion no longer required for contractual purposes or storage for data required for taxation purposes).
Microsoft Cloud services are provided by Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399 USA. Insofar as data is processed in the USA, we refer to Microsoft's certification under the Privacy Shield (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000KzNaAAK&status=Active).
Akismet Anti-Spam Check
Our online offer uses the "Akismet" service, which is provided by Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA. The use is based on our legitimate interests within Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR. With the help of this service, comments from real people are distinguished from spam comments. For this purpose, all comments are sent to a server in the USA, where they are analyzed and saved for four days for comparison purposes. If a comment has been classified as spam, the data will be saved beyond this time. These details include the entered name, e-mail address, IP address, comment content, referrer, details of the browser used as well as the computer system and the time of the entry.
Further information on the collection and use of data by Akismet can be found in Automattic's data protection information: https://automattic.com/privacy/.
Users are welcome to use pseudonyms, or to refrain from entering their names or e-mail addresses. You can completely prevent the transfer of data by not using our comment system. That would be a shame, but unfortunately we do not see any other alternatives that would work as effectively as this.
Retrieval of emojis and smilies
Within our WordPress blog, graphic emojis (or smilies), i.e. small graphic files that express feelings, are used, which are obtained from external servers. The providers of the servers collect the IP addresses of the users. This is necessary so that the emoji files can be transmitted to the user's browser. The emoji service is provided by Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA. Automattic's privacy policy: https://automattic.com/privacy/ . The server domains used are s.w.org and twemoji.maxcdn.com, which, as far as we know, are so-called content delivery networks, i.e. servers that only serve as a fast and secure transmission of the files and the personal data of the users are being deleted after transmission.
The use of the emojis is based on our legitimate interests, i.e. interest in an attractive design of our online offer acc. Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f. GDPR.
Establishing contact
When contacting us (e.g. via contact form, e-mail, telephone or via social media), the user's data are processed for editing of contact request and their processing acc. Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. b. (within the framework of contractual / pre-contractual relationships) and Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f. (other inquiries) GDPR. The information of the users can be stored in a customer relationship management system ("CRM system") or comparable inquiry organization.
We delete the requests if they are no longer necessary. We check the necessity every two years; further, the statutory archiving obligations apply.
Hosting and e-mail dispatch
The hosting services we use serve to provide the following services: infrastructure and platform services, computing capacity, storage space and database services, e-mail dispatch, security services and technical maintenance services, that we use for operating this online offer.
We, or our hosting provider, process inventory data, contact data, content data, contract data, usage data, meta and communication data from customers, interested parties and visitors of this online offer based on our legitimate interests in the efficient and secure provision of this online offer acc. Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR in conjunction with Art. 28 GDPR (data processing agreement).
Collection of access data and log files
We, or our hosting provider, collect data based on our legitimate interests in Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f. GDPR about every access to the server on which this service is located (so-called server log files). The access data include the name of the website accessed, file, date and time of access, amount of data transferred, notification of successful access, browser type and version, the user's operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page), IP address and the requesting provider.
For security reasons (e.g. to investigate abuse or fraud), log file information is stored for a maximum of 7 days and then deleted. Data whose further storage is required for evidence purposes is excluded from deletion until the respective incident has been finally clarified.
Content delivery network by Cloudflare
We set up a so-called "Content Delivery Network" (CDN), offered by Cloudflare, Inc., 101 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA. Cloudflare is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thus offers a guarantee to comply with the European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000GnZKAA0&status=Active).
A CDN is a service being used to deliver contents of our online offer, in particular large media files, such as graphics or scripts, more quickly with the help of regionally distributed and connected servers. The processing of user data takes place solely for the aforementioned purposes and to maintain the security and functionality of the CDN.
The use is based on our legitimate interests, i.e. interest in a safe and efficient provision, analysis and optimization of our online offer acc. Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f. GDPR.
For further information, see Cloudflare's privacy policy: https://www.cloudflare.com/security-policy.
Content Delivery Network by StackPath
We use a so-called "Content Delivery Network" (CDN), offered by StackPath, LLC, 2021 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1100 Dallas, Texas 75201, USA. StackPath is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thus offers a guarantee to comply with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000CbahAAC&status=Active).
A CDN is a service being used to deliver contents of our online offer, in particular large media files, such as graphics or scripts, more quickly with the help of regionally distributed and connected servers. The processing of user data takes place solely for the aforementioned purposes and to maintain the security and functionality of the CDN.
The use is based on our legitimate interests, i.e. interest in a safe and efficient provision, analysis and optimization of our online offer.
For further information, see StackPath's privacy policy: https://www.stackpath.com/legal/privacy-statement.
Google Tag Manager
Google Tag Manager is a solution with which we can manage so-called website tags via an interface (and thus, for example, integrate Google Analytics and other Google marketing services in our online offer). The Tag Manager itself (which implements the tags) does not process any personal data of the users. With regard to the processing of users' personal data, reference is made to the following information about Google services. Usage guidelines: https://www.google.com/intl/de/tagmanager /use-policy.html.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland ("Google"). Google uses cookies. The information generated by the cookie about the use of the online offer by the user is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there.
Google will use this information on our behalf to evaluate the use of our online offer by users, to compile reports on the activities within this online offer and to provide us with other services related to the use of this online offer and the internet. Pseudonymous user profiles can be created from the processed data.
We only use Google Analytics with activated IP anonymization. This means that the IP address of the user is shortened by Google within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transferred to a Google server in the USA and shortened there.
The IP address transmitted by the user's browser is not merged with other Google data. The users can prevent the storage of cookies by setting their browser software accordingly; Users can also prevent Google from collecting the data generated by the cookie and relating to their use of the online offer and from processing this data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available under the following link: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.
If we ask the user for consent (e.g. in the context of a cookie consent), the legal basis for this processing is Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. a. GDPR. Otherwise, the personal data of the users are processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimization and economic operation of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. GDPR).
As far as data is processed in the USA, we point out that Google is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thereby guarantees that it will comply with the European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active).
Further information on data use by Google, setting and objection options, can be read in Google's privacy policy (https://policies.google.com/privacy) and in the settings for the display of advertisements by Google (https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated).
The personal data of the users will be deleted or anonymized after 14 months.
Google Universal Analytics
We use Google Analytics as "Universal Analytics". "Universal Analytics" refers to a process by Google Analytics in which the user analysis is based on a pseudonymous user ID and a pseudonymous profile of the user is created with information from the use of different devices (so-called "cross-device tracking").
Google Adsense with non-personalized ads
We use the services of Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland ("Google").
We use the AdSense service, with the help of which advertisements are displayed on our website and we receive remuneration for their display or other use. For these purposes, usage data, such as the click on an advertisement and the user's IP address, are processed, the IP address being shortened by the last two digits. Therefore, the processing of user data is pseudonymized.
We use Adsense with non-personalized ads. The ads are not displayed based on user profiles. Non-personalized ads are not based on previous user behavior. When targeting, contextual information is used, including a rough (e.g. at the location level) geographic targeting based on the current location, the content on the current website or the app and current search terms. Google prevents any personalized targeting, including demographic targeting and targeting based on user lists.
If we ask the user for consent (e.g. in the context of a cookie consent), the legal basis for this processing is Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. a. GDPR. Otherwise, the personal data of the users are processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimization and economic operation of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f. GDPR).
As far as data is processed in the USA, we would like to point out that Google is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thereby guarantees that it will comply with the European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active).
You can find further information on the use of data by Google, setting and objection options in Google's data protection declaration (https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads) and in the settings for the display of advertisements by Google (https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated).
Google AdWords and conversion measurement
We use the services of Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, ("Google").
Google is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thus offers a guarantee to comply with the European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active).
We use the online marketing process Google „ AdWords “ to place ads on the Google advertising network (e.g. in search results, in videos, on websites, etc.) so that they are displayed to users who might be interested in the ads. This allows us to display ads more targeted for and within our online offer in order to only present users with ads that potentially correspond to their interests. If advertisements for products, which a user was interested in other online offers, are being displayed, this is referred to as "remarketing". For these purposes, whenever our and other websites are accessed on which the Google advertising network is active, Google directly executes a code from Google and so-called (re)marketing tags (invisible graphics or code, also known as "Web Beacons") are being integrated into the website. With their help, an individual cookie, i.e. a small file, is saved (comparable technologies can be used instead of cookies). This file notes which websites the user has visited, what content he is interested in and which offers the user has clicked on, as well as technical information on the browser and operating system, referring websites, time of visit and other information about the usage of the online offer.
We also receive an individual "conversion cookie". The information obtained with the help of cookies is used by Google to create conversion statistics for us. However, we only find out the anonymous total number of users who clicked on our advertisement and were redirected to a page with a conversion tracking tag. However, we do not receive any information that can be used to personally identify users.
The data of the users are processed pseudonymously within the Google advertising network. I.e. Google stores and processes e.g. not the user's name or email address, but processes the relevant cookie-related data within pseudonymous user profiles. From Google's perspective, the ads are not managed and displayed for a specifically identified person, but for the cookie holder, regardless of who this cookie holder is. This does not apply if a user has expressly allowed Google to process the data without this pseudonymization. The information collected about the users is transmitted to Google and stored on Google's servers in the USA.
Provided that we ask the user for consent (e.g. in the context of a cookie consent), the legal basis for this processing is Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. a. GDPR. Otherwise, the personal data of the users are processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimization and economic operation of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f. GDPR).
As far as data is processed in the USA, we point out that Google is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thereby guarantees that it will comply with the European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active).
You can find further information on the use of data by Google, setting and objection options in Google's data protection declaration (https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads) and in the settings for the display of advertisements by Google (https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated).
Online presence in social media
We maintain online presences within social networks and platforms in order to communicate with the active customers, interested parties and users there and to inform them about our services.
We point out that data of users outside the European Union can be processed. This can result in risks for the users, because, e.g., enforcing users' rights could be difficult. With regard to US providers who are certified under the Privacy Shield, we point out that they are committed to complying with the EU data protection standards.
In addition, user data is usually processed for market research and advertising purposes. Through that, e.g., usage profiles can be created from the usage behavior and the resulting interests of the users. The usage profiles can in turn be used to e.g. place advertisements inside and outside of the platforms that presumably correspond to the interests of the users. For these purposes, cookies are usually stored on the users' computers, in which the usage behavior and interests of the users are stored. Furthermore, data can be stored in the usage profiles regardless of the devices used by the users (especially if the users are members of the respective platforms and are logged in to them).
The processing of users' personal data is based on our legitimate interests in effective information for users and communication with users in accordance with. Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f. GDPR. If the users are asked of the respective platform providers for their consent to the data processing described above, the legal basis for the processing is Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. a., Art. 7 GDPR.
For a detailed description of the respective processing and the possibilities of objection (opt-out), we refer to the information linked below by the provider.
Also in the case of requests for information and the assertion of user rights, we point out that these can be most effectively asserted with the providers. Only the providers have access to the data of the users and can take appropriate measures and provide information directly. If you still need help, you can contact us.
Integration of third-party services and content
Within our online offer, we set the following priorities on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimisation and economic operation of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR) content or service offers from third parties, to include their content and services, such as videos or fonts (hereinafter referred to as “content”).
This always presupposes that the third-party providers of this content perceive the IP address of the user, since without the IP address they could not send the content to their browser. The IP address is therefore required to display this content. We strive to only use content whose respective providers only use the IP address to deliver the content. Third-party providers can also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also known as "web beacons") for statistical or marketing purposes. The "pixel tags" can be used to evaluate information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website. The pseudonymous information can also be stored in cookies on the user's device and contain, among other things, technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, time of visit and other information about the usage of our online offer, as well as being linked to such information from other sources.
Vimeo
We can integrate the videos of the "Vimeo" platform from Vimeo Inc., Attention: Legal Department, 555 West 18th Street New York, New York 10011, USA. Data protection declaration: https://vimeo.com/privacy . We point out that Vimeo can use Google Analytics and refer for this to the data protection declaration (https://policies.google.com/privacy) and opt-out options for Google Analytics (http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de) or Google’s settings for data use for marketing purposes (https://adssettings.google.com/).
Google Fonts
We embed the fonts ("Google Fonts") from the provider Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. According to Google, the user data is used solely for the purpose of displaying the fonts in the user's browser. The integration takes place on the basis of our legitimate interests in a technically safe, maintenance-free and efficient use of fonts, their uniform representation and consideration of possible licensing restrictions for their integration. Data protection declaration: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.
