Data privacy statement

With the following data privacy statement we would like to inform you which types of your personal data (hereinafter also abbreviated as ‘data’) we process for which purposes and in which scope. The data privacy statement applies to all processing of personal data carried out by us, both in the context of providing our services and in particular on our websites, in mobile applications and within external online presences, such as our social media profiles (hereinafter collectively referred to as ‘online services’).

The terms used are not gender-specific.

Responsibilities

Controller

Compounder GmbH
c/o Bürogemeinschaft
Vondelstraße 35
50677 Cologne
Germany

Authorised representatives: Paula Vorbeck, Evelyn Wagner, Carmine Siena (Managing Directors)

Email: info@compounder.eu
Imprint: www.compounder.eu/en/imprint

Data protection officer

DAWOCON GmbH
An der Müllerwiese 10
51069 Cologne
Germany

Email: dsb@dawocon.de
Telephone: +49 (0)221 68003767

Overview of processing operations

The following list summarises the types of data processed, the purposes for which they are processed and the concerned data subjects.

Categories of processed data

– inventory data;
– contact data;
– content data;
– usage data;
– meta/communication data;
– event data (Facebook).

Categories of data subjects

– communication partners;
– users.

Purposes of processing

– contact requests and communication;
– security measures;
– direct marketing;
– Web analytics;
– targeting;
– conversion tracking;
– affiliate tracking;
– managing and responding to inquiries;
– feedback;
– marketing;
– profiles with user-related information;
– Custom Audiences;
– provision of our online services and usability;
– information technology infrastructure.

Legal bases for the processing

In the following, you will find an overview of the legal basis of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on which we base the processing of personal data. Please note that in addition to the provisions of the GDPR, national data protection provisions of your or our country of residence or domicile may apply. If, in addition, more specific legal bases are applicable in individual cases, we will inform you of these in the data privacy statement.

consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR—The data subject has given consent to the processing of their personal data for one or more specific purposes.
performance of a contract and prior requests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR—Performance of a contract to which the data subject is party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract.
legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 sec. 1 lit. f GDPR—Processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data.

In addition to the data protection regulations of the GDPR, national regulations apply to data protection in Germany. This includes in particular the Law on Protection against Misuse of Personal Data in Data Processing (Federal Data Protection Act—BDSG). In particular, the BDSG contains special provisions on the right to access, the right to erase, the right to object, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes and transmission as well as automated individual decision-making, including profiling. Furthermore, it regulates data processing for the purposes of the employment relationship (Art. 26 BDSG), in particular with regard to the establishment, execution or termination of employment relationships as well as the consent of employees. Furthermore, data protection laws of the individual federal states may apply.

Security precautions

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

The measures include, in particular, safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data by controlling physical and electronic access to the data as well as access to, input, transmission, securing and separation of the data. In addition, we have established procedures to ensure that data subjects' rights are respected, that data is erased and that we are prepared to respond to data threats rapidly. Furthermore, we take the protection of personal data into account as early as the development or selection of hardware, software and service providers, in accordance with the principle of privacy by design and privacy by default.

TLS encryption (https): To protect your data transmitted via our online services, we use TLS encryption. You can recognise such encrypted connections by the prefix https:// in the address bar of your browser.

Transmission of personal data

In the context of our processing of personal data, it may happen that the data is transferred to other places, companies or persons or that it is disclosed to them. Recipients of this data may include, for example, service providers commissioned with IT tasks or providers of services and content that are embedded in a website. In such a case, the legal requirements will be respected and in particular corresponding contracts or agreements, which serve the protection of your data, will be concluded with the recipients of your data.

Data processing in third countries

If we process data in a third country (i.e. outside the European Union [EU], the European Economic Area [EEA]) or the processing takes place in the context of the use of third party services or disclosure or transfer of data to other persons, bodies or companies, this will only take place in accordance with the legal requirements.

Subject to express consent or transfer required by contract or law, we process or have processed the data only in third countries with a recognised level of data protection, on the basis of special guarantees, such as a contractual obligation through so-called standard protection clauses of the EU Commission or if certifications or binding internal data protection regulations justify the processing (Art. 44–49 GDPR, information page of the EU Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/international-dimension-data-protection_en).

Deletion of data

The data processed by us will be deleted in accordance with the statutory provisions as soon as their processing is revoked or other permissions no longer apply (e.g. if the purpose of processing this data no longer applies or they are not required for the purpose). If the data is not deleted because they are required for other and legally permissible purposes, their processing is limited to these purposes. This means that the data will be restricted and not processed for other purposes. This applies, for example, to data that must be stored for commercial or tax reasons or for which storage is necessary to assert, exercise or defend legal claims or to protect the rights of another natural or legal person.

In the context of our information on data processing, we may provide users with further information on the deletion and retention of data that is specific to the respective processing operation.

Use of cookies

Cookies are small text files or other data records which store information on end devices and read information from the end devices. For example, to store the login status in a user account, the contents of a shopping cart in an e-shop, the contents accessed or the functions used. Cookies can also be used for various purposes, e.g. for purposes of functionality, security and convenience of online offers as well as the creation of analyses of visitor flows.

Information on consent

We use cookies in accordance with the statutory provisions. Therefore, we obtain prior consent from users, except when it is not required by law. In particular, consent is not required if the storage and reading of information, including cookies, is strictly necessary in order to provide an information society service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user. The revocable consent will be clearly communicated to the user and will contain the information on the respective cookie use.

Information on legal bases under data protection law

The legal basis under data protection law on which we process users' personal data with the use of cookies depends on whether we ask users for consent. If users consent, the legal basis for processing their data is their declared consent. Otherwise, the data processed with the help of cookies is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (e.g. in a business operation of our online services and improvement of its usability) or, if this is done in the context of the fulfilment of our contractual obligations, if the use of cookies is necessary to fulfil our contractual obligations. For which purposes the cookies are processed by us, we do clarify in the course of this data privacy statement or in the context of our consent and processing procedures.

Retention period

Temporary cookies (also known as ‘session cookies’): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user has left an online service and closed their end device (i.e. browser or mobile application).

Permanent cookies: Permanent cookies remain stored even after the terminal device is closed. For example, the login status can be saved, or preferred content can be displayed directly when the user visits a website again. Likewise, user data collected with the help of cookies can be used for reach measurement. Unless we provide users with explicit information about the type and storage duration of cookies (e.g. as part of obtaining consent), users should assume that cookies are permanent and that the storage period can be up to two years.

General information on revocation and objection (opt-out)

Users can revoke the consent they have given at any time and also file an objection to processing in accordance with the legal requirements in Art. 21 GDPR. Users can also declare their objection by means of the settings of their browser, e.g. by deactivating the use of cookies (whereby this may also limit the functionality of our online services). An objection to the use of cookies for online marketing purposes can also be declared via the websites https://optout.aboutads.info and https://www.youronlinechoices.com.

Further information on processing methods, procedures and services used

Processing cookie data on the basis of consent: We use a cookie management solution in which users' consent to the use of cookies, or the procedures and providers mentioned in the cookie management solution, can be obtained, managed and revoked by the users. The declaration of consent is stored so that it does not have to be retrieved again and the consent can be proven in accordance with the legal obligation. Storage can take place server-sided and/or in a cookie (so-called opt-out cookie or with the aid of comparable technologies) in order to be able to assign the consent to a user or and/or their device. Subject to individual details of the providers of cookie management services, the following information applies: The duration of the storage of the consent can be up to two years. In this case, a pseudonymous user identifier is formed and stored with the date/time of consent, information on the scope of the consent (e.g. which categories of cookies and/or service providers) as well as the browser, system and used end device.

Registration of a user account

Nature and scope of the processing

In order to be able to use our entire range of services, you must first register by providing personal data. The data is entered in an input mask and transmitted to us and stored. The following personal data must be collected as part of the registration process:

– first and last name;
– email address, password;
– sixteen years of age (yes/no);
– date and time of the registration;
– date and time of the opt-in for the age query.

If you log in via our website after registering, we collect and store the email address and password as well as the date and time of login, in order to recognise you as a registered user. We use the email address you provided during registration to draw your attention to our own similar goods or services.

Data transmitted voluntarily by you
Within the scope of the services we offer (search for and placement of suitable applicants/study places), we also collect data on the respective applicant profile that you have provided to us voluntarily. These are

– personal data (gender, place of birth, nationality, telephone number, address, address suffix, ZIP, city, country),
– school data (country, city, name of the school, school-leaving certificate, final grade, date of acquisition),
– apprenticeship data (country, city of the apprenticeship, name of the company providing apprenticeship, city of the vocational school, name of the vocational school, profession learned, final grade, date of acquisition),
– study data (country, name of the university, degree, study programme, final grade, date of acquisition),
– application documents (depending on the university: CV, higher education entrance qualification, last report, proof of language proficiency, confirmation of exmatriculation, etc.).

Purpose and legal basis

We process your data for the purpose of providing you with a user account to fulfil a contract with you pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR. The subject of the contract is the temporary use of our Web portal for the referral of applicants to universities. Due to the remote data connection, this requires registration and a subsequent login of the user so that the user is recognised by our system and can access all functionalities. In addition, this prevents misuse of our system and gives us the option of billing for offers that are subject to a charge. For identification purposes, the provision of your data is a contractual obligation, whereas there is no legal obligation to provide it. Without the provision of this information, the registration of a user account and thus the conclusion of a contract is not possible.

Duration of storage

We store your personal data as part of the provision of the user account for the duration of the contractual relationship. After the end of the contract/deletion of the user account, your data will only be stored further if there are statutory retention obligations (e.g. tax and commercial law).
Additional information that you provide to us on the basis of your consent will only be stored until you revoke your consent by deactivating the functions/deleting the data, but at the longest until the end of the contract on which the provision of the user account is based.

Data transfer, legal basis and revocation

Since our Web portal serves to connect suitable applicants and universities and users can apply directly via our platform, we pass on the data you provide to the relevant university after you have given your consent. If the university is located outside the EU, the data will also be transferred to this third country. The data transfer always only includes the data requested by the university. If you provide us with data that is not required by a university, the data will not be transferred. Before transferring data, we also obtain your express consent to the transfer of data by means of a so-called opt-in. In this case, we base the data processing on your consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR.

You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future via our general contact details.

Provision of online services and Web hosting

We process user data in order to be able to provide them with our online services. For this purpose, we process the IP address of the user, which is necessary to transmit the content and functions of our online services to the user's browser or terminal device.

processed data types: usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses);
data subjects: users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services);
purposes of processing: provision of our online services and usability; information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical devices, such as computers, servers, etc.); security measures;
legal basis: legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

Further information on processing methods, procedures and services used

Provision of online offer on rented hosting space: For the provision of our online services, we use storage space, computing capacity and software that we rent or otherwise obtain from a corresponding server provider (also referred to as a ‘Web hoster’); Legal basis: legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

Collection of access data and log files: The access to our online services is logged in the form of so-called ‘server log files’. Server log files may include the address and name of the Web pages and files accessed, the date and time of access, data volumes transferred, notification of successful access, browser type and version, the user's operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page), and, as a general rule, IP addresses and the requesting provider. The server log files can be used for security purposes, e.g. to avoid overloading the servers (especially in the case of abusive attacks, so-called DDoS attacks) and to ensure the stability and optimal load balancing of the servers; Legal basis: legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR; Retention period: log file information is stored for a maximum period of 30 days and then deleted or anonymised. Data, the further storage of which is necessary for evidence purposes, are excluded from deletion until the respective incident has been finally clarified.

Contact and inquiry management

When contacting us (e.g. via contact form, email, telephone or via social media) as well as in the context of existing user and business relationships, the information of the inquiring persons is processed to the extent necessary to respond to the contact requests and any requested measures.

processed data types: contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers); content data (e.g. text input, photographs, videos); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses);
data subjects: communication partner (recipients of emails, letters, etc.);
purposes of processing: contact requests and communication; managing and responding to inquiries; feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form); provision of our online services and usability;
legal basis: legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR; performance of a contract and prior requests Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR.

Further information on processing methods, procedures and services used

Contact form: When users contact us via our contact form, email or other communication channels, we process the data provided to us in this context to process the communicated request; Legal basis: Performance of a contract and prior requests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR, legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

Chatbots and chat functions

We provide online chats and chatbot functions as a means of communication (together referred to as ‘Chat Services’). A chat is an online conversation that is conducted with a certain degree of immediacy. A chatbot is software that answers users' questions or informs them about messages. If you use our chat functions, we may process your personal data.

If you use our Chat Services within an online platform, your identification number is also stored within the respective platform. We may also collect information about which users interact with our Chat Services and when. Furthermore, we store the content of your conversations via the Chat Services and log registration and consent processes, in order to be able to prove these in accordance with legal requirements.

We would like to inform users that the respective platform provider can find out that and when users communicate with our Chat Services and can collect technical information about the user's device used and, depending on the settings of their device, also location information (so-called metadata) for the purpose of optimising the respective services and for security purposes. Likewise, the metadata of communication via Chat Services (i.e. information about who has communicated with whom) could be used by the respective platform providers for marketing purposes or to display advertising tailored to users in accordance with their regulations, to which we refer for further information.

If users agree to activate information with regular messages to a chatbot, they have the possibility to unsubscribe from the information for the future at any time. The chatbot points out to users how and with which terms they can unsubscribe the messages. By unsubscribing from the chatbot messages, users' data is deleted from the directory of message recipients.

We use the aforementioned information to operate our Chat Services, e.g. to address users personally, to answer their inquiries, to transmit any requested content and also to improve our Chat Services (e.g. to ‘teach’ chatbots answers to frequently asked questions or to identify unanswered inquiries).

Information on legal basis

We use the Chat Services on the basis of a consent if we first obtain the permission of the users to process their data by the Chat Services (this applies in cases where users are asked for consent, e.g. so that a chatbot regularly sends them messages). If we use Chat Services to answer user queries about our services or our company, this is done for contractual and pre-contractual communication. In addition, we use Chat Services based on our legitimate interests in optimising the Chat Services, its operating efficiency and enhancing the positive user experience.

Withdrawal, objection and deletion

You can revoke a given consent at any time or contradict the processing of your data in the context of our chatbot use.

processed data types: contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers); content data (e.g. text input, photographs, videos); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses);
data subjects: communication partner (recipients of emails, letters, etc.);
purposes of processing: contact requests and communication; direct marketing (e.g. by email or postal);
legal basis: consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR; performance of a contract and prior requests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR; legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

Further information on processing methods, procedures and services used

HubSpot: Chatbot and assistance software and related services; Service provider: HubSpot, Inc., 25 First St., 2nd floor, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, USA; Legal basis: legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR; Website: https://www.hubspot.com; Data privacy statement: https://legal.hubspot.com/privacy-policy; Data Processing Agreement: https://legal.hubspot.com/dpa; Standard Contractual Clauses (safeguarding the level of data protection when processing data in third countries): https://legal.hubspot.com/dpa.

Web analysis, monitoring and optimisation

Web analysis is used to evaluate the visitor traffic on our website and may include the behaviour, interests or demographic information of users, such as age or gender, as pseudonymous values. With the help of Web analysis we can, e.g. recognise, at which time our online services or their functions or contents are most frequently used or requested for repeatedly, as well as which areas require optimisation.

In addition to Web analysis, we can also use test procedures, e.g. to test and optimise different versions of our online services or their components.

Unless otherwise stated below, profiles, i.e. data aggregated for a usage process, can be created for these purposes and information can be stored in a browser or in a terminal device and read from it. The information collected includes, in particular, websites visited and elements used there as well as technical information such as the browser used, the computer system used and information on usage times. If users have agreed to the collection of their location data from us or from the providers of the services we use, location data may also be processed.

The IP addresses of the users are also stored. However, we use any existing IP masking procedure (i.e. pseudonymisation by shortening the IP address) to protect the user. In general, within the framework of Web analysis, A/B testing and optimisation, no user data (such as email addresses or names) is stored, but pseudonyms. This means that we, as well as the providers of the software used, do not know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles for the purposes of the respective processes.

processed data types: usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses);
data subjects: users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services);
purposes of processing: Web analytics (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); profiles with user-related information (creating user profiles);
security measures: IP masking (pseudonymizstion of the IP address);
legal bases: legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR; consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR.

Further information on processing methods, procedures and services used

Google Tag Manager: Google Tag Manager is a solution with which we can manage so-called website tags via an interface and thus integrate other services into our online services (please refer to further details in this data privacy statement). With the Tag Manager itself (which implements the tags), for example, no user profiles are created or cookies are stored. Google only receives the IP address of the user, which is necessary to run the Google Tag Manager; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Irland; Legal bases: consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR; Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Data privacy statement: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Data Processing Agreement: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Standard Contractual Clauses (safeguarding the level of data protection when processing data in third countries): https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Further information: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices (types of processing and data processed).

Matomo (without cookies): Matomo is a data protection friendly Web analysis software, which is used without cookies and in which the recognition of returning users is carried out with the help of a so-called ‘digital fingerprint’, which is stored anonymously and changed every 24 hours; in the case of the ‘digital fingerprint’, user movements within our online services are recorded with the help of pseudonymised IP addresses in combination with user-side browser settings in such a way that conclusions about the identity of individual users are not possible. User data collected through the use of Matomo is processed only by us and is not shared with third parties; Legal bases: legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GPDR; Website: https://matomo.org.

Online marketing

We process personal data for the purposes of online marketing, which may include in particular the marketing of advertising space or the display of advertising and other content (collectively referred to as ‘Content’) based on the potential interests of users and the measurement of their effectiveness.

For these purposes, so-called user profiles are created and stored in a file (so-called ‘cookie’) or similar procedure in which the relevant user information for the display of the aforementioned content is stored. This information may include, for example, content viewed, websites visited, online networks used, communication partners and technical information such as the browser used, computer system used and information on usage times and used functions. If users have consented to the collection of their sideline data, these can also be processed.

The IP addresses of the users are also stored. However, we use provided IP masking procedures (i.e. pseudonymisation by shortening the IP address) to ensure the protection of the user's by using a pseudonym. In general, within the framework of the online marketing process, no clear user data (such as email addresses or names) is secured, but pseudonyms. This means that we, as well as the providers of online marketing procedures, do not know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles.

The information in the profiles is usually stored in the cookies or similar memorising procedures. These cookies can later, generally also on other websites that use the same online marketing technology, be read and analysed for purposes of content display, as well as supplemented with other data and stored on the server of the online marketing technology provider.

Exceptionally, clear data can be assigned to the profiles. This is the case, for example, if the users are members of a social network whose online marketing technology we use and the network links the profiles of the users in the aforementioned data. Please note that users may enter into additional agreements with the social network providers or other service providers, e.g. by consenting as part of a registration process.

As a matter of principle, we only gain access to summarised information about the performance of our advertisements. However, within the framework of so-called conversion measurement, we can check which of our online marketing processes have led to a so-called conversion, i.e. to the conclusion of a contract with us. The conversion measurement is used alone for the performance analysis of our marketing activities.

Unless otherwise stated, we kindly ask you to consider that cookies used will be stored for a period of two years.

processed data types: content data (e.g. text input, photographs, videos); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses); event data (Facebook) (‘event data’ is data that can be transmitted from us to Facebook, e.g. via Facebook pixels [via apps or other means] and relates to persons or their actions; the data includes, for example, information about visits to websites, interactions with content, functions, installations of apps, purchases of products, etc.; event data is processed for the purpose of creating target groups for content and advertising information (Custom Audiences); event data does not include the actual content [such as written comments], login information and contact information [such as names, email addresses and phone numbers]. Event Data is deleted by Facebook after a maximum of two years, the Custom Audiences created from them with the deletion of our Facebook account);
data subjects: users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services);
purposes of processing: Web analytics (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); targeting (e.g. profiling based on interests and behaviour, use of cookies); conversion tracking (measurement of the effectiveness of marketing activities); affiliate tracking; marketing; profiles with user-related information (creating user profiles); Custom Audiences (selection of relevant target groups for marketing purposes or other output of content); provision of our online services and usability;
security measures: IP Masking (pseudonymisation of the IP address);
legal bases: consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR;
opt-out: We refer to the data privacy statements of the respective service providers and the possibilities for objection (so-called ‘opt-out’). If no explicit opt-out option has been specified, it is possible to deactivate cookies in the settings of your browser. However, this may restrict the functions of our online offer. We therefore recommend the following additional opt-out options, which are offered collectively for each area: a) Europe: https://www.youronlinechoices.eu b) Canada: https://www.youradchoices.ca/choices c) USA: https://www.aboutads.info/choices d) Cross-regional: https://optout.aboutads.info.

Further information on processing methods, procedures and services used

Facebook Pixel and Custom Audiences: With the help of the Facebook pixel (or equivalent functions, to transfer event data or contact information via interfaces or other software in apps), Facebook is on the one hand able to determine the visitors of our online services as a target group for the presentation of ads (so-called ‘Facebook ads’). Accordingly, we use Facebook pixels to display Facebook ads placed by us only to Facebook users and within the services of partners co-operating with Facebook (so-called ‘audience network’—https://www.facebook.com/audiencenetwork/) who have shown an interest in our online services or who have certain characteristics (e.g. interests in certain topics or products that are determined on the basis of the websites visited) that we transmit to Facebook (so-called ‘Custom Audiences’). With the help of Facebook pixels, we also want to ensure that our Facebook ads correspond to the potential interest of users and do not appear annoying. The Facebook pixel also enables us to track the effectiveness of Facebook ads for statistical and market research purposes by showing whether users were referred to our website after clicking on a Facebook ad (known as ‘conversion tracking’); Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal bases: consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR; Website: https://www.facebook.com; Data privacy statement: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy; Further informationen: user event data, i.e. behavioural and interest data, is processed for the purposes of targeted advertising and audience building on the basis of the joint controllership agreement (‘Controller Addendum’—https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum). The joint controllership is limited to the collection and transfer of the data to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, a company located in the EU. Further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, which concerns in particular the transfer of the data to the parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. in the USA (on the basis of standard contractual clauses concluded between Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and Meta Platforms, Inc.).

Google Ads and conversion tracking: We use the Google ‘Ads’ online marketing method to place ads on the Google advertising network (e.g. in search results, videos, websites, etc.) so that they are displayed to users who have an alleged interest in the ads. We also measure the conversion of the ads (so called ‘conversion’). However, we only know the anonymous total number of users who clicked on our ad and were redirected to a page tagged with a conversion tracking tag. However, we ourselves do not receive any information that can be used to identify users; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal bases: consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR; Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Data privacy statement: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Further information: types of processing and data processed: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices; Google Ads Controller-Controller Data Protection Terms and standard contractual clauses for data transfers to third countries: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms.

TikTok pixel: A TikTok pixel is a snippet of HTML code that is loaded when a user visits a website. When a user comes to our website, the pixel is triggered and tracks the user's behaviour and conversions (possible uses: measuring campaign performance, optimising ad delivery, building custom and lookalike audiences); Service provider: TikTok Technology Limited, 10 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin, D02 T380, Ireland; Legal bases: consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR; Website: https://ads.tiktok.com/help/article?aid=6669727593823993861; Data privacy statement: https://www.tiktok.com/de/privacy-policy.

Profiles on social networks (social media)

We maintain online presences within social networks and process user data in this context in order to communicate with the users active there or to offer information about us. We would like to point out that user data may be processed outside the European Union. This may entail risks for users, e.g. by making it more difficult to enforce users' rights.

In addition, user data is usually processed within social networks for market research and advertising purposes. For example, user profiles can be created on the basis of user behaviour and the associated interests of users. The user profiles can then be used, for example, to place advertisements within and outside the networks which are presumed to correspond to the interests of the users. For these purposes, cookies are usually stored on the user's computer, in which the user's usage behaviour and interests are stored. Furthermore, data can be stored in the user profiles independently of the devices used by the users (especially if the users are members of the respective networks or will become members later on).

For a detailed description of the respective processing operations and the opt-out options, please refer to the respective data privacy statements and information provided by the providers of the respective networks. Also in the case of requests for information and the exercise of rights of data subjects, we point out that these can be most effectively pursued with the providers. Only the providers have access to the data of the users and can directly take appropriate measures and provide information. If you still need help, please do not hesitate to contact us.

processed data types: contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers); content data (e.g. text input, photographs, videos); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses);
data subjects: users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services);
purposes of processing: contact requests and communication; feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form); marketing;
legal bases: legitimate Interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

Further information on processing methods, procedures and services used

Instagram: social network; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal bases: legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR; Website: https://www.instagram.com; Data privacy statement: https://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy.

Facebook pages: Profiles within the social network Facebook—We are jointly responsible (so called ‘joint controller’) with Meta Platforms Ireland Limited for the collection (but not the further processing) of data of visitors to our Facebook page. This data includes information about the types of content users view or interact with, or the actions they take (see ‘Things that you and others do and provide’ in the Facebook data privacy statement: https://www.facebook.com/policy) and information about the devices used by users (e.g. IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings, cookie information; see ‘Device Information’ in the Facebook data privacy statement: https://www.facebook.com/policy). As explained in the Facebook data privacy statement under ‘How we use this information?’, Facebook also collects and uses information to provide analytics services, known as ‘page insights’, to site operators to help them understand how people interact with their pages and with content associated with them. We have concluded a special agreement with Facebook (‘Information about Page-Insights’, https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/page_controller_addendum), which regulates in particular the security measures that Facebook must observe and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfil the rights of the persons concerned (i.e. users can send information access or deletion requests directly to Facebook). The rights of users (in particular to access to information, erasure, objection and complaint to the competent supervisory authority) are not restricted by the agreements with Facebook. Further information can be found in the ‘Information about Page Insights’ (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data); Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal bases: legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR; Website: https://www.facebook.com; Data privacy statement: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy; Standard Contractual Clauses (safeguarding the level of data protection when processing data in third countries): https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum; Further information: Joint Controllership Agreement: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data. The joint controllership is limited to the collection and transfer of the data to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, a company located in the EU. Further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, which concerns in particular the transfer of the data to the parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. in the USA (on the basis of standard contractual clauses concluded between Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and Meta Platforms, Inc.).

LinkedIn: social network; Service provider: LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Plaza Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal bases: ligitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR; Website: https://www.linkedin.com; Data privacy statement: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy; Data Processing Agreement: https://legal.linkedin.com/dpa; Standard Contractual Clauses (safeguarding the level of data protection when processing data in third countries): https://legal.linkedin.com/dpa; Opt-out: https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.

Xing: social network; Service provider: New Work SE, Am Strandkai 1, 20457 Hamburg, Deutschland; Legal bases: legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR; Website: https://www.xing.de; Data privacy statement: https://privacy.xing.com/de/datenschutzerklaerung.

Plugins and embedded functions and content

Within our online services, we integrate functional and content elements that are obtained from the servers of their respective providers (hereinafter referred to as ‘third-party providers’). These may, for example, be graphics, videos or city maps (hereinafter uniformly referred to as ‘content’).

The integration always presupposes that the third-party providers of this content process the IP address of the user, since they could not send the content to their browser without the IP address. The IP address is therefore required for the presentation of these contents or functions. We strive to use only those contents, whose respective providers use the IP address only for the distribution of the contents. Third parties may also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also known as ‘Web beacons’) for statistical or marketing purposes. The ‘pixel tags’ can be used to evaluate information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website. The pseudonymous information may also be stored in cookies on the user's device and may include technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, visit times and other information about the use of our website as well as may be linked to such information from other sources.

processed data types: usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses); inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers); content data (e.g. text input, photographs, videos);
data subjects: users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services);
purposes of processing: provision of our online services and usability;
legal bases: legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

Further information on processing methods, procedures and services used

YouTube videos: video content; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal bases: ligitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR; Website: https://www.youtube.com; Data privacy statement: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Opt-out: Opt-Out-Plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en, settings for the display of advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.

Changes and updates to the data privacy statement

We kindly ask you to inform yourself regularly about the contents of our data privacy statement. We will adjust the data privacy statement as changes in our data processing practices make this necessary. We will inform you as soon as the changes require your co-operation (e.g. consent) or other individual notification.

If we provide addresses and contact information of companies and organisations in this data privacy statement, we ask you to note that addresses may change over time and to verify the information before contacting us.

Rights of data subjects

As data subject, you are entitled to various rights under the GDPR, which arise in particular from Art. 15–21 GDPR.

Right to object: You have the right, on grounds arising from your particular situation, to object at any time to the processing of your personal data which is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. e or f GDPR, including profiling based on those provisions. Where personal data are processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of the personal data concerning you for the purpose of such marketing, which includes profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing.

Right of withdrawal for consents: You have the right to revoke consents at any time.

Right of access: You have the right to request confirmation as to whether the data in question will be processed and to be informed of this data and to receive further information and a copy of the data in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Right to rectification: You have the right, in accordance with the law, to request the completion of the data concerning you or the rectification of the incorrect data concerning you.

Right to deletion and right to restriction of processing: In accordance with the statutory provisions, you have the right to demand that the relevant data be deleted immediately or, alternatively, to demand that the processing of the data be restricted in accordance with the statutory provisions.

Right to data portability: You have the right to receive data concerning you which you have provided to us in a structured, common and machine-readable format in accordance with the legal requirements, or to request its transmission to another controller.

Complaint to the supervisory authority: In accordance with the law and without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority, in particular a supervisory authority in the Member State where you habitually reside, the supervisory authority of your place of work or the place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data concerning you infringes the GDPR.

Terminology and definitions

This section provides an overview of the terms used in this data privacy statement. Many of the terms are drawn from the law and defined mainly in Art. 4 GDPR. The legal definitions are binding. The following explanations, on the other hand, are intended above all for the purpose of comprehension. The terms are sorted alphabetically.

Controller: ‘Controller’ means the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data.

Conversion tracking: Conversion tracking is a method used to evaluate the effectiveness of marketing measures. For this purpose, a cookie is usually stored on the devices of the users within the websites on which the marketing measures take place and then called up again on the target website (e.g. we can thus trace whether the advertisements placed by us on other websites were successful).

Custom Audiences: Target group formation (or ‘Custom Audiences’) is the term used when target groups are determined for advertising purposes, e.g. display of advertisements. For example, a user's interest in certain products or topics on the Internet may be used to infer that that user is interested in advertisements for similar products or the online store in which they viewed the products. ‘Lookalike Audiences’ (or similar target groups) is the term used to describe content that is viewed as suitable by users whose profiles or interests presumably correspond to the users for whom the profiles were created. Cookies are generally used for the purposes of creating custom audiences and lookalike audiences. Target groups can be created by processing visitors of an online service or can be uploaded to the provider of an online marketing technology by means of uploading (which is usually done pseudonymised).

Personal data: ‘Personal data’ means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (‘data subject’); an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.

Processing: The term ‘processing’ covers a wide range and practically every handling of data, be it collection, evaluation, storage, transmission or deletion.

Profiles with user-related information: The processing of ‘profiles with user-related information’, or ‘profiles’ for short, includes any kind of automated processing of personal data that consists of using these personal data to analyse, evaluate or predict certain personal aspects relating to a natural person (depending on the type of profiling, this may include different information concerning demographics, behaviour and interests, such as interaction with websites and their content, etc.—e.g. interests in certain content or products, click behaviour on a website, or location). Cookies and Web beacons are often used for profiling purposes.

Targeting/Tracking: ‘Tracking’ is the term used when the behaviour of users can be traced across several websites. As a rule, behaviour and interest information with regard to the websites used is stored in cookies or on the servers of the tracking technology providers (so-called profiling). This information can then be used, for example, to display advertisements to users presumably corresponding to their interests.

Web analytics: Web analytics serves the evaluation of visitor traffic of online services and can determine their behaviour or interests in certain information, such as content of websites. With the help of Web analytics, website owners, for example, can recognise at what time visitors visit their website and what content they are interested in. This allows them, for example, to optimise the content of the website to better meet the needs of their visitors. For purposes of Web analytics, pseudonymous cookies and Web beacons are frequently used in order to recognise returning visitors and thus obtain more precise analyses of the use of an online service.

[As of: 07/12/2022]

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