Privacy policy

English translation of the existing German information. The translation does not change the scope of the original text. View the German version.

Preamble

We are very pleased about your interest in our company. Data protection is of particularly high importance to the management of Speednetwork GmbH. The use of the websites of Speednetwork GmbH is generally possible without providing any personal data. However, if a data subject wishes to make use of special services offered by our company via our website, the processing of personal data may become necessary. If the processing of personal data is necessary and there is no legal basis for such processing, we generally obtain the data subject’s consent.

The processing of personal data, such as the name, address, email address or telephone number of a data subject, is always carried out in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and in compliance with the country-specific data protection provisions applicable to Speednetwork GmbH. By means of this privacy notice, our company would like to inform the public about the nature, scope and purpose of the personal data we collect, use and process. Furthermore, data subjects are informed of the rights to which they are entitled by means of this privacy notice.

As the controller, Speednetwork GmbH has implemented numerous technical and organisational measures to ensure the most complete possible protection of personal data processed through this website. Nevertheless, Internet-based data transmissions may in principle have security gaps, so absolute protection cannot be guaranteed. For this reason, every data subject is free to transmit personal data to us by alternative means, for example by telephone.

Definitions

The privacy notice of Speednetwork GmbH is based on the terminology used by the European legislator when adopting the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Our privacy notice is intended to be easy to read and understand for the public as well as for our customers and business partners. To ensure this, we would first like to explain the terminology used. In this privacy notice, we use, among others, the following terms:

• personal data
• data subject
• processing
• restriction of processing
• profiling
• pseudonymisation
• controller or controller responsible for the processing
• processor
• recipient
• third party
• consent

Personal data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter referred to as the “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.

A data subject is any identified or identifiable natural person whose personal data is processed by the controller responsible for the processing.

Processing means any operation or set of operations performed on personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction.

Restriction of processing means the marking of stored personal data with the aim of limiting its processing in the future.

Profiling means any form of automated processing of personal data consisting of the use of such personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyse or predict aspects concerning that natural person’s performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behaviour, location or movements.

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

A controller or controller responsible for the processing is the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of processing personal data. Where the purposes and means of such processing are determined by Union law or Member State law, the controller or the specific criteria for its nomination may be provided for by Union law or Member State law.

A processor is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body that processes personal data on behalf of the controller.

A recipient is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body to which personal data is disclosed, whether or not it is a third party. However, public authorities that may receive personal data in the framework of a particular inquiry in accordance with Union law or Member State law shall not be regarded as recipients.

A third party is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body other than the data subject, controller, processor and persons who, under the direct authority of the controller or processor, are authorised to process personal data.

Consent is any freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of the data subject’s wishes, in the form of a statement or other clear affirmative action, by which the data subject signifies agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her.

Name and Address of the Controller Responsible for Processing

The controller within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation, other data protection laws applicable in the Member States of the European Union, and other provisions of a data protection nature is:

Speednetwork GmbH
Karlstr. 15
41199 Mönchengladbach | Germany
Email: info@speednetwork.de
Website: www.speednetwork.de

Cookies

The websites of Speednetwork GmbH use cookies. Cookies are text files that are placed and stored on a computer system via an Internet browser. Numerous websites and servers use cookies. Many cookies contain a so-called cookie ID. A cookie ID is a unique identifier for the cookie. It consists of a character string through which websites and servers can be assigned to the specific Internet browser in which the cookie was stored. This enables the websites and servers visited to distinguish the data subject’s individual browser from other Internet browsers that contain other cookies. A specific Internet browser can be recognised and identified by the unique cookie ID. Through the use of cookies, Speednetwork GmbH can provide users of this website with more user-friendly services that would not be possible without setting cookies. By means of a cookie, the information and offers on our website can be optimised in the user’s interests. As already mentioned, cookies enable us to recognise users of our website. The purpose of this recognition is to make it easier for users to use our website. For example, the user of a website that uses cookies does not have to re-enter access data each time the website is visited, because this is handled by the website and the cookie stored on the user’s computer system. Another example is the cookie used for a shopping cart in an online shop. The online shop remembers the items that a customer has placed in the virtual shopping cart by means of a cookie. The data subject may prevent cookies from being set by our website at any time by making a corresponding setting in the Internet browser used and may thus permanently object to the setting of cookies. Furthermore, cookies that have already been set may be deleted at any time via an Internet browser or other software programs. This is possible in all common Internet browsers. If the data subject disables the setting of cookies in the Internet browser used, not all functions of our website may be fully usable.

Collection of General Data and Information

The website of Speednetwork GmbH collects a series of general data and information each time the website is accessed by a data subject or an automated system. This general data and information is stored in the server log files. The following may be collected: (1) the browser types and versions used, (2) the operating system used by the accessing system, (3) the website from which an accessing system reaches our website (so-called referrers), (4) the subpages accessed on our website by an accessing system, (5) the date and time of access to the website, (6) an Internet Protocol address (IP address), (7) the Internet service provider of the accessing system, and (8) other similar data and information used for averting danger in the event of attacks on our information technology systems. When using this general data and information, Speednetwork GmbH does not draw any conclusions about the data subject. Rather, this information is required in order to (1) deliver the content of our website correctly, (2) optimise the content of our website and its advertising, (3) ensure the long-term functionality of our information technology systems and the technology of our website, and (4) provide law-enforcement authorities with the information necessary for prosecution in the event of a cyberattack. This anonymously collected data and information is therefore statistically evaluated by Speednetwork GmbH and also evaluated with the aim of increasing data protection and data security in our company, ultimately to ensure an optimal level of protection for the personal data we process. The anonymous data in the server log files is stored separately from all personal data provided by a data subject.

Subscription to Our Newsletter

On the website of Speednetwork GmbH, users are given the opportunity to subscribe to our company newsletter. The input form used for this purpose indicates which personal data is transmitted to the controller when the newsletter is ordered. Speednetwork GmbH informs its customers and business partners about company offers at regular intervals by means of a newsletter. The data subject can generally receive our company newsletter only if (1) the data subject has a valid email address and (2) the data subject registers for newsletter delivery. For legal reasons, a confirmation email using the double opt-in procedure is sent to the email address first entered by a data subject for newsletter delivery. This confirmation email serves to verify whether the owner of the email address, as the data subject, has authorised receipt of the newsletter. When registering for the newsletter, we also store the IP address assigned by the Internet service provider (ISP) to the computer system used by the data subject at the time of registration, as well as the date and time of registration. Collection of this data is necessary in order to trace the (possible) misuse of a data subject’s email address at a later date and therefore serves to provide legal protection for the controller. The personal data collected as part of newsletter registration is used exclusively to send our newsletter. Furthermore, newsletter subscribers could be informed by email if this is necessary for operation of the newsletter service or a related registration, as could be the case if the newsletter offering changes or the technical circumstances change. Personal data collected as part of the newsletter service is not passed on to third parties. The data subject may terminate the subscription to our newsletter at any time. Consent to the storage of personal data that the data subject has given us for newsletter delivery may be revoked at any time. A corresponding link can be found in every newsletter for the purpose of revoking consent. It is also possible to unsubscribe from newsletter delivery at any time directly on the controller’s website or to notify the controller of this in another way.

Newsletter Tracking

The newsletters of Speednetwork GmbH contain so-called tracking pixels. A tracking pixel is a miniature graphic embedded in emails sent in HTML format in order to enable log-file recording and log-file analysis. This permits statistical analysis of the success or failure of online marketing campaigns. By means of the embedded tracking pixel, Speednetwork GmbH can identify whether and when an email was opened by a data subject and which links in the email were accessed by the data subject. Personal data collected through the tracking pixels contained in the newsletters is stored and evaluated by the controller in order to optimise newsletter delivery and to adapt the content of future newsletters even better to the interests of the data subject. This personal data is not passed on to third parties. Data subjects are entitled at any time to revoke the separate declaration of consent issued in this regard through the double opt-in procedure. Following revocation, this personal data will be deleted by the controller. Speednetwork GmbH automatically regards unsubscribing from receipt of the newsletter as revocation.

Contact Option via the Website

Due to statutory provisions, the website of Speednetwork GmbH contains information that enables rapid electronic contact with our company as well as direct communication with us, which also includes a general address for so-called electronic mail (email address). If a data subject contacts the controller by email or through a contact form, the personal data transmitted by the data subject is stored automatically. Such personal data transmitted voluntarily by a data subject to the controller is stored for the purposes of processing or contacting the data subject. This personal data is not passed on to third parties.

Comment Function in the Blog on the Website

Speednetwork GmbH offers users the opportunity to leave individual comments on individual blog posts in a blog located on the controller’s website. A blog is a portal maintained on a website, generally publicly accessible, in which one or more persons called bloggers or web bloggers can post articles or write down thoughts in so-called blog posts. Blog posts can generally be commented on by third parties. If a data subject leaves a comment in the blog published on this website, in addition to the comments left by the data subject, information about the time the comment was entered and the username (pseudonym) chosen by the data subject is also stored and published. Furthermore, the IP address assigned to the data subject by the Internet service provider (ISP) is logged. The IP address is stored for security reasons and in the event that the data subject infringes the rights of third parties or posts unlawful content through a submitted comment. This personal data is therefore stored in the controller’s own interest, so that the controller could, where applicable, exonerate itself in the event of an infringement. This collected personal data is not passed on to third parties unless such disclosure is required by law or serves the controller’s legal defence.

Subscription to Comments in the Blog on the Website

Comments submitted in the Speednetwork GmbH blog may generally be subscribed to by third parties. In particular, a commenter may subscribe to comments that follow his or her comment on a specific blog post. If a data subject selects the option to subscribe to comments, the controller sends an automatic confirmation email in order to verify, using the double opt-in procedure, whether the owner of the email address provided actually selected this option. The option to subscribe to comments may be terminated at any time.

Routine Erasure and Blocking of Personal Data

The controller processes and stores the data subject’s personal data only for the period necessary to achieve the purpose of storage, or where this is provided for by the European legislator or another legislator in laws or regulations to which the controller is subject. If the purpose of storage ceases to apply or if a retention period prescribed by the European legislator or another competent legislator expires, the personal data is routinely blocked or erased in accordance with the statutory provisions.

Rights of the Data Subject

a) Right to Confirmation

Every data subject has the right granted by the European legislator to obtain confirmation from the controller as to whether personal data concerning him or her is being processed. If a data subject wishes to exercise this right to confirmation, he or she may contact our data protection officer or another employee of the controller at any time.

b) Right of Access

Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller, at any time and free of charge, information about the personal data stored concerning him or her and a copy of that information. Furthermore, the European legislator has granted the data subject access to the following information:

• the purposes of the processing
• the categories of personal data concerned
• the recipients or categories of recipients to whom the personal data has been or will be disclosed, in particular recipients in third countries or international organisations
• where possible, the envisaged period for which the personal data will be stored, or, if this is not possible, the criteria used to determine that period
• the existence of a right to request from the controller rectification or erasure of personal data concerning the data subject, or restriction of processing, or a right to object to such processing
• the existence of a right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority
• where the personal data is not collected from the data subject: all available information as to its source
• the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, referred to in Article 22(1) and (4) GDPR and—at least in those cases—meaningful information about the logic involved, as well as the significance and envisaged consequences of such processing for the data subject

Furthermore, the data subject has a right to obtain information as to whether personal data has been transferred to a third country or an international organisation. Where this is the case, the data subject also has the right to be informed of the appropriate safeguards relating to the transfer. If a data subject wishes to exercise this right of access, he or she may contact our data protection officer or another employee of the controller at any time.

c) Right to Rectification

Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator to obtain without undue delay the rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning him or her. Furthermore, taking into account the purposes of the processing, the data subject has the right to have incomplete personal data completed, including by means of providing a supplementary statement. If a data subject wishes to exercise this right to rectification, he or she may contact our data protection officer or another employee of the controller at any time.

d) Right to Erasure (Right to Be Forgotten)

Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller the erasure of personal data concerning him or her without undue delay where one of the following grounds applies and insofar as the processing is not necessary:

• The personal data was collected or otherwise processed for purposes for which it is no longer necessary.
• The data subject withdraws the consent on which the processing was based according to Article 6(1)(a) GDPR or Article 9(2)(a) GDPR, and there is no other legal ground for the processing.
• The data subject objects to the processing pursuant to Article 21(1) GDPR and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the processing, or the data subject objects to the processing pursuant to Article 21(2) GDPR.
• The personal data has been unlawfully processed.
• The personal data must be erased for compliance with a legal obligation under Union law or the law of a Member State to which the controller is subject.
• The personal data was collected in relation to the offer of information society services referred to in Article 8(1) GDPR.
• e)    Right to Restriction of Processing

Where one of the aforementioned grounds applies and a data subject wishes to arrange for the erasure of personal data stored by Speednetwork GmbH, he or she may contact our data protection officer or another employee of the controller at any time. The data protection officer of Speednetwork GmbH or another employee will arrange for the erasure request to be complied with without undue delay. Where the personal data has been made public by Speednetwork GmbH and our company, as controller, is obliged pursuant to Article 17(1) GDPR to erase the personal data, Speednetwork GmbH, taking account of available technology and the cost of implementation, shall take reasonable steps, including technical measures, to inform other controllers processing the published personal data that the data subject has requested the erasure by such other controllers of all links to, or copies or replications of, that personal data, insofar as processing is not required. The data protection officer of Speednetwork GmbH or another employee will arrange the necessary measures in the individual case.

e) Right to Restriction of Processing

Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator to obtain restriction of processing from the controller where one of the following conditions applies:

• The accuracy of the personal data is contested by the data subject, for a period enabling the controller to verify the accuracy of the personal data.
• The processing is unlawful and the data subject opposes the erasure of the personal data and requests restriction of its use instead.
• The controller no longer needs the personal data for the purposes of processing, but the data subject requires it for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.
• The data subject has objected to processing pursuant to Article 21(1) GDPR, pending verification as to whether the legitimate grounds of the controller override those of the data subject.

Where one of the aforementioned conditions is met and a data subject wishes to request the restriction of personal data stored by Speednetwork GmbH, he or she may contact our data protection officer or another employee of the controller at any time. The data protection officer of Speednetwork GmbH or another employee will arrange the restriction of processing.

f) Right to Data Portability

Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator to receive the personal data concerning him or her, which was provided by the data subject to a controller, in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format. He or she also has the right to transmit that data to another controller without hindrance from the controller to which the personal data was provided, where the processing is based on consent pursuant to Article 6(1)(a) GDPR or Article 9(2)(a) GDPR, or on a contract pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) GDPR, and the processing is carried out by automated means, provided that the processing is not necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller. Furthermore, in exercising his or her right to data portability pursuant to Article 20(1) GDPR, the data subject has the right to have the personal data transmitted directly from one controller to another, where technically feasible and provided that doing so does not adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others. To assert the right to data portability, the data subject may contact the data protection officer appointed by Speednetwork GmbH or another employee at any time.

g) Right to Object

Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator to object at any time, on grounds relating to his or her particular situation, to processing of personal data concerning him or her based on Article 6(1)(e) or (f) GDPR. This also applies to profiling based on these provisions. In the event of an objection, Speednetwork GmbH shall no longer process the personal data unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing that override the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject, or the processing serves the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims. Where Speednetwork GmbH processes personal data for direct marketing purposes, the data subject has the right to object at any time to processing of personal data for such marketing. This also applies to profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing. If the data subject objects to Speednetwork GmbH processing for direct marketing purposes, Speednetwork GmbH will no longer process the personal data for these purposes. In addition, the data subject has the right, on grounds relating to his or her particular situation, to object to processing of personal data concerning him or her by Speednetwork GmbH for scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes pursuant to Article 89(1) GDPR, unless such processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for reasons of public interest. To exercise the right to object, the data subject may contact the data protection officer of Speednetwork GmbH or another employee directly. Furthermore, in the context of the use of information society services and notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC, the data subject is free to exercise his or her right to object by automated means using technical specifications.

h) Automated Individual Decision-Making, Including Profiling

Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing—including profiling—which produces legal effects concerning him or her or similarly significantly affects him or her, provided that the decision (1) is not necessary for entering into or performance of a contract between the data subject and the controller, or (2) is authorised by Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject and that law lays down suitable measures to safeguard the data subject’s rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, or (3) is based on the data subject’s explicit consent. If the decision (1) is necessary for entering into or performance of a contract between the data subject and the controller, or (2) is based on the data subject’s explicit consent, Speednetwork GmbH shall implement suitable measures to safeguard the data subject’s rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, including at least the right to obtain human intervention on the part of the controller, to express his or her point of view and to contest the decision. If the data subject wishes to exercise rights relating to automated decisions, he or she may contact our data protection officer or another employee of the controller at any time.

i) Right to Withdraw Consent under Data Protection Law

Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator to withdraw consent to the processing of personal data at any time. If the data subject wishes to exercise the right to withdraw consent, he or she may contact our data protection officer or another employee of the controller at any time.

Data Protection for Applications and in the Application Process

The controller collects and processes applicants’ personal data for the purpose of handling the application process. Processing may also take place electronically. This is particularly the case where an applicant submits relevant application documents to the controller electronically, for example by email or through a web form located on the website. If the controller concludes an employment contract with an applicant, the data submitted will be stored for the purpose of handling the employment relationship in compliance with the statutory provisions. If the controller does not conclude an employment contract with the applicant, the application documents will be automatically erased two months after notification of the rejection decision, provided that no other legitimate interests of the controller oppose erasure. Another legitimate interest in this sense is, for example, an obligation to provide evidence in proceedings under the German General Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz—AGG).

Data Protection Provisions concerning the Use of Facebook

The controller has integrated components of the company Facebook into this website. Facebook is a social network. A social network is a social meeting place operated on the Internet, an online community that generally enables users to communicate with one another and interact in virtual space. A social network can serve as a platform for exchanging opinions and experiences or enable the Internet community to provide personal or company-related information. Facebook enables users of the social network, among other things, to create private profiles, upload photos and connect through friend requests. The operating company of Facebook is Facebook, Inc., 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. If a data subject lives outside the USA or Canada, the controller responsible for processing personal data is Facebook Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland. Each time one of the individual pages of this website, which is operated by the controller and into which a Facebook component (Facebook plug-in) has been integrated, is accessed, the Internet browser on the data subject’s information technology system is automatically prompted by the respective Facebook component to download a representation of the corresponding Facebook component from Facebook. A complete overview of all Facebook plug-ins can be accessed at https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/?locale=de_DE. As part of this technical process, Facebook learns which specific subpage of our website is visited by the data subject. If the data subject is logged in to Facebook at the same time, Facebook recognises, each time the data subject accesses our website and throughout the respective stay on our website, which specific subpage of our website the data subject visits. This information is collected by the Facebook component and assigned by Facebook to the data subject’s respective Facebook account. If the data subject activates one of the Facebook buttons integrated into our website, for example the “Like” button, or submits a comment, Facebook assigns this information to the data subject’s personal Facebook user account and stores this personal data. Facebook always receives information via the Facebook component that the data subject has visited our website whenever the data subject is logged in to Facebook at the time our website is accessed; this occurs regardless of whether or not the data subject clicks the Facebook component. If the data subject does not want such information to be transmitted to Facebook, he or she can prevent the transmission by logging out of his or her Facebook account before accessing our website. Facebook’s published data policy, available at https://de-de.facebook.com/about/privacy/, provides information about Facebook’s collection, processing and use of personal data. It also explains the settings Facebook offers to protect the data subject’s privacy. In addition, various applications are available that make it possible to suppress the transmission of data to Facebook. Such applications can be used by the data subject to suppress transmission of data to Facebook.

Data Protection Provisions concerning the Use of Google Analytics (with Anonymisation Function)

The controller has integrated the Google Analytics component (with anonymisation function) into this website. Google Analytics is a web analytics service. Web analytics is the collection, gathering and evaluation of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. Among other things, a web analytics service collects data about the website from which a data subject came to a website (so-called referrer), which subpages of the website were accessed, or how often and for how long a subpage was viewed. Web analytics is mainly used to optimise a website and to perform a cost-benefit analysis of Internet advertising. The operating company of the Google Analytics component is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, USA. For web analytics through Google Analytics, the controller uses the addition “_gat._anonymizeIp”. By means of this addition, Google truncates and anonymises the IP address of the data subject’s Internet connection if our websites are accessed from a Member State of the European Union or from another state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area. The purpose of the Google Analytics component is to analyse visitor flows on our website. Google uses the data and information obtained, among other things, to evaluate use of our website, to compile online reports for us showing activities on our websites, and to provide other services connected with use of our website. Google Analytics places a cookie on the data subject’s information technology system. Cookies have already been explained above. By setting the cookie, Google is enabled to analyse use of our website. Each time one of the individual pages of this website, which is operated by the controller and into which a Google Analytics component has been integrated, is accessed, the Internet browser on the data subject’s information technology system is automatically prompted by the respective Google Analytics component to transmit data to Google for online analysis. As part of this technical process, Google gains knowledge of personal data, such as the data subject’s IP address, which Google uses, among other things, to trace the origin of visitors and clicks and subsequently to enable commission settlements. The cookie stores personal information, such as the access time, the place from which access originated, and the frequency of visits to our website by the data subject. On each visit to our websites, this personal data, including the IP address of the Internet connection used by the data subject, is transmitted to Google in the United States of America. This personal data is stored by Google in the United States of America. Google may pass this personal data collected through the technical process on to third parties. As described above, the data subject may prevent cookies from being set by our website at any time by making a corresponding setting in the Internet browser used and may thus permanently object to the setting of cookies. Such a setting in the Internet browser used would also prevent Google from placing a cookie on the data subject’s information technology system. In addition, a cookie already set by Google Analytics may be deleted at any time via the Internet browser or other software programs. Furthermore, the data subject has the option of objecting to and preventing the collection of data generated by Google Analytics relating to use of this website and the processing of this data by Google. To do so, the data subject must download and install a browser add-on from https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. Through JavaScript, this browser add-on informs Google Analytics that no data or information about visits to websites may be transmitted to Google Analytics. Installation of the browser add-on is regarded by Google as an objection. If the data subject’s information technology system is subsequently deleted, formatted or reinstalled, the data subject must reinstall the browser add-on in order to disable Google Analytics. If the browser add-on is uninstalled or disabled by the data subject or by another person attributable to his or her sphere of control, the browser add-on may be reinstalled or reactivated. Further information and Google’s applicable data protection provisions can be accessed at https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/ and at http://www.google.com/analytics/terms/de.html. Google Analytics is explained in more detail at https://www.google.com/intl/de_de/analytics/.

Data Protection Provisions concerning the Use of Google Remarketing

The controller has integrated Google Remarketing services into this website. Google Remarketing is a Google AdWords function that enables a company to display advertising to Internet users who have previously visited the company’s website. The integration of Google Remarketing therefore allows a company to create user-related advertising and consequently to display advertisements relevant to the Internet user’s interests. The operating company of the Google Remarketing services is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, USA. The purpose of Google Remarketing is to display interest-relevant advertising. Google Remarketing enables us to display advertisements through the Google advertising network, or to have them displayed on other websites, that are tailored to the individual needs and interests of Internet users. Google Remarketing places a cookie on the data subject’s information technology system. Cookies have already been explained above. By setting the cookie, Google is enabled to recognise the visitor to our website if the visitor subsequently accesses websites that are also members of the Google advertising network. Each time a website into which the Google Remarketing service has been integrated is accessed, the data subject’s Internet browser automatically identifies itself to Google. As part of this technical process, Google gains knowledge of personal data such as the IP address or the user’s browsing behaviour, which Google uses, among other things, to display interest-relevant advertising. The cookie stores personal information, such as the websites visited by the data subject. Accordingly, each time our websites are visited, personal data, including the IP address of the Internet connection used by the data subject, is transmitted to Google in the United States of America. This personal data is stored by Google in the United States of America. Google may pass this personal data collected through the technical process on to third parties. As described above, the data subject may prevent cookies from being set by our website at any time by making a corresponding setting in the Internet browser used and may thus permanently object to the setting of cookies. Such a setting in the Internet browser used would also prevent Google from placing a cookie on the data subject’s information technology system. In addition, a cookie already set by Google Analytics may be deleted at any time via the Internet browser or other software programs. Furthermore, the data subject has the option of objecting to interest-based advertising by Google. To do so, the data subject must access www.google.de/settings/ads from each Internet browser he or she uses and make the desired settings there. Further information and Google’s applicable data protection provisions can be accessed at https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/.

Data Protection Provisions concerning the Use of Google+

The controller has integrated the Google+ button as a component into this website. Google+ is a so-called social network. A social network is a social meeting place operated on the Internet, an online community that generally enables users to communicate with one another and interact in virtual space. A social network can serve as a platform for exchanging opinions and experiences or enable the Internet community to provide personal or company-related information. Google+ enables users of the social network, among other things, to create private profiles, upload photos and connect through friend requests. The operating company of Google+ is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, USA. Each time one of the individual pages of this website, which is operated by the controller and into which a Google+ button has been integrated, is accessed, the Internet browser on the data subject’s information technology system is automatically prompted by the respective Google+ button to download a representation of the corresponding Google+ button from Google. As part of this technical process, Google learns which specific subpage of our website is visited by the data subject. More detailed information about Google+ is available at https://developers.google.com/+/. If the data subject is logged in to Google+ at the same time, Google recognises, each time the data subject accesses our website and throughout the respective stay on our website, which specific subpage of our website the data subject visits. This information is collected by the Google+ button and assigned by Google to the data subject’s respective Google+ account. If the data subject activates one of the Google+ buttons integrated into our website and thereby makes a Google+1 recommendation, Google assigns this information to the data subject’s personal Google+ user account and stores this personal data. Google stores the data subject’s Google+1 recommendation and makes it publicly accessible in accordance with the terms accepted by the data subject in this regard. A Google+1 recommendation made by the data subject on this website is subsequently stored and processed together with other personal data, such as the name of the Google+1 account used by the data subject and the photo stored in it, in other Google services, for example in the search engine results of the Google search engine, the data subject’s Google account, or in other places, for example on websites or in connection with advertisements. Google is also able to link the visit to this website with other personal data stored by Google. Google also records this personal information for the purpose of improving or optimising Google’s various services. Google always receives information via the Google+ button that the data subject has visited our website whenever the data subject is logged in to Google+ at the time our website is accessed; this occurs regardless of whether or not the data subject clicks the Google+ button. If the data subject does not want personal data to be transmitted to Google, he or she can prevent such transmission by logging out of his or her Google+ account before accessing our website. Further information and Google’s applicable data protection provisions can be accessed at https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/. Further information from Google concerning the Google+1 button can be accessed at https://developers.google.com/+/web/buttons-policy.

Data Protection Provisions concerning the Use of Google AdWords

The controller has integrated Google AdWords into this website. Google AdWords is an Internet advertising service that allows advertisers to place advertisements both in Google’s search engine results and in the Google advertising network. Google AdWords enables an advertiser to define certain keywords in advance by means of which an advertisement is displayed in Google’s search engine results only when the user uses the search engine to retrieve a search result relevant to the keyword. In the Google advertising network, advertisements are distributed to thematically relevant websites by means of an automatic algorithm and with due regard to the previously defined keywords. The operating company of the Google AdWords services is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, USA. The purpose of Google AdWords is to promote our website by displaying interest-relevant advertising on the websites of third-party companies and in the search engine results of the Google search engine, and by displaying third-party advertising on our website. If a data subject reaches our website via a Google advertisement, Google places a so-called conversion cookie on the data subject’s information technology system. Cookies have already been explained above. A conversion cookie expires after thirty days and is not used to identify the data subject. Provided the cookie has not yet expired, the conversion cookie is used to track whether certain subpages, for example the shopping cart of an online-shop system, were accessed on our website. The conversion cookie enables both us and Google to determine whether a data subject who reached our website via an AdWords advertisement generated revenue, i.e. completed or abandoned a purchase of goods. The data and information collected through use of the conversion cookie is used by Google to compile visitor statistics for our website. We in turn use these visitor statistics to determine the total number of users referred to us through AdWords advertisements, i.e. to determine the success or failure of the respective AdWords advertisement and to optimise our AdWords advertisements for the future. Neither our company nor other Google AdWords advertising customers receive information from Google that could be used to identify the data subject. The conversion cookie stores personal information, such as the websites visited by the data subject. Accordingly, each time our websites are visited, personal data, including the IP address of the Internet connection used by the data subject, is transmitted to Google in the United States of America. This personal data is stored by Google in the United States of America. Google may pass this personal data collected through the technical process on to third parties. As described above, the data subject may prevent cookies from being set by our website at any time by making a corresponding setting in the Internet browser used and may thus permanently object to the setting of cookies. Such a setting in the Internet browser used would also prevent Google from placing a conversion cookie on the data subject’s information technology system. In addition, a cookie already set by Google AdWords may be deleted at any time via the Internet browser or other software programs. Furthermore, the data subject has the option of objecting to interest-based advertising by Google. To do so, the data subject must access www.google.de/settings/ads from each Internet browser he or she uses and make the desired settings there. Further information and Google’s applicable data protection provisions can be accessed at https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/.

Data Protection Provisions concerning the Use of LinkedIn

The controller has integrated components of LinkedIn Corporation into this website. LinkedIn is an Internet-based social network that enables users to connect with existing business contacts and establish new business contacts. More than 400 million registered persons use LinkedIn in more than 200 countries. LinkedIn is therefore currently the largest platform for business contacts and one of the most visited websites in the world. The operating company of LinkedIn is LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. LinkedIn Ireland, Privacy Policy Issues, Wilton Plaza, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland, is responsible for data protection matters outside the USA. Each time our website, which is equipped with a LinkedIn component (LinkedIn plug-in), is accessed, this component prompts the browser used by the data subject to download a corresponding representation of the LinkedIn component. Further information about the LinkedIn plug-ins can be accessed at https://developer.linkedin.com/plugins. As part of this technical process, LinkedIn learns which specific subpage of our website is visited by the data subject. If the data subject is logged in to LinkedIn at the same time, LinkedIn recognises, each time the data subject accesses our website and throughout the respective stay on our website, which specific subpage of our website the data subject visits. This information is collected by the LinkedIn component and assigned by LinkedIn to the data subject’s respective LinkedIn account. If the data subject activates a LinkedIn button integrated into our website, LinkedIn assigns this information to the data subject’s personal LinkedIn user account and stores this personal data. LinkedIn always receives information via the LinkedIn component that the data subject has visited our website whenever the data subject is logged in to LinkedIn at the time our website is accessed; this occurs regardless of whether or not the data subject clicks the LinkedIn component. If the data subject does not want such information to be transmitted to LinkedIn, he or she can prevent the transmission by logging out of his or her LinkedIn account before accessing our website. At https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls, LinkedIn provides the option to unsubscribe from email messages, SMS messages and targeted advertisements, as well as to manage advertising settings. LinkedIn also uses partners such as Quantcast, Google Analytics, BlueKai, DoubleClick, Nielsen, Comscore, Eloqua and Lotame, which may set cookies. Such cookies can be rejected at https://www.linkedin.com/legal/cookie-policy. LinkedIn’s applicable data protection provisions can be accessed at https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy. LinkedIn’s cookie policy can be accessed at https://www.linkedin.com/legal/cookie-policy.

Data Protection Provisions concerning the Use of Xing

The controller has integrated components of Xing into this website. Xing is an Internet-based social network that enables users to connect with existing business contacts and establish new business contacts. Individual users can create a personal profile on Xing. Companies can, for example, create company profiles or publish job vacancies on Xing. The operating company of Xing is XING SE, Dammtorstraße 30, 20354 Hamburg, Germany. Each time one of the individual pages of this website, which is operated by the controller and into which a Xing component (Xing plug-in) has been integrated, is accessed, the Internet browser on the data subject’s information technology system is automatically prompted by the respective Xing component to download a representation of the corresponding Xing component from Xing. Further information about the Xing plug-ins can be accessed at https://dev.xing.com/plugins. As part of this technical process, Xing learns which specific subpage of our website is visited by the data subject. If the data subject is logged in to Xing at the same time, Xing recognises, each time the data subject accesses our website and throughout the respective stay on our website, which specific subpage of our website the data subject visits. This information is collected by the Xing component and assigned by Xing to the data subject’s respective Xing account. If the data subject activates one of the Xing buttons integrated into our website, for example the “Share” button, Xing assigns this information to the data subject’s personal Xing user account and stores this personal data. Xing always receives information via the Xing component that the data subject has visited our website whenever the data subject is logged in to Xing at the time our website is accessed; this occurs regardless of whether or not the data subject clicks the Xing component. If the data subject does not want such information to be transmitted to Xing, he or she can prevent the transmission by logging out of his or her Xing account before accessing our website. The data protection provisions published by Xing, which can be accessed at https://www.xing.com/privacy, provide information about Xing’s collection, processing and use of personal data. Furthermore, Xing has published data protection information for the XING Share button at https://www.xing.com/app/share?op=data_protection.

Data Protection Provisions concerning the Use of YouTube

The controller has integrated components of YouTube into this website. YouTube is an Internet video portal that enables video publishers to post video clips free of charge and other users likewise to view, rate and comment on them free of charge. YouTube permits the publication of all types of videos, which is why complete films and television programmes, as well as music videos, trailers or videos made by users themselves, can be accessed via the Internet portal. The operating company of YouTube is YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA. YouTube, LLC is a subsidiary of Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, USA. Each time one of the individual pages of this website, which is operated by the controller and into which a YouTube component (YouTube video) has been integrated, is accessed, the Internet browser on the data subject’s information technology system is automatically prompted by the respective YouTube component to download a representation of the corresponding YouTube component from YouTube. Further information about YouTube can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/yt/about/de/. As part of this technical process, YouTube and Google learn which specific subpage of our website is visited by the data subject. If the data subject is logged in to YouTube at the same time, when a subpage containing a YouTube video is accessed, YouTube recognises which specific subpage of our website the data subject visits. This information is collected by YouTube and Google and assigned to the data subject’s respective YouTube account. YouTube and Google always receive information via the YouTube component that the data subject has visited our website whenever the data subject is logged in to YouTube at the time our website is accessed; this occurs regardless of whether or not the data subject clicks a YouTube video. If the data subject does not want such information to be transmitted to YouTube and Google, he or she can prevent the transmission by logging out of his or her YouTube account before accessing our website. The data protection provisions published by YouTube, which can be accessed at https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/, provide information about the collection, processing and use of personal data by YouTube and Google.

Legal Basis for Processing

Article 6 I(a) GDPR serves as the legal basis for our company’s processing operations for which we obtain consent for a specific processing purpose. If the processing of personal data is necessary for performance of a contract to which the data subject is party, as is the case, for example, with processing operations necessary for delivery of goods or provision of another service or consideration, the processing is based on Article 6 I(b) GDPR. The same applies to processing operations necessary in order to take steps prior to entering into a contract, for example in cases of enquiries concerning our products or services. If our company is subject to a legal obligation that requires the processing of personal data, such as compliance with tax obligations, the processing is based on Article 6 I(c) GDPR. In rare cases, processing of personal data could become necessary in order to protect the vital interests of the data subject or of another natural person. This would be the case, for example, if a visitor were injured on our premises and his or her name, age, health insurance data or other vital information then had to be passed on to a doctor, hospital or other third parties. The processing would then be based on Article 6 I(d) GDPR. Finally, processing operations could be based on Article 6 I(f) GDPR. This legal basis applies to processing operations not covered by any of the aforementioned legal bases where processing is necessary for the purposes of a legitimate interest pursued by our company or by a third party, provided that the interests, fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject do not prevail. We are permitted to carry out such processing operations in particular because they were specifically mentioned by the European legislator. In this respect, the legislator took the view that a legitimate interest could be assumed where the data subject is a client of the controller (Recital 47, sentence 2 GDPR).

Legitimate Interests in Processing Pursued by the Controller or a Third Party

Where the processing of personal data is based on Article 6 I(f) GDPR, our legitimate interest is the conduct of our business activities for the benefit of the well-being of all our employees and our shareholders.

Period for Which the Personal Data Will Be Stored

The criterion used to determine the period for which personal data is stored is the respective statutory retention period. After expiry of that period, the corresponding data is routinely erased, provided it is no longer required for performance of or entry into a contract.

Statutory or Contractual Provisions concerning the Provision of Personal Data; Necessity for Entering into a Contract; Obligation of the Data Subject to Provide the Personal Data; Possible Consequences of Failure to Provide Such Data

We inform you that the provision of personal data is in part required by law (e.g. tax regulations) or may also result from contractual provisions (e.g. information concerning the contracting party). Sometimes, in order to enter into a contract, it may be necessary for a data subject to provide us with personal data that must subsequently be processed by us. For example, the data subject is obliged to provide us with personal data if our company enters into a contract with him or her. Failure to provide the personal data would mean that the contract with the data subject could not be concluded. Before the data subject provides personal data, the data subject must contact our data protection officer. Our data protection officer will inform the data subject, on a case-by-case basis, whether provision of the personal data is required by law or contract or is necessary for entering into the contract, whether there is an obligation to provide the personal data, and what consequences failure to provide the personal data would have.

Access Data / Server Log Files

The provider (or its web-space provider) collects data about every access to the offering (so-called server log files). The access data includes: name of the website accessed, file, date and time of access, volume of data transferred, notification of successful access, browser type and version, the user’s operating system, referrer URL (the page previously visited), IP address, and the requesting provider. The provider uses the log data only for statistical evaluations for the purpose of operating, securing and optimising the offering. However, the provider reserves the right to subsequently review the log data if there are specific indications giving rise to a justified suspicion of unlawful use.

Existence of Automated Decision-Making

As a responsible company, we do not use automated decision-making or profiling.