Privacy policy
Introduction and overview
We have prepared this privacy policy (version 24.09.2024-112874529) in order to explain to you, in accordance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and applicable national laws, which personal data (data for short) we as the controller – and the processors commissioned by us (e.g. providers) – process, will process in the future and what lawful options you have. The terms used are to be understood as gender-neutral.
In short, we provide you with comprehensive information about data we process about you.
Privacy statements usually sound very technical and use legal terminology. This privacy policy, on the other hand, is intended to describe the most important things to you as simply and transparently as possible. To the extent that it is conducive to transparency, technical terms are explained in a reader-friendly manner, links to further information are provided and graphics are used. We thus inform you in clear and simple language that we only process personal data in the course of our business activities if there is a corresponding legal basis. This is certainly not possible by making the most concise, unclear and legalistic statements possible, as is often standard practice on the Internet when it comes to data protection. I hope you find the following explanations interesting and informative and perhaps there is some information that you did not yet know.
If you still have any questions, please contact the responsible body named below or in the legal notice, follow the links provided and view further information on third-party websites. Of course, you will also find our contact details in the imprint.
Scope
This data protection declaration applies to all personal data processed by us in the company and to all personal data processed by companies commissioned by us (order processors). By personal data, we mean information within the meaning of Art. 4 No. 1 DSGVO, such as a person’s name, e-mail address and postal address. The processing of personal data ensures that we can offer and invoice our services and products, whether online or offline. The scope of this privacy policy includes:
- all online presences (websites, online stores) that we operate
- social media presences and e-mail communication
- mobile apps for smartphones and other devices
In short, the data privacy statement applies to all areas in which personal data is processed in a structured manner within the company via the aforementioned channels. If we enter into legal relations with you outside of these channels, we will inform you separately if necessary.
Legal basis
In the following privacy policy, we provide you with transparent information on the legal principles and regulations, i.e. the legal bases of the General Data Protection Regulation, which enable us to process personal data.
As far as EU law is concerned, we refer to REGULATION (EU) 2016/679 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of April 27, 2016. You can, of course, read this EU General Data Protection Regulation online at EUR-Lex, the gateway to EU law, at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32016R0679.
We only process your data if at least one of the following conditions applies:
- Consent (Article 6(1) lit. a DSGVO): You have given us your consent to process data for a specific purpose. An example would be the storage of your entered data of a contact form.
- contract (Article 6(1)(b) DSGVO): In order to fulfill a contract or pre-contractual obligations with you, we process your data. For example, if we enter into a purchase agreement with you, we require personal information in advance.
- Legal obligation (Article 6(1)(c) DSGVO): If we are subject to a legal obligation, we process your data. For example, we are required by law to keep invoices for accounting purposes. These usually contain personal data.
- Legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) DSGVO): In the case of legitimate interests that do not restrict your fundamental rights, we reserve the right to process personal data. For example, we need to process certain data in order to operate our website in a secure and economically efficient manner. This processing is therefore a legitimate interest.
Other conditions, such as the performance of recordings in the public interest and the exercise of public authority and the protection of vital interests, do not usually arise in our case. If such a legal basis should be relevant, it will be indicated at the appropriate place.
In addition to the EU regulation, national laws also apply:
- In Austria, this is the Federal Act on the Protection of Individuals with regard to the Processing of Personal Data(Data Protection Act), or DSG for short.
- In Germany, the Federal Data Protection Act, or BDSG for short, applies.
If other regional or national laws apply, we will inform you about them in the following sections.
Contact details of the responsible person
If you have any questions about data protection or the processing of personal data, you will find the contact details of the person or body responsible below:
Prof. Dr. Radek HART, PhD, FRCS, MHA
Lorystraße52
1110 Vienna, Austria
E-mail: radekhart23@gmail.com
Phone: +43 670 6533363
Imprint: https://ortho-hart.at/impressum
Storage duration
The fact that we only store personal data for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products applies as a general criterion at our company. This means that we delete personal data as soon as the reason for the data processing no longer exists. In some cases, we are required by law to store certain data even after the original purpose has ceased to exist, for example for accounting purposes.
Should you wish your data to be deleted or revoke your consent to data processing, the data will be deleted as soon as possible and insofar as there is no obligation to store it.
We will inform you about the specific duration of the respective data processing below, provided that we have further information on this.
Rights under the General Data Protection Regulation
In accordance with Articles 13, 14 of the GDPR, we inform you about the following rights you have to ensure that data processing is fair and transparent:
- According to Article 15 of the GDPR, you have a right to information about whether we process data about you. If this is the case, you have the right to obtain a copy of the data and to know the following information:
- the purpose for which we carry out the processing;
- the categories, i.e. the types of data that are processed;
- who receives this data and, if the data is transferred to third countries, how security can be guaranteed;
- how long the data will be stored;
- the existence of the right to rectification, erasure or restriction of processing and the right to object to processing;
- that you can complain to a supervisory authority (links to these authorities can be found below);
- the origin of the data if we have not collected it from you;
- whether profiling is carried out, i.e. whether data is automatically evaluated to arrive at a personal profile of you.
- You have a right to rectify data according to Article 16 of the GDPR, which means that we must correct data if you find errors.
- According to Article 17 of the GDPR, you have the right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”), which specifically means that you may request the deletion of your data.
- According to Article 18 of the GDPR, you have the right to restriction of processing, which means that we may only store the data but not use it any further.
- According to Article 20 DSGVO, you have the right to data portability, which means that we will provide you with your data in a common format upon request.
- According to Article 21 GDPR, you have the right to object, which will result in a change to the processing after enforcement.
- If the processing of your data is based on Article 6(1)(e) (public interest, exercise of official authority) or Article 6(1)(f) (legitimate interest), you can object to the processing. We will then check as quickly as possible whether we can legally comply with this objection.
- If data is used for direct marketing purposes, you can object to this type of data processing at any time. We may then no longer use your data for direct marketing.
- If data is used for profiling, you can object to this type of data processing at any time. We may then no longer use your data for profiling.
- According to Article 22 of the GDPR, you may have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing (for example, profiling).
- You have the right to complain according to Article 77 of the GDPR. This means that you can complain to the data protection authority at any time if you believe that the data processing of personal data violates the GDPR.
In short, you have rights – do not hesitate to contact the responsible party listed above with us!
If you believe that the processing of your data violates data protection law or your data protection rights have been violated in any other way, you can complain to the supervisory authority. For Austria, this is the data protection authority, whose website can be found at https://www.dsb.gv.at/. In Germany, there is a data protection officer for each federal state. For more information, you can contact the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI). The following local data protection authority is responsible for our company:
Austria data protection authority
Head: Dr. Matthias Schmidl
Address: Barichgasse 40-42, 1030 Vienna
Telephone no.: +43 1 52 152-0
E-mail address:
dsb@dsb.gv.at
Website:
https://www.dsb.gv.at/
Order processing agreement (AVV)
In this section, we would like to explain what a processing order is and why it is needed. Because the word “order processing agreement” is quite a mouthful, we will also use only the acronym AVV more often here in the text. Like most companies, we do not work alone, but also use services of other companies or individuals ourselves. Due to the involvement of various companies or service providers, it may be that we pass on personal data for processing. These partners then act as processors with whom we conclude a contract, the so-called order processing agreement (AVV). The most important thing for you to know is that the processing of your personal data is carried out exclusively according to our instructions and must be regulated by the GCU.
Who are processors?
As a company and website owner, we are responsible for all data we process from you. In addition to the responsible parties, there may also be so-called processors. This includes any company or person that processes personal data on our behalf. More precisely and according to the GDPR definition: any natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body that processes personal data on our behalf is considered a processor. Consequently, processors can be service providers such as hosting or cloud providers, payment or newsletter providers, or large companies such as Google or Microsoft, for example.
For a better understanding of the terminology, here is an overview of the three roles in the GDPR:
Data subject (you as customer or interested party) → Responsible party (we as company and client) → Processor (service provider such as web hoster or cloud provider)
Content of a contract for the processing of orders
As mentioned above, we have concluded an AVV with our partners who act as processors. This states first and foremost that the processor will process the data to be processed exclusively in accordance with the GDPR. The contract must be concluded in writing; however, in this context, the electronic conclusion of the contract is also deemed to be “in writing”. Only on the basis of the contract the processing of personal data takes place. The contract must include the following:
- Binding to us as the person responsible
- Duties and rights of the data controller
- Categories of data subjects
- Nature of the personal data
- Nature and purpose of the data processing
- Subject and duration of data processing
- Place of implementation of the data processing
Furthermore, the contract contains all obligations of the processor. The main duties are:
- to ensure data security measures
- take possible technical and organizational measures to protect the rights of the data subject
- keep a data processing register
- cooperate with the data protection supervisory authority upon its request
- carry out a risk analysis in relation to the personal data received.
- Sub-processors may only be engaged with the written consent of the data controller.
You can see what such an AVV looks like in concrete terms, for example, at https://www.wko.at/service/wirtschaftsrecht-gewerberecht/eu-dsgvo-mustervertrag-auftragsverarbeitung.html. A sample contract is presented here.
Cookies
| Cookies summary
👥 Data subject: Visitors to the website |
What are cookies?
Our website uses HTTP cookies to store user-specific data.
Below we explain what cookies are and why they are used so that you can better understand the following privacy policy.
Whenever you browse the Internet, you use a browser. Well-known browsers include Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge. Most websites store small text files in your browser. These files are called cookies.
One thing cannot be denied: Cookies are really useful little helpers. Almost all websites use cookies. More precisely, they are HTTP cookies, as there are other cookies for other applications. HTTP cookies are small files that are stored on your computer by our website. These cookie files are automatically placed in the cookie folder, effectively the “brain” of your browser. A cookie consists of a name and a value. When defining a cookie, one or more attributes must also be specified.
Cookies store certain user data about you, such as language or personal page settings. When you return to our site, your browser transmits the “user-related” information back to our site. Thanks to cookies, our website knows who you are and offers you the setting you are used to. In some browsers, each cookie has its own file; in others, such as Firefox, all cookies are stored in a single file.
The following graphic shows a possible interaction between a web browser such as Chrome and the web server. In this process, the web browser requests a website and receives a cookie back from the server, which the browser uses again as soon as another page is requested.
There are both first-party cookies and third-party cookies. First-party cookies are created directly by our site, third-party cookies are created by partner websites (e.g. Google Analytics). Each cookie must be evaluated individually, as each cookie stores different data. The expiration time of a cookie also varies from a few minutes to a few years. Cookies are not software programs and do not contain viruses, Trojans or other “pests”. Cookies also cannot access information from your PC.
Cookie data can look like this, for example:
Name: _ga
Value: GA1.2.1326744211.152112874529-9
Purpose: Differentiation of website visitors
Expiry date: after 2 years
A browser should be able to support these minimum sizes:
- At least 4096 bytes per cookie
- At least 50 cookies per domain
- At least 3000 cookies in total
What are the types of cookies?
The question of which cookies we use in particular depends on the services used and is clarified in the following sections of the privacy policy. At this point, we would like to briefly discuss the different types of HTTP cookies.
We can distinguish 4 types of cookies:
Essential cookies
These cookies are necessary to ensure basic functions of the website. For example, it needs these cookies when a user adds a product to the shopping cart, then continues surfing on other pages and only later goes to the checkout. These cookies do not delete the shopping cart even if the user closes his browser window.
Purposeful cookies
These cookies collect information about user behavior and whether the user receives any error messages. In addition, these cookies are also used to measure the loading time and the behavior of the website with different browsers.
Targeted cookies
These cookies ensure a better user experience. For example, entered locations, font sizes or form data are saved.
Advertising cookies
These cookies are also called targeting cookies. They are used to deliver customized advertising to the user. This can be very convenient, but also very annoying.
Usually, when you visit a website for the first time, you are asked which of these cookie types you want to allow. And of course, this decision is also stored in a cookie.
If you want to know more about cookies and are not afraid of technical documentation, we recommend https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc6265, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request for Comments called “HTTP State Management Mechanism”.
Purpose of processing via cookies
The purpose ultimately depends on the cookie in question. You can find more details about this below or from the manufacturer of the software that sets the cookie.
What data is processed?
Cookies are small helpers for many different tasks. Unfortunately, it is not possible to generalize which data is stored in cookies, but we will inform you about the processed or stored data in the following privacy policy.
Cookies storage duration
The storage period depends on the cookie in question and is specified below. Some cookies are deleted after less than an hour, others can remain stored on a computer for several years.
You also have influence on the storage duration yourself. You can manually delete all cookies at any time via your browser (see also “Right to object” below). Furthermore, cookies based on consent are deleted at the latest after revocation of your consent, whereby the legality of the storage remains unaffected until then.
Right to object – how can I delete cookies?
How and whether you want to use cookies, you decide. Regardless of which service or website the cookies come from, you always have the option to delete, disable or only partially allow cookies. For example, you can block third-party cookies, but allow all other cookies.
If you want to determine which cookies have been stored in your browser, if you want to change or delete cookie settings, you can find this in your browser settings:
Chrome: Delete, enable and manage cookies in Chrome
Safari: Managing cookies and website data with Safari
Firefox: Delete cookies to remove data that websites have placed on your computer
Internet Explorer: Delete and manage cookies
Microsoft Edge: Delete and manage cookies
If you generally do not want cookies, you can set up your browser so that it always informs you when a cookie is to be set. Thus, for each individual cookie, you can decide whether to allow the cookie or not. The procedure varies depending on the browser. The best way is to search for the instructions in Google using the search term “delete cookies Chrome” or “disable cookies Chrome” in case of a Chrome browser.
Legal basis
The so-called “Cookie Guidelines” have been in place since 2009. This states that the storage of cookies requires your consent (Article 6 (1) a DSGVO). Within the EU countries, however, there are still very different reactions to these directives. In Austria, however, this directive was implemented in Section 165 para.
3 of the Telecommunications Act (2021). In Germany, the Cookie Guidelines have not been implemented as national law. Instead, this directive was largely implemented in Section 15 para.
3 of the German Telemedia Act (TMG), which has been replaced by the Digital Services Act (DDG) since May 2024.
For absolutely necessary cookies, even in the absence of consent, there are legitimate interests (Article 6 (1) (f) DSGVO), which in most cases are of an economic nature. We want to provide visitors to the website with a pleasant user experience and for this purpose certain cookies are often absolutely necessary.
Insofar as cookies are used that are not absolutely necessary, this only occurs in the case of your consent. The legal basis in this respect is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR.
In the following sections you will be informed in more detail about the use of cookies, if used software uses cookies.
Web hosting introduction
| Web hosting summary
👥 Data subjects: visitors to the website |
What is web hosting?
Nowadays, when you visit websites, certain information – including personal data – is automatically created and stored, including on this website. This data should be processed as sparingly as possible and only with justification. By the way, by website we mean the entirety of all web pages on a domain, i.e. everything from the home page (homepage) to the very last subpage (like this one). By domain we mean, for example, example.de or sampleexample.com.
When you want to view a website on a computer, tablet, or smartphone, you use a program called a web browser to do so. You probably know a few web browsers by name: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari. We say browser or web browser for short.
To view the website, the browser must connect to another computer where the website’s code is stored: the web server. Operating a web server is a complicated and costly task, which is why it is usually handled by professional providers. These offer web hosting and thus ensure reliable and error-free storage of website data. A whole lot of technical terms, but please stay tuned, it gets better!
When the browser connects to your computer (desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone) and during data transfer to and from the web server, personal data may be processed. On the one hand, your computer stores data, on the other hand, the web server also needs to store data for a while to ensure proper operation.
A picture is worth a thousand words, so the following graphic illustrates the interaction between the browser, the Internet and the hosting provider.
Why do we process personal data?
The purposes of data processing are:
- Professional hosting of the website and securing its operation
- to maintain operational and IT security
- Anonymous evaluation of access behavior to improve our offer and, if necessary, to prosecute or pursue claims
What data is processed?
Even while you are visiting our website right now, our web server, which is the computer on which this website is stored, usually automatically stores data such as
- the complete Internet address (URL) of the accessed web page
- Browser and browser version (e.g. Chrome 87)
- the operating system used (e.g. Windows 10)
- the address (URL) of the previously visited page (referrer URL) (e. g. B. https://www. beispielquellsite.de/vondabinichgekommen/)
- the hostname and IP address of the device being accessed from (e.g. COMPUTERNAME and 194.23.43.121)
- Date and time
- in files, the so-called web server log files
How long is data stored?
As a rule, the above data is stored for two weeks and then automatically deleted. We do not pass on this data, but we cannot rule out the possibility that this data may be viewed by the authorities in the event of unlawful conduct.
In short, your visit is logged by our provider (company that runs our website on special computers (servers)), but we do not share your information without consent!
Legal basis
The lawfulness of the processing of personal data in the context of web hosting results from Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO (protection of legitimate interests), because the use of professional hosting with a provider is necessary to present the company on the Internet in a secure and user-friendly manner and to be able to pursue attacks and claims from this if necessary.
As a rule, there is a contract between us and the hosting provider for commissioned processing pursuant to Art. 28 f. DSGVO, which ensures compliance with data protection and guarantees data security.
Website Building Block Systems Introduction
| Website Building Block Systems Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Data subjects: Visitors to the website |
What are website building systems?
We use a website building system for our website. Modular systems are special forms of a content management system (CMS). With a modular system, website owners can create a website very easily and without programming skills. In many cases, web hosts also offer modular systems. By using a modular system, personal data of you may also be collected, stored and processed. In this data protection text, we provide you with general information about data processing by modular systems. You can find more information in the provider’s privacy policy.
Why do we use website building systems for our website?
The biggest advantage of a modular system is its ease of use. We want to provide you with a clear, simple and concise website that we can easily operate and maintain ourselves – without external support. A modular system now offers many helpful functions that we can use even without programming knowledge. This allows us to design our web presence according to our wishes and provide you with an informative and enjoyable time on our website.
What data is stored by a modular system?
Which data exactly is stored depends, of course, on the website builder system used. Each provider processes and collects different data from the website visitor. However, technical usage information such as operating system, browser, screen resolution, language and keyboard settings, hosting provider and the date of your website visit are usually collected. Furthermore, tracking data (e.g. browser activity, clickstream activity, session heatmaps, etc.) may also be processed. In addition, personal data can also be collected and stored. This is mostly contact information such as email address, phone number (if you have provided it), IP address and geographic location data. You can find out exactly what data is stored in the provider’s privacy policy.
How long and where is the data stored?
We will inform you about the duration of the data processing below in connection with the website construction system used, provided we have further information on this. You can find detailed information about this in the provider’s privacy policy. In general, we process personal data only as long as it is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products. It may be that the provider stores data from you according to its own specifications, over which we have no control.
Right of objection
You always have the right to information, correction and deletion of your personal data. If you have any questions, you can always contact the person in charge of the website building system used. Contact details can be found either in our privacy policy or on the website of the relevant provider.
You can delete, disable or manage cookies that providers use for their functions in your browser. Depending on which browser you use, this works in different ways. Please note, however, that not all functions may then work as usual.
Legal basis
We have a legitimate interest in using a website builder to optimize our online service and present it to you in an efficient and user-appealing manner. The corresponding legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO (Legitimate Interests). Nevertheless, we only use the construction kit if you have given your consent.
Unless the processing of data is absolutely necessary for the operation of the website, the data will only be processed on the basis of your consent. This applies in particular to tracking activities. The legal basis in this respect is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR.
With this privacy policy we have brought you closer to the most important general information about data processing. If you would like more detailed information in this regard, you will find further information – if available – in the following section or in the provider’s privacy policy.
Elementor privacy policy
We use the Elementor modular system for our website. The service provider is the Israeli company Elementor Ltd, Rehov Tuval 40, 5252247 Ramat Gan, Israel.
Your data may be transferred to Israel.
Israel is outside the scope of the GDPR.
However, the European Commission has decided on the basis of Art. 45 para.
1 GDPR that Israel offers a level of protection comparable to the standard of the GDPR.
You can view the decision here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32011D0061
You can find out more about the data that is processed through the use of Elementor in the privacy policy at https://elementor.com/about/privacy/.
WordPress.com Privacy Policy
| WordPress.com Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Data subjects: Visitors to the website |
What is WordPress?
We use the well-known content management system WordPress.com for our website. The service provider is the American company Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA.
In 2003 the company saw the light of day and in a relatively short time developed into one of the best-known content management systems (CMS) in the world. A CMS is software that helps us design our website and display content in a beautiful and organized way. The content may be text, audio and video.
By using WordPress, personal data may also be collected, stored and processed by you. As a rule, mainly technical data such as operating system, browser, screen resolution or hosting provider are stored. However, personal data such as IP address, geographical data or contact data may also be processed.
Why do we use WordPress on our website?
We have many strengths, but real programming is not one of our core competencies.
Nevertheless, we want to have a powerful and presentable website that we can also manage and maintain ourselves. With a website builder or content management system like WordPress, this is exactly what is possible. With WordPress, we don’t have to be programming aces to offer you a beautiful website. Thanks to WordPress, we can operate our website quickly and easily even without prior technical knowledge. In case of technical problems or if we have special wishes for our website, there are always our experts who feel at home in HTML, PHP, CSS and Co.
Thanks to the ease of use and comprehensive functions of WordPress, we can design our website according to our wishes and offer you a good user experience.
What data is processed by WordPress?
Non-personal data includes technical usage information such as browser activity, clickstream activity, session heatmaps and data about your computer, operating system, browser, screen resolution, language and keyboard settings, internet provider and date of the page visit.
Personal data is also collected.
These are primarily contact data (e-mail address or telephone number, if you provide these), IP address or your geographical location.
WordPress can also use cookies to collect data.
This often includes data about your behavior on our website.
For example, it can record which subpages you particularly like to view, how long you spend on individual pages, when you leave a page again (bounce rate) or which default settings (e.g. language selection) you have made.
Based on this data, WordPress can also better adapt its own marketing measures to your interests and user behavior.
The next time you visit our website, you will therefore be shown our website as you have previously set it.
WordPress may also use technologies such as pixel tags (web beacons), for example to clearly identify you as a user and possibly offer interest-based advertising.
How long and where is the data stored?
How long the data is stored depends on various factors.
So it mainly depends on the type of data stored and the specific settings of the website.
In principle, WordPress deletes the data when it is no longer needed for its own purposes.
There are of course exceptions, especially if legal obligations require the data to be stored for longer.
Web server logs containing your IP address and technical data are deleted by WordPress or Automattic after 30 days.
Automattic uses the data for this period to analyze the traffic on its own websites (e.g. all WordPress pages) and to resolve potential problems.
Deleted content on WordPress websites is also stored in the recycle bin for 30 days to enable recovery, after which it may remain in backups and caches until it is deleted.
The data is stored on Automattic’s American servers.
How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?
You have the right and opportunity to access your personal data at any time and to object to its use and processing.
You can also lodge a complaint with a state supervisory authority at any time.
In your browser, you also have the option of individually managing, deleting or deactivating cookies.
Please note, however, that deactivated or deleted cookies may have a negative impact on the functions of our WordPress site.
Depending on which browser you use, the management of cookies works slightly differently. Under the section “Cookies” you will find the corresponding links to the respective instructions of the most popular browsers.
Legal basis
If you have consented to the use of WordPress, the legal basis for the corresponding data processing is this consent. This consent constitutes, according to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent) is the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when it is collected by WordPress.
We also have a legitimate interest in using WordPress to optimize our online service and present it to you in an attractive manner. The corresponding legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO (Legitimate Interests). Nevertheless, we only use WordPress if you have given your consent.
WordPress or Automattic processes your data in the USA, among other places.
Automattic is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA.
You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.
In addition, Automattic uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to and stored in third countries (such as the USA). Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Automattic undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here, among other places: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de
You can find more details on the privacy policy and which data is processed by WordPress and how at https://automattic.com/privacy/.
Cookie Consent Management Platform Introduction
| Cookie Consent Management Platform Summary
👥 Data subjects: Website visitors |
What is a Cookie Consent Management Platform?
We use Consent Management Platform (CMP) software on our website, which makes it easier for us and you to handle scripts and cookies correctly and securely.
The software automatically creates a cookie pop-up, scans and checks all scripts and cookies, provides you with the cookie consent required under data protection law and helps us and you to keep track of all cookies.
Most cookie consent management tools identify and categorize all existing cookies.
As a website visitor, you then decide for yourself whether and which scripts and cookies you allow or do not allow.
The following graphic shows the relationship between browser, web server and CMP.
Why do we use a cookie management tool?
Our aim is to offer you the best possible transparency in the area of data protection.
We are also legally obliged to do so.
We want to provide you with as much information as possible about all tools and all cookies that can store and process your data.
It is also your right to decide for yourself which cookies you accept and which you do not.
In order to grant you this right, we first need to know exactly which cookies have landed on our website in the first place.
Thanks to a cookie management tool that regularly scans the website for all existing cookies, we know about all cookies and can provide you with GDPR-compliant information about them.
You can then accept or reject cookies via the consent system.
What data is processed?
As part of our cookie management tool, you can manage each individual cookie yourself and have complete control over the storage and processing of your data.
The declaration of your consent is stored so that we do not have to ask you every time you visit our website and we can also prove your consent if required by law.
This is stored either in an opt-in cookie or on a server.
The storage period of your cookie consent varies depending on the provider of the cookie management tool.
In most cases, this data (e.g. pseudonymous user ID, time of consent, details of cookie categories or tools, browser, device information) is stored for up to two years.
Duration of data processing
We will inform you about the duration of the data processing below, provided that we have further information on this. In general, we process personal data only as long as it is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products. Data that is stored in cookies is stored for different lengths of time.
Some cookies are deleted as soon as you leave the website, while others may be stored in your browser for several years.
The exact duration of data processing depends on the tool used; in most cases, you should be prepared for a storage period of several years.
You can usually find precise information about the duration of data processing in the respective data protection declarations of the individual providers.
Right of objection
You also have the right and the option to withdraw your consent to the use of cookies at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating or deleting cookies in your browser.
Information on special cookie management tools, if available, can be found in the following sections.
Legal basis
If you consent to cookies, your personal data will be processed and stored via these cookies.
If we are permitted to use cookies on the basis of your consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR)
cookies, this consent is also the legal basis for the use of cookies and the processing of your data.
Cookie consent management platform software is used to manage your consent to cookies and to enable you to give your consent.
The use of this software enables us to operate the website in an efficient and legally compliant manner, which constitutes a legitimate interest (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR).
Audio & Video Introduction
| Audio & Video Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Data subjects: Visitors to the website |
What are audio and video elements?
We have integrated audio and video elements on our website so that you can watch videos or listen to music/podcasts directly via our website.
The content is provided by service providers.
All content is therefore also obtained from the corresponding servers of the providers.
These are integrated functional elements from platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo or Spotify.
The use of these portals is usually free of charge, but paid content can also be published.
With the help of these integrated elements, you can listen to or view the respective content via our website.
If you use audio or video elements on our website, your personal data may also be transmitted to the service providers, processed and stored.
Why do we use audio & video elements on our website?
Of course we want to provide you with the best offer on our website.
And we are aware that content is no longer simply conveyed in text and static images.
Instead of simply giving you a link to a video, we offer you audio and video formats directly on our website that are entertaining or informative and ideally even both.
This expands our service and makes it easier for you to access interesting content.
We therefore offer video and/or audio content in addition to our texts and images.
What data is stored by audio & video elements?
When you access a page on our website that has an embedded video, for example, your server connects to the server of the service provider.
Your data is also transmitted to the third-party provider and stored there.
Some data is collected and stored regardless of whether you have an account with the third-party provider or not.
This usually includes your IP address, browser type, operating system and other general information about your end device.
In addition, most providers also collect information about your web activity.
This includes, for example, session duration, bounce rate, which button you clicked on or which website you used to access the service.
All this information is usually stored using cookies or pixel tags (also known as web beacons).
Pseudonymized data is usually stored in cookies in your browser.
You can always find out exactly which data is stored and processed in the privacy policy of the respective provider.
Duration of data processing
You can find out exactly how long the data is stored on the servers of the third-party providers either below in the data protection text of the respective tool or in the provider’s privacy policy.
In principle, personal data is only ever processed for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services or products.
This generally also applies to third-party providers.
In most cases, you can assume that certain data will be stored on the servers of third-party providers for several years.
Data can be stored for different lengths of time, especially in cookies.
Some cookies are deleted as soon as you leave the website, while others may be stored in your browser for several years.
Right of objection
You also have the right and the possibility to revoke your consent to the use of cookies or third-party providers at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating or deleting cookies in your browser.
The lawfulness of the processing until the revocation remains unaffected.
Since the integrated audio and video functions on our website usually also use cookies, you should also read our general privacy policy on cookies.
You can find out more about the handling and storage of your data in the privacy policies of the respective third-party providers.
Legal basis
If you have consented to your data being processed and stored by integrated audio and video elements, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). In principle, your data will also be stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO) in fast and good communication with you or other customers and business partners. Nevertheless, we only use the integrated audio and video elements if you have given your consent.
YouTube privacy policy
| YouTube privacy policy summary
👥 Data subjects: Visitors to the website |
What is YouTube?
We have integrated YouTube videos on our website. This allows us to present interesting videos directly on our site. YouTube is a video portal that has been a subsidiary of Google since 2006. The video portal is operated by YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066, USA. When you access a page on our website that has an embedded YouTube video, your browser automatically connects to the YouTube or Google servers. Various data will be transmitted (depending on the settings). Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all data processing in Europe.
In the following, we would like to explain to you in more detail what data is processed, why we have integrated YouTube videos and how you can manage or delete your data.
On YouTube, users can watch, rate, comment on and upload videos for free.
Over the last few years, YouTube has become one of the most important social media channels in the world.
To enable us to display videos on our website, YouTube provides a code snippet that we have integrated into our site.
Why do we use YouTube videos on our website?
YouTube is the video platform with the most visitors and the best content.
We strive to offer you the best possible user experience on our website.
And of course, interesting videos are a must.
With the help of our embedded videos, we provide you with further helpful content in addition to our texts and images.
The embedded videos also make our website easier to find on the Google search engine.
Even if we place ads via Google Ads, Google can – thanks to the data collected – only show these ads to people who are interested in our offers.
What data is stored by YouTube?
As soon as you visit one of our pages that has a YouTube video embedded, YouTube sets at least one cookie that stores your IP address and our URL.
If you are logged into your YouTube account, YouTube can usually assign your interactions on our website to your profile with the help of cookies.
This includes data such as session duration, bounce rate, approximate location, technical information such as browser type, screen resolution or your internet provider.
Other data may include contact details, any ratings, the sharing of content via social media or adding to your favorites on YouTube.
If you are not logged into a Google account or a YouTube account, Google stores data with a unique identifier that is linked to your device, browser or app.
For example, your preferred language setting is retained.
But a lot of interaction data cannot be saved because fewer cookies are set.
In the following list, we show cookies that were set in the browser in a test.
On the one hand, we show cookies that are set without a logged-in YouTube account.
On the other hand, we show cookies that are set with a logged-in account.
The list cannot claim to be complete because the user data always depends on the interactions on YouTube.
Name: YSC
Value: b9-CV6ojI5Y112874529-1
Purpose: This cookie registers a unique ID to store statistics of the video viewed.
Expiry date: after end of session
Name: PREF
Value: f1=50000000
Purpose: This cookie also registers your unique ID.
Google receives statistics on how you use YouTube videos on our website via PREF.
Expiration date: after 8 months
Name: GPS
Value: 1
Purpose: This cookie registers your unique ID on mobile devices to track the GPS location.
Expiry date: after 30 minutes
Name: VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE
Value: 95Chz8bagyU
Purpose: This cookie attempts to estimate the user’s bandwidth on our websites (with embedded YouTube video).
Expiry date: after 8 months
Other cookies that are set when you are logged in to your YouTube account:
Name: APISID
Wert: zILlvClZSkqGsSwI/AU1aZI6HY7112874529-
Purpose: This cookie is used to create a profile of your interests.
The data is used for personalized advertisements.
Expiration date: after 2 years
Name: CONSENT
Value: YES+AT.de+20150628-20-0
Purpose: The cookie stores the status of a user’s consent to the use of various Google services.
CONSENT is also used for security purposes to check users and protect user data from unauthorized attacks.
Expiration date: after 19 years
Name: HSID
Value: AcRwpgUik9Dveht0I
Purpose: This cookie is used to create a profile of your interests.
This data helps to display personalized advertising.
Expiration date: after 2 years
Name: LOGIN_INFO
Value: AFmmF2swRQIhALl6aL…
Purpose: This cookie isused to store information about your login data.
Expiry date: after 2 years
Name: SAPISID
Value: 7oaPxoG-pZsJuuF5/AnUdDUIsJ9iJz2vdM
Purpose: This cookie works by uniquely identifying your browser and device.
It is used to create a profile of your interests.
Expiration date: after 2 years
Name: SID
Value: oQfNKjAsI112874529-
Purpose: This cookie stores your Google Account ID and your last login time in digitally signed and encrypted form.
Expiry date: after 2 years
Name: SIDCC
Value: AN0-TYuqub2JOcDTyL
Purpose: This cookie stores information about how you use the website and what advertisements you may have seen before visiting our site.
Expiry date: after 3 months
How long and where is the data stored?
The data that YouTube receives from you and processes is stored on Google servers.
Most of these servers are located in America.
At https://www.google.com/about/datacenters/locations/?hl=de you can see exactly where the Google data centers are located.
Your data is distributed across the servers.
This means that the data can be accessed more quickly and is better protected against manipulation.
Google stores the data collected for different lengths of time.
You can delete some data at any time, others are automatically deleted after a limited time and others are stored by Google for a longer period of time.
Some data (such as elements from “My activity”, photos or documents, products) that are stored in your Google account remain stored until you delete them.
Even if you are not signed in to a Google Account, you can delete some data associated with your device, browser or app.
How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?
In principle, you can delete data in your Google account manually.
With the automatic deletion function for location and activity data introduced in 2019, information is stored for either 3 or 18 months, depending on your decision, and then deleted.
Regardless of whether you have a Google account or not, you can configure your browser so that cookies are deleted or deactivated by Google. Depending on which browser you use, this works in different ways. Under the section “Cookies” you will find the corresponding links to the respective instructions of the most popular browsers.
If you generally do not want cookies, you can set up your browser so that it always informs you when a cookie is to be set. Thus, for each individual cookie, you can decide whether to allow it or not.
Legal basis
If you have consented to your data being processed and stored by integrated YouTube elements, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). In principle, your data will also be stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO) in fast and good communication with you or other customers and business partners. Nevertheless, we only use the integrated YouTube elements if you have given your consent.
YouTube also sets cookies in your browser to store data. That is why we recommend that you read our privacy text about cookies carefully and view the privacy policy or cookie policy of the respective service provider.
YouTube also processes your data in the USA, among other places.
YouTube and Google are active participants in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA.
You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.
In addition, Google uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to and stored in third countries (such as the USA). Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the Standard Contractual Clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here, among other places: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de
The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which reference the Standard Contractual Clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/.
As YouTube is a subsidiary of Google, there is a joint privacy policy.
If you would like to find out more about how your data is handled, we recommend that you read the privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.
Web design introduction
| Web design privacy policy summary
👥 Data subjects: Visitors to the website |
What is web design?
We use various tools on our website that serve our web design. Web design is not, as often assumed, just about making our website look pretty, but also about functionality and performance. But of course, the appropriate look of a website is also one of the great goals of professional web design. Web design is a branch of media design and deals with the visual as well as the structural and functional design of a website. The goal is to improve your experience on our website with the help of web design. In web design jargon, this is referred to as user experience (UX) and usability. User experience refers to all impressions and experiences that the website visitor experiences on a website. A sub-item of user experience is usability. This is about the user-friendliness of a website. The main focus here is on ensuring that content, subpages or products are clearly structured and that you can easily and quickly find what you are looking for. To provide you with the best possible experience on our website, we also use so-called third-party web design tools. In this privacy policy, the category “web design” therefore includes all services that improve the design of our website. This can be, for example, fonts, various plugins or other integrated web design functions.
Why do we use web design tools?
How you absorb information on a website depends very much on the structure, functionality and visual perception of the website. Therefore, a good and professional web design became more and more important for us as well. We are constantly working to improve our website and also see this as an extended service to you, the website visitor. Furthermore, a beautiful and functioning website also has economic advantages for us. After all, you will only visit us and take advantage of our offers if you feel completely comfortable.
What data is stored by web design tools?
When you visit our website, web design elements may be embedded in our pages that may also process data. Exactly what data is involved depends, of course, heavily on the tools used. Further below you can see exactly which tools we use for our website. We recommend that you also read the respective privacy policy of the tools used for more detailed information on data processing. In most cases, you will find out there which data is processed, whether cookies are used and how long the data is stored. Through fonts such as Google Fonts, for example, information such as language settings, IP address, browser version, browser screen resolution and browser name are also automatically transmitted to Google servers.
Duration of data processing
How long data is processed is very individual and depends on the web design elements used. For example, when cookies are used, the retention period can be as short as a minute or as long as a few years. Please do your research in this regard. For this purpose, we recommend on the one hand our general text section on cookies as well as the privacy statements of the tools used. There you will usually find out exactly which cookies are used and what information is stored in them. Google font files, for example, are stored for one year. This is to improve the loading time of a website. In principle, data is always kept only as long as is necessary for the provision of the service. In the case of legal requirements, data may also be stored for longer periods.
Right of objection
You also have the right and the possibility to revoke your consent to the use of cookies or third-party providers at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. You can also prevent data collection through cookies by managing, disabling or deleting cookies in your browser. However, among web design elements (mostly with fonts) there is also data that cannot be deleted quite so easily. This is the case when data is automatically collected directly when a page is accessed and transmitted to a third-party provider (such as Google). Then please contact the support of the corresponding provider. In Google’s case, you can reach support at https://support.google.com/?hl=de.
Legal basis
If you have consented to web design tools being used, the legal basis of the corresponding data processing is this consent. This consent constitutes, according to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a DSGVO (consent) constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data as it may occur during the collection by web design tools. From our side, there is also a legitimate interest to improve the web design on our website. After all, only then we can provide you with a beautiful and professional web offer. The corresponding legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO (Legitimate Interests). Nevertheless, we only use web design tools if you have given your consent. In any case, we want to emphasize that again here.
Information on specific web design tools – if available – is provided in the following sections.
Adobe Fonts Privacy Policy
We use Adobe Fonts, a web font hosting service, on our website. The service provider is the American company Adobe Inc. The Irish company Adobe Systems Software Ireland Companies, 4-6 Riverwalk, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24, Ireland, is responsible for the European region.
Adobe also processes data from you in the United States, among other places. Adobe is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA.
You can find more information about this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.
Adobe also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to and stored in third countries (such as the USA). Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the Standard Contractual Clauses, Adobe undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here, among other places: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de
You can find more information on the standard contractual clauses at Adobe at https://www.adobe.com/at/privacy/eudatatransfers.html.
You can find out more about the data that is processed through the use of Adobe Fonts in the privacy policy at https://www.adobe.com/at/privacy.html
.
Google Fonts Local Privacy Policy
On our website we use Google Fonts from Google Inc. The company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for the European area. We have embedded the Google fonts locally, i.e. on our web server – not on Google’s servers. This means that there is no connection to Google servers and therefore no data transfer or storage.
What are Google Fonts?
Google Fonts used to be called Google Web Fonts. This is an interactive directory of over 800 fonts that Google provides free of charge. With Google Fonts, you could use fonts without uploading them to your own server. But to prevent any information transfer to Google servers in this regard, we have downloaded the fonts to our server. In this way, we act in a privacy compliant manner and do not send any data to Google Fonts.
Online map services introduction
| Online Map Services Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Data subjects: Visitors to the website |
What are online map services?
We also use online map services for our website as an enhanced service. Google Maps is probably the service you are most familiar with, but there are other providers that specialize in creating digital maps. Such services allow you to view locations, route maps or other geographic information directly through our website. With an integrated map service, you no longer have to leave our website to view the route to a location, for example. In order for the online map to function on our website, map sections are integrated using HTML code. The services can then display street maps, the earth’s surface, or aerial or satellite images. If you use the built-in map service, data is also transmitted to the tool used and stored there. Among these data may also be personal data.
Why do we use online mapping services on our website?
Generally speaking, our goal is to provide you with a pleasant time on our website. And, of course, your time is only pleasant if you can easily navigate our website and find all the information you need quickly and easily. Therefore, we thought an online map system could still be a significant optimization of our service on the website. Without leaving our website, you can easily view route descriptions, locations or even points of interest using the map system. Of course, it’s also super convenient that you can see at a glance where we are located, so you can find us quickly and safely. As you can see, there are simply many advantages and we clearly consider online map services on our website as part of our customer service.
What data are stored by online map services?
When you open a page on our website that has an online map function built in, personal data may be transmitted to the respective service and stored there. Most often, this is your IP address, through which your approximate location can also be determined. In addition to the IP address, data such as entered search terms and longitude and latitude coordinates are also stored. If you enter an address for route planning, for example, this data is also saved. The data is not stored by us, but on the servers of the integrated tools. You can think of it something like this: You are on our website, but when you interact with a map service, that interaction actually happens on their website. In order for the service to work properly, usually at least one cookie is also set in your browser. Google Maps also uses cookies, for example, to record user behavior in order to optimize its own service and to be able to serve personalized advertising. You can learn more about cookies in our “Cookies” section.
How long and where is the data stored?
Each online map service processes different user data. If we have further information, we will inform you about the duration of the data processing below in the corresponding sections on the individual tools. As a matter of principle, personal data is always retained only for as long as is necessary for the provision of the service. Google Maps, for example, stores certain data for a set period of time, while you have to delete other data yourself. With Mapbox, for example, the IP address is retained for 30 days and then deleted. You see, each tool stores data for a different amount of time. Therefore, we recommend that you take a close look at the privacy statements of the tools used.
The providers also use cookies to store data about your user behavior with the map service. You can find more general information about cookies in our “Cookies” section, but you can also find out which cookies can be used in the privacy texts of the individual providers. In most cases, however, this is only an exemplary list and is not complete.
Right of objection
You always have the possibility and also the right to access your personal data and also to object to the use and processing. You can also revoke the consent you have given us at any time. As a rule, the easiest way to do this is via the cookie consent tool. However, there are other opt-out tools that you can use. Possible cookies set by the providers used can also be managed, deleted or disabled by you with a few mouse clicks. However, some functions of the service may no longer work as usual. How you manage cookies in your browser also depends on the browser you use. In the “Cookies” section you will also find links to the instructions of the most important browsers.
Legal basis
If you have consented to the use of an online map service, the legal basis of the corresponding data processing is this consent. This consent constitutes, according to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a DSGVO (consent) constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data as it may occur when collected by an online map service.
We also have a legitimate interest in using an online mapping service to optimize our service on our website. The corresponding legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO (Legitimate Interests). However, we only ever use an online map service if you have given your consent. We definitely want to have that recorded again at this point.
Information on special online map services – if available – is provided in the following sections.
Google Maps Privacy Policy
| Google Maps Privacy Policy Summary
👥 Data subjects: Visitors to the website |
What is Google Maps?
We use Google Maps of the company Google Inc. on our website. For the European area, the company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services. Google Maps allows us to better show you locations and thus customize our service to your needs. By using Google Maps, data is transmitted to Google and stored on Google servers. Here we will now go into more detail about what Google Maps is, why we use this Google service, what data is stored and how you can prevent this.
Google Maps is an Internet mapping service provided by the Google company. Google Maps lets you find exact locations of cities, landmarks, accommodations, or businesses online using a PC, tablet, or app. When companies are represented on Google My Business, other information about the company is displayed in addition to the location. To display directions, map sections of a location can be embedded into a website using HTML code. Google Maps shows the earth’s surface as a street map or as an aerial or satellite image. Thanks to the Street View images and the high-quality satellite images, very accurate representations are possible.
Why do we use Google Maps on our website?
All of our efforts on this site are aimed at providing you with a useful and meaningful time on our website. By integrating Google Maps, we can provide you with the most important information about various locations. You can see at a glance where we are located. The directions will always show you the best or fastest way to get to us. You can access the route for routes by car, public transport, on foot or by bike. For us, providing Google Maps is part of our customer service.
What data is stored by Google Maps?
In order for Google Maps to fully provide their service, the company must collect and store data from you. These include the search terms entered, your IP address and also the latitude or longitude coordinates. If you use the route planner function, the entered start address is also saved. However, this data storage happens on Google Maps websites. We can only inform you about this, but cannot influence it. Since we have integrated Google Maps into our website, Google sets at least one cookie (name: NID) in your browser. This cookie stores data about your user behavior. Google uses this data primarily to optimize its own services and to provide individual, personalized advertising for you.
The following cookie is set in your browser due to the integration of Google Maps:
Name: NID
Wert: 188=h26c1Ktha7fCQTx8rXgLyATyITJ112874529-5
Purpose: NID is used by Google to customize ads to your Google search. With the help of the cookie, Google “remembers” your most frequently entered search queries or your previous interaction with ads. This way you will always get customized ads. The cookie contains a unique ID that Google uses to collect your personal preferences for advertising purposes.
Expiration date: after 6 months
Note: We can not guarantee completeness in the information of the stored data. Especially when using cookies, changes can never be ruled out. In order to identify the cookie NID, a separate test page was created, where only Google Maps was integrated.
How long and where is the data stored?
Google servers are located in data centers around the world. However, most of the servers are located in America. For this reason, your data is also increasingly stored in the USA. You can find out exactly where Google’s data centers are located here: https://www.google.com/about/datacenters/locations/?hl=de
Google distributes the data on various data carriers. This means that the data can be retrieved more quickly and is better protected against any attempts at manipulation. Each data center also has special emergency programs. For example, if there are problems with Google’s hardware or a natural disaster cripples the servers, the data will pretty much remain protected anyway.
Google stores some data for a set period of time. For other data, Google only offers the option to delete it manually. The Company also anonymizes information (such as advertising data) in server logs by removing a portion of the IP address and cookie information after 9 and18 months deletes.
How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?
With the automatic deletion of location and activity data introduced in 2019, location and web/app activity information will be stored for either 3 or 18 months, depending on your decision, and then deleted. Moreover, you can also delete this data from the history manually at any time via the Google account. If you want to completely prevent your location tracking, you need to pause the “Web and App Activity” section in Google Account. Click “Data and personalization” and then click the “Activity setting” option. Here you can switch the activities on or off.
In your browser, you can also deactivate, delete or manage individual cookies. Depending on which browser you use, this always works slightly differently. Under the section “Cookies” you will find the corresponding links to the respective instructions of the most popular browsers.
If you generally do not want cookies, you can set up your browser so that it always informs you when a cookie is to be set. Thus, for each individual cookie, you can decide whether to allow it or not.
Legal basis
If you have consented to Google Maps being used, the legal basis for the corresponding data processing is this consent. This consent represents according to Art. 6 par. 1 lit. a GDPR (Consent) constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data as may occur during the collection by Google Maps.
We also have a legitimate interest in using Google Maps to optimize our online service. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 par. 1 lit. f DSGVO (Legitimate Interests). Nevertheless, we only use Google Maps if you have given your consent.
Google also processes data from you in the USA, among other places. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA.
You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.
In addition, Google uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to and stored in third countries (such as the USA). Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here, among other places: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de
The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which reference the Standard Contractual Clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/.
If you would like to learn more about Google’s data processing, we recommend that you read the company’s in-house privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.
Explanation of used terms
We always try to write our privacy policy as clear and understandable as possible. However, this is not always easy, especially when it comes to technical and legal topics. It often makes sense to use legal terms (such as personal data) or certain technical terms (such as cookies, IP address). However, we would not like to use them without explanation. Below you will now find an alphabetical list of important terms used that we may not have adequately addressed in the previous privacy statement. If these terms are taken from the GDPR and are definitions, we will also cite the GDPR texts here and add our own explanations if necessary.
Processor
Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR
For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:
“Processor” means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which processes personal data on behalf of the Controller;
Explanation: As a company and website owner, we are responsible for all the data we process from you. In addition to the responsible parties, there may also be so-called processors. This includes any company or person that processes personal data on our behalf. In addition to service providers such as tax advisors, processors can also include hosting or cloud providers, payment or newsletter providers, or large companies such as Google or Microsoft.
Consent
Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR
For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:
“Consent” of the data subject means any freely given specific, informed and unambiguous indication of his or her wishes in the form of a statement or other unambiguous affirmative act by which the data subject signifies his or her agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her;
Explanation: As a rule, websites provide such consent via a cookie consent tool. I’m sure you’re familiar with this. Whenever you visit a website for the first time, you are usually asked via a banner whether you agree or consent to data processing. In most cases, you can also make individual settings and thus decide for yourself which data processing you allow and which you do not. If you do not consent, no personal data of yours may be processed either. In principle, consent can of course also be given in writing, i.e. not via a tool.
Personal data
Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR
For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:
“personal data”
any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter “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;
Explanation: Personal data is therefore all data that can identify you as a person. This is usually data such as:
- Name
- Address
- E-mail address
- Postal address
- Telephone number
- Date of birth
- Identification numbers such as social security number, tax identification number, identity card number or matriculation number
- Bank information such as account number, credit information, account balances, etc.
According to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) , your IP address is also considered personal data. IT experts can use your IP address to at least determine the approximate location of your device and, subsequently, you as the connection owner. Therefore, the storage of an IP address also requires a legal basis within the meaning of the GDPR. There are also so-called “special categories” of personal data, which also require special protection. These include:
- racial and ethnic origin
- political opinions
- religious or ideological convictions
- trade union membership
- genetic data, such as data taken from blood or saliva samples
- biometric data (i.e. information on mental, physical or behavioral characteristics that can identify a person).
Health data - Data on sexual orientation or sexual life
Profiling
Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR
For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:
“profiling” means any automated processing of personal data which consists in using such personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyze or predict aspects relating to that natural person’s performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, location or change of location;
Explanation: Profiling involves gathering various pieces of information about a person in order to learn more about that person. In the web sector, profiling is often used for advertising purposes or even for credit checks. For example, web or advertising analytics programs collect data about your behavior and interests on a website. This results in a special user profile that can be used to target advertising to a specific group.
Responsible
Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR
For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:
“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; where the purposes and means of such processing are determined by Union or Member State law, the controller or the specific criteria for its designation may be provided for by Union or Member State law;
Explanation: In our case, we are responsible for the processing of your personal data and consequently the “data controller”. If we pass on collected data to other service providers for processing, these are “order processors”. For this purpose, an “order processing agreement (AVV)” must be signed.
Processing
Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR
For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:
“processing”
any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organization, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction;
Note: When we refer to processing in our Privacy Policy, we mean any type of data processing. This includes, as mentioned above in the original GDPR statement, not only the collection but also the storage and processing of data.
Closing words
Congratulations! If you are reading these lines, you have really “fought” your way through our entire privacy policy, or at least scrolled all the way to here. As you can see from the scope of our privacy policy, we do not take the protection of your personal data lightly.
It is important to us to inform you about the processing of personal data to the best of our knowledge and belief. However, we do not only want to tell you what data is processed, but also to explain the reasons for using various software programs. As a rule, privacy policies sound very technical and legalistic. However, since most of you are not web developers or lawyers, we also wanted to take a different approach linguistically and explain the facts in simple and clear language. Of course, this is not always possible due to the subject matter. The most important terms are therefore explained in more detail at the end of the privacy policy.
If you have any questions about data protection on our website, please do not hesitate to contact us or the responsible body. Have a nice time and we hope to see you on our website again soon.
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