Privacy Policy

Introduction and Overview

We have written this Privacy Policy (version 23.12.2021-311905239) to explain to you, in accordance with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and applicable national laws, which personal data (short: data) we – and processors commissioned by us (e.g. providers) – process, will process in the future, and what legal options you have. The terms used are to be understood as gender-neutral. In short: We inform you in full about the data we process about you. Privacy policies usually sound very technical and use legal terminology. This Privacy Policy, however, is intended to describe the most important things as simply and transparently as possible. Where helpful for clarity, technical terms are explained in a reader-friendly way, links to further information are provided, and graphics may be used. We aim to provide clear and simple explanations that inform you that we only process personal data in the context of our business activities when a legal basis exists for doing so. This cannot be achieved with the usual short, vague, and legally technical explanations often found on the Internet when it comes to data protection. We hope you find the following explanations interesting and informative, and perhaps you’ll learn something new. If you still have questions, please contact the responsible body mentioned below or in the legal notice, follow the provided links, and consult additional information on third-party websites. Our contact details can also be found in the legal notice.

Scope of Application

This Privacy Policy applies to all personal data processed by us within our company and to all personal data processed by companies commissioned by us (processors). By personal data, we mean information within the meaning of Art. 4 No. 1 GDPR, such as a person’s name, email address, and postal address. Processing personal data ensures that we can offer and bill our services and products, whether online or offline. The scope of this Privacy Policy includes:

• all online presences (websites, online shops) we operate
• social media appearances and email communication
• mobile apps for smartphones and other devices

In short: This Privacy Policy applies to all areas in which personal data is processed in a structured manner via the mentioned channels within our company. If we enter into legal relationships with you outside these channels, we will inform you separately where necessary.

Legal Bases

In the following Privacy Policy, we provide you with transparent information about the legal principles and regulations – the legal bases of the General Data Protection Regulation – that allow us to process personal data. With regard to EU law, we refer to REGULATION (EU) 2016/679 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 27 April 2016. You can, of course, read this EU General Data Protection Regulation online on EUR-Lex, the access to EU law, at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32016R0679. We only process your data if at least one of the following conditions applies:

1. Consent (Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. a GDPR): You have given us your consent to process data for a specific purpose. An example would be storing your entered data in a contact form.

Contract (Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. b GDPR): 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 paragraph 1 lit. c GDPR): If we are subject to a legal obligation, we process your data. For example, we are legally required to retain invoices for accounting purposes. These usually contain personal data.

Legitimate interests (Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f GDPR): In the case of legitimate interests that do not restrict your fundamental rights, we reserve the right to process personal data. For example, we need to process certain data to operate our website securely and economically. This processing is therefore a legitimate interest.

Other legal bases such as the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or the exercise of official authority, as well as the protection of vital interests, generally do not apply to us. If such a legal basis should be relevant, it will be explicitly stated at the appropriate place. In addition to the EU Regulation, national laws also apply:

• In Austria, this is the Federal Act concerning the Protection of Personal Data (Data Protection Act), abbreviated as DSG.
• In Germany, the applicable law is the Federal Data Protection Act, abbreviated as BDSG.

If additional regional or national laws apply, we will inform you about them in the relevant sections below.

Contact Details of the Controller

If you have any questions about data protection, you will find the contact details of the responsible person or entity below: Noah Gastrop Bergheimstraße 21, 74834 Elztal Germany Authorized representative: Noah Gastrop Email: service@mj-universe.com Legal notice: https://mj-universe.space/impressum

Storage Duration

As a general rule, we only store personal data for as long as it is absolutely necessary to provide our services and products. This means we delete personal data as soon as the purpose for data processing no longer exists. In some cases, we are legally obligated to retain certain data even after the original purpose no longer applies – for example, for accounting purposes. If you request deletion of your data or revoke your consent to data processing, the data will be deleted as quickly as possible, provided there is no obligation to retain it. Further details on the specific duration of data processing are provided below where available.

Rights According to the General Data Protection Regulation

According to Article 13 GDPR, you have the following rights to ensure fair and transparent data processing:

• According to Article 15 GDPR, you have the right to know whether we process your data. If this is the case, you have the right to obtain a copy of the data and the following information:
  • the purpose of the processing;
  • the categories, i.e., the types of data being processed;
  • who receives this data and, if it is transferred to third countries, how security is ensured;
  • how long the data will be stored;
  • the existence of rights to rectification, erasure, or restriction of processing, and the right to object to the processing;
  • that you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority (links to these authorities can be found below);
  • the origin of the data, if it was not collected from you;
  • whether profiling is carried out, i.e., whether data is automatically analyzed to create a personal profile about you.
• According to Article 16 GDPR, you have the right to rectification, meaning we must correct your data if you find any errors.
• According to Article 17 GDPR, you have the right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”), meaning you may request that your data be deleted.
• According to Article 18 GDPR, you have the right to restrict processing, meaning that we may only store your data but not use it further.
• According to Article 19 GDPR, you have the right to data portability, meaning we must provide you with your data in a common format upon request.
• According to Article 21 GDPR, you have the right to object, which, if exercised, will result in a change in data processing.
  • If the processing of your data is based on Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. e (public interest, exercise of official authority) or Article 6 paragraph 1 lit. f (legitimate interest), you may object to the processing. We will then promptly assess whether we are legally required to comply with this objection.

If data is used for direct marketing, you can object to this type of data processing at any time. We may then no longer use your data for direct marketing purposes.

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 purposes.

According to Article 22 GDPR, you may have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing (such as profiling).

In short: You have rights – don’t hesitate to contact the responsible body listed above! If you believe that the processing of your data violates data protection law or your data protection rights have been infringed in any other way, you can lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority. In Austria, this is the Data Protection Authority, whose website you can find at https://www.dsb.gv.at/. In Germany, each federal state has its own data protection commissioner. 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:

Security of Data Processing

To protect personal data, we have implemented both technical and organizational measures. Where possible, we encrypt or pseudonymize personal data. This makes it as difficult as possible—within our means—for third parties to derive personal information from our data. Article 25 GDPR refers to this as “data protection by design and by default,” meaning that security is considered at all stages, both in software (e.g., forms) and hardware (e.g., server room access). Below, we may provide details of specific measures where relevant.

TLS Encryption with HTTPS

TLS, encryption, and HTTPS may sound very technical—and they are. We use HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) to transmit data securely over the internet. This means that all data transmissions from your browser to our web server are secured – no one can eavesdrop. This adds a layer of security and fulfills data protection by design Article 25 paragraph 1 GDPR. By using TLS (Transport Layer Security), a protocol for secure data transmission on the internet, we can ensure the protection of confidential data. You can recognize the use of this encryption by the small lock symbol in your browser (usually to the left of the address bar) and the use of the “https” scheme (instead of “http”) in our web address. If you want to learn more about encryption, we recommend a Google search for “Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure wiki” for good sources of further information.

Communication

Communication Summary 👥 Data subjects: Anyone communicating with us via telephone, email, or online form 📓 Processed data: e.g., telephone number, name, email address, form entries. More details can be found under the respective contact method 🤝 Purpose: Handling communication with customers, business partners, etc. 📅 Storage duration: Duration of the business case and as required by law ⚖️ Legal bases: Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR (contract), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)

If you contact us via telephone, email, or online form, personal data may be processed. The data is processed to handle and manage your inquiry and the related business transaction. The data will be stored for the duration of the business case or as long as legally required.

Data Subjects

All individuals who contact us via the communication channels we provide are affected by the mentioned processing activities.

Telephone

If you call us, call data may be pseudonymously stored on the respective end device and by the telecommunications provider used. Additionally, data such as name and phone number may be sent via email and stored to respond to the inquiry. The data will be deleted once the business case is completed and if permitted by legal requirements.

Email

If you communicate with us via email, data may be stored on the respective device (e.g., computer, laptop, smartphone) and also stored on the email server. The data will be deleted once the business case is completed and if permitted by legal requirements.

Online Forms

If you communicate with us via online form, the data is stored on our web server and may be forwarded to one of our email addresses. The data will be deleted once the business case is completed and if permitted by legal requirements.

Legal Bases

The processing of the data is based on the following legal bases:

• Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent): You give us your consent to store your data and use it for purposes related to the business case;
• Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR (contract): Processing is necessary to fulfill a contract with you or a processor, such as a telecommunications provider, or we must process the data for pre-contractual activities such as preparing an offer;
• Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests): We want to handle customer inquiries and business communication in a professional manner. For this, technical systems such as email programs, exchange servers, and mobile operators are necessary to enable efficient communication.

Cookies

Cookies Summary 👥 Data subjects: Website visitors 🤝 Purpose: Depends on the respective cookie. More details can be found below or from the provider of the software that sets the cookie. 📓 Processed data: Depends on the cookie used. More details can be found below or from the provider of the software that sets the cookie. 📅 Storage duration: Varies from hours to years depending on the cookie ⚖️ Legal bases: Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)

What Are Cookies?

Our website uses HTTP cookies to store user-specific data. In the following, we explain what cookies are and why they are used to help you better understand this 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. There’s no denying it: cookies are really useful little helpers. Nearly all websites use cookies. More precisely, HTTP cookies, as there are also other types of cookies for different purposes. HTTP cookies are small files that our website stores on your computer. These cookie files are automatically stored in the cookie folder, essentially the “memory” 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, such as language or personal site settings. When you revisit our site, your browser sends the “user-related” information back to our site. Thanks to the cookies, our website knows who you are and offers you the settings you are used to. In some browsers, each cookie has its own file; in others like Firefox, all cookies are stored in one file. The following graphic shows a possible interaction between a web browser (e.g., Chrome) and the web server. The browser requests a website and receives a cookie from the server, which the browser sends again when a new page is requested. There are both first-party and third-party cookies. First-party cookies are created directly by our site, while third-party cookies are created by partner websites (e.g., Google Analytics). Each cookie is unique and stores different data. The expiration time of a cookie also varies from a few minutes to several years. Cookies are not software programs and do not contain viruses, trojans, or other “malware.” Cookies also cannot access information on your PC. Example of cookie data: Name: _ga Value: GA1.2.1326744211.152311905239-9 Purpose: Distinguishing website visitors Expiration: after 2 years. Browsers should support at least the following cookie sizes:

• At least 4096 bytes per cookie
• At least 50 cookies per domain
• At least 3000 cookies in total

What Types of Cookies Are There?

The types of cookies we specifically use depend on the services we employ and are described in detail in the following sections of this Privacy Policy. For now, here is a brief overview of the four types of HTTP cookies: Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary to ensure the basic functions of the website. For example, they are used when a user puts a product in the cart, continues browsing, and later returns to check out. Without these cookies, the cart would be lost even if the browser window is closed. Functional Cookies: These cookies collect information about user behavior and whether users encounter errors. They may also measure load times or website performance on different browsers. Targeted Cookies: These cookies improve user-friendliness. For instance, they store entered locations, font sizes, or form data. Advertising Cookies: Also known as targeting cookies, they are used to deliver personalized advertising. This can be useful but also annoying. Typically, you are asked on your first visit which types of cookies you want to allow. This decision is also stored in a cookie. If you want to learn more about cookies and don’t mind technical documentation, we recommend https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6265, the “HTTP State Management Mechanism” by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

Purpose of Cookie Processing

The purpose ultimately depends on the specific cookie. You can find more details below or from the software provider that sets the cookie.

What Data Is Processed?

Cookies are small helpers for many different tasks. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to generalize what data is stored in cookies, but we will inform you in the course of this Privacy Policy about the data that is processed or stored.

Cookie Storage Duration

The storage duration depends on the specific cookie and will be detailed below. Some cookies are deleted after less than an hour, others can remain on your device for several years. You can also influence the storage duration yourself. You can manually delete all cookies at any time via your browser settings (see below “Right to Object”). Furthermore, cookies based on consent will be deleted no later than upon withdrawal of your consent, although the legality of the storage up to that point remains unaffected.

Right to Object – How Can I Delete Cookies?

You decide how and whether you want to use cookies. Regardless of which service or website the cookies come from, you always have the option to delete, disable, or allow only certain cookies. For example, you can block third-party cookies but allow all others. If you want to find out which cookies are stored in your browser, or change or delete cookie settings, you can do this in your browser settings: Chrome: Delete, enable, and manage cookies Safari: Manage cookies and website data with Safari Firefox: Delete cookies to remove data websites have stored 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 your browser to notify you whenever a cookie is about to be set. You can then decide for each individual cookie whether you allow it. The process varies depending on the browser. The easiest way is to search Google for instructions with terms like “delete cookies Chrome” or “disable cookies Chrome” if you use the Chrome browser.

Legal Basis

Since 2009, there have been so-called “cookie directives.” These stipulate that storing cookies requires your consent (Article 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). However, the implementation of these directives still varies across EU countries. In Austria, the directive was implemented in § 96 para. 3 of the Telecommunications Act (TKG). In Germany, the cookie directives were not transposed into national law. Instead, they were largely implemented in § 15 para. 3 of the Telemedia Act (TMG). For cookies that are strictly necessary, even without consent, there are legitimate interests (Article 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR), which are usually of an economic nature. We want to offer our website visitors a pleasant user experience, and certain cookies are essential for that. If non-essential cookies are used, this is done only with your consent. The legal basis in that case is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. In the following sections, you will find more detailed information about cookies used by specific software tools, if any are employed.

Web Hosting Introduction

Web Hosting Summary 👥 Data subjects: Website visitors 🤝 Purpose: Professional hosting of the website and securing its operation 📓 Processed data: IP address, time of website visit, browser used, and more. More details can be found below or from the web hosting provider used. 📅 Storage duration: Depends on the provider, usually 2 weeks ⚖️ Legal bases: Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)

What Is Web Hosting?

Whenever you visit websites today, certain information – including personal data – is automatically generated and stored, including on this website. This data should be processed sparingly and only when justified. By “website” we mean all pages on a domain, from the homepage to the very last subpage (like this one). A “domain” might be something like example.com or myexample.org. When you want to view a website on a screen, you use a browser program. You’re probably familiar with some: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari. This browser connects to another computer where the website’s code is stored – the web server. Running a web server is a complex task usually handled by professional providers. They offer web hosting and ensure the reliable and secure storage of website data. When your browser connects to the web server (from your desktop, laptop, smartphone), and during data transmission to and from the server, personal data may be processed. Your computer stores some data, and the web server may also store some data temporarily to ensure proper operation. To illustrate:

Why Do We Process Personal Data?

The purposes of data processing include:

1. Professional hosting of the website and ensuring its operation
2. Maintaining operational and IT security
3. Anonymous analysis of user behavior to improve our offering and possibly pursue legal claims

What Data Is Processed?

Even while you’re browsing our website right now, our web server – the computer where this website is hosted – typically stores data automatically such as:

• the full internet address (URL) of the accessed page (e.g., https://www.examplewebsite.com/example-subpage.html?tid=311905239)
• browser and browser version (e.g., Chrome 87)
• the operating system used (e.g., Windows 10)
• the referrer URL (the address of the previously visited page) (e.g., https://www.sourcewebsite.com/fromhere.html)
• the hostname and IP address of the device being used (e.g., COMPUTERNAME and 194.23.43.121)
• date and time of access
• in files called web server log files

How Long Is the Data Stored?

In general, the above-mentioned data is stored for two weeks and then automatically deleted. We do not share this data, but we cannot exclude the possibility that this data may be accessed by authorities in case of illegal behavior. In short: Your visit is logged by our hosting provider (the company that runs our website on special servers), but we do not share your data without your consent!

Legal Basis

The legal basis for the processing of personal data in the context of web hosting is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests), as the use of professional hosting services is necessary for us to operate our online business securely and efficiently, and to defend against possible attacks or legal claims. A data processing agreement (DPA) under Art. 28 GDPR is typically in place between us and the hosting provider, ensuring data protection and data security.

Website Builder Systems Introduction

Website Builder Privacy Policy Summary 👥 Data subjects: Website visitors 🤝 Purpose: Optimizing our service performance 📓 Processed data: Data such as technical usage information like browser activity, clickstream activity, session heatmaps, contact details, IP address, or your geographic location. More details can be found below or in the provider’s privacy policy. 📅 Storage duration: Depends on the provider ⚖️ Legal bases: Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent)

What Are Website Builder Systems?

We use a website builder system for our website. These systems are specialized forms of content management systems (CMS). They allow website operators to create websites easily without programming knowledge. Often, web hosts also offer such systems. The use of these tools may involve the collection, storage, and processing of personal data. In this section, we provide general information on data processing by website builders. For more details, please consult the provider’s own privacy policy.

Why Do We Use a Website Builder?

The main benefit is ease of use. We want to offer a clear, simple, and user-friendly website that we can manage ourselves without outside help. Modern builder systems offer a wide range of helpful features that we can use without technical expertise. This allows us to design our online presence to our needs and provide you with a pleasant experience on our website.

What Data Is Stored by the Builder?

The exact data stored depends on the builder used. Each provider collects and processes different visitor data. Typically, technical information is collected, such as operating system, browser, screen resolution, language and keyboard settings, hosting provider, and visit timestamp. Additionally, tracking data (e.g., browser activity, clickstream data, session heatmaps) and personal information like email address, phone number (if provided), IP address, and location data may also be stored. Please refer to the provider’s privacy policy for precise information.

How Long and Where Is the Data Stored?

Details about storage duration are provided below where possible or by the respective builder provider. Generally, we process personal data only as long as necessary for delivering our services. The provider may store data independently, beyond our control.

Right to Object

You always have the right to access, rectify, and delete your personal data. You can also contact the provider’s data controller. Their contact information is available in this privacy policy or directly on their website. You can delete, deactivate, or manage cookies used by the provider via your browser settings. Please note that some features may not function correctly if cookies are disabled.

Legal Basis

We have a legitimate interest in using a website builder to optimize our online services and ensure an efficient and appealing presentation. The corresponding legal basis is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. We use such systems only with your consent where processing is not strictly necessary for site operation – especially regarding tracking activities. The legal basis in these cases is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR.

WordPress.com Privacy Policy

We use WordPress.com, a website builder, provided by Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA. WordPress also processes data in the USA. According to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of data protection in the USA. This may pose risks for data legality and security. WordPress uses Standard Contractual Clauses (Art. 46 para. 2 and 3 GDPR) as the legal basis for data transfers to third countries. These clauses ensure that your data continues to meet EU standards even when stored or processed in third countries. More on this can be found at: EU SCC Decision and https://wordpress.com/support/data-processing-agreements/. WordPress’s full privacy policy: https://automattic.com/privacy/.

Facebook Pixel Privacy Policy

We use the Facebook Pixel on our website, which is a piece of JavaScript code implemented to track user actions after interacting with Facebook ads. For example, if you purchase a product, the Pixel logs the action and stores it in cookies. These cookies allow Facebook to match your user data (such as IP address, user ID) with your Facebook account. Facebook anonymizes or deletes the data. The data we receive is anonymous and used for advertising effectiveness only. If you are logged in to Facebook, your visit to our site may be linked to your user account. This allows us to target ads more effectively. Facebook also uses the data for analytics and its own ads. Example cookies set by Facebook Pixel:
Name: _fbp | Value: fb.1.1568287647279.257405483-6 | Purpose: Displays Facebook ads | Expiration: 3 months
Name: fr | Value: … | Purpose: Required for Pixel functionality | Expiration: 3 months
Name: comment_author_* | Purpose: Stores comment author info | Expiration: 12 months
You can manage ad settings as a Facebook user here: Ad Preferences. Non-users can manage tracking preferences via: http://www.youronlinechoices.com/. Facebook also uses SCCs under GDPR for international data transfers. Details: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing, Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy.php.

Facebook Automatic Advanced Matching

We have enabled Facebook’s Automatic Advanced Matching feature. This allows us to send hashed data (e.g., emails, names, gender, location, ZIP code, birth date, or phone number) to Facebook if you have provided this data. This improves our ad targeting to people likely interested in our services or products.

Google Analytics Privacy Policy

Google Analytics Summary 👥 Data subjects: Website visitors 🤝 Purpose: Analyzing user behavior to optimize our website 📓 Data processed: Access statistics including location, device, session duration, click behavior, IP address 📅 Storage: Depends on property settings ⚖️ Legal bases: Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interest)

What Is Google Analytics?

We use Google Analytics, a web analytics tool by Google Inc. For the EU, the service is operated by Google Ireland Limited, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. Google Analytics tracks actions on our site—like clicking a link—and stores this in cookies. We use reports generated by Google Analytics to improve our website and services. When you visit our site, a tracking code embedded in the site’s code records your behavior. The data is transmitted to Google’s servers where it is processed and returned to us in the form of analytics reports. These can include:

• Audience reports to understand who is interested in our services
• Advertising Reports: These help us analyze and improve our online advertising.
• Acquisition Reports: These provide insights into how we attract new users.
• Behavior Reports: These show how you interact with our website, which paths you take, and which links you click.
• Conversion Reports: A conversion occurs when a user takes a desired action (e.g., making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter). These reports help us understand the effectiveness of our marketing.
• Real-time Reports: These show what’s currently happening on our website – for example, how many users are reading this text.

Why Do We Use Google Analytics on Our Website?

Our goal is to offer you the best possible service. The statistics and data from Google Analytics help us understand how we can improve our website. On one hand, we optimize it for better visibility in Google searches; on the other hand, we better understand your needs and behavior. The data also helps us make our marketing efforts more targeted and efficient, showing our services only to people who are truly interested.

What Data Does Google Analytics Store?

Google Analytics uses a tracking code to create a unique ID linked to your browser cookie. This helps Google recognize you as a returning user. All collected data is linked to this user ID, which allows pseudonymous profiling. Depending on the property (Universal Analytics or GA4), the data is stored for different durations. The data includes interaction metrics such as clicks and session info. If you use other Google services, Analytics data may be linked via third-party cookies. Google does not share your data unless required by law or permitted by us. Below are some typical cookies:

• Name: _ga – Purpose: Distinguishes users – Expiration: 2 years
• Name: _gid – Purpose: Also distinguishes users – Expiration: 24 hours
• Name: _gat_gtag_UA_ – Purpose: Throttles request rate – Expiration: 1 minute
• Name: AMP_TOKEN – Purpose: Fetches a client ID – Expiration: 30 seconds to 1 year
• Name: __utma – Purpose: Measures website performance – Expiration: 2 years
• Name: __utmt – Purpose: Throttles request rate – Expiration: 10 minutes
• Name: __utmb – Purpose: Determines new sessions – Expiration: 30 minutes
• Name: __utmc – Purpose: Identifies session for returning users – Expiration: End of session
• Name: __utmz – Purpose: Tracks traffic source – Expiration: 6 months
• Name: __utmv – Purpose: Stores custom user data – Expiration: 2 years

Other data collected may include:

• Heatmaps: Tracks areas clicked by users
• Session Duration: Measures time spent on the site
• Bounce Rate: Single-page visits
• Account Data: If you create an account or make a purchase
• IP Address: Stored in anonymized form
• Location: Based on IP (country/city)
• Technical Info: Browser type, provider, screen resolution
• Referrer: Tracks how you arrived on the site
• Other Interactions: Reviews, media plays, social sharing, etc.

How Long and Where Is the Data Stored?

Google stores data across global data centers, mostly in the USA. For locations, see: Google Data Center Locations. Data is split across storage media for speed and security. For GA4, the default retention is 14 months. In Universal Analytics, the default is 26 months, with other options (14, 26, 38, 50 months, or none). If you revisit the site within the chosen period, the timer resets. Deletion occurs monthly once the time is exceeded.

How Can I Delete or Prevent Data Storage?

You have the right to access, update, delete, or restrict your data. To opt out, use the browser add-on: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. This disables Google Analytics data collection. For general cookie settings, see our “Cookies” section.

Legal Basis

Google Analytics is only used with your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). Additionally, we have a legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in analyzing visitor behavior to improve performance and detect security issues. Google may process data in the USA. According to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection in the USA. Google uses Standard Contractual Clauses (Art. 46 paras. 2 and 3 GDPR) to comply with EU standards. More info here: EU SCC, and Google Ads Data Processing Terms. For further details: Google Analytics Terms, Google Support.

Google Analytics Reports on Demographics and Interests

We have enabled advertising features in Google Analytics. These reports include information on age, gender, and interests – allowing us to better understand our audience without linking data to individuals. Learn more: Demographics and Interests Reports. You can manage your ad settings at: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.

We have entered into a direct customer agreement with Google for the use of Google Analytics by accepting the “Data Processing Amendment” in Google Analytics. You can find more information about the Data Processing Amendment for Google Analytics here: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/3379636?hl=en&utm_id=ad

Google Fonts Privacy Policy

We use Google Fonts on our website. These are the “Google Fonts” from Google Inc. For the European region, the company responsible for all Google services is Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland). You don’t need to register or provide a password to use Google Fonts. Furthermore, no cookies are stored in your browser. The files (CSS, fonts) are requested via the Google domains fonts.googleapis.com and fonts.gstatic.com. According to Google, the requests for CSS and fonts are completely separate from all other Google services. If you have a Google account, you don’t need to worry that your Google account data will be transmitted to Google while using Google Fonts. Google records the usage of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and the used fonts and stores this data securely. We will look into how exactly the data is stored in more detail below.

What are Google Fonts?

Google Fonts (formerly Google Web Fonts) is a directory of over 800 fonts that Google provides to its users free of charge. Many of these fonts are released under the SIL Open Font License, while others are released under the Apache License. Both are free software licenses.

Why do we use Google Fonts on our website?

With Google Fonts we can use fonts on our own website without having to upload them to our own server. Google Fonts is an important building block for maintaining the quality of our website. All Google fonts are automatically optimized for the web, which saves data volume and is especially advantageous for use on mobile devices. When you visit our website, the small file size ensures fast loading times. In addition, Google Fonts are secure web fonts. Different rendering systems in different browsers, operating systems and mobile devices can lead to errors. These errors can cause text or entire websites to appear distorted. Thanks to the fast content delivery network (CDN), there are no cross-platform issues with Google Fonts. Google Fonts supports all common browsers (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera) and works reliably on most modern mobile operating systems, including Android 2.2+ and iOS 4.2+ (iPhone, iPad, iPod). So we use Google Fonts to present our entire online service as nicely and consistently as possible.

What data is stored by Google?

When you visit our website, the fonts are loaded via a Google server. This external request transmits data to Google servers. This allows Google to identify that you (or your IP address) are visiting our website. The Google Fonts API was designed to reduce the collection, storage, and use of end-user data to what is necessary for proper font delivery. API stands for “Application Programming Interface” and serves as a data intermediary in software. Google stores CSS and font requests securely and is therefore protected. With the collected usage data, Google can determine how well individual fonts are received. Google publishes the results on internal analytics pages, such as Google Analytics. In addition, Google uses its own web crawler data to determine which websites use Google Fonts. This data is published in the Google Fonts BigQuery database. Businesses and developers use the Google web service BigQuery to analyze and work with large data sets. However, it’s worth noting that every Google Font request also transmits information such as language settings, IP address, browser version, browser screen resolution, and the name of the browser to Google servers. Whether this data is also stored is not clearly stated or confirmed by Google.

How long and where is the data stored?

Requests for CSS assets are stored by Google for one day on servers that are primarily located outside the EU. This allows us to use the fonts via a Google stylesheet. A stylesheet is a template that allows quick and easy changes to a website’s design or fonts. Font files are stored by Google for one year. Google’s goal is to improve the loading time of websites in general. When millions of websites reference the same fonts, they are cached after the first visit and displayed immediately on all other websites later visited. Occasionally, Google updates font files to reduce file size, increase language support, and improve design.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

The data that Google stores for one day or one year cannot be deleted manually. The data is automatically transmitted to Google upon visiting the site. To have this data deleted earlier, you must contact Google Support at https://support.google.com/?hl=en&tid=311196631. You can only prevent data storage in this case by not visiting our site. Unlike other web fonts, Google allows us unrestricted access to all fonts. This means we can access a vast range of fonts and optimize our website accordingly. For more information about Google Fonts and related questions, visit https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq?tid=311196631. Although Google addresses privacy-related topics there, truly detailed information about data storage is not provided. It is relatively difficult to get precise details from Google about which data is stored. You can also find out what data Google generally collects and how it is used at https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/.

Google Fonts Local Privacy Policy

We use Google Fonts from Google Inc. on our website. For the European region, the responsible company is Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland). We have integrated the Google fonts partially locally on our web server – not on Google’s servers. This means there is no connection to Google servers and therefore no data transmission or storage.

Email Marketing Introduction

Email Marketing Summary 👥 Data subjects: Newsletter subscribers 🤝 Purpose: Direct advertising via email, notification of system-relevant events 📓 Processed data: Data entered during registration, at minimum the email address. More details can be found in the respective email marketing tool used. 📅 Storage duration: Duration of the subscription ⚖️ Legal basis: Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)

What is Email Marketing?

To keep you constantly informed, we also use the option of email marketing. If you have agreed to receive our emails or newsletters, your data will be processed and stored accordingly. Email marketing is a sub-area of online marketing. News or general information about a company, products, or services is sent via email to a specific group of people who are interested in it. If you want to participate in our email marketing (usually via newsletter), you normally only need to register with your email address. To do so, you fill out an online form and submit it. In some cases, we may also ask for your salutation and name so we can address you personally. As a rule, newsletter registration is carried out using the so-called “double opt-in” procedure. After you register on our website, you will receive an email in which you confirm your newsletter registration. This ensures that the email address belongs to you and that no one else registered with a foreign email address. We or the notification tool we use log each registration. This is necessary so that we can legally prove the registration process. Usually, the time of registration, the time of confirmation, and your IP address are stored. In addition, any changes you make to your stored data are also logged.

Why do we use Email Marketing?

We naturally want to stay in contact with you and always keep you informed about the most important news concerning our company. For this reason, we use email marketing—often referred to simply as a “newsletter”—as an essential part of our online marketing. Provided that you agree or that it is legally permissible, we will send you newsletters, system emails, or other notifications via email. When we use the term “newsletter” below, we are primarily referring to regularly sent emails. Of course, we don’t want to bother you with our newsletters. That’s why we always strive to offer only relevant and interesting content. You’ll learn more about our company, our services, or products. Since we are constantly improving our offers, our newsletter also informs you about news or special promotions. If we use a professional service provider for email marketing, we do this to offer fast and secure newsletters. The main purpose of our email marketing is to inform you about new offers and help us achieve our business goals.

What data is processed?

If you subscribe to our newsletter via our website, you confirm your membership in an email list via a confirmation email. In addition to your IP address and email address, your salutation, name, address, and phone number may also be stored—but only if you consent to this data being stored. The fields marked as required are necessary to participate in the offered service. Providing this information is voluntary, but failure to do so may mean you cannot use the service. Additionally, information about your device or your preferred content on our website may also be stored. You can find more about the storage of data when visiting a website in the section “Automatic data storage.” We document your consent declaration so we can prove that it complies with the law.

Duration of data processing

If you unsubscribe from our email/newsletter list, we may store your email address for up to three years based on our legitimate interests in order to be able to prove your prior consent. However, we may only process this data if we need it to defend against potential claims. If you confirm that you gave us your consent for the newsletter registration, you can request deletion at any time. If you permanently withdraw your consent, we reserve the right to store your email address in a blocklist. Of course, as long as you voluntarily subscribe to our newsletter, we will also keep your email address.

Right to object

You have the option to cancel your newsletter subscription at any time. To do so, you simply need to revoke your consent to receive the newsletter. This usually only takes a few seconds or one or two clicks. Most of the time, you’ll find a link to unsubscribe at the end of each email. If there is no link in the newsletter, please contact us by email and we will cancel your subscription immediately.

Legal basis

We send our newsletter based on your consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR). This means we may only send you a newsletter if you have actively subscribed to it in advance. In some cases, we may also send promotional emails based on Section 7(3) of the German UWG (Unfair Competition Act), provided you have become our customer and have not objected to the use of your email address for direct advertising. Information about specific email marketing services and how they process personal data can be found – if available – in the following sections.

Push Notifications Introduction

Push Notifications Summary 👥 Data subjects: Push notification subscribers 🤝 Purpose: Notification of system-relevant and interesting events 📓 Processed data: Data entered during registration, usually also location data. More details can be found in the respective push notification tool used. 📅 Storage duration: Data is usually stored as long as necessary to provide the services. ⚖️ Legal basis: Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR (consent), Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR (contract)

What are push notifications?

We also use so-called push notification services on our website to keep our users up to date. This means that if you have agreed to receive such push notifications, we can send you short news updates via a software tool. Push notifications are a form of text message that appear directly on your smartphone or on other devices such as tablets or PCs, provided you have subscribed to them. You receive these messages even if you are not currently on our website or using our services. In the process, data about your location and usage behavior may also be collected and stored.

Why do we use push notifications?

On the one hand, we use push notifications to fully deliver the services we have contractually agreed with you. On the other hand, these notifications also support our online marketing efforts. With their help, we can introduce you to our services or products. Especially when there is news in our company, we can inform you immediately. We want to understand the preferences and habits of all our users as best as possible in order to continuously improve our offering.

What data is processed?

To receive push notifications, you must confirm that you want to receive them. The data collected during the consent process is stored, managed, and processed. This is necessary to prove and recognize that a user has agreed to receive push notifications. A so-called device token or push token is stored in your browser for this purpose. Typically, the data of your location or the location of the device you are using is also stored. In order to always send interesting and important push messages, their handling is also evaluated statistically. For example, we can see if and when you open the message. These insights allow us to tailor our communication strategy to your needs and interests. Although these stored data can be attributed to you, we do not intend to monitor you as an individual. Rather, we are interested in the aggregated data of all our users so we can make improvements. You can find out exactly which data is stored in the privacy policies of the respective service providers.

Duration of data processing

How long data is processed and stored primarily depends on the tool we use. Further below you will find more information about how each tool processes data. The providers’ privacy policies typically state exactly what data is stored and for how long. In general, personal data is only processed as long as necessary to provide our services. If data is stored in cookies, the storage duration can vary greatly. Some data may be deleted immediately after leaving a website, while others may remain stored for several years. Therefore, you should review each individual cookie in detail if you want to know more about data storage. Most of the time, the privacy policies of the respective providers contain useful information about the individual cookies.

Legal basis

Push notifications may also be necessary to fulfill certain obligations stated in a contract. For example, to inform you about technical or organizational updates. In such cases, the legal basis is Article 6(1)(b) GDPR. If that is not the case, push notifications are only sent based on your consent. Our push notifications may contain promotional content and may also be sent depending on your device’s reported location. The aforementioned analytical evaluations are also based on your consent to receive such notifications. The legal basis for this is Article 6(1)(a) GDPR. Of course, you can withdraw your consent or adjust your settings at any time.

OneSignal Privacy Policy

We use OneSignal, a mobile marketing platform, on our website. The service provider is the American company OneSignal, 2850 S Delaware St #201, San Mateo, CA 94403, USA. OneSignal also processes data in the USA. We would like to point out that, according to the Court of Justice of the European Union, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfers to the USA. This may pose various risks to the legality and security of data processing. As a basis for data processing with recipients located in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway—especially in the USA) or for transferring data to such countries, OneSignal uses Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the EU Commission (Art. 46(2) and (3) GDPR). These clauses oblige OneSignal to comply with EU data protection standards when processing relevant data outside the EU. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the clauses here: https://ec.europa.eu/germany/news/20210604-datentransfers-eu_de. Learn more about the data processed by OneSignal in their Privacy Policy at https://onesignal.com/privacy.

Facebook Privacy Policy

Facebook Privacy Policy Summary 👥 Data subjects: Website visitors 🤝 Purpose: Optimization of our service 📓 Processed data: Data such as customer information, user behavior, device information, and your IP address. More details can be found below in this privacy policy. 📅 Storage duration: Until the data is no longer useful for Facebook’s purposes ⚖️ Legal basis: Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR (consent), Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interests)

What are Facebook Tools?

We use selected tools from Facebook on our website. Facebook is a social media network provided by Facebook Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland. With the help of these tools, we aim to provide you and people interested in our products and services with the best possible experience. When data is collected and forwarded via embedded Facebook elements or via our Facebook page (fan page), both we and Facebook Ireland Ltd. are responsible for it. Facebook is solely responsible for further processing of this data. Our joint responsibilities are outlined in a publicly available agreement at https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum. This includes the requirement that we clearly inform you about the use of Facebook tools on our site. We are also responsible for integrating the tools in a privacy-compliant manner on our website. Facebook, on the other hand, is responsible for the data security of Facebook’s products. If you have any questions about Facebook’s data collection and processing, you can contact Facebook directly. If you contact us, we are obliged to forward your inquiry to Facebook. Below, we provide an overview of the various Facebook tools, the data sent to Facebook, and how you can delete this data. Among many other products, Facebook offers what it calls “Facebook Business Tools.” Since this term is not widely known, we refer to them simply as Facebook Tools. These include, for example:

• Facebook Pixel
• Social plugins (e.g. “Like” or “Share” buttons)
• Facebook Login
• Account Kit
• APIs (Application Programming Interfaces)
• SDKs (Software Development Kits)
• Platform integrations
• Plugins
• Code
• Specifications
• Documentation
• Technologies and services

Through these tools, Facebook expands its services and can collect information about user activity outside of the Facebook platform.

Why do we use Facebook Tools on our website?

We only want to show our services and products to people who are truly interested in them. With the help of advertisements (Facebook Ads), we can reach exactly those people. In order to show users relevant ads, Facebook needs information about people’s interests and needs. Facebook receives this information through user behavior (and contact details) on our website. This helps Facebook collect better user data and show interested people suitable ads for our products or services. The tools allow for personalized advertising campaigns on Facebook. Facebook refers to data about your behavior on our website as “event data.” This data is also used for analytics and measurement services. Facebook can generate “campaign reports” on the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns on our behalf. Additionally, we gain better insights into how you use our services, website, or products through these analyses. This allows us to optimize your user experience on our website using some of these tools. For example, social plug-ins allow you to share content directly on Facebook from our site.

What data is stored by Facebook Tools?

By using individual Facebook tools, personal data (customer data) may be sent to Facebook. Depending on the tools used, customer data such as name, address, phone number, and IP address can be transmitted. Facebook uses this information to match it with data it already has on you (if you are a Facebook user). Before customer data is transmitted to Facebook, it is “hashed,” meaning a large data set is transformed into a string of characters. This also serves as a method of encryption. In addition to contact information, “event data” is also transmitted. “Event data” includes information we receive from you on our website, such as which subpages you visit or which products you purchase. Facebook does not share this information with third parties (e.g., advertisers) unless they have explicit permission or are legally obligated to do so. “Event data” can also be linked with contact data to enable Facebook to deliver better personalized advertising. After the matching process, Facebook deletes the contact data. To deliver ads in an optimized way, Facebook only uses event data if it has been aggregated with other data collected by Facebook. Event data is also used for security, safety, development, and research purposes. Much of this data is transferred to Facebook through cookies. Cookies are small text files used to store data or information in browsers. Depending on the tools used and whether you are a Facebook member, different numbers of cookies are stored in your browser. We provide more details about specific Facebook cookies in the descriptions of individual tools. General information on Facebook’s use of cookies can also be found at https://www.facebook.com/policies/cookies.

How long and where is the data stored?

In general, Facebook stores data as long as it is needed for its own services and Facebook products. Facebook has servers located around the world where it stores its data. Customer data, however, is deleted within 48 hours after it has been matched with Facebook’s own user data.

How can I delete or prevent data storage?

Under the General Data Protection Regulation, you have the right to access, correct, transfer, and delete your data. Complete deletion of your data only occurs when you permanently delete your Facebook account. Here’s how to delete your Facebook account: 1) Click on Settings at the top right of Facebook. 2) In the left column, click “Your Facebook Information.” 3) Click “Deactivation and Deletion.” 4) Select “Delete Account” and then click “Continue to Account Deletion.” 5) Enter your password, click “Continue,” and then “Delete Account.” Data Facebook collects via our website is also stored using cookies (e.g., with social plugins). In your browser, you can disable, delete, or manage individual or all cookies. How this works depends on the browser you use. Under the “Cookies” section, you’ll find the appropriate instructions for the most popular browsers. If you generally don’t want to allow any cookies, you can configure your browser to notify you whenever a cookie is set. This way, you can decide whether to allow each cookie individually.

Legal Basis

If you have consented to the use and storage of your data through embedded Facebook tools, your consent serves as the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). In general, we also process and store your data based on our legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) in maintaining a fast and effective communication with you and other customers and business partners. We only use these tools if you have given your consent. Most social media platforms store cookies in your browser to collect data. Therefore, we recommend that you read our cookie policy and review Facebook’s privacy policy and cookie guidelines. Facebook also processes your data in the USA. We would like to point out that the Court of Justice of the European Union considers that there is currently no adequate level of data protection for data transfers to the USA. This may involve various risks to the legality and security of data processing. To ensure that your data is properly protected when transferred to third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway—especially the USA), Facebook uses so-called Standard Contractual Clauses (= Art. 46(2) and (3) GDPR). These clauses are templates provided by the EU Commission to ensure your data remains compliant with European privacy standards even if transferred to and stored in third countries like the USA. By using these clauses, Facebook agrees to comply with European data protection standards when processing your relevant data—even in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision by the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=en. Facebook’s data processing terms that comply with these clauses can be found at https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing. We hope we have provided the most important information about the use and data processing of Facebook tools. If you would like to learn more about how Facebook uses your data, we recommend reading their privacy policy at https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/update.

AI Tools

ChatGPT Privacy Policy

We use ChatGPT, an AI tool from OpenAI, on our website to provide users with personalized assistance and automated responses. ChatGPT collects and processes data generated during interactions with the tool. Please note that OpenAI is a U.S.-based company and data processing may occur in the United States. Since ChatGPT may process personal data, we would like to point out that, according to the Court of Justice of the European Union, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfers to the USA. This may involve various risks to the legality and security of data processing. To ensure your data is adequately protected, we have implemented Standard Contractual Clauses in accordance with Article 46(2) and (3) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These clauses are intended to ensure that your data remains compliant with European data protection standards even when transferred to and stored in third countries such as the USA. Through these measures, OpenAI is committed to complying with European data protection levels, even if the data is stored, processed, and managed in the USA. For more information about OpenAI’s privacy policies, please visit their website at https://openai.com/privacy-policy/.

Midjourney and Midjourney API Privacy Policy

We use the services of Midjourney and the Midjourney API on our website to enhance the user experience and offer personalized solutions. Midjourney is a technology provider that offers features for analyzing and improving user interactions. Please note that Midjourney may collect and process personal data. Midjourney is a service provider based outside the European Union, and data processing may occur in other countries. We are aware that, according to the Court of Justice of the European Union, there may not be an adequate level of protection for data transfers to certain countries, which could pose various risks to the legality and security of data processing. To ensure your data is appropriately protected, we have implemented Standard Contractual Clauses in accordance with Article 46(2) and (3) GDPR. These clauses ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even when transferred to and stored in third countries. Through these measures, Midjourney commits to maintaining the European data protection level, even when data is stored, processed, and managed outside the EU. You can find more information about Midjourney’s privacy policies on their website at https://docs.midjourney.com/docs/privacy-policy. The use of the Midjourney API also complies with applicable data protection regulations and standards. We ensure that all data is handled and protected in accordance with legal requirements.

Why Do We Use Social Media?

For years, social media platforms have been the place where people communicate and connect online. With our social media presence, we can bring our products and services closer to interested individuals. The social media elements embedded on our website help you quickly and easily access our social media content. The data stored and processed through your use of a social media channel primarily serves the purpose of conducting web analyses. The aim of these analyses is to develop more precise and personalized marketing and advertising strategies. Depending on your behavior on a social media platform, the analyzed data can be used to draw appropriate conclusions about your interests and create so-called user profiles. This allows the platforms to present you with tailored advertisements. Cookies are usually set in your browser for this purpose, which store data about your usage behavior. We generally assume that we remain responsible under data protection law even when we use services of a social media platform. However, the European Court of Justice has ruled that in certain cases, the operator of the social media platform may be jointly responsible with us within the meaning of Art. 26 GDPR. Where this is the case, we explicitly point it out and act based on a corresponding agreement. The essence of this agreement is then presented further below under the respective platform. Please note that when using social media platforms or our embedded elements, data about you may also be processed outside the European Union, as many social media channels, such as Facebook or Twitter, are American companies. As a result, you may no longer be able to easily assert or enforce your rights regarding your personal data.

What Data Is Processed?

The exact data that is stored and processed depends on the respective provider of the social media platform. However, it usually includes data such as phone numbers, email addresses, information entered into contact forms, user data such as which buttons you click, whom you like or follow, when you visited which pages, information about your device, and your IP address. Most of this data is stored in cookies. Especially if you have a profile on the visited social media channel and are logged in, data can be linked to your profile. All data collected via a social media platform is also stored on the providers’ servers. Therefore, only the providers have access to the data and can provide appropriate information or make changes. If you want to know exactly what data is stored and processed by social media providers and how you can object to the data processing, you should carefully read the respective company’s privacy policy. Even if you have questions about data storage and processing or want to exercise your rights, we recommend that you contact the provider directly.

Duration of Data Processing

We inform you about the duration of data processing further below, if we have more specific information. For example, the social media platform Facebook stores data until it is no longer needed for its own purposes. However, customer data that is matched with user data is deleted within two days. In general, we process personal data only as long as it is absolutely necessary for providing our services and products. If legally required, for example in the case of accounting, this storage period may be exceeded.

Right to Object

You also have the right and the option to withdraw your consent to the use of cookies or third-party providers such as embedded social media elements at any time. This can be done either via our cookie management tool or through other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection via cookies by managing, deactivating, or deleting cookies in your browser. Since social media tools may use cookies, we also recommend reading our general privacy policy on cookies. To find out exactly what data of yours is stored and processed, please read the privacy policies of the respective tools.

Legal Basis

If you have consented to the processing and storage of your data by embedded social media elements, this consent serves as the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). In general, your data is also processed based on our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in fast and effective communication with you or other customers and business partners. However, we only use the tools if you have given your consent. Most social media platforms also set cookies in your browser to store data. Therefore, we recommend that you read our privacy policy on cookies and consult the privacy policy or cookie guidelines of the respective service provider. You will find information about specific social media platforms—if available—in the following sections.

Instagram Privacy Policy

Instagram Privacy Policy Summary 👥 Data subjects: Visitors to the website 🤝 Purpose: Optimization of our service 📓 Processed data: Data such as user behavior, information about your device, and your IP address. More details can be found below in this privacy policy. 📅 Storage duration: until Instagram no longer needs the data for its purposes ⚖️ Legal bases: Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)

What is Instagram?

We have integrated functions from Instagram into our website. Instagram is a social media platform operated by Instagram LLC, 1601 Willow Rd, Menlo Park CA 94025, USA. Since 2012, Instagram has been a subsidiary of Facebook Inc. and is part of the Facebook products. Embedding Instagram content on our website is called embedding. This allows us to display content such as buttons, photos or videos from Instagram directly on our website. When you visit web pages on our website that contain an Instagram function, data is transmitted to, stored by, and processed by Instagram. Instagram uses the same systems and technologies as Facebook. Your data is therefore processed across all Facebook companies. Below, we would like to give you more insight into why Instagram collects data, what data is involved, and how you can largely control data processing. Since Instagram is part of Facebook Inc., we obtain our information partly from Instagram’s policies and partly from Facebook’s data policies. Instagram is one of the most well-known social media networks worldwide. It combines the benefits of a blog with those of audiovisual platforms like YouTube or Vimeo. On “Insta” (as many users call it), you can upload and edit photos and short videos with various filters and share them across other social networks. Even if you are not active yourself, you can simply follow interesting users.

Why do we use Instagram on our website?

Instagram has experienced a real boom in recent years—and of course, we have responded to that. We want you to feel as comfortable as possible on our website. That’s why diverse and engaging content is important to us. With the embedded Instagram functions, we can enrich our content with helpful, entertaining, or engaging elements from the Instagram world. Since Instagram is a subsidiary of Facebook, the collected data may also be useful for personalized advertising on Facebook. This way, our ads are shown only to people who are genuinely interested in our products or services. Instagram also uses the collected data for measurement and analysis purposes. We receive aggregated statistics that give us more insight into your preferences and interests. It’s important to note that these reports do not personally identify you.

What data is stored by Instagram?

When you visit one of our pages that includes Instagram functions (such as Instagram images or plug-ins), your browser automatically connects to Instagram’s servers. In the process, data is sent to, stored by, and processed by Instagram—regardless of whether you have an Instagram account. This includes information about our website, your device, your purchases, advertisements you see, and how you use our services. The date and time of your interaction with Instagram are also recorded. If you have an Instagram account or are logged in, Instagram stores significantly more data about you. Facebook differentiates between customer data and event data. We assume Instagram handles this in the same way. Customer data includes information such as name, address, phone number, and IP address. These customer details are only transmitted to Instagram after being “hashed.” Hashing means converting a data record into a character string, effectively encrypting the contact data. Event data, as defined by Facebook and likewise by Instagram, refers to data about your user behavior. Sometimes, contact data is combined with event data. The collected contact data is matched with data Instagram already has about you. The data collected is transferred to Facebook via small text files (cookies) usually stored in your browser. The amount of data stored depends on the Instagram features used and whether you have an Instagram account. We assume Instagram processes data similarly to Facebook. That means: if you have an Instagram account or visit www.instagram.com, Instagram sets at least one cookie. In that case, your browser sends data to Instagram via the cookie whenever you interact with an Instagram function. These data are deleted or anonymized after 90 days (following reconciliation). Despite our thorough research, we cannot say exactly what data Instagram collects and stores. Below, we list cookies that are set in your browser at a minimum when you interact with Instagram features (e.g., button or Instagram image). We assume in this test that you do not have an Instagram account. If you are logged in to Instagram, more cookies will be placed in your browser.

Name: csrftoken
Value: “”
Purpose: Likely used for security reasons to prevent request forgery. Exact purpose is unclear.
Expiration: after one year

Name: mid
Value: “”
Purpose: Used by Instagram to optimize its services inside and outside of Instagram. It assigns a unique user ID.
Expiration: end of session

Name: fbsr_311905239124024
Value: no data provided
Purpose: Stores login request for Instagram app users.
Expiration: end of session

Name: rur
Value: ATN
Purpose: Ensures functionality on Instagram.
Expiration: end of session

Name: urlgen
Value: “{”194.96.75.33”: 1901}:1iEtYv:Y833k2_UjKvXgYe311905239”
Purpose: Used for Instagram marketing purposes.
Expiration: end of session

Note: This list is not exhaustive. Which cookies are set in your individual case depends on the embedded features and your use of Instagram.

How long and where is the data stored?

Instagram shares the information it receives with Facebook companies, external partners, and people you connect with around the world. Data processing is carried out in accordance with its own data policy. For security reasons, your data is stored on Facebook servers located around the world. Most of these servers are in the USA.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

Thanks to the General Data Protection Regulation, you have the right to access, transfer, correct, and delete your data. You can manage your data in your Instagram settings. If you want to completely delete your data on Instagram, you must permanently delete your Instagram account. Here’s how to delete your account: First, open the Instagram app. On your profile page, scroll down and click on “Help Center.” You will then be redirected to the company’s website. On the website, click on “Managing Your Account” and then “Delete Your Account.” If you delete your account completely, Instagram deletes posts such as your photos and status updates. However, information shared about you by others is not part of your account and will not be deleted. As already mentioned above, Instagram primarily stores your data via cookies. You can manage, deactivate, or delete these cookies in your browser. How this works depends on your browser. In the “Cookies” section, you will find links to the instructions for managing cookies in the most common browsers. You can also configure your browser to notify you whenever a cookie is about to be set. Then you can decide on a case-by-case basis whether to allow it or not.

Legal Basis

If you have given your consent for your data to be processed and stored via embedded social media elements, this consent serves as the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). In general, your data is also stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in fast and effective communication with you or other customers and business partners. We only use embedded social media elements if you have given your consent. Most social media platforms also set cookies in your browser to store data. Therefore, we recommend that you carefully read our privacy policy on cookies and review the privacy or cookie policies of the respective service providers. Instagram and Facebook also process data in the USA, among other locations. We point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfers to the USA. This can entail various risks for the legality and security of data processing. As a basis for data processing by recipients in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway – especially in the USA) or for data transfers to such countries, Facebook uses the standard contractual clauses approved by the EU Commission (Art. 46 para. 2 and 3 GDPR). These clauses require Facebook to uphold the EU level of data protection when processing relevant data outside the EU. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the clauses here: https://ec.europa.eu/germany/news/20210604-datentransfers-eu_de. We have tried to provide you with the most important information about Instagram’s data processing. You can find more details in Instagram’s data policy at https://help.instagram.com/519522125107875.

LinkedIn Privacy Policy

LinkedIn Privacy Policy Summary 👥 Data subjects: Website visitors 🤝 Purpose: Optimization of our service 📓 Processed data: Data such as user behavior, information about your device, and your IP address. More details can be found further below in this privacy policy. 📅 Storage duration: data is generally deleted within 30 days ⚖️ Legal bases: Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests)

What is LinkedIn?

We use social plugins from the social media network LinkedIn on our website. This service is provided by LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. The social plugins may include feeds, content sharing options, or links to our LinkedIn page. These plugins are clearly marked with the well-known LinkedIn logo and allow users to share interesting content directly via our website. For the European Economic Area and Switzerland, LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin, is responsible for data processing. By embedding such plugins, data can be sent to, stored by, and processed by LinkedIn. In this privacy policy, we inform you about which data is involved, how the network uses this data, and how you can manage or prevent data storage. LinkedIn is the largest social network for business contacts. Unlike Facebook, for example, the company focuses exclusively on building professional connections. Companies can showcase services and products on the platform and establish business relationships. Many people also use LinkedIn to look for jobs or to find suitable employees for their own companies. In Germany alone, the network has over 11 million members. In Austria, there are around 1.3 million.

Why do we use LinkedIn on our website?

We know how busy you are. You can’t possibly follow every social media channel individually — even though it would be worth it in our case. We regularly post interesting news and articles that deserve to be shared. That’s why we’ve made it possible for you to share interesting content directly on LinkedIn or access our LinkedIn page from our website. We see embedded social plugins as an added service on our site. The data that LinkedIn collects also helps us target advertising campaigns only to people who are truly interested in what we offer.

What data is stored by LinkedIn?

Simply embedding the social plugins does not cause LinkedIn to store any personal data. LinkedIn refers to the data generated by plugins as passive impressions. However, if you click on a social plugin — for example, to share our content — the platform stores personal data as so-called “active impressions,” regardless of whether you have a LinkedIn account. If you are logged in, the collected data is linked to your account. When you interact with our plugins, your browser establishes a direct connection to LinkedIn’s servers, allowing the company to log various usage data. In addition to your IP address, this may include login data, device information, or information about your internet or mobile service provider. If you access LinkedIn services via your smartphone, your location (if permitted) may also be determined. LinkedIn may also share this data in “hashed” form with third-party advertisers. Hashing means that a data set is converted into a character string, effectively encrypting the data so that individuals cannot be identified. Most data about your user behavior is stored in cookies — small text files typically stored in your browser. Additionally, LinkedIn may use web beacons, pixel tags, ad tags, and other device identifiers. Various tests have also shown which cookies are set when a user interacts with a social plugin. The following cookies were identified in our tests, even without being logged into LinkedIn:

Name: bcookie
Value: =2&34aab2aa-2ae1-4d2a-8baf-c2e2d7235c16311905239-
Purpose: This is a “browser ID cookie” that stores your identification number (ID).
Expiration: After 2 years

Name: lang
Value: v=2&lang=de-de
Purpose: Stores your default or preferred language.
Expiration: At session end

Name: lidc
Value: 1818367:t=1571904767:s=AQF6KNnJ0G311905239…
Purpose: Used for routing; tracks how you arrived at LinkedIn and navigated the site.
Expiration: After 24 hours

Name: rtc
Value: kt0lrv3NF3x3t6xvDgGrZGDKkX
Purpose: No specific information found.
Expiration: After 2 minutes

Name: JSESSIONID
Value: ajax:3119052392900777718326218137
Purpose: A session cookie used by LinkedIn to maintain anonymous user sessions through the server.
Expiration: At session end

Name: bscookie
Value: “v=1&201910230812…
Purpose: A security cookie, described by LinkedIn as a Secure Browser ID Cookie.
Expiration: After 2 years

Name: fid
Value: AQHj7Ii23ZBcqAAAA…
Purpose: No specific information found.
Expiration: After 7 days

Note: LinkedIn also collaborates with third parties. During our test, we also detected the Google Analytics cookies _ga and _gat.

How long and where are the data stored?

In general, LinkedIn retains your personal data for as long as the company deems necessary to provide its services. However, LinkedIn will delete your personal data if you delete your account. In some exceptional cases, LinkedIn may retain certain data in aggregated and anonymized form even after account deletion. Once you delete your account, your data can no longer be viewed by others within one day. LinkedIn generally deletes the data within 30 days. However, it retains data if legally required to do so. Data that can no longer be linked to a person may remain stored even after the account is closed. The data is stored on servers located in the United States and likely also in Europe.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

You have the right to access and delete your personal data at any time. You can manage, modify, and delete your data within your LinkedIn account. You can also request a copy of your personal data from LinkedIn. To access your account data on LinkedIn, click on your profile icon and select “Settings & Privacy.” Then click on the “Privacy” tab and under “How LinkedIn uses your data,” click “Change.” In just a short time, you can download selected data about your web activity and account history. You can also block LinkedIn’s data processing through your browser. As previously mentioned, LinkedIn stores most data via cookies placed in your browser. These cookies can be managed, disabled, or deleted. Depending on the browser you use, cookie management will vary. Under the “Cookies” section, you’ll find links to instructions for the most common browsers. You can also set your browser to notify you whenever a cookie is about to be set, allowing you to decide individually whether to accept each one.

Legal basis

If you have consented to the processing and storage of your data by embedded social media elements, this consent serves as the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). In general, your data is also stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in fast and effective communication with you or other customers and business partners. We only use embedded social media elements if you have given your consent. Most social media platforms also set cookies in your browser to store data. That’s why we recommend that you carefully read our privacy policy on cookies as well as the privacy policies or cookie guidelines of the respective service provider.

LinkedIn also processes data from you in the USA, among other countries. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for the transfer of data to the USA. This may entail various risks for the legality and security of data processing. As a basis for data processing with recipients in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway – especially in the USA) or for data transfers to such countries, LinkedIn uses so-called Standard Contractual Clauses (= Art. 46 paras. 2 and 3 GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data also complies with European data protection standards when transferred and stored in third countries (such as the USA).

Through these clauses, LinkedIn commits to maintaining the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if it 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: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de.

More information on LinkedIn’s use of Standard Contractual Clauses can be found at https://de.linkedin.com/legal/l/dpa and https://www.linkedin.com/legal/l/eu-sccs.

We have attempted to provide you with the most important information about LinkedIn’s data processing. For further details, please consult LinkedIn’s privacy policy at https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.

Legal basis

If you have consented to the processing and storage of your data by integrated Pinterest elements, this consent serves as the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). We also have a legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in analyzing visitor behavior to improve our service and present it more effectively. We only use the integrated Pinterest elements if you have given your consent. Pinterest may also process data in the USA. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This may entail various risks for the legality and security of data processing. As a basis for data processing with recipients located in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway — especially in the USA) or for data transfer to such countries, Pinterest uses standard contractual clauses approved by the EU Commission (Art. 46 para. 2 and 3 GDPR). These clauses are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data meets the European data protection standards even when transferred and stored in third countries. Through these clauses, Pinterest undertakes to comply with the EU 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: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=en. More information about the standard contractual clauses at Pinterest can be found at https://policy.pinterest.com/en/privacy-policy.

If you have consented to the processing and storage of your data via embedded social media elements, this consent serves as the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR). In general, your data may also be processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR) in efficient and effective communication with you and other customers or business partners. However, we only use such tools if you have given your consent.

Most social media platforms place cookies in your browser to store data. Therefore, we recommend that you read our privacy policy on cookies carefully and also review the privacy policies or cookie guidelines of the respective service providers.

Pinterest, among others, may process your data in the United States. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfers to the U.S. This may pose various risks to the legality and security of data processing. To ensure data protection for recipients in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, particularly in the U.S.) or for transfers to such countries, Pinterest uses so-called Standard Contractual Clauses (Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). These are model contracts provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even when transferred to and stored in third countries such as the United States.

By using these clauses, Pinterest commits to maintaining the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data—even if the data is stored and managed in the U.S. These clauses are based on an implementing decision by the European Commission. You can find the decision and the relevant clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=en

More information about Pinterest’s use of Standard Contractual Clauses can be found at: https://policy.pinterest.com/en/privacy-policy#section-residents-of-the-eea

We have made every effort to provide you with the most important information regarding Pinterest’s data processing. For further details, please visit Pinterest’s privacy policy at: https://policy.pinterest.com/en/privacy-policy

Twitter Privacy Policy

Twitter Privacy Summary 👥 Data Subjects: Visitors to the website 🤝 Purpose: Optimization of our services 📓 Data Processed: User behavior, device information, and IP address. More details below in the privacy policy. 📅 Retention Period: Data collected from other websites is deleted by Twitter after a maximum of 30 days ⚖️ Legal Bases: Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR (Consent), Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR (Legitimate Interests)

Wie lange und wo werden die Daten gespeichert?

How long and where is the data stored?

When Twitter collects data from other websites, it deletes, aggregates, or anonymizes it after a maximum of 30 days. Twitter’s servers are located in various data centers in the United States. Therefore, it can be assumed that the collected data is gathered and stored in the U.S. According to our research, it is unclear whether Twitter operates its own servers in Europe. In general, Twitter may store collected data as long as it is useful to the company, unless you delete it or a statutory retention period applies.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

Twitter emphasizes in its privacy policy that it does not store data from external website visits when you or your browser are located in the European Economic Area or Switzerland. However, if you directly interact with Twitter, it will of course store data about you. If you have a Twitter account, you can manage your data by clicking on the “Profile” button and then selecting “More”, followed by “Settings and privacy”. Here, you can customize how your data is processed. If you do not have a Twitter account, you can visit twitter.com and click on “Personalization”. Under “Personalization and data”, you can manage your collected data.

Most of the data is stored via cookies, as mentioned earlier, and you can manage, disable, or delete them in your browser settings. Please note that cookie management is browser-specific. This means that if you use a different browser in the future, you must configure your cookie settings again. In the “Cookies” section, we provide links to the relevant instructions for the most common browsers. You can also set your browser to notify you about each cookie. This way, you can decide individually whether to allow each cookie.

Twitter also uses data for personalized advertising on and off Twitter. In the settings under “Personalization and data”, you can deactivate personalized advertising. If you use Twitter in a browser, you can also disable personalized advertising via http://optout.aboutads.info/?c=2&lang=EN.

Legal Basis

If you have consented to the processing and storage of your data via embedded social media elements, this consent serves as the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR). In general, your data may also be processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR) in efficient and effective communication with you and other customers or business partners. However, we only use embedded social media elements if you have given your consent.

Most social media platforms place cookies in your browser to store data. Therefore, we recommend that you read our privacy policy on cookies carefully and also review the privacy policies or cookie guidelines of the respective service providers.

Twitter processes your data, among other things, in the United States. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfers to the U.S. This may pose various risks to the legality and security of data processing. To ensure data protection for recipients in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, particularly in the U.S.) or for transfers to such countries, Twitter uses so-called Standard Contractual Clauses (Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). These are model contracts provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even when transferred to and stored in third countries such as the United States.

By using these clauses, Twitter commits to maintaining the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data—even if the data is stored and managed in the U.S. These clauses are based on an implementing decision by the European Commission. You can find the decision and the relevant clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=en

More information about Twitter’s use of Standard Contractual Clauses can be found at: https://gdpr.twitter.com/en/controller-to-controller-transfers.html

We hope we have provided you with a basic overview of Twitter’s data processing. We do not receive any data from Twitter and bear no responsibility for what Twitter does with your data. If you have further questions, we recommend reviewing Twitter’s privacy policy at https://twitter.com/en/privacy.

The exact data processed depends on the communication features we use. Most commonly, IP addresses, usernames, and the published content are stored. This is primarily done to ensure security, prevent spam, and take action against unlawful content. Cookies may also be used for data storage. These are small text files stored in your browser containing information. Further details on the data collected and stored can be found in our specific sections and in the privacy policies of the respective providers.

Duration of Data Processing

We inform you about the duration of data processing below, wherever we have further information. For example, comment and post functions store data until you revoke data storage. In general, personal data is only stored as long as is absolutely necessary to provide our services.

Right to Object

You always have the right and option to revoke your consent to the use of cookies or third-party communication tools. This can be done either through our cookie management tool or other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection through cookies by managing, disabling, or deleting them in your browser. Since cookies may also be used in publication media, we recommend reading our general privacy policy on cookies. To know which data is specifically stored and processed, please refer to the privacy policies of the respective tools.

Legal Basis

We primarily use communication tools based on our legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR) in efficient and effective communication with you or other customers, business partners, and visitors. If usage is required for fulfilling or initiating contractual relationships, the legal basis is also Art. 6 (1)(b) GDPR. Certain processing activities, especially the use of cookies and comment or messaging functions, require your consent. If and to the extent you have consented to the processing and storage of data via embedded publication media, this consent constitutes the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR). Most of the communication tools we use set cookies in your browser to store data. Therefore, we recommend you carefully read our cookie policy and the privacy policy or cookie guidelines of the respective provider. Information about specific tools is provided—where available—in the following sections.

Blog Posts and Comment Features Privacy Policy

We use various online communication tools on our website, such as blog posts and comment features. This gives you the opportunity to comment on content or create posts yourself. When you use this feature, your IP address may be stored for security reasons. This helps us protect against unlawful content such as insults, unauthorized advertising, or prohibited political propaganda. To detect whether comments are spam, we may store and process user information based on our legitimate interests. If we conduct a survey, we may also store your IP address for the duration of the survey to ensure that each participant votes only once. Cookies may also be used for storage purposes. All data we store from you (e.g., content or personal information) remains stored until you revoke your consent.

What data is processed?

To verify whether you clicked on a link we use, the affiliate program provider needs to know that it was you who followed the link from our website. A proper attribution of the affiliate links to the resulting actions (transactions, purchases, conversions, impressions, etc.) must be ensured. Only then can commissions be correctly assigned. For this attribution, a value may be added to the URL, or information can be stored in cookies. This may include the referring page, the time of the click, an identifier for our website, the specific offer, and a user ID. This means that once you interact with the products or services of an affiliate program, the provider will collect data about you. The specific data collected depends on the provider. For example, the Amazon Affiliate Program distinguishes between active and automatic information. Active information includes name, email address, phone number, age, payment details, or location. Automatically collected information includes user behavior, IP address, device information, and the URL.

Duration of Data Processing

We provide information about the duration of data processing further below if we have more details. In general, personal data is only processed as long as it is necessary to provide the services and products. Data stored in cookies may have different storage durations. Some cookies are deleted when you leave the website, while others may remain stored in your browser for several years unless you delete them manually. The exact duration depends on the provider. Usually, you should expect data to be stored for several years. The individual providers’ privacy policies typically offer specific information about the processing duration.

Right to Object

You always have the right to access, correct, and delete your personal data. For any inquiries, you may contact the respective affiliate program provider directly. Their contact details can be found either in our specific privacy policy or on their website. You can delete, disable, or manage the cookies used by providers in your browser settings. The exact method depends on the browser you use.

Legal Basis

If you have consented to the use of affiliate programs, your consent constitutes the legal basis for the respective data processing. According to Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR, this consent serves as the legal basis for processing personal data, such as those collected through an affiliate program. We also have a legitimate interest in using affiliate programs to optimize our online services and marketing efforts, which constitutes a legal basis under Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR. However, we only use affiliate programs if you have given your consent. Information about specific affiliate programs is provided—where available—in the following sections.

How long and where is the data stored?

Personal data is stored by Amazon for as long as it is necessary for Amazon’s business services or required by legal obligations. Since Amazon is headquartered in the United States, collected data is also stored on servers located in the U.S.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

You always have the right to access and delete your personal data. If you have an Amazon account, you can manage or delete much of the data collected in your account settings. Another option to control data processing and storage by Amazon according to your preferences is through your browser settings, where you can manage, disable, or delete cookies. This process differs slightly depending on the browser used. Under the “Cookies” section, we provide links to the most common browser guides.

Legal Basis

If you have consented to the use of the Amazon Affiliate Program, this consent forms the legal basis for the corresponding data processing. According to Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR, this consent allows for the processing of personal data, as may occur through the use of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Additionally, we have a legitimate interest in using the Amazon Affiliate Program to optimize our online services and marketing efforts. The relevant legal basis for this is Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR. However, we only use the Amazon Affiliate Program if you have given your consent.

Amazon may also process your data in the United States. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfers to the U.S. This can pose various risks regarding the legality and security of data processing. To ensure data protection for recipients in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway—particularly in the U.S.) or for transfers to such countries, Amazon uses so-called Standard Contractual Clauses (Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). These Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are template contracts provided by the European Commission to ensure that your data also meets European data protection standards when transferred to and stored in third countries (such as the U.S.).

Through these clauses, Amazon commits to maintaining the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data—even if stored, processed, and managed in the U.S. These clauses are based on an implementing decision by the European Commission. You can find the decision and the applicable SCCs here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=en. Amazon’s data processing terms (AWS GDPR DATA PROCESSING), which align with the SCCs, can be found at: https://d1.awsstatic.com/legal/aws-gdpr/AWS_GDPR_DPA.pdf.

We hope we have provided you with the most important information about data transfer resulting from the use of the Amazon Affiliate Program. For more details, please visit: https://www.amazon.de/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201909010.

Why do we use a Cookie Management Tool?

Our goal is to provide you with the highest possible level of transparency in terms of data protection. In addition, we are also legally required to do so. We aim to inform you as clearly as possible about all tools and cookies that may store and process your data. It is your right to decide which cookies you accept and which you do not. To grant you this right, we must first know which cookies are placed on our website. Thanks to a cookie management tool that regularly scans the website for all existing cookies, we are informed about all cookies and can provide you with GDPR-compliant information. You can accept or reject cookies through the consent system.

What data is processed?

With our cookie management tool, you can manage each individual cookie and have full control over the storage and processing of your data. Your declaration of consent is stored so that we do not have to ask you again on every visit to our website and so that we can prove your consent if legally required. This is stored either in an opt-in cookie or on a server. Depending on the provider of the cookie management tool, the storage duration of your cookie consent may vary. Typically, this data (such as a pseudonymous user ID, time of consent, details about the cookie categories or tools, browser, device information) is stored for up to two years.

Duration of Data Processing

We provide information about the duration of data processing below, if available. In general, we process personal data only for as long as is absolutely necessary to provide our services and products. Data stored in cookies may have different storage durations. Some cookies are deleted after leaving the website, while others may remain stored in your browser for several years. The exact duration depends on the tool used, but you should typically expect storage for several years. You will usually find more details in the individual privacy policies of the respective providers.

Right to Object

You also have the right and option to revoke your consent to the use of cookies at any time. This can be done either via our cookie management tool or through other opt-out features. For example, you can prevent data collection through cookies by managing, disabling, or deleting them in your browser. For more information on specific cookie management tools, please refer to the following sections if available.

Legal Basis

If you consent to the use of cookies, your personal data will be processed and stored via these cookies. If we are permitted to use cookies based on your consent (Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR), then this consent also serves as the legal basis for the use of cookies and the processing of your data. In order to manage cookie consent and enable it for you, we use a cookie consent management platform. The use of this software allows us to operate the website efficiently and in compliance with the law, which constitutes a legitimate interest (Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR).

Check24 Affiliate Program Privacy Policy: We participate in the Check24 affiliate program. Our pages include comparison tools, ads, and links from Check24, for which we can earn compensation. Check24 uses cookies to track the origin of orders. This allows Check24 to recognize that you clicked a partner link on our website. The storage of “Check24 cookies” is based on Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest here, as only through cookies can the amount of affiliate compensation be determined. For more information on data use, see Check24’s privacy policy: https://www.check24.de/popup/datenschutz-check24-gmbh/.

Tarifcheck Affiliate Program Privacy Policy: We also participate in the Tarifcheck affiliate program. Our pages include comparison tools, ads, and links from Tarifcheck, for which we can earn compensation. Tarifcheck uses cookies to track the origin of orders. This allows Tarifcheck to recognize that you clicked a partner link on our website. The storage of “Tarifcheck cookies” is based on Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest here, as only through cookies can the amount of affiliate compensation be determined. For more information, see Tarifcheck’s privacy policy: https://www.tarifcheck-partnerprogramm.de/datenschutz/.

To offer our services or products outside of our website, we also use external platforms. These are usually online marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay. In addition to our responsibility regarding data protection, the privacy policies of the external platforms we use also apply. This is especially the case when our products are purchased via the platform—e.g., in connection with a payment transaction. Furthermore, most platforms use your data to optimize their own marketing activities. For example, platforms can tailor advertisements to users’ interests based on collected data.

Why do we use external online platforms?

In addition to our website, we want to offer our products on other platforms to reach more potential customers. External online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, or Digistore24 offer large sales platforms that help present our products to people who may not know our website. It may also happen that elements embedded on our site link to an external online platform. Data processed and stored by the platform is used for logging payment transactions as well as conducting web analyses. The aim of these analyses is to develop more precise and personalized marketing strategies. Based on your behavior on a platform, conclusions can be drawn about your interests, and user profiles may be created. This allows platforms to present you with personalized advertisements and product suggestions. Most platforms use cookies to store such user behavior data. Please note that when using such platforms or embedded elements, your data may also be processed outside the European Union, since platforms like Amazon or eBay are U.S.-based companies. This may make it more difficult for you to assert your rights concerning your personal data.

What data is processed?

The specific data stored and processed depends on the respective external platform. Typically, this includes data such as phone numbers, email addresses, information entered into contact forms, usage data (e.g., which buttons you click and when you visit certain pages), device information, and your IP address. Most of this data is stored in cookies. If you have a profile on the external platform and are logged in, the data may be associated with your profile. The collected data is stored and processed on the servers of the respective platform. Details about how an external platform stores, manages, and processes your data can be found in its privacy policy. If you have questions about data processing or wish to exercise your rights, we recommend contacting the platform directly.

Duration of Data Processing

We provide information on data processing duration below if more details are available. For example, Amazon stores data until it is no longer needed for its purposes. In general, we process personal data only as long as it is absolutely necessary for providing our services and products.

Right to Object

You always have the right to revoke your consent to the use of cookies. This can be done via our cookie management tool or via opt-out options provided by the respective external platform. You can also prevent data collection through cookies by managing, disabling, or deleting them in your browser. Since cookies may be used, we also recommend reading our general privacy policy on cookies. To learn which data is stored and processed by each platform, please read the privacy policies of the respective external platforms.

Legal Basis

If you have consented to the processing and storage of your data by external platforms, this consent serves as the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR). In general, your data may also be processed based on our legitimate interest (Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR) in efficient and effective communication with you or other customers and business partners. If we use embedded elements from external platforms on our website, we only do so with your prior consent. For information about specific external platforms, please refer to the following sections if available.