Privacy Policy
Introduction
With the following privacy policy, we would like to inform you about the types of personal data (hereinafter also referred to as “data”) we process, for what purposes, and to what extent. The privacy policy applies to all processing of personal data carried out by us, both in the context of providing our services and, in particular, on our websites, mobile sites, and within external online presences, such as our social media profiles (hereinafter collectively referred to as “online offering”).
The terms used are not gender-specific.
Status: October 9, 2025
Table of contents
- Introduction
- Responsible party
- Overview of processing activities
- Contact
- Data protection officer
- Relevant legal basis
- Security measures
- Transfer and disclosure of personal data
- Cookies
- Data processing in third countries
- Commercial and business services
- Payment service providers
- Credit checks
- Provision of online services and web hosting
- Contacting us
- Newsletters and electronic notifications
- Web analysis, monitoring, and optimization
- Online marketing
- Presence on social networks (social media)
- Plugins and embedded functions and content
- Deletion of data
- Changes and updates to the privacy policy
- Rights of data subjects
- Definition of terms
Responsibility
COMPLED Projects UG (limited liability)
Grundstr. 92
01326 Dresden
Deutschland
Phone.: 017661647096
E-Mail: sales@compled.de
Managing Director: Christoph Schubert
Legal Notice: Legal Notice
Contact Data Protection Officer
E-Mail: post@compled.de
Overview of processing operations
The following overview summarizes the types of data processed and the purposes for which they are processed, and refers to the data subjects.
Types of processed data
- Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses).
- Content data (e.g., entries in online forms).
- Contact data (e.g., email, phone numbers).
- Meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).
- Usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times).
- Location data (information about the geographical position of a device or person).
- Contract data (e.g., subject matter of the contract, term, customer category).
- Payment data (e.g., bank details, invoices, payment history).
Categories of affected persons
- Business and contractual partners.
- Prospective customers.
- Communication partners.
- Customers.
- Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
Purposes of processing
- Assessment of creditworthiness and credit rating.
- Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.
- User activity analysis.
- Office and organizational procedures.
- Cross-device tracking (cross-device processing of user data for marketing purposes).
- Direct marketing (e.g., by email or postal mail).
- Interest-based and behavioral marketing.
- Contact requests and communication.
- Conversion measurement (measuring the effectiveness of marketing measures).
- Profiling (creating user profiles).
- Remarketing.
- Audience measurement (e.g., access statistics, recognition of returning visitors).
- Security measures.
- Tracking (e.g., interest-based/behavioral profiling, use of cookies).
- Provision of contractual services and customer service.
- Management and response to inquiries.
- Target audience identification (determination of target groups relevant for marketing purposes or other output of content).
Automated decisions in individual cases
- Credit report (decision based on a credit check).
Relevant legal basis
Below, we share the legal basis of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on which we process personal data. Please note that, in addition to the provisions of the GDPR, national data protection regulations in your or our country of residence or registered office may also apply. If more specific legal bases are relevant in individual cases, we will inform you of this in the privacy policy.
- Consent (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a. GDPR) – The data subject has given consent to the processing of their personal data for one or more specific purposes.
- Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. b. GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract.
- Legal obligation (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. c. GDPR) – Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.
- Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data.
Security measures
In accordance with legal requirements, we take appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure a level of protection appropriate to the risk, taking into account the state of the art, implementation costs, and the nature, scope, circumstances, and purposes of the processing, as well as the varying likelihood and severity of threats to the rights and freedoms of natural persons.
These measures include, in particular, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data by controlling physical and electronic access to the data as well as access, input, transfer, availability, and separation. Furthermore, we have established procedures to ensure that the rights of data subjects are exercised, data is deleted, and responses are made to threats to data. Furthermore, we take the protection of personal data into account when developing or selecting hardware, software, and procedures in accordance with the principle of data protection, through technology design and data protection-friendly default settings.
SSL encryption (https): We use SSL encryption to protect your data transmitted via our online offering. You can recognize such encrypted connections by the prefix https:// in the address bar of your browser.
Transfer and disclosure of personal data
As part of our processing of personal data, it may happen that the data is transferred to or disclosed to other bodies, companies, legally independent organizational units, or persons. The recipients of this data may include, for example, payment institutions in the context of payment transactions, service providers commissioned with IT tasks, or providers of services and content that are integrated into a website. In such cases, we comply with the legal requirements and, in particular, conclude appropriate contracts or agreements with the recipients of your data that serve to protect your data.
Cookies
We use the consent tool “Complianz | GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent” to manage the cookies and similar technologies (tracking pixels, web beacons, etc.) we use and the related consents. More Information can be found in our Cookie Policy. The legal basis for the processing of personal data in this context is Art. 6 Abs. 1 lit. c. GDPR and Art. 6 Abs. 1 lit. f. GDPR. Our legitimate interest is the management of the cookies and similar technologies used and the related consents. The provision of personal data is neither contractually required nor necessary for the conclusion of a contract. You are not obliged to provide personal data. If you do not provide personal data, we cannot manage your consents.
your consents.
Data processing in third countries
If we process data in a third country (i.e., outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)) or if processing takes place in connection with the use of third-party services or the disclosure or transfer of data to other persons, bodies, or companies, this will only be done in accordance with the legal requirements.
Subject to express consent or contractually or legally required transfer, we only process or have the data processed in third countries with a recognized level of data protection, contractual obligations through so-called standard protection clauses of the EU Commission, in the presence of certifications or binding internal data protection regulations (Articles 44 to 49 GDPR, information page of the EU Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/international-dimension-data-protection_de.
Within the framework of the Data Privacy Framework (DPF), the EU Commission has also recognized the level of data protection for certain US companies as adequate in its adequacy decision of July 10, 2023. The list of certified companies and further information on the DPF can be found on the website of the US Department of Commerce at https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/ (in English). We will inform you in our privacy policy which service providers we use are certified under the Data Privacy Framework.
Commercial and business services
We process data from our contractual and business partners, e.g., customers and interested parties (collectively referred to as “contractual partners”) within the framework of contractual and comparable legal relationships and associated measures, and within the framework of communication with contractual partners (or pre-contractually), e.g., to respond to inquiries.
We process this data to fulfill our contractual obligations, to secure our rights, and for the purposes of administrative tasks associated with this information and business organization. We only pass on the data of contractual partners to third parties within the framework of applicable law to the extent that this is necessary for the aforementioned purposes or to fulfill legal obligations, or with the consent of the persons concerned (e.g., to participating telecommunications, transport, and other auxiliary services, as well as subcontractors, banks, tax and legal advisors, payment service providers, or tax authorities). Contractual partners will be informed about other forms of processing, e.g., for marketing purposes, within the scope of this privacy policy.
We inform our contractual partners which data is required for the aforementioned purposes before or during data collection, e.g. in online forms, by means of special markings (e.g. colors) or symbols (e.g. asterisks or similar), or in person.
We delete the data after the expiry of statutory warranty and comparable obligations, i.e., generally after 4 years, unless the data is stored in a customer account, e.g., as long as it must be retained for archiving purposes for legal reasons (e.g., for tax purposes, usually 10 years). If a period does not expressly begin on a specific date and lasts at least one year, it shall automatically commence at the end of the calendar year in which the event triggering the period occurred. In the case of ongoing contractual relationships in which data is stored, the event triggering the period is the date on which the termination or other termination of the legal relationship takes effect. We delete data disclosed to us by the contractual partner within the scope of an order in accordance with the specifications of the order, generally after the end of the order.
Insofar as we use third-party providers or platforms to provide our services, the terms and conditions and privacy policies of the respective third-party providers or platforms apply to the relationship between users and providers.
Customer account: Contractual partners can create an account within our online offering (e.g., customer or user account, or “customer account” for short). If registration of a customer account is required, contractual partners will be informed of this and of the information required for registration. Customer accounts are not public and cannot be indexed by search engines. During registration and subsequent logins and use of the customer account, we store the IP addresses of customers along with the times of access in order to verify registration and prevent any misuse of the customer account.
When customers cancel their customer accounts, the data relating to the customer account will be deleted, unless its retention is required for legal reasons. It is the responsibility of customers to back up their data when they cancel their customer accounts.
Economic analyses and market research: For business reasons and in order to identify market trends and the wishes of contractual partners and users, we analyze the data available to us on business transactions, contracts, inquiries, etc., whereby the group of persons concerned may include contractual partners, interested parties, customers, visitors, and users of our online offering.
The analyses are carried out for the purposes of business evaluations, marketing, and market research (e.g., to identify customer groups with different characteristics). In doing so, we may take into account the profiles of registered users, including their details, e.g., on services used, if available. The analyses are for our own use only and are not disclosed externally, unless they are anonymous analyses with summarized, i.e., anonymized values. Furthermore, we respect the privacy of users and process the data for analysis purposes pseudonymously and, where feasible, anonymously (e.g., as summarized data).
Shop and E-Commerce: We process our customers’ data to enable them to select, purchase, or order the selected products, goods, and related services, as well as to pay for and deliver or execute them. If necessary for the execution of an order, we use service providers, in particular postal, freight forwarding, and shipping companies, to carry out the delivery or execution for our customers. We use the services of banks and payment service providers to process payment transactions. The required information is marked as such during the ordering or comparable purchase process and includes the information required for delivery or provision and billing, as well as contact information for any necessary consultation.
- Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses), payment data (e.g., bank details, invoices, payment history), contact data (e.g., email, telephone numbers), contract data (e.g., subject matter of the contract, term, customer category), usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).
- Data subjects: Prospective customers, business and contractual partners, customers.
Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service, contact requests and communication, office and organizational procedures, administration and response to inquiries, security measures, visitor action evaluation, interest-based and behavioral marketing, profiling (creation of user profiles). - Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. b. GDPR), legal obligation (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. c. GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR).
Payment service provider
Within the framework of contractual and other legal relationships, on the basis of legal obligations or otherwise on the basis of our legitimate interests, we offer the persons concerned efficient and secure payment options and use banks, credit institutions and other payment service providers (collectively referred to as “payment service providers”) for this purpose.
The data processed by the payment service providers includes inventory data, such as name and address, bank details, such as account numbers or credit card numbers, passwords, TANs, and checksums, as well as contract, sum, and recipient-related information. This information is necessary to carry out the transactions. However, the data entered is only processed and stored by the payment service providers. This means that we do not receive any account or credit card-related information, but only information confirming or denying the payment. Under certain circumstances, the data may be transmitted by the payment service providers to credit agencies. The purpose of this transfer is to verify identity and creditworthiness. For more information, please refer to the terms and conditions and privacy policy of the payment service providers.
Payment transactions are subject to the terms and conditions and privacy policies of the respective payment service providers, which can be accessed on their respective websites or transaction applications. We refer you to these for further information and to assert your rights of withdrawal, information, and other rights as a data subject.
- Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses), payment data (e.g., bank details, invoices, payment history), contract data (e.g., subject matter of the contract, term, customer category), usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).
- Data subjects: Customers, interested parties.
- Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service.
- Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. b. GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR).
Services used and service providers:
PayPal: Payment services and solutions (e.g., PayPal, PayPal Plus, Braintree); Service provider: PayPal (Europe) S.à r.l. et Cie, S.C.A., 22-24 Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg; Website:
Provision of online services and web hosting
In order to provide our online services securely and efficiently, we use the services of one or more web hosting providers whose servers (or servers managed by them) can be used to access our online services. For these purposes, we may use infrastructure and platform services, computing capacity, storage space, and database services, as well as security and technical maintenance services.
The data processed in the context of providing the hosting service may include all information relating to users of our online services that is generated in the course of use and communication. This regularly includes the IP address, which is necessary to deliver the content of online services to browsers, and all entries made within our online services or on websites.
Email dispatch and hosting: The web hosting services we use also include the sending, receiving, and storage of emails. For these purposes, the addresses of the recipients and senders, as well as other information relating to the email dispatch (e.g., the providers involved) and the contents of the respective emails, are processed. The aforementioned data may also be processed for the purpose of detecting SPAM. Please note that emails are generally not sent in encrypted form on the Internet. As a rule, emails are encrypted during transmission, but (unless a so-called end-to-end encryption method is used) not on the servers from which they are sent and received. We therefore cannot accept any responsibility for the transmission of emails between the sender and the recipient on our server.
Collection of access data and log files: We (or our web hosting provider) collect data on every access to the server (so-called server log files). Server log files may include the address and name of the websites and files accessed, the date and time of access, the amount of data transferred, notification of successful access, browser type and version, the user’s operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page), and, as a rule, IP addresses and the requesting provider.
The server log files can be used for security purposes, e.g., to prevent server overload (especially in the case of malicious attacks, known as DDoS attacks), and to ensure server utilization and stability.
- Types of data processed: Content data (e.g., entries in online forms), usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).
- Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f.).
Establishing contact
When contacting us (e.g. via contact form, email, telephone, or social media), the details of the inquiring persons are processed to the extent necessary to respond to contact requests and any requested measures.
Responding to contact requests within the framework of contractual or pre-contractual relationships is done to fulfill our contractual obligations or to respond to (pre-)contractual inquiries and, in addition, on the basis of legitimate interests in responding to the inquiries.
- Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses), contact data (e.g., email, phone numbers), content data (e.g., entries in online forms), usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).
- Data subjects: Communication partners, interested parties.
- Purposes of processing: Contact requests and communication, administration and response to inquiries.
- Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. b. GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR).
Services used and service providers:
- Contact form: When users contact us via our contact form, email, or other communication channels, we process the data provided in this context in order to deal with the matter raised. For this purpose, we process personal data within the framework of pre-contractual and contractual business relationships, insofar as this is necessary for their fulfillment and, moreover, on the basis of our legitimate interests and the interests of the communication partners in responding to the concerns and our legal retention obligations.
- Help Scout: Management of contact requests and communication; Service provider: Help Scout Inc., 131 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111-1338, USA; Website: https://www.helpscout.net; Privacy policy: https://www.helpscout.net/company/legal/privacy/; Basis for third-country transfers: Standard contractual clauses (https://www.helpscout.com/company/legal/dpa/); Data processing agreement: https://www.helpscout.com/company/legal/dpa/.
Newsletter and electronic notifications
- Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses), contact details (e.g., email, phone numbers), meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses), usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times).
- Data subjects: Communication partners.
- Purposes of processing: Direct marketing (e.g., by email or post).
- Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a. GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR).
- Right to object (opt-out): You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time, i.e., revoke your consent or object to further receipt. You will find a link to unsubscribe from the newsletter at the end of each newsletter, or you can use one of the contact options listed above, preferably email.
- Measurement of opening and click rates: The newsletters contain a so-called “web beacon,” i.e., a pixel-sized file that is retrieved from our server or, if we use a mailing service provider, from their server when the newsletter is opened. During this retrieval, technical information such as details about your browser and system, your IP address, and the time of retrieval are initially collected. This information is used to improve our newsletter based on technical data or target groups and their reading behavior based on their retrieval location (which can be determined using the IP address) or access times. This analysis also includes determining whether and when the newsletters are opened and which links are clicked. The information is assigned to the individual newsletter recipients and stored in their profiles until it is deleted. The evaluations serve to recognize the reading habits of our users and to adapt our content to them or to send different content according to the interests of our users. The measurement of opening and click rates, the storage of the measurement results in the user profiles, and their further processing are based on the consent of the users. Unfortunately, it is not possible to separately revoke the measurement of success; in this case, the entire newsletter subscription must be canceled or objected to. In this case, the stored profile information will be deleted; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a) GDPR);
- Brevo: Email delivery and email marketing platform; service provider: SENDINBLUE —Köpenicker Straße 126, 10179 Berlin, Germany; website: https://www.brevo.com/de/; Privacy policy: https://www.brevo.com/de/legal/privacypolicy/; Terms of Use: https://www.brevo.com/de/legal/termsofuse/; Legal notice: https://www.brevo.com/de/legal/impressum/
Web analytics, monitoring, and optimization
Web analysis (also known as “reach measurement”) is used to evaluate visitor traffic to our online offering and may include behavior, interests, or demographic information about visitors, such as age or gender, as pseudonymous values. With the help of reach analysis, we can, for example, identify at what time our online offering or its functions or content are used most frequently or invite reuse. We can also identify which areas need optimization.
In addition to web analysis, we can also use test procedures to test and optimize different versions of our online offering or its components, for example.
For these purposes, so-called user profiles can be created and stored in a file (so-called “cookie”) or similar procedures with the same purpose can be used. This information may include, for example, content viewed, websites visited and elements used there, and technical information such as the browser used, the computer system used, and information on usage times. If users have consented to the collection of their location data, this may also be processed, depending on the provider.
The IP addresses of users are also collected. However, we use an IP masking procedure (i.e., pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. In general, no clear data of users (such as email addresses or names) is stored in the context of web analysis, A/B testing, and optimization, but rather pseudonyms. This means that neither we nor the providers of the software used know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles for the purposes of the respective procedures.
Information on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for data processing is consent. Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e., interest in efficient, economical, and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to refer you to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.
- Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).
- Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
- Purposes of processing: Reach measurement (e.g., access statistics, recognition of returning visitors), tracking (e.g., interest/behavior-based profiling, use of cookies), visit action evaluation, profiling (creation of user profiles).
- Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).
- Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a. GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR).
Services used and service providers:
- Google Analytics: We use Google Analytics to measure and analyze the use of our online offering on the basis of a pseudonymous user identification number. This identification number does not contain any unique data such as names or email addresses. It is used to assign analysis information to a terminal device in order to identify which content users have accessed within one or more usage processes, which search terms they have used, which they have accessed again, or how they have interacted with our online offering. The time of use and its duration are also stored, as well as the sources of users who refer to our online offering and technical aspects of their terminal devices and browsers.
Pseudonymous user profiles are created using information from the use of various devices, whereby cookies may be used. Google Analytics does not log or store individual IP addresses for EU users. However, Analytics provides rough geographical location data by deriving the following metadata from IP addresses: city (and the derived latitude and longitude of the city), continent, country, region, subcontinent (and ID-based counterparts). For EU data traffic, IP address data is used exclusively for this derivation of geolocation data before being immediately deleted. It is not logged, is not accessible, and is not used for any other purpose. When Google Analytics collects measurement data, all IP queries are performed on EU-based servers before the traffic is forwarded to Analytics servers for processing; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com/intl/de/about/analytics/; Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address); Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Data processing agreement: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms/; Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF); Opt-out option: Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, settings for the display of advertisements: https://myadcenter.google.com/personalizationoff; Further information: https://business.safety.google/adsservices/ (types of processing and the data processed). - Google as recipient of consent: The consent given by users in a consent dialog (also known as “cookie opt-in/consent,” “cookie banner,” etc.) serves several purposes. On the one hand, it helps us fulfill our obligation to obtain consent for the storage and retrieval of information on and from users’ devices (in accordance with ePrivacy guidelines). On the other hand, it covers the processing of users’ personal data in accordance with data protection regulations. This consent also applies to Google, as the company is required by the Digital Markets Act to obtain consent for personalized services. We therefore share the status of user consent with Google. Our consent management software informs Google whether consent has been given or not. The aim is to ensure that the consent or lack thereof granted by users is taken into account when using Google Analytics and when integrating functions and external services. This allows user consent and its revocation within the scope of Google Analytics and other Google services in our online offering to be dynamically adjusted depending on the user’s selection. Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR); Website: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/9976101?hl=de; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.
- Google Tag Manager: Google Tag Manager is a solution that allows us to manage website tags via an interface and thus integrate other services into our online offering (please refer to further information in this privacy policy). The Tag Manager itself (which implements the tags) does not create user profiles or store cookies, for example. Google only learns the user’s IP address, which is necessary to execute Google Tag Manager; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Data processing agreement:
https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework, standard contractual clauses (https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms); Further information: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices (types of processing and data processed).
Online marketing
We process personal data for online marketing purposes, which may include, in particular, the marketing of advertising space or the display of advertising and other content (collectively referred to as “content”) based on the potential interests of users, as well as the measurement of its effectiveness.
For these purposes, so-called user profiles are created and stored in a file (so-called “cookie”) or similar procedures are used, by means of which information relevant to the display of the aforementioned content is stored about the user. This information may include, for example, content viewed, websites visited, online networks used, but also communication partners and technical information such as the browser used, the computer system used, and information on usage times. If users have consented to the collection of their location data, this may also be processed.
The IP addresses of users are also collected. However, we use available IP masking procedures (i.e., pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. In general, no clear data of users (such as email addresses or names) is stored as part of the online marketing process, but rather pseudonyms. This means that neither we nor the providers of the online marketing process know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles.
The information in the profiles is usually stored in cookies or using similar methods. These cookies can later be read on other websites that use the same online marketing process, analyzed for the purpose of displaying content, supplemented with further data, and stored on the server of the online marketing process provider.
In exceptional cases, clear data can be assigned to the profiles. This is the case if, for example, users are members of a social network whose online marketing methods we use and the network links the profiles of users with the aforementioned information. Please note that users can enter into additional agreements with the providers, e.g., by giving their consent during registration.
We generally only receive access to summarized information about the success of our advertisements. However, we can use conversion measurements to check which of our online marketing methods have led to a conversion, i.e., for example, to the conclusion of a contract with us. Conversion measurement is used solely to analyze the success of our marketing measures.
Unless otherwise stated, please assume that cookies used will be stored for a period of two years.
Information on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for data processing is consent. Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e., interest in efficient, economical, and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to refer you to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.
- Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses), location data (information about the geographical position of a device or person).
- Affected persons: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services), interested parties.
- Purposes of processing: Tracking (e.g., interest/behavior-based profiling, use of cookies), remarketing, visit action evaluation, interest-based and behavior-related marketing, profiling (creation of user profiles), conversion measurement (measurement of the effectiveness of marketing measures), reach measurement (e.g., access statistics, recognition of returning visitors), target group formation (determination of target groups relevant for marketing purposes or other output of content), Cross-device tracking (cross-device processing of user data for marketing purposes).
- Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).
- Legal basis: Consent ((Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a. GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR).
- Right to object (opt-out): We refer you to the privacy policies of the respective providers and the options for objecting (known as “opt-out”) specified by the providers. If no explicit opt-out option has been specified, you can disable cookies in your browser settings. However, this may restrict the functions of our online offering. We therefore recommend the following additional opt-out options, which are offered in summary form for the respective regions: a) Europe: https://www.youronlinechoices.eu.
b) Canada: https://www.youradchoices.ca/choices.
c) USA: https://www.aboutads.info/choices.
d) Cross-regional: https://optout.aboutads.info.
Services used and service providers:
- Meta Pixel and target group formation (Custom Audiences): With the help of the Meta Pixel (or comparable functions for transmitting event data or contact information via interfaces in apps), Meta is able to identify visitors to our online offering as a target group for the display of advertisements (so-called “Meta Ads”). Accordingly, we use the Meta pixel to display the Meta ads we place only to users on Meta platforms and within the services of Meta’s cooperating partners (so-called “Audience Network”). https://www.facebook.com/audiencenetwork/ ) who have also shown an interest in our online offering or who have certain characteristics (e.g., interest in certain topics or products, which can be seen from the websites visited) that we transmit to Meta (so-called “Custom Audiences”). With the help of the Meta pixel, we also want to ensure that our Meta ads correspond to the potential interests of users and do not appear intrusive. With the help of the Meta pixel, we can also track the effectiveness of Meta ads for statistical and market research purposes by seeing whether users were redirected to our website after clicking on a Meta ad (so-called “conversion measurement”); Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent ((Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a. GDPR); Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/; Data processing agreement: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing; Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF); Further information: User event data, i.e., behavioral and interest information, is processed for the purposes of targeted advertising and target group formation on the basis of the joint responsibility agreement (“Addendum for Controllers,” https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum). Joint responsibility is limited to the collection and transfer of data to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, a company based in the EU. Further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, in particular with regard to the transfer of data to the parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. in the USA (based on the standard contractual clauses concluded between Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and Meta Platforms, Inc.).
- Google Ad Manager: We use the “Google Ad Manager” service to place ads on the Google advertising network (e.g., in search results, in videos, on websites, etc.). Google Ad Manager is unique in that it displays ads in real time based on the presumed interests of users. This allows us to display ads for our online offering to users who may have a potential interest in our offering or who have previously shown interest in it, as well as to measure the success of the ads. Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF); Further information: Types of processing and data processed: https://business.safety.google/adsservices/; Data processing terms for Google advertising products: Information about the services Data processing terms between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third-country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms; where Google acts as a processor, data processing terms for Google advertising products and standard contractual clauses for third country data transfers: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms.
- Google Ads and conversion measurement: Online marketing process for the purpose of placing content and ads within the service provider’s advertising network (e.g., in search results, in videos, on websites, etc.) so that they are displayed to users who are likely to be interested in the ads. In addition, we measure the conversion of the ads, i.e., whether users have taken the opportunity to interact with the ads and use the advertised offers (so-called conversions). However, we only receive anonymous information and no personal information about individual users; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent ((Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a. GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF); Further information: Types of processing and data processed: https://business.safety.google/adsservices/; Data processing conditions between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third-country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms.
Presence on social networks (social media)
We incorporate functional and content elements into our online offering that are obtained from the servers of their respective providers (hereinafter referred to as “third-party providers”). These may include, for example, graphics, videos, social media buttons, and posts (hereinafter collectively referred to as “content”).
The integration always requires that the third-party providers of this content process the IP address of the users, as they would not be able to send the content to their browsers without the IP address. The IP address is therefore necessary for the display of this content or these functions. We endeavor to use only content whose respective providers use the IP address solely for the delivery of the content. Third-party providers may also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also known as “web beacons”) for statistical or marketing purposes. Pixel tags can be used to evaluate information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website. The pseudonymous information may also be stored in cookies on the user’s device and may include technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, visit time, and other information about the use of our online offering, and may be linked to such information from other sources.
Information on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for the processing of data is consent. Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e., interest in efficient, economical, and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to refer you to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.
- Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses), location data (information about the geographical position of a device or person), content data (e.g., entries in online forms), inventory data (e.g., names, addresses), contact data (e.g., email, phone numbers).
- Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services), communication partners.
- Purposes of processing: Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness, provision of contractual services and customer service, contact requests and communication, tracking (e.g., interest-based/behavioral profiling, use of cookies), interest-based and behavioral marketing, profiling (creation of user profiles), security measures, management and response to inquiries.
- Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR), consent (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a. GDPR), performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. b.GDPR)
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Services used and service providers:
- Facebook plugins and content: Facebook social plugins and content – This may include content such as images, videos, or text and buttons that allow users to share content from this online offering within Facebook. The list and appearance of Facebook social plugins can be viewed here: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/ – Together with Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, we are jointly responsible for the collection or receipt in the context of a transfer (but not the further processing) of “event data” that Facebook collects or receives in the context of a transfer for the following purposes using the Facebook social plugins (and content embedding functions) that are executed on our online offering: a) Displaying content and advertising information that matches the presumed interests of users; b) Delivering commercial and transaction-related messages (e.g., contacting users via Facebook Messenger); c) Improving ad delivery and personalizing features and content (e.g., improving the recognition of which content or advertising information is likely to match the interests of users). We have entered into a special agreement with Facebook (“Addendum for Controllers,” https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum), which specifically regulates the security measures Facebook must observe (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and in which Facebook has agreed to comply with the rights of data subjects (i.e., users can, for example, send requests for information or deletion directly to Facebook). Note: When Facebook provides us with metrics, analytics, and reports (which are aggregated, i.e., no information about individual users is received and they are anonymous to us), this processing is not carried out within the scope of joint responsibility, but on the basis of a data processing agreement (“Data Processing Terms,” https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing) , the “Data Security Terms” (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and, with regard to processing in the USA, on the basis of standard contractual clauses (“Facebook-EU Data Transfer Addendum,” https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum). The rights of users (in particular to information, deletion, objection, and complaint to the competent supervisory authority) are not restricted by the agreements with Facebook; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a. GDPR); Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/; Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF).
- Google Fonts (obtained from Google Server): Obtaining fonts (and symbols) for the purpose of technically secure, maintenance-free, and efficient use of fonts and symbols with regard to timeliness and loading times, their uniform display, and consideration of possible licensing restrictions. The IP address of the user is communicated to the font provider so that the fonts can be made available in the user’s browser. In addition, technical data (language settings, screen resolution, operating system, hardware used) is transmitted, which is necessary for the provision of the fonts depending on the devices used and the technical environment. This data may be processed on a server of the font provider in the USA. When visiting our online offering, users’ browsers send their browser HTTP requests to the Google Fonts Web API (i.e., a software interface for retrieving fonts). The Google Fonts Web API provides users with the Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) from Google Fonts and then the fonts specified in the CCS. These HTTP requests include (1) the IP address used by the respective user to access the Internet, (2) the requested URL on the Google server, and (3) the HTTP headers, including the user agent, which describes the browser and operating system versions of the website visitors, as well as the referrer URL (i.e., the website on which the Google font is to be displayed). IP addresses are neither logged nor stored on Google servers, and they are not analyzed. The Google Fonts Web API logs details of HTTP requests (requested URL, user agent, and referrer URL). Access to this data is restricted and strictly controlled. The requested URL identifies the font families for which the user wants to load fonts. This data is logged so that Google can determine how often a particular font family is requested. With the Google Fonts Web API, the user agent must customize the font that is generated for the respective browser type. The user agent is primarily logged for debugging purposes and used to generate aggregated usage statistics that measure the popularity of font families. These aggregated usage statistics are published on the Google Fonts “Analytics” page. Finally, the referral URL is logged so that the data can be used for production maintenance and an aggregated report on the top integrations can be generated based on the number of font requests. According to its own information, Google does not use any of the information collected by Google Fonts to create profiles of end users or to serve targeted ads; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR); Website: https://fonts.google.com/; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF); Further information: https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq/privacy?hl=de.
- Google Maps: We integrate maps from the Google Maps service provided by Google. The data processed may include, in particular, IP addresses and location data of users; Service provider: Google Cloud EMEA Limited, 70 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a. GDPR); Website: https://mapsplatform.google.com/; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Basis for third country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF).
- YouTube videos: Video content; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a. GDPR); Website: https://www.youtube.com; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF); Opt-out option: Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, Settings for the display of advertisements: https://myadcenter.google.com/personalizationoff.
- Vimeo video player: Integration of a video player; service provider: Vimeo Inc., Attention: Legal Department, 555 West 18th Street New York, New York 10011, USA; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR); Website: https://vimeo.com; Privacy policy: https://vimeo.com/privacy; Data processing agreement: https://vimeo.com/enterpriseterms/dpa; Basis for third-country transfers: Standard contractual clauses (https://vimeo.com/enterpriseterms/dpa).
Plugins, embedded features, and content
Deletion of data
We maintain online presences within social networks and process user data in this context in order to communicate with users active there or to provide information about us.
We would like to point out that user data may be processed outside the European Union. This may result in risks for users, as it could, for example, make it more difficult to enforce user rights.
Furthermore, user data within social networks is generally processed for market research and advertising purposes. For example, usage profiles can be created based on the usage behavior and resulting interests of users. The usage profiles can in turn be used, for example, to place advertisements within and outside the networks that are presumed to correspond to the interests of the users. For these purposes, cookies are usually stored on users’ computers, in which the usage behavior and interests of users are stored. Furthermore, data can also be stored in the usage profiles independently of the devices used by users (especially if users are members of the respective platforms and are logged in to them).
For a detailed description of the respective forms of processing and the options for objection (opt-out), we refer you to the privacy policies and information provided by the operators of the respective networks.
In the case of requests for information and the assertion of data subject rights, we would also like to point out that these can be most effectively asserted with the providers. Only the providers have access to the user data and can take appropriate measures and provide information directly. However, if you need help, you can contact us.
- Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses), contact data (e.g., email, phone numbers), content data (e.g., entries in online forms), usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).
- Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
- Purposes of processing: Contact requests and communication, tracking (e.g., interest/behavior-based profiling, use of cookies), remarketing, reach measurement (e.g., access statistics, recognition of returning visitors).
- Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).
Services used and service providers:
- Instagram: Social network that allows users to share photos and videos, comment on and favorite posts, send messages, and subscribe to profiles and pages; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR); Website: https://www.instagram.com; Privacy policy: https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/; Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF).
- Facebook pages: Profiles within the Facebook social network – Together with Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, we are responsible for collecting (but not further processing) data from visitors to our Facebook page (known as a “fan page”). This data includes information about the types of content users view or interact with, or the actions they take (see “Things you and others do and provide” in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/), as well as information about the devices used by users (e.g., IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings, cookie data; see “Device Information” in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/). As explained in the Facebook Data Policy under “How do we use this information?”, Facebook also collects and uses information to provide analytics services, known as “Page Insights,” to page operators so that they can gain insights into how people interact with their pages and the content associated with them. We have entered into a special agreement with Facebook (“Information about Page Insights,” https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/page_controller_addendum), which specifically regulates the security measures Facebook must observe and in which Facebook has agreed to comply with the rights of data subjects (i.e., users can, for example, submit requests for information or deletion directly to Facebook). The rights of users (in particular the right to information, deletion, objection, and complaint to the competent supervisory authority) are not restricted by the agreements with Facebook. Further information can be found in the “Information on Page Insights” (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data). Joint responsibility is limited to the collection and transfer of data to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, a company based in the EU. Further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, which in particular concerns the transfer of data to the parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. in the USA; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR); Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/; Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF).
- LinkedIn: Social network – Together with LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, we are responsible for the collection (but not further processing) of visitor data generated for the purpose of creating “Page Insights” (statistics) for our LinkedIn profiles.
This data includes information about the types of content users view or interact with, or the actions they take, as well as information about the devices users use (e.g., IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings, cookie data) and information from users’ profiles, such as job title, country, industry, hierarchy level, company size, and employment status. Information on LinkedIn’s data protection practices can be found in LinkedIn’s privacy policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy. We have entered into a special agreement with LinkedIn Ireland (“Page Insights Joint Controller Addendum (the ‘Addendum’)”, https://legal.linkedin.com/ pages-joint-controller-addendum), which specifically regulates the security measures that LinkedIn must observe and in which LinkedIn has agreed to comply with the rights of data subjects (i.e., users can, for example, submit requests for information or deletion directly to LinkedIn). The rights of users (in particular to information, deletion, objection, and complaint to the competent supervisory authority) are not restricted by the agreements with LinkedIn. Joint responsibility is limited to the collection of data by and transfer to Ireland Unlimited Company, a company based in the EU. Further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Ireland Unlimited Company, which in particular concerns the transfer of data to the parent company LinkedIn Corporation in the USA; Service provider: LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR); Website: https://www.linkedin.com; Privacy policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy; Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF); Opt-out option: https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out. - TikTok: Social network/video platform; Service provider: musical.ly Inc., 10351 Santa Monica Blvd #310, Los Angeles, CA 90025 USA; Website: https://www.tiktok.com; Privacy policy: https://www.tiktok.com/de/privacy-policy.
- X: Social network; Service provider: Twitter International Company, One Cumberland Place, Fenian Street, Dublin 2 D02 AX07, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR); Website: https://x.com; Privacy policy: https://x.com/de/privacy.
- YouTube: Social network and video platform; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy;
Opt-out option: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated; Basis for third-country transfer: Data Privacy Framework.
The data we process will be deleted in accordance with legal requirements as soon as the consent for processing is revoked or other permissions lapse (e.g., if the purpose of processing this data no longer applies or it is not necessary for the purpose).
If the data is not deleted because it is required for other, legally permissible purposes, its processing will be restricted to these purposes. This means that the data will be blocked and not processed for other purposes. This applies, for example, to data that must be retained for commercial or tax law reasons or whose storage is necessary for the assertion, exercise, or defense of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person.
Further information on the deletion of personal data can also be found in the individual data protection notices in this privacy policy.
Changes and updates to the privacy policy
We ask you to regularly review the content of our privacy policy. We will amend the privacy policy as soon as changes to the data processing we carry out make this necessary. We will inform you as soon as the changes require action on your part (e.g., consent) or other individual notification.
If we provide addresses and contact information for companies and organizations in this privacy policy, please note that the addresses may change over time and we ask you to check the information before contacting them.
Rights of affected persons
As a data subject, you have various rights under the GDPR, which arise in particular from Articles 15 to 21 GDPR:
- Right to object: You have the right to object at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning you which is based on Art. 6 Abs. 1 lit. e or f of the GDPR; this also applies to profiling based on these provisions. If the personal data concerning you is processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for such marketing purposes; this also applies to profiling insofar as it is related to such direct marketing.
- Right to withdraw consent: You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
- Right to information: You have the right to request confirmation as to whether data concerning you is being processed and to obtain information about this data, as well as further information and a copy of the data in accordance with the legal requirements.
- Right to rectification: In accordance with legal requirements, you have the right to request the completion of data concerning you or the rectification of incorrect data concerning you.
- Right to erasure and restriction of processing: In accordance with legal requirements, you have the right to request that data concerning you be erased immediately or, alternatively, in accordance with legal requirements, to request a restriction on the processing of the data.
- Right to data portability: You have the right to receive data concerning you that you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format in accordance with legal requirements, or to request that it be transferred to another controller.
- Complaint to supervisory authority: You also have the right, in accordance with legal requirements, to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, your place of work, or the place of the alleged infringement, if you believe that the processing of personal data concerning you violates the GDPR.
Definitions of terms
- Conversion tracking: “Conversion tracking” refers to a process that can be used to determine the effectiveness of marketing measures. To do this, a cookie is usually stored on the user’s device within the websites where the marketing measures are carried out and then retrieved again on the target website. This allows us to track whether the ads we place on other websites were successful, for example.
- Credit check: Automated decisions are based on automatic data processing without human intervention (e.g., in the case of automatic rejection of a purchase on account, an online credit application, or an online application process without any human intervention). According to Art. 22 GDPR, such automated decisions are only permissible if the data subjects consent, if they are necessary for the performance of a contract, or if national laws permit such decisions.
- Cross-device tracking: Cross-device tracking is a form of tracking in which information about users’ behavior and interests is collected across devices in so-called profiles by assigning users an online identifier. This allows user information to be analyzed for marketing purposes, regardless of the browsers or devices used (e.g., mobile phones or desktop computers). For most providers, the online identifier is not linked to clear data such as names, postal addresses, or email addresses.
- IP masking: “IP masking” refers to a method in which the last octet, i.e., the last two numbers of an IP address, is deleted so that the IP address can no longer be used to uniquely identify a person. IP masking is therefore a means of pseudonymizing processing procedures, especially in online marketing.
- Interest-based and behavioral marketing: Interest-based and/or behavioral marketing refers to the process of determining the potential interests of users in advertisements and other content as accurately as possible. This is done on the basis of information about their previous behavior (e.g., visiting certain websites and lingering on them, purchasing behavior, or interaction with other users), which is stored in a so-called profile. Cookies are generally used for these purposes.
- Conversion measurement: Conversion measurement is a method used to determine the effectiveness of marketing measures. To do this, a cookie is usually stored on the user’s device within the websites where the marketing measures are carried out and then retrieved again on the target website. This allows us to track whether the ads we place on other websites were successful, for example.
- Personal data: “Personal data” is any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter “data subject”); A natural person is considered identifiable if they can be identified directly or indirectly, in particular by association with an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier (e.g., cookie), or one or more special characteristics that express the physical, physiological, genetic, psychological, economic, cultural, or social identity of that natural person.
- Profiling: “Profiling” refers to any form of automated processing of personal data consisting of the use of such personal data to analyze, evaluate, or predict certain personal aspects relating to a natural person (depending on the type of profiling, this includes information concerning age, gender, location data and movement data, interaction with websites and their content, purchasing behavior, social interactions with other people). Cookies and web beacons are often used for profiling purposes.
- Reach measurement: Reach measurement (also known as web analytics) is used to evaluate visitor traffic to an online offering and may include the behavior or interests of visitors in certain information, such as website content. With the help of reach analysis, website owners can, for example, identify at what time visitors visit their website and what content they are interested in. This enables them to better tailor the content of the website to the needs of their visitors. Pseudonymous cookies and web beacons are often used for reach analysis purposes to recognize returning visitors and thus obtain more accurate analyses of the use of an online offering.
- Remarketing: “Remarketing” or “retargeting” refers to, for example, noting which products a user has shown interest in on a website for advertising purposes in order to remind the user of these products on other websites, e.g., in advertisements.
- Location data: Location data is generated when a mobile device (or another device with the technical requirements for location determination) connects to a radio cell, Wi-Fi, or similar technical intermediaries and location determination functions. Location data is used to indicate the geographically determinable position of the respective device on Earth. Location data can be used, for example, to display map functions or other location-dependent information.
- Tracking: “Tracking” refers to the ability to track user behavior across multiple online offerings. As a rule, information about behavior and interests is stored in cookies or on the servers of the providers of tracking technologies (known as profiling) with regard to the online services used. This information can then be used, for example, to display advertisements to users that are likely to correspond to their interests.
- Controller: The “controller” is the natural or legal person, public authority, agency, or other body that, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data.
- Processing: “Processing” means any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data, whether or not by automated means. The term is broad and covers virtually every type of data handling, whether it is collection, evaluation, storage, transmission, or deletion.
- Target group formation: Target group formation (or “custom audiences”) refers to the determination of target groups for advertising purposes, e.g., the display of advertisements. For example, based on a user’s interest in certain products or topics on the internet, it can be concluded that this user is interested in advertisements for similar products or the online shop where they viewed the products. The term “lookalike audiences” (or similar target groups) is used when content that is considered suitable is displayed to users whose profiles or interests are presumed to correspond to the users for whom the profiles were created. Cookies and web beacons are generally used for the purpose of creating custom audiences and lookalike audiences.