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Data protection statement

We are delighted by your interest in our company. Data protection is a matter of particular importance to the management of MicroContact AG. The use of the MicroContact AG GmbH website is possible without providing any personal data. However, processing of personal data may be necessary if a data subject wishes to use our company’s website to access the company’s special services. If the processing of personal data is necessary and there is no legal basis for such processing, we generally obtain the permission of the data subject.

The processing of personal data, such as the name, postal address, email address or telephone number of a data subject, always takes place in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and in accordance with the country-specific data protection regulations applicable to MicroContact AG. Through this privacy statement, our company would like to inform the public about the nature, scope and purpose of the personal data we collect, use and process. Moreover, data subjects are informed about their rights by means of this data protection declaration.

As the controller, the MicroContact AG has implemented numerous technical and organisational measures to ensure the most complete protection of personal data processed through this website. However, Internet-based data transmissions may generally exhibit security vulnerabilities, therefore absolute protection cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, any data subject is free to transmit personal data to us by alternative means, for example by telephone.

1. Definitions

The MicroContact AG data protection declaration is based on the terms that were used by the European legislator when issuing the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Our data protection declaration is designed to be easy to read and understand for the public as well as for our customers and business partners. To ensure this, we would like to explain the terminology used in advance.

Among others, we use the following terms in this Data Protection Declaration:

  • a)    Personal data

    Personal data is any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter referred to as the “data subject”). A natural person is regarded as identifiable if they can be identified directly or indirectly, in particular by association with an identifier such as a name, identification number, location data, online identifier or one or more specific features that are an expression of the physical, physiological, genetic, psychological, economic, cultural or social identity of this natural person.

  • b)    Data subject

    The data subject is any identified or identifiable natural person whose personal data is processed by the controller.

  • c)    Processing

    Processing is any operation or series of operations carried out with or without the help of automated processes in connection with personal data such as the collection, recording, organisation, placing in order, storage, adaptation or modification, reading, querying, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or any other form of provision, comparison or linking, restriction, deletion or destruction.

  • d)    Restriction of processing

    Restriction of processing is the marking of stored personal data with the aim of restricting their future processing.

  • e)    Profiling

    Profiling is any form of automated processing of personal data that consists of the use of such personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyse or predict aspects relating to work performance, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behaviour, whereabouts or relocation of this natural person.

  • f)     Pseudonymisation

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

  • g)    Controller or person in charge of processing

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

  • h)    Data processor

    The data processor is a natural or legal person, authority, institute or other body that processes personal data on behalf of the responsible entity.

  • i)      Recipient

    Recipient is a natural or legal person, authority, institute or other body to which personal data are disclosed, irrespective of whether it is a third party or not. However, authorities that may receive personal data under Union or Member State laws within the scope of a particular investigative assignment shall not be considered as recipients.

  • j)      Third party

    A third party is a natural or legal person, authority, institute or other body other than the data subject, the responsible entity, the order processor and the persons directly answerable to the responsible entity who process the personal data.

  • k)    Consent

    Consent is any statement of intent voluntarily made by the data subject in an informed and unmistakable manner for the particular case in the form of a declaration or other unambiguous affirmative act in which the data subject indicates that he or she agrees to the processing of the personal data concerning him or her.

2. Name and address of the data controller

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

MicroContact AG
Güterstrasse 7
4654 Lostorf
Switzerland

Telephone +41 62 285 80 10
office@microcontact.ch
www.microcontact.ch

3. Cookies

The MicroContact AG website uses cookies. Cookies are text files that are placed and stored on a computer system by a web browser.

Many websites and servers use cookies. Many cookies contain a unique cookie ID. A cookie ID is the unique identifier of the cookie. It consists of a character string by which websites and servers can recognize the specific web browser in which the cookie was stored. This allows the visited websites and servers to distinguish the data subject’s individual browser from other web browsers that contain other cookies. A specific web browser can be recognised and identified by the unique cookie ID.

By using cookies, MicroContact AG can provide users of this website with more user-friendly services that would not be possible without the setting of cookies.

A cookie can be used to optimise the information and offers on our website in the interests of the user. Cookies allow us to recognise the users of our website, as mentioned above. The purpose of this recognition is to make the use of our website easier for the users. For example, the user of a website that uses cookies does not have to re-enter his access data every time he visits the website, because this is done by the website and the cookie stored on the user’s computer system. Another example is a shopping cart cookie in the online shop. The online shop remembers the items that a customer has placed in the virtual shopping cart via a cookie.

The data subject can prevent the cookie placement by our website at any time using an appropriate setting of the Internet browser used and thus permanently object to the cookie placement. Furthermore, cookies that have already been set can be deleted at any time via a web browser or other software programs. This is possible in all popular web browsers. If the data subject deactivates cookies in the Internet browser used, it may not be possible to use all the functions of our website to their full extent.

4. Collection of general data and information

The MicroContact AG website collects a series of general data and information each time the website is visited by a data subject or an automated system. This general data and information are stored in the log files of the server. The following information may be collected: (1) the browser types and versions used, (2) the operating system used by the accessing system, (3) the website from which an accessing system reaches our website (so-called referrers), (4) the web pages that are visited via an accessing system on our website, (5) the date and time of access to the website, (6) an Internet Protocol address (IP address), (7) the internet service provider of the accessing system and (8) other similar data, which are designed to avert danger in the event of attacks on our information technology systems.

When using this general data and information, MicroContact AG does not draw any conclusions about the data subject. This information is rather required to (1) deliver the content of our website correctly, (2) to optimise the content of our website and the advertising for it, (3) to ensure the long-term functionality of our information technology systems and the technology of our website, and (4) to provide law enforcement authorities with the information necessary for law enforcement in the event of a cyber attack. This anonymously collected data and information is therefore evaluated by MicroContact AG on the one hand statistically and on the other with the aim of increasing the data protection and data security in our company, to ensure an optimal level of protection for the personal data that we process. The anonymous data of the server log files are stored separately from all personal data provided by a data subject.

5. Subscription to our newsletter

On the MicroContact AG website, visitors are given the opportunity to subscribe to our company newsletter. The personal data transmitted to the controller when ordering the newsletter is specified in the input mask used for this purpose.

MicroContact AG informs its customers and business partners about company offers in regular intervals in the form of a newsletter. The data subject can only receive our company newsletter if (1) the data subject has a valid e-mail address and (2) the data subject registers to receive the newsletter. For legal reasons, a confirmation email is sent to the email address that a data subject first enters for the newsletter mailing using the double opt-in procedure. This confirmation email serves to check whether the owner of the email address, as the data subject, has authorised the reception of the newsletter.

When registering for the newsletter, we also store the IP address of the data subject’s computer system used at the time of registration as well as the date and time of registration, which is assigned by the internet service provider (ISP). Recording this data is necessary for tracking the (possible) misuse of a data subject’s email address at a later point in time and therefore serves as a legal safeguard for the data controller.

The personal data collected in the context of a newsletter registration is used exclusively for sending our newsletter. Furthermore, newsletter subscribers could be informed by e-mail if this is necessary for the operation of the newsletter service or a related registration, as could be the case if there are changes to the newsletter offer or if the technical circumstances change. Personal data collected as part of the newsletter service will not be passed on to third parties. The data subject may cancel the subscription to our newsletter at any time. The consent to store personal data that the data subject has given us for the newsletter mailing can be revoked at any time. A link is provided in each newsletter for the purpose of revoking consent. Furthermore, it is also possible to unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time via the Controller’s website or to inform the Controller of this in another way.

6. Newsletter-Tracking

The newsletters of MicroContact AG contain tracking pixels. A tracking pixel is a miniature graphic that is embedded in emails that are sent in HTML format to enable log file recording and log file analysis. This permits a statistical evaluation of the success or failure of online marketing campaigns. Based on the embedded tracking pixel, the MicroContact AG may see if and when one data subject opened an e-mail and which links contained in the e-mail the data subject has called up.

Such personal data collected via the tracking pixels included in the newsletters are stored and analysed by the controller to optimise the newsletter dispatch and to adapt the content of future newsletters even better to the interests of the data subject. This personal data will not be passed on to third parties. Data subjects are entitled at any time to revoke the separate declaration of consent given in this regard via the double opt-in procedure. After a revocation, the controller will delete this personal data. MicroContact AG automatically interprets a cancellation of the newsletter subscription as a revocation.

7. Contact options via the website

The MicroContact AG website contains information based on legal regulations that enables fast electronic contact to be made with our company as well as direct communication with us, which also includes a general address for the so-called electronic mail (email address). If a data subject contacts the controller by email or via a contact form, the personal data transmitted by the data subject will be automatically stored. Such personal data transmitted on a voluntary basis by a data subject to the controller will be stored for the purpose of processing or of contacting the data subject. This personal data will not be passed on to third parties.

8. Subscription to comments posted to the website’s blog

Third parties can subscribe to the comments made in the MicroContact AG blog. In particular, a commenter has the option of subscribing to the comments following his or her comment on a particular blog post.

If a data subject chooses to subscribe to comments, the controller will send an automatic confirmation e-mail to verify, through the double opt-in procedure, that the owner of the e-mail address provided has indeed chosen this option. The optional subscription to comments can be terminated at any time.

9. Routine deletion and blocking of personal data

The controller shall process and store personal data of the data subject only for the time necessary to achieve the purpose of storage or where provided for by the European Directive and Regulation or other legislator in laws or regulations to which the controller is subject.

If the purpose of storage no longer applies or a storage retention period prescribed by the European Directive and Regulation or another competent legislator expires, the personal data will be routinely blocked or deleted in accordance with the statutory provisions.

10. Rights of the data subject

  • a)    Right to confirmation

    Every data subject shall have the right, granted by the European Directive and the Regulation, to obtain confirmation from the controller as to whether personal data concerning him or her are being processed. If a data subject wishes to exercise this right of confirmation, he or she may, at any time, contact an employee of the controller.

  • b)    Right to information

    Any data subject whose personal data is processed shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain at any time from the controller, free of charge, access to and a copy of the personal data relating to him or her which have been stored. Furthermore, the European Directive and Regulation has granted the data subject access to the following information:

    • the purposes of the processing
    • the categories of personal data being processed
    • the recipients or categories of recipients to whom the personal data have been or will be disclosed, in particular to recipients in third countries or to international organisations
    • where possible, the envisaged period for which the personal data will be stored or, if not possible, the criteria used to determine that period
    • the existence of a right to rectification or erasure of personal data concerning them or to the restriction of processing by the controller or a right to object to such processing
    • the existence of a right of appeal to a supervisory authority
    • if the personal data is not collected from the data subject: any available information as to their source
    • the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, pursuant to Article 22(1) and (4) of the GDPR and, at least in such cases, meaningful information about the implicated logic as well as the scope and the intended effects of such processing for the data subject

    Moreover, the data subject has the right to be informed whether personal data have been transmitted to a third country or to an international organisation. Where this is the case, the data subject shall also have the right to obtain information on the appropriate safeguards in relation to the transfer.

    If a data subject wishes to exercise this right of information, he or she may, at any time, contact an employee of the controller.

  • c)    Right to correction

    Any data subject concerned by the processing of personal data has the right, granted by the European Directive and Regulation, to obtain the rectification without delay of personal data relating to him or her which are inaccurate. Furthermore, the data subject shall have the right, in consideration of the purposes of the processing, to request the completion of incomplete personal data, including by means of a supplementary declaration.

    If a data subject wishes to exercise this right of rectification, he or she may, at any time, contact an employee of the controller.

  • d)    Right to erasure (right to be forgotten)

    Any data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller without undue delay the erasure of personal data concerning him or her where one of the following reasons applies and insofar as the processing is not necessary:

    • The personal data are no longer required in relation to the purposes for which they were collected or otherwise processed.
    • The data subject withdraws consent on which the processing is based according to Art. 6(1) lit. a, or Art. 9(2) lit a of the GDPR and where there is no other legal ground for the processing.
    • The data subject objects to the processing pursuant to Art. 21(1) GDPR and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the processing, or the data subject objects to the processing pursuant to Art. 21(2) GDPR.
    • The personal data has been unlawfully processed.
    • The erasure of the personal data is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation under Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject.
    • The personal data was collected in relation to information society services offered pursuant to Art. 8(1) GDPR.

    If one of the above grounds applies and a data subject wishes to have the personal data stored at MicroContact AG erased, he or she can contact an employee of the controller about this at any time. The employee of MicroContact AG will arrange that the deletion request is complied with immediately.

    If personal data has been disclosed by the MicroContact AG and our company as the controller is obligated pursuant to Art. 17(1) GDPR to erase the personal data, MicroContact AG shall implement reasonable measures, including technical measures, considering the available technology and the cost of implementation, to inform other data controllers which process the published personal data that the data subject has requested from those other data controllers to erase all links to or copies or replications of the personal data, unless the processing is necessary. The MicroContact AG employee shall instigate the necessary actions in the individual case.

  • e)    Right to restriction of processing

    Any data subject concerned by the processing of personal data shall have the right, granted by the European Directive and the Regulation, to obtain confirmation from the controller the restriction of processing where one of the following conditions is met:

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

    If one of the above prerequisites applies and a data subject wishes to have the personal data stored at MicroContact AG restricted, he or she can contact an employee of the controller about this at any time. The MicroContact AG employee shall instigate the restriction of the processing.

  • f)     Right to data portability

    Any data subject concerned shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain the personal data concerning him or her, which have been provided by the data subject to a controller, in a structured, standard and machine-readable format. They also have the right to transmit this data to another controller without obstruction by the controller to whom the personal data have been provided, provided that the processing is based on consent pursuant to Article 6(1) lit. a of the GDPR or Article 9(2) lit. a of the GDPR or on a contract pursuant to Article 6(1) lit. b of the GDPR and the processing is carried out by automated means, unless the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.

    Furthermore, when exercising the right to data portability pursuant to Article 20(1) of the GDPR, the data subject shall have the right to have the personal data transferred directly from one controller to another controller to the extent that this is technically feasible and provided that this does not adversely affect the rights and freedoms of other individuals.

    At any time, the data subject may contact any employee of the MicroContact AG to assert his or her right to data portability.

  • g)    Right to object

    Any data subject concerned by the processing of personal data shall have the right granted by the European Directive and Regulation to object at any time, on grounds relating to his or her particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning him or her which is carried out based on Article 6(1) lit. e or f of the GDPR. This also applies to profiling based on those provisions.

    MicroContact AG shall no longer process the personal data in case of objection, unless the controller demonstrates compelling legitimate grounds for processing that outweigh the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject, or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.

    Where MicroContact AG processes personal data for direct marketing purposes, the data subject shall have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning him or her for such marketing. This shall also apply to profiling insofar as it is associated with such direct marketing. Where the data subject objects to MicroContact AG to the processing for direct marketing purposes, MicroContact AG shall no longer process the personal data for such purposes.

    Furthermore, the data subject shall have the right, on grounds related to his or her particular situation, to object to processing of personal data concerning him or her which is carried out by the MicroContact AG for scientific or historical research purposes, or for statistical purposes pursuant to Article 89(1) of the GDPR, unless such processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for reasons of public interest.

    At any time, the data subject may contact any employee of the MicroContact AG or another employee to assert his or her right to object. Notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC, the data subject shall also be free to exercise his or her right to object in relation to the use of information society services through automated means using technical specifications.

  • h)    Automated individual decision-making, including profiling

    Every data subject concerned by the processing of personal data has the right, granted by the European Directive and the Regulation, not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, which produces legal effects concerning him or her or similarly significantly affects him or her, provided that the decision (1) is not necessary for entering into, or the performance of, a contract between the data subject and the controller, or (2) is authorised by Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject and that such law lays down appropriate measures to safeguard the data subject’s rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, or (3) is made with the data subject’s explicit consent.

    If the decision (1) is necessary for entering a contract or the performance of an agreement between the data subject and the data controller, or (2) it is made with the data subject’s explicit consent, the MicroContact AG shall implement suitable measures to safeguard the data subject’s rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, which include at least the right to obtain the data subject’s involvement on the part of the controller, to express his or her point of view and to contest the decision.

    If the data subject wishes to assert rights concerning automated decisions, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the controller.

  • i)      Right to revoke a consent given under data protection laws

    Any data subject concerned has the right, granted by the European Directive and Regulation, to revoke his or her consent to the processing of personal data.

    If the data subject wishes to assert his or her right to revoke a consent, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the controller.

11. Data protection relating to job applications and the job application process

The controller collects and processes the personal data of applicants for the purpose of conducting the application procedure. The processing may also be performed electronically. This is the case in particular where an applicant transmits application documents to the controller by electronic means, e.g. by email or a web form located on the website. If the data controller concludes an employment contract with an applicant, the transmitted data will be kept in compliance with the statutory provisions for the purpose of handling the employment relationship. If the controller does not conclude an employment contract with the applicant, the application documents shall be automatically deleted two months after notification of the rejection decision, provided that no other legitimate interests of the controller preclude the deletion. Another legitimate interest in this sense is, for example, a duty to provide evidence in proceedings under the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG).

12. Privacy policy on the use and application of Facebook

The controller has integrated components from Facebook on this website. Facebook is a social network.

A social network is an Internet-driven social meeting place, an online community that usually allows users to communicate with each other and interact in virtual space. A social network can serve as a platform for exchanging opinions and experiences or enables the internet community to provide personal or company-related information. Facebook allows users of its social network to create private profiles, upload photos and network via friend requests, amongst other things.

The operating company of Facebook is Facebook, Inc., 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. If a data subject lives outside the United States or Canada, the controller responsible for the processing of personal data is Facebook Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland.

By each access to one of the individual pages of this website, which is operated by the controller and on which a Facebook component (Facebook plug-in) has been integrated, the respective Facebook component automatically instructs the internet browser on the information technology system of the data subject to download a representation of the corresponding Facebook component from Facebook. A complete overview of all Facebook plug-ins can be found at https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/?locale=en_GB. As part of this technical procedure, Facebook becomes aware of which specific sub-page of our website is visited by the data subject.

If the data subject is logged into Facebook at the same time, Facebook recognises, with each visit to our website by the data subject and during the entire duration of the respective stay on our website, which specific sub-page of our website the data subject visits. The Facebook component collects this information and Facebook assigns it to the respective Facebook account of the data subject. If the data subject clicks on one of the Facebook buttons integrated on our website, for example the “Like” button, or if the data subject posts a comment, Facebook assigns this information to the data subject’s personal Facebook user account and stores this personal data.

If the data subject is logged into Facebook at the time of accessing our website, Facebook will always receive information via the Facebook component that the data subject has visited our website; this occurs regardless of whether the data subject clicks on the Facebook component or not. If the data subject does not wish information to be transmitted to Facebook, the data subject can prevent the transmission by logging out of his or her Facebook account before visiting our website.

Facebook’s published data policy, available at https://facebook.com/about/privacy/, provides information about Facebook’s collection, processing and use of personal data. It also explains the optional settings Facebook offers to protect the privacy of the data subject. There are also various apps available that make it possible to suppress data transmission to Facebook. The data subject can use such applications to suppress the transmission of data to Facebook.

13. Privacy policy on the use of Google Analytics (with anonymisation)

The controller has integrated the component Google Analytics (with anonymisation function) on this website. Google Analytics is a web analytics service. Web analysis is the compilation, collection and evaluation of data on the behaviour of visitors to websites. A web analysis service collects, among other things, information about the website from which a data subject has accessed a website (so-called referrer), which sub-pages of the website have been accessed or how often and for how long a sub-page has been viewed. A web analysis is mainly used for optimising a website and for the cost-benefit analysis of Internet advertising.

The operating company of the Google Analytics component is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, USA.

The controller uses the app “_gat._anonymizeIp” for web analysis through Google Analytics. This add-on is used by Google to truncate and anonymise the IP address of the data subject’s internet connection if our website is accessed from a member state of the European Union or from another signatory state to the Agreement on the European Economic Area.

The purpose of the Google Analytics component is to analyse the flow of visitors coming to our website. Google will use the data and information collected, among other things, to evaluate the use of our website, to compile online reports for us showing the activities on our website and to provide other services in connection with the use of our website.

Google Analytics places a cookie on the data subject’s information technology system. We have already explained above what cookies are. By setting the cookie, Google is enabled to analyse the use of our website. Each time a data subject accesses one of the individual pages of this website operated by the data controller with an integrated Google Analytics component, the internet browser on the data subject’s information technology system is automatically triggered by the respective Google Analytics component to transmit data to Google for the purpose of online analysis. Within the scope of this technical procedure, Google obtains knowledge of personal data, such as the IP address of the person concerned, which Google uses, among other things, to trace the origin of the visitors and clicks and thereby enable commission settlements.

The cookie is used to store personal information, such as the time of access, the location from where the access originated and the frequency of visits to our website by the data subject. Each time a user visits our website, this personal data, including the IP address of the internet connection used by the data subject, is transmitted to Google in the United States of America. These personal data are stored by Google in the United States of America. Google may share this personal data gathered through the technical process with third parties.

The data subject may prevent our website from setting cookies at any time by selecting the appropriate settings of the Internet browser used, as described above, and thus permanently object to cookie placement. Any such setting of the internet browser used would also prevent Google from setting a cookie on the information technology system of the data subject. Also, a cookie that has already been placed by Google Analytics can be deleted at any time via a web browser or other software programs.

Furthermore, the data subject has the option to object to the gathering of the data generated by Google Analytics and related to his or her use of the website as well as to the processing of this data by Google and to prevent the processing. For this purpose, the data subject needs to download and install a browser add-on under the link https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. This browser add-on instructs Google Analytics via JavaScript that no data and information about visits to web pages may be transmitted to Google Analytics. Google will consider the installation of the browser add-on as an objection. If the information technology system of the data subject is deleted, formatted or reinstalled at any time thereafter, the data subject must reinstall the browser add-on so that Google Analytics can be deactivated. Should the browser add-on be uninstalled or deactivated by the data subject or another person within his or her sphere of control, it will be possible to reinstall or reactivate the browser add-on.

Further information and Google’s applicable privacy policy are available at https://www.google.co.uk/intl/en/policies/privacy/ and at http://www.google.com/analytics/terms/gb.html. Google Analytics is explained in more detail at this link https://www.google.com/intl/de_de/analytics/.

14. Privacy policy on the use and application of Google+

The controller has integrated the Google+ button as a component on this website. Google+ is a so-called social network. A social network is an Internet-driven social meeting place, an online community that usually allows users to communicate with each other and interact in virtual space. A social network can serve as a platform for exchanging opinions and experiences or enables the internet community to provide personal or company-related information. Google+ allows users of its social network to create private profiles, upload photos and network via friend requests, amongst other things.

The operating company of the Google+ is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, USA.

Each time a data subject accesses one of the individual pages of this website operated by the data controller with an integrated Google+ button, the internet browser on the data subject’s information technology system is automatically triggered by the respective Google+ button to download a representation of the corresponding Google+ button from Google. As part of this technical procedure, Google becomes aware of which specific sub-page of our website is visited by the data subject. For more detailed information about Google+, please visit https://developers.google.com/+/.

If the data subject is logged into Google+ at the same time, Google recognises, with each visit to our website by the data subject and during the entire duration of the respective stay on our website, which specific sub-page of our website the data subject visits. The Google+ button collects this information and Google assigns it to the respective Google+ account of the data subject.

If the data subject clicks on one of the Google+ buttons integrated on our website and thereby submits a Google+1 recommendation, Google assigns this information to the data subject’s personal Google+ account and stores this personal data. Google stores the Google+1 recommendation of the data subject and makes it publicly available in accordance with the terms and conditions accepted by the data subject in this regard. A Google+1 recommendation made by the data subject on this website will subsequently be stored and processed together with other personal data, such as the name of the Google+1 account used by the data subject and the photo stored in this account, in other Google services, such as the results of the Google search engine, the Google account of the data subject or in other places, such as on websites or in connection with advertisements. Additionally, Google may link your visit to this website with other personal data stored by Google. Google also stores this personal information with the purpose of improving or optimising Google’s range of services.

If the data subject is logged into Google+ at the time of accessing our website, Google will always receive information via the Google+ button that the data subject has visited our website; this occurs regardless of whether the data subject clicks on the Google+ button or not.

If the data subject does not wish information to be transmitted to Google, the data subject can prevent the transmission by logging out of his or her Google+ account before visiting our website.

Further information and Google’s applicable privacy policy are available at https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/. Further information from Google Google+1 button is available at https://developers.google.com/+/web/buttons-policy.

15. Privacy policy on the use and application of LinkedIn

The controller has integrated components of the LinkedIn Corporation on this website. LinkedIn is a web-based social network that enables users to connect with existing business contacts and to establish new business contacts. More than 400 million registered people use LinkedIn in more than 200 countries. This makes LinkedIn at present the largest platform for business contacts and one of the most visited websites in the world.

The operating company of LinkedIn is LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court Mountain View, CA 94043, UNITED STATES. For privacy matters outside the United States, LinkedIn Ireland, Privacy Policy Issues, Wilton Plaza, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland, is responsible.

With each individual access to our website that is equipped with a LinkedIn component (LinkedIn plug-in), this component causes the internet browser used by the data subject to download a depiction of the component from LinkedIn. Further information about LinkedIn plug-ins can be found at https://developers.linkedin.com/plugins. As part of this technical procedure, LinkedIn becomes aware of which specific sub-page of our website is visited by the data subject.

If the data subject is logged into LinkedIn at the same time, LinkedIn recognises, with each visit to our website by the data subject and during the entire duration of the respective stay on our website, which specific sub-page of our website the data subject is visiting. The LinkedIn component collects this information and LinkedIn assigns it to the respective LinkedIn account of the data subject. If the data subject clicks on one of the LinkedIn buttons integrated on our website, LinkedIn assigns this information to the data subject’s personal LinkedIn user account and stores this personal data.

If the data subject is logged into LinkedIn at the time of accessing our website, LinkedIn will always receive information via the LinkedIn component that the data subject has visited our website; this occurs regardless of whether the data subject clicks on the LinkedIn component or not. If the data subject does not wish information to be transmitted to LinkedIn, the data subject can prevent the transmission by logging out of his or her LinkedIn account before visiting our website.

LinkedIn offers the option to unsubscribe from email messages, SMS messages and targeted ads, as well as manage ad settings at https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls. LinkedIn also connects to partners like Quantcast, Google Analytics, BlueKai, DoubleClick, Nielsen, Comscore, Eloqua and Lotame, which could place Cookies. Such cookies can be rejected at https://www.linkedin.com/legal/cookie-policy. LinkedIn’s applicable privacy policy is available for reference at https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy. LinkedIn’s applicable cookie policy is available for reference at https://www.linkedin.com/legal/cookie-policy.

16. Privacy policy on the use and application of Xing

The controller has integrated XING components on this website. Xing is a web-based social network that enables users to connect with existing business contacts and to establish new business contacts. Individual users can create a personal profile on Xing. For example, companies can create company profiles or publish job vacancies on Xing.

Xing is operated by XING SE, Dammtorstraße 30, 20354 Hamburg, Germany.

By each access to one of the individual pages of this website, which is operated by the controller and on which a Xing component (Xing plug-in) has been integrated, the respective Xing component automatically instructs the internet browser on the information technology system of the data subject to download a representation of the corresponding Xing component from Xing. Further information about Xing plug-ins can be found at https://dev.xing.com/plugins. As part of this technical procedure, Xing becomes aware of which specific sub-page of our website is visited by the data subject.

If the data subject is logged into Xing at the same time, Xing recognises, with each visit to our website by the data subject and during the entire duration of the respective stay on our website, which specific sub-page of our website the data subject is visiting. The Xing component collects this information and Xing assigns it to the respective Xing account of the data subject. If the data subject clicks on one of the Xing buttons integrated on our website, such as the “Share” button, Xing assigns this information to the data subject’s personal Xing user account and stores this personal data.

If the data subject is logged into Xing at the time of accessing our website, Xing will always receive information via the Xing component that the data subject has visited our website; this occurs regardless of whether the data subject clicks on the Xing component or not. If the data subject does not wish information to be transmitted to Xing, the data subject can prevent the transmission by logging out of his or her Xing account before visiting our website.

Xing’s published privacy policy, available at https://xing.com/privacy/, provides information about Xing’s collection, processing and use of personal data. Furthermore, Xing has published privacy notices for the XING Share button at https://www.xing.com/app/share?op=data_protection.

17. Privacy policy on the use and application of YouTube

The controller has integrated YouTube components on this website. YouTube is an internet video portal that allows video publishers to post video clips free of charge and other users to view, rate and comment on them likewise free of charge. YouTube permits the publication of all types of videos, which is why complete film and television programmes, but also music videos, trailers or videos made by users themselves are all available through the internet portal.

YouTube is operated by YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA. YouTube, LLC is a subsidiary of Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, USA.

By each access to one of the individual pages of this website, which is operated by the controller and on which a YouTube component (YouTube video) has been integrated, the respective YouTube component automatically instructs the internet browser on the information technology system of the data subject to download a representation of the corresponding YouTube component from YouTube. Further information about YouTube can be found at https://www.youtube.com/yt/about/de/. As part of this technical procedure, YouTube and Google become aware of which specific sub-page of our website is visited by the data subject.

If the data subject is logged into YouTube at the same time, YouTube recognises which specific sub-page of our website the data subject is visiting when a sub-page containing a YouTube video is called up. The YouTube and Google collect this information and assign it to the respective YouTube account of the data subject.

If the data subject is logged into YouTube at the time of accessing our website, YouTube and Google will always receive information via the YouTube component that the data subject has visited our website; this occurs regardless of whether the data subject clicks on the YouTube video or not. If the data subject does not wish information to be transmitted to YouTube and Google, the data subject can prevent the transmission by logging out of his or her YouTube account before visiting our website.

YouTube’s published privacy policy, available at https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/, provides information about YouTube and Google’s processing and use of personal data.

18. Legal basis of processing

Art. 6 I lit. a of the GDPR serves as the legal basis for our company for processing operations in which we obtain consent for a specific processing purpose. If the processing of personal data is required for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party, as is the case, for example, with processing operations that are necessary for the delivery of goods or the provision of another service or consideration, the processing is based on Article 6 I lit. b of the GDPR. The same applies to such processing operations which are indispensable for the implementation of pre-contractual measures, for example in the case of enquiries about our products or services. If our company must comply with a legal obligation which requires the processing of personal data, such as for the fulfilment of tax obligations, the processing is based on Art. 6 I lit. c of the GDPR. In rare cases, the processing of personal data may be necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or another natural person. This would be the case, for example, if a visitor were injured on our premises and subsequently his or her name, age, health insurance details or other vital information had to be passed on to a doctor, hospital or other third party. The processing would then be based on Art. 6 I lit. d of the GDPR. Ultimately, the processing operations could be based on Art. 6 I lit. f of the GDPR. This legal basis covers processing operations which are not covered by any of the aforementioned legal bases, if the processing is necessary to protect a legitimate interest of our company or a third party, provided the data subject’s interests, fundamental rights and freedoms are not overridden. We are permitted to perform such processing procedures in particular because they have been specifically mentioned by the European legislator. In that regard, the legislator took the view that a legitimate interest could be presumed if the data subject is a customer of the controller (recital 47 sentence 2 GDPR).

19. Legitimate interests for processing pursued by the controller or a third party

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

20. Duration for which the personal data are stored

The criterion for the storage period of personal data is the respective statutory retention period. After expiry of the set period, the respective data will be routinely deleted if they are no longer required for the fulfilment or initiation of the contract.

21. Legal or contractual requirements to provide the personal data; requirement for the contract to be concluded; obligation of the data subject to provide the personal data; possible consequences of non-provision

We would like to inform you that the provision of personal data is partially required by law (such as tax regulations) or may also result from contractual regulations (e.g. information on the contractual partner). Sometimes, it may be necessary for the conclusion of a contract that a data subject provides us with personal data which subsequently must be processed by us. For example, the data subject is obliged to furnish us with personal data if our company concludes a contract with him or her. A failure to provide the personal data would have the consequence that the contract with the data subject could not be concluded. Before providing personal data by the data subject, the data subject must contact one of our employees. Our employee will explain to the data subject in the individual case whether the provision of the personal data is required by law or contract or is required for the conclusion of the contract, whether there is an obligation to provide the personal data and what the consequences of failing to provide the personal data would be.

22. Existence of automated decision-making

As a responsible company, we abstain from automatic decision-making or profiling.

This data protection declaration was created by the DGD Deutsche Gesellschaft für Datenschutz GmbH data protection declaration generator, which acts as data protection officer, in cooperation with the data protection lawyers of the law firm WILDE BEUGER SOLMECKE | Rechtsanwälte.