data protection

(As of October 2025)

Preamble

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, in mobile applications, 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.

As of October 18, 2025

Table of contents

person in charge

MYFIREPHASE GmbH
Sonnenstr. 16a
85622 Feldkirchen

Authorized representatives: Dr. Simone Kreyer

Email address: info@myfirephase.de

Imprint: www.myfirephase.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 data processed

  • Inventory data.

  • Payment details.

  • Contact details.

  • Content data.

  • Contract data.

  • Usage data.

  • Meta, communication, and procedural data.

  • Log data.

Special categories of data

  • Health data.

Categories of data subjects

  • Beneficiaries and clients.

  • Interested parties.

  • Communication partner.

  • User.

  • Business and contractual partners.

  • Education and course participants.

  • Participants.

Purposes of processing

  • Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations.

  • Communication.

  • Safety measures.

  • Direct marketing.

  • Reach measurement.

  • Tracking.

  • Office and organizational procedures.

  • Conversion measurement.

  • Target group formation.

  • Organizational and administrative procedures.

  • Server monitoring and error detection.

  • Feedback.

  • Surveys and questionnaires.

  • Marketing.

  • Profiles containing user-related information.

  • Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.

  • Information technology infrastructure.

  • Public relations.

  • Business processes and business management procedures.

Relevant legal basis

Relevant legal bases under the GDPR: Below you will find an overview of the legal bases of the GDPR on which we process personal data. Please note that, in addition to the provisions of the GDPR, national data protection regulations may apply in your or our country of residence or domicile. If more specific legal bases are relevant in individual cases, we will inform you of this in the privacy policy.

  • Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR) - The data subject has given consent to the processing of their personal data for one or more specific purposes.

  • Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 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 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR) - Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.

  • Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 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.

National data protection regulations in Germany: In addition to the data protection regulations of the GDPR, national regulations on data protection apply in Germany. These include, in particular, the Act on the Protection against Misuse of Personal Data in Data Processing (Federal Data Protection Act – BDSG). The BDSG contains, in particular, special regulations on the right to information, the right to erasure, the right to object, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes and transfer, as well as automated decision-making in individual cases, including profiling. Furthermore, state data protection laws of the individual federal states may also apply.

Note on the applicability of the GDPR and Swiss DSG: This privacy policy serves to provide information in accordance with both the Swiss DSG and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). For this reason, please note that the terms used in the GDPR are used here due to their broader geographical application and comprehensibility. In particular, instead of the terms "processing" of "personal data," "overriding interest," and "sensitive personal data" used in the Swiss FADP, the terms "processing" of "personal data," "legitimate interest," and "special categories of data" used in the GDPR are used. However, the legal meaning of the terms will continue to be determined in accordance with the Swiss DSG within the scope of its applicability.

safety measures

We take appropriate technical and organizational measures in accordance with legal requirements, taking into account the state of the art, implementation costs, and the nature, scope, circumstances, and purposes of processing, as well as the varying likelihood and severity of threats to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, to ensure a level of protection appropriate to the risk.

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 that guarantee the exercise of data subject rights, the deletion of data, and responses to data threats. Furthermore, we take the protection of personal data into account during the development and selection of hardware, software, and procedures in accordance with the principle of data protection, through technology design and data protection-friendly default settings.

Securing online connections with TLS/SSL encryption technology (HTTPS): We use TLS/SSL encryption technology to protect user data transmitted via our online services from unauthorized access. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) are the cornerstones of secure data transmission on the Internet. These technologies encrypt the information transmitted between the website or app and the user's browser (or between two servers), protecting the data from unauthorized access. TLS, as the more advanced and secure version of SSL, ensures that all data transmissions meet the highest security standards. When a website is secured by an SSL/TLS certificate, this is indicated by the display of HTTPS in the URL. This serves as an indicator to users that their data is being transmitted securely and encrypted.

General information on data storage and deletion

We delete personal data that we process in accordance with legal requirements as soon as the underlying consent is revoked or there is no further legal basis for processing. This applies to cases in which the original purpose of processing no longer applies or the data is no longer required. Exceptions to this rule exist if legal obligations or special interests require longer storage or archiving of the data.

In particular, data that must be retained for commercial or tax reasons, or whose storage is necessary for legal prosecution or to protect the rights of other natural or legal persons, must be archived accordingly.

Our privacy policy contains additional information on the storage and deletion of data that applies specifically to certain processing operations.

If there are several specifications regarding the storage period or deletion deadlines for a date, the longest period shall always apply. We process data that is no longer required for its original purpose but is retained due to legal requirements or other reasons exclusively for the reasons that justify its storage.

Storage and deletion of data: The following general periods apply to storage and archiving under German law:

  • 10 years - Retention period for books and records, annual financial statements, inventories, management reports, opening balance sheets, and the work instructions and other organizational documents necessary for their understanding (Section 147 (1) No. 1 in conjunction with (3) AO, Section 14b (1) UStG, Section 257 (1) No. 1 in conjunction with (4) HGB).

  • 8 years – Accounting documents, such as invoices and expense receipts (Section 147(1)(4) and (4a) in conjunction with Section 147(3) sentence 1 of the German Fiscal Code (AO) and Section 257(1)(4) in conjunction with Section 257(4) of the German Commercial Code (HGB)).

  • 6 years - Other business documents: commercial or business letters received, copies of commercial or business letters sent, other documents relevant to taxation, e.g. hourly wage slips, operating statement forms, calculation documents, price labels, but also payroll documents, insofar as they are not already accounting documents, and cash register receipts (Section 147 (1) No. 2, 3, 5 in conjunction with para. 3 AO, § 257 (1) nos. 2 and 3 in conjunction with para. 4 HGB).

  • 3 years - Data required to consider potential warranty and damage claims or similar contractual claims and rights, as well as to process related inquiries, based on previous business experience and customary industry practices, will be stored for the duration of the regular statutory limitation period of three years (Sections 195, 199 BGB).

Rights of data subjects

Rights of data subjects under the GDPR: 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 Article 6(1)(e) or (f) 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 of revocation for consents: You have the right to revoke any consents you have given at any time.

  • Right to information: You have the right to request confirmation as to whether the data in question 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 that data concerning you be completed or that inaccurate data concerning you be corrected.

  • 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 that the processing of the data be restricted.

  • 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: Without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work, or place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data relating to you infringes the provisions of the GDPR.

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 scope of contractual and comparable legal relationships and associated measures, and with regard to communication with contractual partners (or pre-contractual), for example, to respond to inquiries.

We use this data to fulfill our contractual obligations. This includes, in particular, the obligations to provide the agreed services, any update obligations, and remedies in the event of warranty and other service disruptions. In addition, we use the data to protect our rights and for the purposes of administrative tasks associated with these obligations and for company organization. We also process the data on the basis of our legitimate interests in both proper and economic business management and in security measures to protect our contractual partners and our business operations from misuse, endangerment of their data, secrets, information, and rights (e.g. for the involvement of telecommunications, transport, and other auxiliary services, as well as subcontractors, banks, tax and legal advisors, payment service providers, or tax authorities). Within the framework of applicable law, we only disclose the data of contractual partners to third parties to the extent necessary for the aforementioned purposes or to fulfill legal obligations. Contractual partners will be informed about other forms of processing, such as for marketing purposes, within the framework 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 four 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, generally ten years). We delete data disclosed to us by the contractual partner within the scope of an order in accordance with the specifications and, as a rule, after the end of the order.

  • Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); payment data (e.g., bank details, invoices, payment history); contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers). Contract data (e.g., subject matter of the contract, term, customer category).

  • Special categories of personal data: Health data.

  • Affected persons: Service recipients and clients; interested parties; business and contractual partners. Education and course participants.

  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations; communication; office and organizational procedures; organizational and administrative procedures. Business processes and business management procedures.

  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section "General information on data storage and deletion."

  • Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR); Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods, and services:

  • Education and training services: We process the data of participants in our education and training programs (collectively referred to as "trainees") in order to provide them with our training services. The data processed in this context, the type, scope, purpose, and necessity of its processing are determined by the underlying contractual and training relationship. The forms of processing also include performance assessment and evaluation of our services and those of our instructors. In the course of our activities, we may also process special categories of data, in particular information on the health of trainees and further education participants, as well as data revealing ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs. To this end, we obtain the express consent of the trainees and trainees, if necessary, and otherwise only process the special categories of data if it is necessary for the provision of training services, for the purposes of health care, social protection or the protection of vital interests of the trainees and trainees; Legal basis: fulfillment of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

  • Therapeutic services: We process the data of our clients, interested parties, and other clients or contractual partners (collectively referred to as "clients") in order to provide them with our services. The data processed, the type, scope, purpose, and necessity of its processing are determined by the underlying contractual and client relationship.

    In the course of our activities, we may also process special categories of data, in particular information relating to the health of clients, possibly with reference to their sex life or sexual orientation, as well as data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership. To this end, we obtain the express consent of clients where necessary and otherwise process the special categories of data if this is in the interests of the clients' health, if the data is public or if other legal permissions exist.

    If it is necessary for the performance of our contract, to protect vital interests or if required by law, or if we have the consent of our clients, we disclose or transfer our clients' data to third parties or agents, such as authorities, medical institutions, laboratories, billing centers, and in the area of IT, office or comparable services, in compliance with professional law requirements. Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

  • Event management: We process the data of participants in the events, functions, and similar activities that we offer or organize (hereinafter referred to collectively as "participants" and "events") in order to enable them to participate in the events and make use of the services or promotions associated with participation.

    If we process health-related data, religious, political, or other special categories of data in this context, this is done within the scope of public disclosure (e.g., at thematically oriented events or for health care, safety, or with the consent of the persons concerned).

    The required information is marked as such in the context of the order, purchase order, or comparable contract conclusion and includes the information required for service provision and billing, as well as contact information for any necessary consultations. Insofar as we obtain access to information from end customers, employees, or other persons, we process this information in accordance with the legal and contractual requirements; legal basis: contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

Business processes and procedures

Personal data of service recipients and clients—including customers, clients, or, in special cases, patients, business partners, and other third parties—is processed within the framework of contractual and comparable legal relationships and pre-contractual measures such as the initiation of business relationships. This data processing supports and facilitates business processes in areas such as customer management, sales, payment transactions, accounting, and project management.

The data collected is used to fulfill contractual obligations and to organize operational processes efficiently. This includes processing business transactions, managing customer relationships, optimizing sales strategies, and ensuring internal billing and financial processes. In addition, the data supports the protection of the rights of the controller and facilitates administrative tasks and the organization of the company.

Personal data may be disclosed to third parties if this is necessary to fulfill the aforementioned purposes or legal obligations.

  • Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, payment data (e.g., bank details, invoices, payment history), contact details (e.g., postal and email addresses); content data (e.g., text or image messages and posts, as well as information relating to them, such as authorship details), contract data (e.g., subject matter of the contract, term, customer category), usage data (e.g., page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with), meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time stamps, identification numbers, parties involved).

  • Affected persons: Service recipients and clients; interested parties; communication partners. Business and contractual partners.

  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations; office and organizational procedures. Business processes and business management procedures.

  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section "General information on data storage and deletion."

  • Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods, and services:

  • Economic analyses and market research: The available data on business transactions, contracts, inquiries, etc. is analyzed for business purposes and to identify market trends and the wishes of contractual partners and users. The group of persons affected may include contractual partners, interested parties, customers, visitors, and users of the controller's online offering. The analyses are carried out for the purposes of business evaluation, marketing, and market research (e.g., to determine customer groups with different characteristics). Where available, profiles of registered users, including their details on the services used, are taken into account. The analyses are used exclusively by the controller and are not disclosed externally, unless they are anonymous analyses with summarized, i.e., anonymized values. In addition, the privacy of users is taken into account; the data is pseudonymized for analysis purposes and, where feasible, processed anonymously (e.g., as aggregated data); legal basis: legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

payment procedure

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 other service providers in addition to banks and credit institutions (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 required in order 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 rejecting the payment. Under certain circumstances, the data may be transmitted by the payment service providers to credit agencies. The purpose of this transmission 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., full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); 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., page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time stamps, identification numbers, persons involved). Contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers).

  • Affected persons: Service recipients and clients; business and contractual partners. Prospective customers.

  • Purpose of processing: Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations. Business processes and business management procedures.

  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section "General information on data storage and deletion."

  • Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods, and services:

Provision of online services and web hosting

We process user data in order to provide them with our online services. For this purpose, we process the user's IP address, which is necessary to transmit the content and functions of our online services to the user's browser or device.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g., page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time stamps, identification numbers, persons involved); Log data (e.g., log files relating to logins or the retrieval of data or access times). Content data (e.g., textual or pictorial messages and posts, as well as information relating to them, such as details of authorship or time of creation).

  • Affected persons: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

  • Purposes of processing: Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness; IT infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical devices (computers, servers, etc.)); Security measures; Reach measurement (e.g., access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); Conversion measurement (measurement of the effectiveness of marketing measures). Server monitoring and error detection.

  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section "General information on data storage and deletion."

  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods, and services:

  • Provision of online services on rented storage space: To provide our online services, we use storage space, computing capacity, and software that we rent or otherwise obtain from a server provider (also known as a "web host"); legal basis: legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

  • Collection of access data and log files: Access to our online offering is logged in the form of 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. Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR). Deletion of data: Log file information is stored for a maximum of 30 days and then deleted or anonymized. Data that must be retained for evidentiary purposes is excluded from deletion until the respective incident has been finally clarified.

  • 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; legal basis: legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

  • STRATO: Services in the field of providing information technology infrastructure and related services (e.g., storage space and/or computing capacity); Service provider: STRATO AG, Pascalstraße 10, 10587 Berlin, Germany; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR); Website: https://www.strato.de; Privacy policy: https://www.strato.de/datenschutz/. Data processing agreement: Provided by the service provider.

  • Squarespace: Squarespace offers software as a service for the creation and hosting of websites; service provider: Squarespace Ireland Ltd., Le Pole House, Ship Street Great, Dublin 8, Ireland; legal basis: legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); website: https://www.squarespace.com; Privacy policy: https://www.squarespace.com/privacy; Data processing agreement: https://www.squarespace.com/dpa. Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF), standard contractual clauses (https://www.squarespace.com/dpa).

Use of cookies

The term "cookies" refers to functions that store and read information on users' end devices. Cookies can also be used for various purposes, such as to ensure the functionality, security, and convenience of online services and to analyze visitor traffic. We use cookies in accordance with legal requirements. To this end, we obtain the consent of users in advance where necessary. If consent is not necessary, we rely on our legitimate interests. This applies if the storage and retrieval of information is essential in order to provide expressly requested content and functions. This includes, for example, the storage of settings and ensuring the functionality and security of our online offering. Consent can be revoked at any time. We provide clear information about the scope of cookies and which cookies are used.

Information on legal bases for data protection: Whether we process personal data using cookies depends on consent. If consent has been given, it serves as the legal basis. Without consent, we rely on our legitimate interests, which are explained above in this section and in the context of the respective services and procedures.

Storage duration: Withregard to storage duration, the following types of cookies are distinguished:

  • Temporary cookies (also known as session cookies): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user leaves an online offering and closes their device (e.g., browser or mobile application).

  • Persistent cookies: Persistent cookies remain stored even after the device is closed. This allows, for example, the log-in status to be saved and preferred content to be displayed directly when the user visits a website again. The user data collected with the help of cookies can also be used to measure reach. Unless we provide users with explicit information about the type and storage duration of cookies (e.g., when obtaining consent), they should assume that these are permanent and that the storage period can be up to two years.

General information on revocation and objection (opt-out): Userscan revoke their consent at any time and also object to the processing in accordance with the legal requirements, including by using the privacy settings of their browser.

  • Types of data processed: Meta, communication, and process data (e.g., IP addresses, time stamps, identification numbers, persons involved).

  • Affected persons: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods, and services:

  • Processing of cookie data based on consent: We use a consent management solution that obtains users' consent to the use of cookies or to the procedures and providers specified in the consent management solution. This procedure is used to obtain, log, manage, and revoke consent, in particular with regard to the use of cookies and similar technologies that are used to store, read, and process information on users' end devices. As part of this procedure, users' consent is obtained for the use of cookies and the associated processing of information, including the specific processing and providers specified in the consent management procedure. Users also have the option of managing and revoking their consent. The declarations of consent are stored in order to avoid repeated queries and to be able to provide proof of consent in accordance with legal requirements. Storage takes place on the server side and/or in a cookie (known as an opt-in cookie) or using comparable technologies in order to be able to assign consent to a specific user or their device. If no specific information is available about the providers of consent management services, the following general information applies: Consent is stored for up to two years. A pseudonymous user identifier is created and stored together with the time of consent, details of the scope of consent (e.g., relevant categories of cookies and/or service providers), and information about the browser, system, and device used; legal basis: consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR).

Registration, login, and user account

Users can create a user account. During registration, users are informed of the required mandatory information, which is processed for the purpose of providing the user account on the basis of contractual obligation fulfillment. The data processed includes, in particular, login information (user name, password, and email address).

When you use our registration and login functions and your user account, we store your IP address and the time of the respective user action. This data is stored on the basis of our legitimate interests and those of our users in protecting against misuse and other unauthorized use. This data is not passed on to third parties unless it is necessary to pursue our claims or there is a legal obligation to do so.

Users can be informed by email about processes that are relevant to their user account, such as technical changes.

  • Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g., text or image messages and posts, as well as information relating to them, such as details of authorship or time of creation); Usage data (e.g., page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Log data (e.g., log files relating to logins or the retrieval of data or access times).

  • Affected persons: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations; security measures; organizational and administrative procedures. Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.

  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section "General information on data storage and deletion." Deletion after termination.

  • Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods, and services:

  • Registration with real names: Due to the nature of our community, we ask users to only use our services under their real names. This means that the use of pseudonyms is not permitted; legal basis: fulfillment of contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

  • User profiles are not public: User profiles are not publicly visible or accessible.

Contact and inquiry management

When contacting us (e.g., by mail, contact form, email, telephone, or social media) and within the scope of existing user and business relationships, the information provided by the inquiring persons will be processed to the extent necessary to respond to contact requests and any requested measures.

  • Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g., text or image messages and posts, as well as information relating to them, such as details of authorship or time of creation); Usage data (e.g., page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time stamps, identification numbers, persons involved).

  • Persons affected: Kommunikationspartner.

  • Purposes of processing: Communication; organizational and administrative procedures; feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via online form). Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.

  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section "General information on data storage and deletion."

  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods, and services:

  • Contact form: When you contact us via our contact form, by email, or other means of communication, we process the personal data you provide in order to respond to and process your request. This usually includes information such as your name, contact details, and, if applicable, other information that you provide and that is necessary for us to process your request appropriately. We use this data exclusively for the stated purpose of establishing contact and communication; legal bases: fulfillment of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Communication via Messenger

We use messengers for communication purposes and therefore ask you to note the following information regarding the functionality of messengers, encryption, the use of communication metadata, and your options for objecting.

You can also contact us by other means, e.g. by telephone or email. Please use the contact details provided to you or those specified within our online offering.

In the case of end-to-end encryption of content (i.e., the content of your message and attachments), we would like to point out that the communication content (i.e., the content of the message and attached images) is encrypted from end to end. This means that the content of the messages cannot be viewed, not even by the messenger providers themselves. You should always use an up-to-date version of the messenger with encryption enabled to ensure that the message content is encrypted.

However, we would like to point out to our communication partners that although the messenger providers do not view the content, they can find out that and when communication partners are communicating with us, as well as technical information about the device used by the communication partners and, depending on the settings of their device, location information (so-called metadata).

Information on legal bases: If we ask communication partners for permission before communicating with them via Messenger, the legal basis for our processing of their data is their consent. Otherwise, if we do not ask for consent and you contact us on your own initiative, for example, we use Messenger in relation to our contractual partners and in the context of contract initiation as a contractual measure and, in the case of other interested parties and communication partners, on the basis of our legitimate interests in fast and efficient communication and fulfillment of our communication partners' needs for communication via Messenger. Furthermore, we would like to point out that we will not transfer the contact details provided to us to Messenger for the first time without your consent.

Revocation, objection, and deletion: You may revoke your consent at any time.

  • Types of data processed: Contact details (e.g., postal and email addresses or - This text area must be unlocked with a premium license. - premiumtext premiumtext premiumtext ). Content data (e.g., text or image messages and posts, as well as information relating to them, such as details of authorship - This text area must be unlocked with a premium license. - premiumtext premiumtext premiumtext premiumtext premiumtext premiumtext).

  • Persons affected: Communication partners.

  • Purpose of processing: Communication.

  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section "General information on data storage and deletion."

  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Newsletters and electronic notifications

We send newsletters, emails, and other electronic notifications (hereinafter referred to as "newsletters") exclusively with the consent of the recipients or on a legal basis. If the content of the newsletter is specified during registration, this content is decisive for the consent of the users. To subscribe to our newsletter, it is normally sufficient to provide your email address. However, in order to offer you a personalized service, we may ask you to provide your name so that we can address you personally in the newsletter, or to provide further information if this is necessary for the purpose of the newsletter.

Deletion and restriction of processing: We may store the unsubscribed email addresses for up to three years on the basis of our legitimate interests before deleting them in order to be able to prove that consent was previously given. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of potentially defending against claims. An individual request for deletion is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed at the same time. In the case of obligations to permanently observe objections, we reserve the right to store the email address in a block list (so-called "blocklist") for this purpose alone.

The registration process is logged on the basis of our legitimate interests for the purpose of verifying that it has been carried out correctly. If we commission a service provider to send emails, this is done on the basis of our legitimate interests in an efficient and secure mailing system.

Contents:

Information about us, our services, promotions, and offers.

  • Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); Meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time stamps, identification numbers, persons involved). Usage data (e.g., page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions).

  • Affected persons: Communication partners. Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

  • Purpose of processing: Direct marketing (e.g., by email or post). Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations.

  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) 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.

Further information on processing procedures, methods, and services:

  • Measurement of open 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 and the storage of the measurement results in the user profiles

  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR).

  • Prerequisite for using free services: Consent to receive mailings may be made a prerequisite for using free services (e.g., access to certain content or participation in certain promotions). If users wish to use the free service without subscribing to the newsletter, we ask that they contact us.

Surveys and questionnaires

We conduct surveys and questionnaires to collect information for the respective communicated survey or questionnaire purpose. The surveys and questionnaires we conduct (hereinafter referred to as "questionnaires") are evaluated anonymously. Personal data is only processed to the extent necessary for the provision and technical implementation of the surveys (e.g., processing the IP address to display the survey in the user's browser or using a cookie to enable the survey to be resumed).

  • Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); Content data (e.g., text or image messages and posts, as well as information relating to them, such as details of authorship or time of creation). Usage data (e.g., page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions).

  • Persons affected: Participants.

  • Purpose of processing: Feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via online form). Surveys and questionnaires (e.g., surveys with input options, multiple-choice questions).

  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section "General information on data storage and deletion."

  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods, and services:

online marketing

We process personal data for the purpose of online marketing, 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 (the so-called "cookie") or similar procedures are used, by means of which the information relevant to the display of the aforementioned content is stored about the user. This 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 and functions used. If users have consented to the collection of their location data, this may also be processed.

In addition, users' IP addresses are stored. 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 processes know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles.

The statements in the profiles are usually stored in cookies or using similar methods. These cookies can later be read on other websites that use the same online marketing method, analyzed for the purpose of displaying content, supplemented with further data, and stored on the server of the online marketing method provider.

In exceptional cases, it is possible to assign clear data to profiles, primarily if users are members of a social network, for example, whose online marketing methods we use and which links user profiles with the aforementioned information. Please note that users can enter into additional agreements with providers, for example by giving their consent during registration.

We 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 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.

Information on revocation and objection:

We refer you to the data protection information provided by 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 functionality of our online offering. We therefore recommend the following additional opt-out options, which are offered in summary form for the respective areas:

a) Europe: https://www.youronlinechoices.eu.

b) Canada: https://youradchoices.ca/.

c) USA: https://optout.aboutads.info/.

d) Cross-regional: https://optout.aboutads.info.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g., page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time stamps, identification numbers, persons involved).

  • Affected persons: 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); target group formation; marketing; profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles). Conversion measurement (measurement of the effectiveness of marketing measures).

  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section "General information on data storage and deletion." Storage of cookies for up to 2 years (Unless otherwise specified, cookies and similar storage methods may be stored on users' devices for a period of two years.).

  • Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).

  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods, and services:

  • Google Ads and conversion measurement: Online marketing methods for 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 (1) (a) GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (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 between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms.

Customer reviews and rating procedures

We participate in review and rating processes in order to evaluate, optimize, and promote our services. If users rate us via the participating rating platforms or processes or provide feedback in any other way, the general terms and conditions or terms of use and privacy policies of the providers also apply. As a rule, registration with the respective providers is also required for the rating.

To ensure that the reviewers have actually used our services, we transmit the necessary data regarding the customer and the service used to the respective review platform (including name, email address, and order number or item number) with the customer's consent. This data is used solely to verify the authenticity of the user.

  • Types of data processed: Contract data (e.g., subject matter of the contract, term, customer category); usage data (e.g., page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, types of devices and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time stamps, identification numbers, persons involved).

  • Affected persons: Service recipients and clients. Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

  • Purpose of processing: Feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via online form). Marketing.

  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods, and services:

  • Review widget: We integrate so-called "review widgets" into our online offering. A widget is a functional and content element integrated into our online offering that displays variable information. It can be displayed, for example, in the form of a seal or similar element, sometimes also referred to as a "badge." The corresponding content of the widget is displayed within our online offering, but it is retrieved from the servers of the respective widget provider at that moment. This is the only way to ensure that the current content is always displayed, especially the current rating. To do this, a data connection must be established from the website accessed within our online offering to the widget provider's server, and the widget provider receives certain technical data (access data, including IP address) that is necessary to deliver the content of the widget to the user's browser. Furthermore, the widget provider receives information that users have visited our online offering. This information may be stored in a cookie and used by the widget provider to identify which online offerings participating in the rating process have been visited by the user. The information may be stored in a user profile and used for advertising or market research purposes; legal basis: legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Presence on social networks (social media)

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 pose 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 user behavior and the resulting interests. The latter may in turn be used to place advertisements within and outside the networks that are presumed to correspond to the interests of the users. For this reason, cookies are usually stored on users' computers, in which their usage behavior and interests are stored. In addition, data can also be stored in the usage profiles independently of the devices used by the users (especially if they are members of the respective platforms and are logged in there).

For a detailed description of the respective forms of processing and the options for objection (opt-out), please refer 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 latter have access to the user data and can take appropriate measures and provide information directly. However, if you still require assistance, you can contact us.

  • Types of data processed: Contact details (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); Content data (e.g., text or image messages and posts, as well as information relating to them, such as details of authorship or time of creation). Usage data (e.g., page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions).

  • Affected persons: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

  • Purpose of processing: Communication; feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via online form). Public relations.

  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section "General information on data storage and deletion."

  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods, and services:

  • 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(1)(f) GDPR); Website: https://www.instagram.com; Privacy policy: https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/. Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF).

  • LinkedIn: Social network - Together with LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, we are responsible for collecting (but not further processing) data from visitors, which is used to generate "Page Insights" (statistics) for our LinkedIn profiles. This data includes information about the types of content users view or interact with, as well as the actions they take. In addition, details about the devices used are collected, such as IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings, and cookie data, as well as information from user profiles, such as job title, country, industry, hierarchy level, company size, and employment status. Information on data protection regarding the processing of user data by LinkedIn 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," 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 fulfill 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 the right 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 and transfer of data to LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, a company based in the EU. Further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, in particular with regard to 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 (1) (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),https://legal.linkedin.com/dpa. Opt-out option: https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.

Plug-ins and embedded functions and content

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, or city maps (hereinafter referred to collectively 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 can also be stored in cookies on the user's device and may contain technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, visit time, and other information about the use of our online offering, but may also 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 data processing is consent. Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e., interest in efficient, economic, 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., page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time stamps, identification numbers, persons involved).

  • Affected persons: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

  • Purpose of processing: Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.

  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section "General information on data storage and deletion." Storage of cookies for up to 2 years (Unless otherwise specified, cookies and similar storage methods may be stored on users' devices for a period of two years.).

  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods, and services:

  • Google Fonts (obtained from Google's 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 "Analytics" page of Google Fonts. 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(1)(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.

Created with the free Datenschutz Generator.de by Dr. Thomas Schwenke.