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Privacy Policy

We are pleased that you are interested in our company. Data protection is extremely important to the management at Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH. The Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH Internet pages can generally be used without providing any personal data. However, if a data subject wishes to make use of our company's special services through our website, it may be necessary to process personal data. If the processing of personal data is necessary and there is no legal basis for such processing, we generally obtain the data subject's consent.

The processing of personal data, such as the data subject's name, address, email address or telephone number, is always carried out in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and in compliance with the specific data protection provisions applicable to the country where Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH is based. By means of this privacy policy, our company wishes to inform the public about the nature, scope and purpose of the personal data we collect, use and process. This privacy policy also informs data subjects of their rights.

As the controller, Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH has implemented numerous technical and organisational measures to ensure that the personal data processed through this website is protected as completely as possible. Nevertheless, the transfer of data through the Internet may generally be subject to security vulnerabilities, so absolute protection cannot be guaranteed. For this reason, every data subject is free to transfer personal data to us by alternative means, such as over the phone.

1. Definitions
The Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH privacy policy is based on the terms used by the European legislative and regulatory authority when the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was issued. Our privacy policy should be easy to read and understand for the public as well as for our customers and business partners. To guarantee this, we would like to explain the terms used in advance.

We use the following terms in this privacy policy, among others:

  • a) Personal data
    Personal data is any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter "data subject"). An identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.
     
  • b) Data subjects
    A data subject is an identified or identifiable natural person whose personal data are processed by the controller.
     
  • c) Processing
    Processing is any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction.
     
  • d) Restriction of processing
    Restriction of processing is the marking of stored personal data with the aim of limiting their future processing.
     
  • e) Profiling
    Profiling is any automated processing of personal data consisting 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 the work performance, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, conduct, whereabouts or movement of that natural person.
     
  • f) Pseudonymisation
    Pseudonymisation means the processing of personal data in such a way that the personal data can no longer be attributed to a specific data subject without the provision of additional information, provided that such additional information is kept separately and is subject to technical and organisational measures ensuring that the personal data are not attributed to an identified or identifiable natural person.
     
  • g) Controller or data controller
    The controller or data controller is the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which alone or jointly with others determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data. Where the purposes and means of such processing are laid down by Union law or by the law of the Member States, the controller or the criteria specified by them may be designated in accordance with Union law or with the law of the Member States.
     
  • h) Processor
    The processor is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or body that processes personal data on behalf of the controller.
     
  • i) Recipient
    The recipient is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body to whom personal data are disclosed, whether or not it is a third party or not. However, public authorities that may receive personal data in the context of a specific investigation mandate under Union law or the law of the Member States shall not be considered as recipients.
     
  • j) Third party
    A third party is any natural or legal person, public authority, agency or body other than the data subject, the controller, the processor and the people authorised to process the personal data under the direct responsibility of the controller or processor.
     
  • k) Consent
    Consent shall mean any voluntary, informed and unambiguous expression by the data subject of their will in the particular case, in the form of a statement or other unequivocal confirmatory act, indicating that they consents to the processing of their personal data.

2. Name and address of the data protection officer
The controller's data protection officer is:

Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH
Glockengasse 37-39
50667 Cologne
Germany
Tel.: 0221 208080

Email: info(a)vrs.de
Website: www.vrs.de

3. Name and address of the data protection officer
The controller's data protection officer is:

Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH
Data protection officer
Glockengasse 37-39
50667 Cologne
Germany
Tel.: 0221 208080

Email: datenschutz@vrs.de
Website: www.vrs.de

Any data subject can contact our data protection officer directly at any time with any questions or suggestions regarding data protection.

4. Cookies
The Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH Internet pages use cookies. Cookies are text files that are stored on a computer system via an Internet browser.

Many websites and servers use cookies. Many cookies contain a so-called cookie ID. A cookie ID is the cookie's unique identifier. It consists of a string of characters through which Internet pages and servers can be assigned to the specific Internet browser where the cookie was stored. This enables the Internet pages and servers visited to distinguish the data subject's individual browser from other Internet browsers that contain other cookies. A specific Internet browser can be recognised and identified by the unique cookie ID.

By using cookies, Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH can provide users of this website with more user-friendly services that would not be possible without setting cookies.

The information and offers on our website can be optimised in the interests of the user by using a cookie. Cookies enable us, as already mentioned, to recognise visitors to our website. The purpose of this recognition is to make it easier for visitors to use our website. For example, a visitor to a website that uses cookies does not have to re-enter their access data every time they visit the website because this is done by the website and the cookie stored on the user's computer system. Another example is a shopping basket cookie in an online shop. The online shop remembers the items that a customer has placed in the virtual shopping basket using a cookie.

The data subject can prevent the setting of cookies by our website at any time by adjusting the appropriate Internet browser settings and therefore permanently objecting to the setting of cookies. Furthermore, cookies that have already been set can be deleted at any time by an Internet browser or other software programs. This is possible in all common Internet browsers. If the data subject deactivates the setting of cookies in the Internet browser used, not all our website functions can be used in full under certain circumstances.

5. Collection of general data and information
The Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH website collects a range of general data and information each time a data subject concerned or an automated system accesses the website. This general data and information is stored in the server's log files. The following may be collected: (1) browser types and versions used, (2) the operating system used by the accessing system, (3) the website from which an accessing system accesses our website (so-called referrer), (4) the sub-pages that are accessed 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 and information used to avert dangers in the event of attacks on our information technology systems. When using this general data and information, Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH does not draw any conclusions about the data subject. This information is rather required (1) to correctly deliver our website's content, (2) to optimise our website's content and advertising, (3) to ensure the long-term functionality of our information technology systems and website technology, 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 will be analysed by Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH both statistically and with the aim of increasing data protection and data security in our company in order to ultimately ensure an optimum level of protection for the personal data we process. The server log files' anonymous data are stored separately from all personal data provided by the data subject.

6. Registration on our website
The data subject shall have the possibility to register on the controller's website by providing personal data. The personal data transmitted to the data controller is determined by the respective input mask used for registration. The personal data entered by the data subject shall be collected and stored exclusively for internal use by the data controller and for its own purposes. The data controller may arrange for the data to be disclosed to one or more processors, such as a parcel service provider, who will also use the personal data solely for internal purposes attributable to the data controller.

By registering on the data controller's website, the IP address assigned to the data subject by the Internet service provider (ISP), the date and time of registration are also stored. These data are stored in light of the fact that this is the only way to prevent the misuse of our services and these data make it possible to clear up any crimes committed, if necessary. In this respect, the storage of this data is necessary to safeguard the data controller. These data will not be disclosed to third parties unless there is a legal obligation to do so or unless the data is used for criminal prosecution.

The registration of the data subject by voluntarily providing personal data serves the purpose of the data controller to offer the data subject content or services which can only be offered to registered users due to their nature. Registered people are free to modify the personal data provided during registration at any time or to have them completely erased from the controller's database.

The data controller shall provide any data subject with information as to which personal data relating to the data subject are stored at any time on request. Furthermore, the data controller shall rectify or erase personal data at the request or notice of the data subject, provided that this does not conflict with any statutory storage obligations. All the controller's staff shall be available to the data subject as contact persons in this context.

7. Subscription to our newsletter
Users are given the opportunity to subscribe to our company newsletter on the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH website. Which personal data is transferred to the data controller when ordering the newsletter results from the input mask used for this purpose.

Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH informs its customers and business partners at regular intervals about the company's offers by means of a newsletter. Our company newsletter can only be received by the data subject if (1) the data subject has a valid email address and (2) the data subject registers to receive the newsletter. For legal reasons, a confirmation email in the double opt-in procedure will be sent to the email address entered for the first time by a data subject for the purpose of sending the newsletter. This confirmation email is used to check whether the owner of the email address has authorised receipt of the newsletter as the data subject.

When registering for the newsletter, we also store the IP address assigned by the Internet Service Provider (ISP) to the computer system used by the data subject at the time of registration as well as the date and time of registration. The collection of this data is necessary to be able to trace the (possible) misuse of a data subject's email address at a later date and therefore serves to legally safeguard the data controller.

The personal data collected as part of newsletter registration will only be used to send our newsletter. Furthermore, subscribers to the newsletter could be informed by email if this is necessary to operate the newsletter service or registration in this respect, as might be the case in the event of changes to the newsletter offer or changes to the technical conditions. The personal data collected as part of the newsletter service will not be disclosed to third parties. The subscription to our newsletter can be cancelled by the data subject at any time. The consent to the storage of personal data, which the data subject has given us to send the newsletter, can be withdrawn at any time. You will find a corresponding link in every newsletter for the purpose of revoking your consent. It is also possible to unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time on the data controller's website or to inform the data controller of this in any other way.

8. Prize draws
Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH organises prize draws.

Entering prize draws and data is voluntary. We assure you that we will use the data provided in connection with entering the prize draw solely for the purpose of organising the competition, will not disclose it to third parties and will not use it to send messages, except related to the prize draw. The legal basis for this processing is point (a) of Article 6(1) GDPR.

9. Newsletter tracking
The Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH newsletters contain tracking pixels. A tracking pixel is a thumbnail image embedded in emails sent in HTML format to enable log file recording and analysis. This allows for the statistical analysis of the success or failure of online marketing campaigns to be carried out. The embedded pixel code enables Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH to identify whether and when an email was opened by a data subject and which links in the email were accessed by the data subject.

Such personal data collected by tracking pixels contained in the newsletters are stored and analysed by the data controller to optimise the delivery of the newsletter and to adapt the content of future newsletters even better to the data subject's interests. This personal data will not be disclosed to third parties. Data subjects are entitled to withdraw the relevant separate declaration of consent submitted via the double opt-in procedure at any time. After withdrawal, this personal data will be erased by the data controller. The Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH automatically interprets cancellation of the subscription to receive the newsletter as withdrawal.

10. Contact option via the website
The Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH website contains information that enables our company and us to be contacted quickly and electronically as well as direct communication with us, which also includes a general address for electronic mail (email address), in accordance with statutory provisions.

If a data subject contacts the controller by email or using a contact form, the personal data transmitted by the data subject shall be automatically stored. Such personal data transmitted voluntarily by a data subject to the controller are stored for the purposes of processing or contacting the data subject. This personal data will not be disclosed to third parties without express consent.

11. Read-aloud feature
We offer the possibility to have our website content read aloud. For this we use a read-aloud feature provided by Linguatec Sprachtechnologien GmbH. This service can be activated by clicking the corresponding icon on our website. When using this read-aloud feature, the necessary technical data (such as browser settings) are sent to the company:

Linguatec GmbH
Gottfried-Keller-Str. 12
81245 Munich
Telefon. +49 89 896664-0
Telefax: +49 89 88919933
Email: contact(at)linguatec.de
Internet:  www.linguatec.de

No personal data is collected except the user's IP address. The IP address will be erased after processing.

More information and the applicable data protection provisions from linguatec can be found at: https://www.linguatec.de/datenschutz .

12. OpenStreetMap
The data controller uses a map section of OpenStreetMap (OSM) on their website. OpenStreetMap is an open source mapping tool. Your IP address is disclosed to OpenStreetMap so the map can be displayed.

How and, if applicable, which data is stored by OpenStreetMap can be found under the following link: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Privacy_Policy

13. Routine erasure and blocking of personal data
The controller shall only process and store the data subject's personal data for the period of time necessary to achieve the storage purpose or where provided for by the European legislative and regulatory authority or another legislator in laws or regulations which the controller is subject to.

If the storage purpose no longer applies or if a storage period prescribed by the European legislative and regulatory authority or another competent legislator expires, the personal data shall be blocked or erased routinely and in accordance with the statutory provisions.

14. Rights of data subjects

  • a) Right to confirmation
    Every data subject shall have the right, granted by the European legislative and regulatory authority, to obtain confirmation from the controller as to whether personal data relating to them are being processed. If a data subject wishes to exercise this right of confirmation, they can contact our data protection officer or another of the data controller's employees at any time.
     
  • b) Right of access
    Any data subject having personal data processed has the right, granted by the European legislative and regulatory authority, to obtain information regarding the personal data relating to them that have been stored and a copy of that information from the controller at any time, free of charge. Furthermore, the European legislative and regulatory authority has provided the data subject with access to the following information:
     
  • The processing purposes
     
  • The categories of personal data processed
  • The recipients or categories of recipients to whom the personal data have been disclosed or will be disclosed, in particular recipients in third countries or international organisations
  • If possible, the planned duration for which the personal data will be stored or, if that is not possible, the criteria for determining that duration
  • The existence of a right to the rectification or erasure of personal data concerning them or to the restriction of processing carried out by the controller or of a right to object to such processing
  • The existence of a right of appeal to a supervisory authority
  • If the personal data are not collected from the data subject: all available information on the origin of the data
  • The existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, in accordance with Article°22(1) and (4) of the GDPR and, at least in these cases, meaningful information on the logic involved and the scope and intended impact of such processing for the data subject.

    The data subject shall also have a right of access to information as to whether personal data have been transferred to a third country or to an international organisation.

    If this is the case, the data subject shall also have the right to obtain information on the appropriate safeguards in connection with the transfer. If a data subject wishes to exercise this right to information, they can contact our data protection officer or another of the data controller's employees at any time.
     
  • c) Right to rectification
    Any data subject having personal data processed has the right, granted by the European legislative and regulatory authority, to request the rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning them without delay. Furthermore, the data subject shall have the right, taking the purposes of the processing into account, to request the completion of incomplete personal data, by means of a supplementary statement too.

    If a data subject wishes to exercise this right to rectification, they can contact our data protection officer or another of the data controller's employees at any time.
     
  • d) Right to erasure (right to be forgotten)
    Any data subject having personal data processed shall have the right, granted by the European legislative and regulatory authority, to require the controller to erase personal data concerning them without delay which are subject to one of the following conditions and to the extent that the processing is not necessary:
     
  • The personal data have been collected or processed in any other way for such purposes which they are no longer necessary for.
     
  • The data subject withdraws their consent on which the processing was based in accordance with point°(a) of Article°6(1) of the GDPR or point°(a) of Article°9(2) of the GDPR and there is no other legal basis for the processing.
     
  • The data subject objects to the processing under Article°21(1) of the GDPR and there are no overriding legitimate reasons for the processing or the data subject objects to the processing under Article°21(2) of the GDPR.
     
  • The personal data were processed unlawfully.
  • The erasure of personal data is necessary to fulfil a legal obligation under Union law or the law of the Member States which the data controller is subject to.
  • The personal data were collected in relation to information society services offered in accordance with Article°8(1) of the GDPR.

    If one of the above reasons applies and a data subject wishes to have personal data stored by Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH erased, they can contact our data protection officer or another of the data controller's employees at any time. The Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH data protection officer or another employee will ensure that the request for erasure is complied with immediately.

    If the personal data have been made public by Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH and our company is responsible pursuant to Article°(1) of the GDPR, Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH shall take appropriate measures, also of a technical nature, to inform other data controllers responsible for processing the published personal data that the data subject has requested the erasure of all links to this personal data or copies or replications of this personal data by these other data controllers responsible for processing, insofar as the processing is not necessary, taking the available technology and implementation costs into account. The Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH data protection officer or another employee will ensure the necessary measures are taken on an individual basis.
     
  • e) Right to restriction of processing
    Any data subject having personal data processed has the right, granted by the European legislative and regulatory authority, to request the controller to restrict the processing if one of the following conditions is met:
     
  • The accuracy of the personal data is contested by the data subject for a period of time which allows the data controller to verify the accuracy of the personal data.
  • The processing is unlawful, the data subject refuses the erasure of the personal data and instead requests the restriction of the use of the personal data.
  • The controller no longer needs the personal data for the purposes of processing, but the data subject needs them to assert, exercise or defend legal claims.
  • The data subject has lodged an objection against the processing pursuant to Article°21(1) of the GDPR and it is not yet clear whether the controller's legitimate reasons outweigh those of the data subject.

    If one of the above conditions applies and a data subject wishes to have personal data stored by Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH restricted, they can contact our data protection officer or another of the data controller's employees at any time. The Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH data protection officer or another employee will ensure the processing is restricted.
     
  • f) Right to data portability
    Any data subject having personal data processed has the right, granted by the European legislative and regulatory authority, to obtain personal data concerning them which have been provided by the data subject to a controller in a structured, common and machine-readable format. They shall also have the right to communicate such data to another controller without interference from the controller to whom the personal data was been provided, provided that the processing is based on the consent referred to in point°(a) of Article°6(1) of the GDPR or point°(a) of Article°9(2) of the GDPR or on a contract referred to in point°(b) of Article°6(1) of the GDPR and that the processing is carried out by automated means, provided that the processing is not necessary to perform a task carried out in the public interest or in exercising the official authority vested in the controller.

    Furthermore, when exercising their right to data portability pursuant to Article°20(1) of the GDPR, the data subject shall have the right for the personal data to be transferred directly from one controller person to another controller, insofar as this is technically feasible and insofar as this does not impair the other people's rights and freedoms.

    The data subject may contact the data protection officer appointed by Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH or another employee at any time to assert the right to data portability.
     
  • g) Right to object
    Any data subject having personal data processed has the right, granted by the European legislative and regulatory authority, to object to the processing of personal data concerning them at any time for reasons related to their specific situation on the basis of point°(e) or (f) of Article°6(1) of the GDPR. This also applies to profiling based on these provisions.

    Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH no longer processes your personal data in the event of objection unless we have proof of compelling and legitimate grounds for the processing which prevail over the data subject's interests, rights and freedoms, or where the processing is necessary to assert, exercise or defend legal claims.

    If Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH processes personal data to conduct direct advertising, the data subject has the right to object to the processing of personal data for the purpose of such advertising at any time. This also applies to profiling in so far as it is related to such direct marketing. If the data subject objects to Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH processing the data for direct marketing purposes, Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH will no longer process the personal data for these purposes.

    In addition, the data subject shall have the right, on grounds arising from their specific situation, to object to the processing of personal data at Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH for scientific or historical research purposes or for statistical purposes pursuant to Article°89(1) of the GDPR, unless such processing is necessary to perform a task in the public interest.

    The data subject may contact the data protection officer appointed by Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH or another employee at any time to exercise their right to object. The data subject shall also be free to exercise their right to object in relation to the use of information society services, notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC, by means of automated procedures using technical specifications.
     
  • h) Automated case-by-case decisions including profiling
    Any data subject having personal data processed has the right, granted by the European legislative and regulatory authority, to not be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, which produces legal effects for them or significantly affects them in a similar manner, provided that the decision (1) is not necessary to conclude or perform a contract between the data subject and the controller, or (2) is authorised by Union law or the Member States legislation which the controller is subject to and which provides for adequate measures to safeguard the data subject's rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, or (3) is made with the data subject's express consent.

    If the decision (1) is necessary to conclude or perform a contract between the data subject and the controller or (2) is made with the data subject's express consent, Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH shall take appropriate measures to safeguard the data subject's rights and freedoms as well as legitimate interests, including at least the right to obtain the intervention of a person on behalf of the data subject, to state their own position and challenge the decision.

    If a data subject wishes to assert rights with regard to automated decisions, they can contact our data protection officer or another of the data controller's employees at any time.
     
  • i) Right to withdraw consent for data protection issues
    Any data subject having personal data processed has the right, granted by the European legislative and regulatory authority, to withdraw consent to the processing of personal data at any time.

    If a data subject wishes to assert their right to withdraw consent, they can contact our data protection officer or another of the data controller's employees at any time.

15. Data protection regarding job applications and the application process
The data controller collects and processes the personal data from applicants for the purpose of handling the application process. Processing may also be carried out electronically. This is particularly the case if an applicant submits the relevant application documents electronically, for example by email or using a web form on the website, to the data controller. If the data controller concludes an employment contract with an applicant, the transferred data shall be stored for the purpose of processing the employment relationship in accordance with the statutory provisions. If the controller does not conclude a contract of employment with the candidate, the application documents shall be automatically erased six months after notification of the refusal decision, unless erasure conflicts with any other legitimate interests for the controller. Other legitimate interests in this sense include, for example, the duty to provide evidence in proceedings under the General Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz - AGG).

16. Privacy policy on the use of Facebook
The data controller has integrated Facebook components on this website. Facebook is a social network.

A social network is an Internet-based social meeting place, an online community that usually enables users to communicate with each other and interact in virtual space. A social network can serve as a platform to exchange opinions and experiences or enables the Internet community to provide personal or company-related information. Facebook enables the social network's users to create private profiles, upload photos and network using friend requests, among other things.

Facebook is operated by Facebook, Inc. 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. If a data subject lives outside the USA or Canada, the data controller for processing personal data is Facebook Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Each time one of the individual pages on this website is accessed, which is operated by the data controller and on which a Facebook component (Facebook plug-in) has been integrated, the Internet browser on the data subject's information technology system is automatically prompted by the respective Facebook component to download a representation of the corresponding Facebook component from Facebook. A complete overview of all Facebook plug-ins can be found at developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/ . As part of this technical process, Facebook obtains information about which specific subpage of our website is visited by the data subject.

If the data subject is logged into Facebook at the same time, Facebook recognises which specific page of our website the data subject is visiting each time the person visits our website and for the entire duration the data subject stays on our website. This information is collected by the Facebook component and assigned by Facebook to the data subject's respective Facebook account. If the data subject clicks on one of the Facebook buttons integrated into our website, such as the "Like" button, or if the data subject comments, Facebook assigns this information to the data subject's personal Facebook user account and stores this personal data.

Facebook receives information through the Facebook component that the data subject has visited our website whenever the data subject is logged into Facebook at the same time as accessing our website, regardless of whether the data subject clicks the Facebook component or not. If the data subject does not want this information to be transmitted to Facebook in this way, they can prevent it from being transmitted by logging out of their Facebook account before accessing our website.

Facebook's published privacy policy, which is available at https://de-de.facebook.com/about/privacy/ provides information about the collection, processing and use of personal data by Facebook. It also explains which settings Facebook offers to protect the data subject's privacy. Various applications are also available that make it possible to suppress data transmission to Facebook. Such applications can be used by the data subject to suppress data transmission to Facebook.

17. Privacy policy on the use of remarketing

17.1. Google Remarketing

The data controller has integrated Google Remarketing services into this website. This feature allows advertising target groups created with Google Remarketing to be linked to the Google AdWords and Google DoubleClick cross-device features, enabling a company to display ads to those Internet users who have previously been on the company's website. The integration of Google Remarketing therefore allows a company to create user-related advertisements and consequently to display advertisements of interest to the Internet user.
Google Remarketing services are operated by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin. D04 E5W5, Ireland.

The purpose of Google Remarketing is to display advertisements that are relevant to your interests. Google Remarketing allows us to display advertisements through the Google advertising network or on other websites that are tailored to Internet users' individual needs and interests.

Google Remarketing places a cookie on the data subject's information technology system. What cookies are, has already been explained above. Setting cookies enables Google to recognise visitors to our website who subsequently visit websites that are also members of the Google advertising network. Each time a website is accessed on which the Google Remarketing service has been integrated, the data subject's Internet browser automatically identifies itself to Google. As part of this technical process, Google obtains knowledge of personal data, such as the IP address or the user's surfing behaviour, which Google uses, among other things, to display advertisements relevant to the user's interests.

The cookie is used to store personal information, such as the Internet pages visited by the data subject. Every time you visit our website, personal data, including the IP address for the Internet connection used by the data subject, is transmitted to Google in the United States of America. This personal data is stored by Google in the United States of America. Google may disclose this personal information collected through the technical process with third parties.

The data subject can prevent the setting of cookies by our website as described above at any time by adjusting the appropriate Internet browser settings and therefore permanently objecting to the setting of cookies. This kind of Internet browser setting would also prevent Google from setting a cookie on the data subject's information technology system. In addition, a cookie already set by Google Analytics can be erased at any time through the Internet browser or other software programs.

Furthermore, the data subject has the opportunity to object to the interest-based advertising by Google. To do this, the data subject must access the link http://www.google.de/settings/ads from any of the Internet browsers they use and adjust the desired settings there.

For more information and to review Google's current privacy policy, please visit https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/ abgerufen werden.


17.2 LiquidM Remarketing

The data controller has integrated the services of LiquidM Technology GmbH (https://liquidm.com) on this website. This feature enables a company to present relevant advertisements to users in the course of remarketing measures. The services are operated by LiquidM Technology GmbH, Rosenthaler Straße 36, Berlin 10178, Germany.

Data subjects who do not want LiquidM to continue collecting anonymised data should click liquidm.com/privacy-policy/ ("opt-out"). This opt-out cookie erases the previously stored information and prevents further collection of information. If users have already activated "opt-out" you can undo this setting at any time by clicking the "opt-in" button.

18. Privacy policy on the use of Google AdWords
The data controller has integrated Google AdWords on this website. Google AdWords is a service for Internet advertising that enables advertisers to place ads both in the search engine results of Google and in the Google advertising network. Google AdWords allows an advertiser to pre-define keywords that will be used to display an ad in Google's search engine results only when the user accesses the search engine to retrieve a keyword relevant search result. In the Google advertising network, the ads are distributed to relevant Internet sites using an automatic algorithm and in accordance with the keywords defined beforehand.

Google AdWords services are operated by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin. D04 E5W5, Ireland.

The purpose of Google AdWords is to promote our website by displaying advertisements of interest on third-party websites and in the Google search engine results and by displaying third-party advertisements on our website.

If a data subject reaches our website via a Google advertisement, a so-called conversion cookie is stored on the data subject's information technology system by Google. What cookies are, has already been explained above. A conversion cookie loses its validity after thirty days and does not serve to identify the data subject. If the cookie has not expired yet, the conversion cookie is used to track whether certain sub-pages, such as an online shop system's shopping basket, have been accessed on our website.

Through the conversion cookie, both we and Google can track whether a data subject accessed our website via an AdWords ad and generated sales, i.e. completed or cancelled a purchase there. The data and information collected through the use of the conversion cookie is used by Google to compile visit statistics for our website. These visit statistics are in turn used by us to determine the total number of users who were referred to us via AdWords ads, i.e. to determine the success or failure of the respective AdWords ad and to optimise our AdWords ads for the future. Neither our company nor other Google AdWords advertisers receive any information from Google that could identify the data subject. The conversion cookie is used to store personal information, such as the Internet pages visited by the data subject. Accordingly, each time you visit our website, 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. This personal data is stored by Google in the United States of America. Google may disclose this personal information collected through the technical process with third parties.

The data subject can prevent the setting of cookies by our website as described above at any time by adjusting the appropriate Internet browser settings and therefore permanently objecting to the setting of cookies. This kind of Internet browser setting would also prevent Google from setting a conversion cookie on the data subject's information technology system. In addition, a cookie already set by Google AdWords can be erased at any time through the Internet browser or other software programs.

Furthermore, the data subject has the opportunity to object to the interest-based advertising by Google. To do this, the data subject must access the link www.google.de/settings/ads from any of the Internet browsers they use and adjust the desired settings there.

For more information and to review Google's current privacy policy, please visit https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/ abgerufen werden.

19. Privacy policy on the use of Matomo (formerly Piwik)
The data controller has integrated Matomo components on this website. Matomo is an open source software tool for web analysis. Web analysis is the collection, collating and analysing of data about the behaviour of visitors to Internet sites. A web analysis tool collects data on, among other things, from which website 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 was viewed. Web analysis is mainly used to optimise a website and for the cost-benefit analysis of Internet advertising.

The software is operated on the controller's server; the log files, which are sensitive under data protection law, are stored exclusively on this server.
The purpose of Matomo components is to analyse the flow of visitors to our website. The controller uses the data and information obtained, among other things, to analyse the use of this website in order to compile online reports showing the activities on our website.

Matomo places a cookie on the data subject's information technology system. What cookies are, has already been explained above. Setting cookies enables us to analyse the use of our website. Each time one of the individual pages of this website is accessed, the Internet browser on the data subject's information technology system is automatically prompted by the Matomo component to transmit data to our server for the purpose of online analysis. As part of this technical process, we gain knowledge of personal data, such as the data subject's IP address, which we use, among other things, to track the origin of visitors and clicks.

The cookie is used to store personal information, such as the access time, the location from which an access originated and the frequency of visits to our website. Each time you visit our website, this personal data, including the IP address of the Internet connection used by the data subject, is transmitted to our servers. These personal data are stored by us. We do not disclose these personal data to third parties.

The data subject can prevent the setting of cookies by our website as described above at any time by adjusting the appropriate Internet browser settings and therefore permanently objecting to the setting of cookies. This kind of Internet browser setting would also prevent Matomo from setting a cookie on the data subject's information technology system. In addition, a cookie already set by Matomo can be erased at any time through an Internet browser or other software programs.

Furthermore, the data subject may object to the collection of data generated by Matomo in connection with the use of this website and prevent such collection. The data subject has to set an opt-out cookie for this. If the data subject's information technology system is deleted, formatted or reinstalled at a later date, the data subject is required to reinstall an opt-out cookie. By setting the opt-out cookie though, it is possible that the controller's Internet pages may no longer be used in full by the data subject.

For more information and to review Matomo's current privacy policy, please visit matomo.org/privacy/ abgerufen werden.

20. Google Web Fonts
The data controller has integrated so-called web fonts provided by Google on the website to display fonts uniformly. When you access a page, your browser will load the web fonts required in your browser cache in order to display text and fonts correctly.

To that end, your browser needs to connect to Google’s servers. In this way, Google is made aware that our website has been accessed from your IP address. Our use of Google Web Fonts is in the interest of a uniform and appealing presentation of our online services. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of point (f) of Art. 6(1) of the GDPR.

If your browser does not support web fonts, a standard font will be used by your computer.
You can find More information on Google Web Fonts at https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq and in Google’s privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

21. Privacy policy on the use of Twitter
The data controller has integrated Twitter components on this website. Twitter is a multilingual, publicly accessible microblogging service on which users can publish and distribute so-called tweets, i.e. short messages limited to 140 characters. These short messages can be accessed by anyone, including people who are not registered on Twitter. The tweets are also displayed to the respective user's followers. Followers are other Twitter users who follow a user's tweets. In addition, Twitter enables a broad audience to be addressed using hashtags, links or retweets.

Twitter is operated by Twitter, Inc. 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA.

Each time one of the individual pages on this website is accessed, which is operated by the data controller and on which a Twitter component (Twitter button) has been integrated, the Internet browser on the data subject's information technology system is automatically prompted by the respective Twitter component to download a representation of the corresponding Twitter component from Twitter. More information on the Twitter buttons can be found at about.twitter.com/de/resources/buttons. As part of this technical process, Twitter obtains information about which specific subpage of our website is visited by the data subject. The purpose of integrating the Twitter component is to enable our users to distribute the content of this website, to make this website known in the digital world and to increase our visitor numbers.

If the data subject is logged into Twitter at the same time, Twitter recognises which specific page of our website the data subject is visiting each time the person visits our website and for the entire duration the data subject stays on our website. This information is collected by the Twitter components and assigned by Twitter to the data subject's respective Twitter account. If the data subject clicks on one of the Twitter buttons integrated on our website, the data and information transmitted will be assigned to the data subject's personal Twitter user account and stored and processed by Twitter.

Twitter then always receives information through the Twitter component that the data subject has visited our website whenever the data subject is logged into Twitter at the same time as accessing our website, regardless of whether the data subject clicks the Twitter component or not. If the data subject does not want this information to be transmitted to Twitter in this way, they can prevent it from being transmitted by logging out of their Twitter account before accessing our website.

The current Twitter privacy policy is available at twitter.com/privacy;.

22. Privacy policy on the use of YouTube
The data controller has integrated YouTube components on this website. YouTube is an Internet video portal that allows video publishers to post video clips and other users to view, rate and comment on them free of charge. YouTube allows the publication of all types of videos, which is why complete film and television programmes as well as music videos, trailers or videos made by users themselves can be accessed via the Internet portal.

You Tube is operated by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland.

Each time one of the individual pages on this website is accessed, which is operated by the data controller and on which a YouTube component (YouTube video) has been integrated, the Internet browser on the data subject's information technology system is automatically prompted by the respective YouTube component to download a representation of the corresponding YouTube component from YouTube. More information on YouTube can be found at https://www.youtube.com/yt/about/de/. As part of this technical process, YouTube and Google obtain information about which specific subpage 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 subpage of our website the data subject is visiting by calling up a subpage containing a YouTube video. This information is collected by YouTube and Google and assigned to the data subject's respective YouTube account.

YouTube and Google then always receives information through the YouTube component that the data subject has visited our website whenever the data subject is logged into YouTube at the same time as accessing our website, regardless of whether the data subject clicks a YouTube video or not. If the data subject does not want this information to be transmitted to YouTube and Google in this way, they can prevent it from being transmitted by logging out of their YouTube account before accessing our website.

YouTube's published privacy policy, which is available at https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/ provides information about the collection, processing and use of personal data by YouTube and Google.

23. Privacy policy on the use of Google+
The data controller has integrated the Google+ button on this website. Google+ is a so-called social network. A social network is an Internet-based social meeting place, an online community that usually enables users to communicate with each other and interact in virtual space. A social network can serve as a platform to exchange opinions and experiences or enables the Internet community to provide personal or company-related information. Google+ enables the social network's users to create private profiles, upload photos and network using friend requests, among other things.

Google+ is operated by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin. D04 E5W5, Ireland.

Each time one of the individual pages on this website is accessed, which is operated by the data controller and on which a Google+ button has been integrated, the Internet browser on the data subject's information technology system is automatically prompted by the respective Google+ button to download a representation of the corresponding Google+ button from Google. As part of this technical process, Google obtains information about which specific subpage of our website is visited by the data subject. More detailed information on Google+ is available at https://developers.google.com/+/.

If the data subject is logged into Google+ at the same time, Goggle recognises which specific page of our website the data subject is visiting each time the person visits our website and for the entire duration the data subject stays on our website. This information is collected by the Google+ button and assigned by Google to the data subject's respective Google+ account.

If the data subject clicks on one of the Google+ buttons integrated into our website and submits a Google+1 recommendation, Google assigns this information to the data subject's personal Google+ user account and stores this personal data. Google stores the data subject's Google+1 recommendation 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 other Google services, such as the Google search engine results, the data subject's Google account or in other places, such as on Internet pages or in connection with advertisements. Google is also able to link a visit to this website with other personal data stored by Google. Google also records this personal information for the purpose of improving or optimising Google's various services.

Google then always receives information through the Google+ button that the data subject has visited our website whenever the data subject is logged into Google+ at the same time as accessing our website, regardless of whether the data subject clicks the Google+ button or not.

If the data subject does not want this personal information to be transmitted to Google in this way, they can prevent it from being transmitted by logging out of their Google+ account before accessing our website.

For more information and to review Google's current privacy policy, please visit https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/. More information from Google about the Google+1 button can be found at https://developers.google.com/+/web/buttons-policy.

24. Legal basis for processing
Our company uses point°(a) of Article°6(1) of the GDPR as the legal basis for processing operations in which we obtain consent for a specific processing purpose. If the processing of personal data is necessary to perform a contract which the data subject is party to, as is the case, for example, with processing operations that are necessary to deliver goods or provide other services or consideration, the processing is based on point°(b) of Article°6(1) of the GDPR. The same applies to such processing operations that are necessary to implement pre-contractual measures, for example, in cases of enquiries about our products or services. If our company is subject to a legal obligation requiring the processing of personal data, such as for the fulfilment of tax obligations, the processing is based on point°(c) of Article°6(1) of the GDPR. In rare cases, the processing of personal data may become necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or another natural person. This would be the case, for example, if a visitor to our business was injured and their name, age, health insurance data or other vital information would have to be disclosed to a doctor, hospital or other third party. Then the processing would be based on point°(d) of Article°6(1) of the GDPR. Lastly, processing operations could be based on point°(f) of Article°6(1) of the GDPR.

Processing operations which are not covered by any of the aforementioned legal bases are based on this legal basis if the processing is necessary to safeguard a legitimate interest of our company or a third party, provided that the data subject's interests, fundamental rights and fundamental freedoms do not prevail. Such processing operations are permitted in particular because they have been specifically mentioned by the European legislator. It took the view in this respect, that a legitimate interest could be assumed if the data subject is a customer of the controller (recital 47 sentence 2 of the GDPR).

25. Legitimate interests in the processing pursued by the controller or by a third party
If the processing of personal data is based on point°(f) of Article°6(1) of the GDPR, our legitimate interest is the conduct of our business for the benefit of all our employees and shareholders.

26. Duration for which personal data will be stored
The criterion for the duration of the storage of personal data is the respective legal retention period,. Once this period has expired, the corresponding data will be routinely erased if they are no longer required to fulfil or initiate the contract.

27. Legal or contractual provisions governing the provision of personal data; necessity for conclusion of the contract; obligation of the data subject to provide the personal data; possible consequences of not providing the data
We inform you that the provision of personal data is partly required by law (e.g. tax regulations) or may result from contractual provisions (e.g. information regarding the contractual partner). Sometimes it may be necessary to conclude a contract that a data subject provides us with personal data which we have to subsequently process. For example, the data subject is obliged to provide us with personal data if our company concludes a contract with them. Failure to provide personal data would mean that the contract could not be concluded with the data subject. Before the data subject provides personal data, the data subject must contact our data protection officer. Our data protection officer informs the data subject on a case-by-case basis whether the provision of personal data is legally or contractually required or is necessary to conclude a contract, whether there is an obligation to provide personal data and what the consequences of not providing personal data would be.

28. Existence of an automated decision making process
As a responsible company, we refrain from automated decision making or profiling.

This Privacy Policy was created using the privacy policy generator provided by DGD Deutsche Gesellschaft für Datenschutz GmbH, which acts as an external data protection officer for Stuttgart, in cooperation with the Cologne data protection lawyer Christian Solmecke.

Adapted by the website owner.