Privacy Policy

Preamble

With the following privacy policy, we would like to inform you about the types of personal data relating to you (hereinafter also referred to simply as “data”) that we process, for what purposes, and to what extent in connection with the provision of our application.

The terms used are not gender-specific.

Last updated: 17 July 2026

Table of Contents

Controller

Frank Steffanus
c/o Björn Franke Haardesign
Walporzheimer Str. 11
53474 Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler

Authorised representative: Frank Steffanus

Email address: info@callistonaut.de

Overview of Processing Activities

The following overview summarises the types of data processed and the purposes for which they are processed and identifies the categories of data subjects concerned.

Types of Data Processed

  • Master data.
  • Employee data.
  • Contact data.
  • Content data.
  • Usage data.
  • Meta, communication and procedural data.
  • Log data.

Categories of Data Subjects

  • Recipients of services and clients.
  • Employees.
  • Communication partners.
  • Users.
  • Third parties.
  • Whistleblowers.

Purposes of Processing

  • Provision of contractual services and fulfilment of contractual obligations.
  • Communication.
  • Security measures.
  • Audience measurement.
  • Remarketing.
  • Organisational and administrative procedures.
  • Firewall.
  • Feedback.
  • Profiles containing user-related information.
  • Provision of our online service and user-friendliness.
  • Information technology infrastructure.
  • Whistleblower protection.

Relevant Legal Bases

Relevant legal bases under the GDPR: Below you will find an overview of the legal bases under 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 registered office. Where more specific legal bases apply in individual cases, we will inform you of these in this privacy policy.

  • Consent (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (a) GDPR) – The data subject has given consent to the processing of personal data relating to them for one or more specific purposes.
  • Performance of a contract and pre-contractual enquiries (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (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 (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (c) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.
  • Legitimate interests (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (f) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party, provided that such interests are not overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require the protection of personal data.

National data protection regulations in Germany: In addition to the data protection provisions of the GDPR, national data protection regulations apply in Germany. These include, in particular, the Federal Data Protection Act (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz – BDSG). The BDSG contains specific provisions concerning, in particular, the right of access, the right to erasure, the right to object, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes, transfers, and automated decision-making in individual cases, including profiling. In addition, the data protection laws of the individual federal states may apply.

Security Measures

In accordance with statutory 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 risks to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, we implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk.

These measures include, in particular, safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data by controlling physical and electronic access to the data, as well as access, input, disclosure, availability and separation relating to such data. We have also established procedures to ensure that data subjects can exercise their rights, that data is deleted, and that responses are made to threats to the data. Furthermore, we take the protection of personal data into account when developing or selecting hardware, software and procedures, in accordance with the principles of data protection by design and by default.

IP address truncation: Where IP addresses are processed by us or by the service providers and technologies we use, and processing of a complete IP address is not necessary, the IP address is truncated (also referred to as “IP masking”). In this process, the last two digits, or the final part of the IP address after a full stop, are removed or replaced with placeholders. The purpose of truncating the IP address is to prevent or substantially impede the identification of a person by means of their IP address.

Securing online connections using TLS/SSL encryption technology (HTTPS): To protect user data transmitted via our online services against unauthorised access, we use TLS/SSL encryption technology. 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), thereby protecting the data against unauthorised 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 HTTPS in the URL. This serves as an indication to users that their data is transmitted securely and in encrypted form.

Transmission of Personal Data

As part of our processing of personal data, such data may be transmitted to or disclosed to other bodies, companies, legally independent organisational units or persons. Recipients of such data may include, for example, service providers commissioned with IT tasks or providers of services and content integrated into a website. In such cases, we comply with statutory requirements and, in particular, conclude appropriate contracts or agreements with the recipients of your data to protect your data.

International Data Transfers

Data processing in third countries: Where we transfer data to a third country (i.e. outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)), or where this occurs in connection with the use of third-party services or the disclosure or transfer of data to other persons, bodies or companies (which can be identified by the postal address of the respective provider or where the privacy policy expressly refers to a data transfer to third countries), this is always carried out in compliance with statutory requirements.

For data transfers to the United States, we rely primarily on the Data Privacy Framework (DPF), which was recognised as a secure legal framework by an adequacy decision of the European Commission dated 10 July 2023. In addition, we have concluded Standard Contractual Clauses with the respective providers that comply with the requirements of the European Commission and establish contractual obligations to protect your data.

This dual safeguard ensures comprehensive protection of your data: the DPF provides the primary level of protection, while the Standard Contractual Clauses serve as an additional safeguard. Should there be changes to the DPF, the Standard Contractual Clauses will provide a reliable fallback option. This ensures that your data remains adequately protected even in the event of political or legal changes.

For each individual service provider, we inform you whether it is certified under the DPF and whether Standard Contractual Clauses are in place. Further information about the DPF and a list of certified companies can be found on the website of the US Department of Commerce at https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/ (in English).

For data transfers to other third countries, corresponding safeguards apply, in particular Standard Contractual Clauses, explicit consent, or transfers required by law. Information on third-country transfers and applicable adequacy decisions can be found in the information provided by the European Commission: https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/data-protection/international-dimension-data-protection_en?prefLang=de.

General Information on Data Retention and Deletion

We delete personal data that we process in accordance with statutory provisions as soon as the underlying consent is withdrawn or there is no other legal basis for processing. This applies where the original purpose of processing no longer applies or the data is no longer required. Exceptions to this rule apply where statutory obligations or special interests require the data to be retained or archived for a longer period.

In particular, data that must be retained for commercial or tax law reasons, or whose storage is necessary for the assertion, exercise or defence of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of other natural or legal persons, must be archived accordingly.

Our privacy notices contain additional information on the retention and deletion of data that applies specifically to certain processing operations.

Where several retention periods or deletion deadlines are specified for a particular item of data, the longest period always applies. Data that is no longer retained for the purpose originally intended, but instead due to statutory requirements or other reasons, is processed by us solely for the reasons justifying its retention.

Retention and deletion of data: The following general retention and archiving periods apply under German law:

  • 10 years – Retention period for books and records, annual financial statements, inventories, management reports, opening balance sheets, as well as the operating instructions and other organisational documents necessary to understand them (Section 147(1) no. 1 in conjunction with subsection 3 of the German Fiscal Code (AO), Section 14b(1) of the German VAT Act (UStG), Section 257(1) no. 1 in conjunction with subsection 4 of the German Commercial Code (HGB)).
  • 8 years – Accounting records, such as invoices and expense receipts (Section 147(1) nos. 4 and 4a in conjunction with subsection 3, first sentence, AO, and Section 257(1) no. 4 in conjunction with subsection 4 HGB).
  • 6 years – Other business documents: commercial or business letters received, reproductions of commercial or business letters sent, and other documents insofar as they are relevant for taxation, such as hourly wage records, operating accounting sheets, calculation documents, price labels, as well as payroll documents where they are not already accounting records, and cash register receipts (Section 147(1) nos. 2, 3 and 5 in conjunction with subsection 3 AO, Section 257(1) nos. 2 and 3 in conjunction with subsection 4 HGB).
  • 3 years – Data required to take account of potential warranty and damages claims or similar contractual claims and rights and to process related enquiries, based on previous business experience and customary industry practice, is stored for the regular statutory limitation period of three years (Sections 195 and 199 of the German Civil Code (BGB)).

Commencement of the period at the end of the year: Unless a period expressly begins on a specific date and is at least one year, it automatically begins at the end of the calendar year in which the event triggering the period occurred. In the case of ongoing contractual relationships in connection with which data is stored, the event triggering the period is the date on which termination or another form of ending the legal relationship becomes effective.

Rights of Data Subjects

Rights of data subjects under the GDPR: As a data subject, you have various rights under the GDPR, arising in particular from Articles 15 to 21 GDPR:

  • Right to object: You have the right, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to object at any time to the processing of personal data relating to you which is based on Article 6(1), point (e) or (f), GDPR; this also applies to profiling based on those provisions. Where personal data relating to you is processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data relating to you for the purposes of such marketing; this also applies to profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing.
  • Right to withdraw consent: You have the right to withdraw consent that you have given at any time.
  • Right of access: You have the right to obtain confirmation as to whether or not data relating to you is being processed and to obtain access to that data, as well as further information and a copy of the data in accordance with statutory requirements.
  • Right to rectification: In accordance with statutory requirements, you have the right to request the completion of data relating to you or the rectification of inaccurate data relating to you.
  • Right to erasure and restriction of processing: In accordance with statutory requirements, you have the right to request the immediate erasure of data relating to you or, alternatively, to request restriction of the processing of the data.
  • Right to data portability: In accordance with statutory requirements, you have the right to receive data relating to you that you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format, or to request that it be transmitted to another controller.
  • Right to lodge a complaint with a 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 GDPR.

Provision of the Online Service and Web Hosting

We process user data in order to provide our online services to them. 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 time spent, 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 information, identification numbers, persons involved); log data (e.g. log files relating to logins, retrieval of data or access times). Content data (e.g. textual or visual messages and posts and information relating to them, such as authorship details or time of creation).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Provision of our online service and user-friendliness; information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical equipment (computers, servers, etc.)); security measures. Firewall.
  • Retention and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General Information on Data Retention and Deletion”.
  • Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Provision of the online service on rented storage space: To provide our online service, we use storage space, computing capacity and software that we rent or otherwise obtain from a corresponding server provider (also referred to as a “web host”); Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (f) GDPR).
  • Collection of access data and log files: Access to our online service 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 volume of data transferred, notification of successful retrieval, the browser type and version, the user’s operating system, the referrer URL (the page previously visited), and, as a rule, IP addresses and the requesting provider. Server log files may be used for security purposes, for example to prevent server overload (particularly in the event of abusive attacks, known as DDoS attacks), and to ensure server capacity utilisation and stability; Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (f) GDPR). Deletion of data: Log file information is stored for a maximum period of 30 days and then deleted or anonymised. Data whose further retention is necessary for evidentiary purposes is excluded from deletion until the respective incident has been finally clarified.
  • Email delivery and hosting: The web hosting services we use also include the sending, receipt and storage of emails. For these purposes, the addresses of recipients and senders, as well as other information relating to email delivery (e.g. the providers involved) and the content of the respective emails, are processed. The aforementioned data may also be processed for the purpose of detecting spam. Please note that emails sent over the internet are generally not encrypted. Although emails are usually encrypted during transmission, they are not encrypted on the servers from which they are sent and received unless end-to-end encryption is used. We therefore cannot accept responsibility for the transmission route of emails between the sender and their receipt on our server; Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (f) GDPR).
  • ALL-INKL: Services relating to the provision of information technology infrastructure and associated services (e.g. storage space and/or computing capacity); Service provider: ALL-INKL.COM – Neue Medien Münnich, proprietor: René Münnich, Hauptstraße 68, 02742 Friedersdorf, Germany; Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (f) GDPR); Website: https://all-inkl.com/; Privacy policy: https://all-inkl.com/datenschutzinformationen/. Data processing agreement: Provided by the service provider.
  • WordPress.com: Hosting and software for creating, providing and operating websites, blogs and other online services; Service provider: Aut O’Mattic A8C Ireland Ltd., Grand Canal Dock, 25 Herbert Pl, Dublin, D02 AY86, Ireland; Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (f) GDPR); Website: https://wordpress.com; Privacy policy: https://automattic.com/de/privacy/; Data processing agreement: https://wordpress.com/support/data-processing-agreements/. Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Standard Contractual Clauses (provided by the service provider).
  • Wordfence: Firewall, security and error-detection functions used to detect and prevent unauthorised access attempts and technical vulnerabilities that could enable such access. For these purposes, cookies and similar storage methods necessary for this purpose may be used, and security logs may be created during checks and, in particular, in the event of unauthorised access. In this context, users’ IP addresses, a user identification number and their activities, including the time of access, are processed and stored, compared with data provided by the provider of the firewall and security function, and transmitted to that provider; Service provider: Defiant, Inc., 800 5th Ave Ste 4100, Seattle, WA 98104, USA; Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (f) GDPR); Website: https://www.wordfence.com; Privacy policy: https://www.wordfence.com/privacy-policy/; Basis for third-country transfers: Standard Contractual Clauses (https://www.wordfence.com/standard-contractual-clauses/). Further information: https://www.wordfence.com/help/general-data-protection-regulation/.

Use of Cookies

The term “cookies” refers to functions that store information on users’ devices and read information from them. Cookies may also be used for various purposes, such as ensuring the functionality, security and convenience of online services and analysing visitor flows. We use cookies in accordance with statutory requirements. Where necessary, we obtain users’ consent in advance. Where consent is not required, we rely on our legitimate interests. This applies where storing and reading information is essential in order to provide content and functions expressly requested by users. This includes, for example, saving settings and ensuring the functionality and security of our online service. Consent may be withdrawn at any time. We provide clear information about the scope of consent and the cookies used.

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

Storage period: With regard to storage periods, 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 service and closes their device application (e.g. browser or mobile application).
  • Persistent cookies: Persistent cookies remain stored even after the device application is closed. For example, the login status can be saved and preferred content displayed immediately when the user revisits a website. Usage data collected with the aid of cookies may also be used for audience measurement. Unless we provide users with explicit information about the type and storage period of cookies (e.g. when obtaining consent), they should assume that these cookies are persistent and may be stored for up to two years.

General information on withdrawal and objection (opt-out): Users may withdraw consent they have given at any time and may also object to processing in accordance with statutory requirements, including by using their browser’s privacy settings.

  • Types of data processed: Meta, communication and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, persons involved).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (f) 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 the fulfilment of contractual obligations. The data processed includes, in particular, login information (username, password and an email address).

When users make use of our registration and login functions and use their user account, we store the IP address and the time of the respective user action. This storage is based on our legitimate interests and those of users in protection against misuse and other unauthorised use. As a general rule, this data is not disclosed to third parties unless this is necessary to pursue our claims or there is a statutory obligation to do so.

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

  • Types of data processed: Master 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. textual or visual messages and posts and information relating to them, such as authorship details or time of creation); usage data (e.g. page views and time spent, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, types of devices and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Log data (e.g. log files relating to logins, retrieval of data or access times).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Provision of contractual services and fulfilment of contractual obligations; security measures; organisational and administrative procedures. Provision of our online service and user-friendliness.
  • Retention and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General Information on Data Retention and Deletion”. Deletion following termination.
  • Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual enquiries (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (b) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Registration using pseudonyms: Users may use pseudonyms as usernames instead of their real names; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual enquiries (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (b) GDPR).
  • User profiles are not public: User profiles are not publicly visible or accessible.
  • Profile visibility settings: Users can use settings to determine the extent to which their profiles are visible or accessible to the public or only to specific groups of persons; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual enquiries (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (b) GDPR).
  • Deletion of data following termination: Once users have terminated their user account, their user-account data will be deleted, subject to statutory permission, obligation or user consent; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual enquiries (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (b) GDPR).
  • No obligation to retain data: Users are responsible for backing up their data before the end of the contract after giving notice of termination. We are entitled to irreversibly delete all user data stored during the term of the contract; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual enquiries (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (b) GDPR).

Contact and Enquiry Management

When you contact us (e.g. by post, contact form, email, telephone or social media), and in the context of existing user and business relationships, the information provided by the enquiring persons is processed to the extent necessary to respond to contact enquiries and any requested measures.

  • Types of data processed: Contact data (e.g. postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g. textual or visual messages and posts and information relating to them, such as authorship details or time of creation). Meta, communication and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, persons involved).
  • Data subjects: Communication partners.
  • Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Communication; organisational and administrative procedures; feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via an online form). Provision of our online service and user-friendliness.
  • Retention and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General Information on Data Retention and Deletion”.
  • Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (f) GDPR). Performance of a contract and pre-contractual enquiries (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (b) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Contact form: When you contact us via our contact form, by email or through other communication channels, we process the personal data transmitted to us in order to respond to and handle the respective matter. This generally includes information such as your name, contact details and, where applicable, other information communicated to us that is necessary for appropriate handling. We use this data exclusively for the stated purpose of contact and communication; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual enquiries (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (f) GDPR).

Web Analytics, Monitoring and Optimisation

Web analytics (also referred to as “audience measurement”) is used to evaluate visitor traffic to our online service and may include behaviour, interests or demographic information about visitors, such as age or gender, in the form of pseudonymous values. Audience analysis allows us, for example, to identify when our online service, its functions or content are used most frequently or encourage repeated use. It also enables us to identify areas that require optimisation.

In addition to web analytics, we may also use testing procedures to test and optimise different versions of our online service or its components.

Unless otherwise stated below, profiles may be created for these purposes, meaning data relating to a usage process is combined, and information may be stored in and subsequently read from a browser or device. The information collected includes, in particular, websites visited and elements used on those websites, as well as technical information such as the browser and computer system used and information about usage times. Where users have consented to the collection of their location data by us or by the providers of the services we use, location data may also be processed.

Users’ IP addresses are also stored. However, we use an IP masking procedure (i.e. pseudonymisation by truncating the IP address) to protect users. In general, no directly identifying user data (such as email addresses or names) is stored in connection with web analytics, A/B testing and optimisation; instead, pseudonyms are used. This means that neither we nor the providers of the software used know the users’ actual identity, but only the information stored in their profiles for the purposes of the respective procedures.

Information on legal bases: Where 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. our interest in efficient, economical and user-friendly services). In this context, we also 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 time spent, 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 information, identification numbers, persons involved).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Audience measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); profiles containing user-related information (creation of user profiles). Remarketing.
  • Retention and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General Information on Data Retention and Deletion”. Cookies may be stored for up to 2 years (unless otherwise stated, cookies and similar storage methods may be stored on users’ devices for a period of two years).
  • Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymisation of the IP address).
  • Legal bases: Consent (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Matomo: Matomo is software used for web analytics and audience measurement. When Matomo is used, cookies are generated and stored on users’ devices. User data collected through the use of Matomo is processed only by us and is not shared with third parties. The cookies are stored for a maximum period of 13 months: https://matomo.org/faq/general/faq_146/; Legal bases: Consent (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (a) GDPR). Deletion of data: The cookies have a maximum storage period of 13 months.

Plugins, Embedded Functions and Content

We integrate functional and content elements into our online service 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 maps (hereinafter uniformly referred to as “content”).

Such integration always requires the third-party providers of this content to process users’ IP addresses, since without the IP address they would be unable to send the content to the users’ browsers. The IP address is therefore required in order to display this content or these functions. We endeavour to use only content whose respective providers use the IP address solely to deliver the content. Third-party providers may also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also referred to as “web beacons”) for statistical or marketing purposes. Pixel tags may be used to evaluate information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website. The pseudonymous information may also be stored in cookies on users’ devices and may contain, among other things, technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, the time of the visit and other details about the use of our online service; it may also be combined with such information from other sources.

Information on legal bases: Where 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. our interest in efficient, economical and user-friendly services). In this context, we also 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 time spent, 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 information, identification numbers, persons involved).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Provision of our online service and user-friendliness.
  • Retention and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General Information on Data Retention and Deletion”. Cookies may be stored for up to 2 years (unless otherwise stated, cookies and similar storage methods may be stored on users’ devices for a period of two years).
  • Legal bases: Consent (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Google Fonts (provided on our own server): Provision of font files for a user-friendly display of our online service; Service provider: Google Fonts are hosted on our server; no data is transmitted to Google; Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (f) GDPR).
  • Font Awesome (provided on our own server): Display of fonts and icons; Service provider: Font Awesome icons are hosted on our server; no data is transmitted to the provider of Font Awesome; Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Article 6(1), first sentence, point (f) GDPR).

Amendments and Updates

We ask you to review the content of our privacy policy regularly. We update the privacy policy whenever changes to the data processing carried out by us make this necessary. We will inform you whenever the changes require action on your part (e.g. consent) or another form of individual notification.

Where we provide addresses and contact information for companies and organisations in this privacy policy, please note that addresses may change over time and we ask you to verify the information before making contact.

Definitions

This section provides an overview of the terminology used in this privacy policy. Where terms are defined by law, their statutory definitions apply. The following explanations are primarily intended to aid understanding.

  • Employees: Employees are persons who are in an employment relationship, whether as workers, salaried employees or in similar positions. An employment relationship is a legal relationship between an employer and an employee established by an employment contract or agreement. It includes the employer’s obligation to pay remuneration to the employee while the employee performs their work. The employment relationship comprises various stages, including its establishment, when the employment contract is concluded; its performance, when the employee carries out their work; and its termination, whether by notice, termination agreement or otherwise. Employee data comprises all information relating to these persons in the context of their employment. This includes aspects such as personal identification data, identification numbers, salary and bank details, working hours, holiday entitlements, health data and performance assessments.
  • Master data: Master data comprises essential information required to identify and manage contractual partners, user accounts, profiles and similar assignments. This data may include, among other things, personal and demographic information such as names, contact information (addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses), dates of birth and specific identifiers (user IDs). Master data forms the basis for any formal interaction between persons and services, institutions or systems by enabling unambiguous assignment and communication.
  • Firewall: A firewall is a security system that protects a computer network or an individual computer against unwanted network access.
  • Content data: Content data comprises information generated in the course of creating, editing and publishing content of any kind. This category of data may include text, images, videos, audio files and other multimedia content published on various platforms and media. Content data is not limited to the actual content, but also includes metadata that provides information about the content itself, such as tags, descriptions, author information and publication dates.
  • Contact data: Contact data is essential information that enables communication with persons or organisations. It includes, among other things, telephone numbers, postal addresses and email addresses, as well as means of communication such as social media handles and instant-messaging identifiers.
  • Meta, communication and procedural data: Meta, communication and procedural data are categories containing information about the way in which data is processed, transmitted and managed. Metadata, also known as data about data, comprises information describing the context, origin and structure of other data. It may include information about file size, creation date, the author of a document and change histories. Communication data records the exchange of information between users via different channels, such as email correspondence, call logs, social-network messages and chat histories, including the persons involved, timestamps and transmission routes. Procedural data describes processes and workflows within systems or organisations, including workflow documentation, logs of transactions and activities, and audit logs used to trace and review operations.
  • Usage data: Usage data refers to information recording how users interact with digital products, services or platforms. This data encompasses a broad range of information showing how users use applications, which functions they prefer, how long they remain on particular pages and which paths they take through an application. Usage data may also include frequency of use, activity timestamps, IP addresses, device information and location data. It is particularly valuable for analysing user behaviour, optimising user experiences, personalising content and improving products or services. Usage data also plays a key role in identifying trends, preferences and potential problem areas within digital services.
  • Personal data: “Personal data” means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter referred to as the “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 (e.g. a cookie), or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.
  • Profiles containing user-related information: The processing of “profiles containing user-related information”, or “profiles” for short, comprises any form of automated processing of personal data involving the use of such personal data to analyse, evaluate or predict certain personal aspects relating to a natural person (depending on the type of profiling, this may include different information concerning demographics, behaviour and interests, such as interaction with websites and their content, etc.), for example interests in particular content or products, clicking behaviour on a website or location. Cookies and web beacons are frequently used for profiling purposes.
  • Log data: Log data is information about events or activities recorded in a system or network. This data typically includes information such as timestamps, IP addresses, user actions, error messages and other details about the use or operation of a system. Log data is often used to analyse system problems, monitor security or prepare performance reports.
  • Audience measurement: Audience measurement (also referred to as web analytics) is used to evaluate visitor traffic to an online service and may include visitors’ behaviour or interests in particular information, such as website content. Audience analysis enables operators of online services, for example, to identify when users visit their websites and which content they are interested in. This allows them, for example, to better tailor website content to visitors’ needs. Pseudonymous cookies and web beacons are frequently used for audience analysis in order to recognise returning visitors and obtain more accurate analyses of the use of an online service.
  • Remarketing: “Remarketing” or “retargeting” refers, for example, to recording for advertising purposes which products a user has shown an interest in on a website, in order to remind the user of those products on other websites, for example in advertisements.
  • Controller: The “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.
  • Processing: “Processing” means any operation or set of operations performed on personal data, whether or not by automated means. The term is broad and covers practically any handling of data, including collection, evaluation, storage, transmission or deletion.

Created using the free Datenschutz-Generator.de by Dr Thomas Schwenke