Privacy Policy

Introduction

With the following privacy policy, we aim to inform you about the types of your personal data (hereinafter also referred to as "data") we process, the purposes for which we process it, and the scope of such processing. This privacy policy applies to all processing of personal data carried out by us, both in the context of providing our services and, in particular, on our websites, in mobile applications, and within external online presences, such as our social media profiles (hereinafter collectively referred to as "online offer").

The terms used are not gender-specific.

As of: March 11, 2026

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Table of Contents

- Introduction

- Controller

- Overview of Processing

- Legal Bases

- Security Measures

- Deletion of Data

- Use of Cookies

- Provision of the Online Offer and Web Hosting

- Blogs and Publication Media

- Contact and Inquiry Management

- Communication via Messenger

- Video Conferences, Online Meetings, Webinars, and Screen Sharing

- Newsletters and Electronic Notifications

- Promotional Communication via Email, Mail, Fax, or Phone

- Surveys and Questionnaires

- Web Analysis, Monitoring, and Optimization

- Presence in Social Networks (Social Media)

- Plugins and Embedded Functions and Content

- Changes and Updates to the Privacy Policy

- Definitions

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Controller

Sabine Meyer (Owner)

Badstraße 25

77652 Offenburg

Germany

Email Address:

hello@sabinemeyer-consulting.com

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Overview of Processing

The following overview summarizes the types of data processed and the purposes of their processing and refers to the data subjects.

Types of Data Processed

- Inventory data.

- Location data.

- Contact data.

- Content data.

- Usage data.

- Meta/communication data.

Categories of Data Subjects

- Communication partners.

- Users.

- Participants.

- Depicted persons.

Purposes of Processing

- Provision of contractual services and customer service.

- Contact requests and communication.

- Security measures.

- Direct marketing.

- Reach measurement.

- Tracking.

- Office and organizational procedures.

- Conversion measurement.

- Managing and responding to inquiries.

- Server monitoring and error detection.

- Feedback.

- Marketing.

- Profiles with user-related information.

- Provision of our online offer and user-friendliness.

- Information technology infrastructure.

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Legal Bases

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

- Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) – The data subject has given consent to the processing of his or her personal data for one or more specific purposes.

- Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6(1)(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.

- Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data.

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

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Security Measures

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

The 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 to, input, transmission, securing, and separation of the data. Furthermore, we have established procedures to ensure the exercise of data subject rights, the deletion of data, and responses to data threats. Furthermore, we already take the protection of personal data into account during the development or selection of hardware, software, and procedures in accordance with the principle of data protection, through technology design and through data protection-friendly default settings.

TLS encryption (https): To protect your data transmitted via our online offer, we use TLS encryption. You can recognize such encrypted connections by the prefix https:// in the address bar of your browser.

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Deletion of Data

The data processed by us will be deleted in accordance with the legal requirements as soon as their consents permitted for processing are revoked or other permissions cease to apply (e.g., if the purpose of processing this data has ceased to apply or it is not required for the purpose). If the data is not deleted because it is required for other and legally permissible purposes, its processing is limited to these purposes. This means that the data is blocked and not processed for other purposes. This applies, for example, to data that must be retained for commercial or tax reasons or whose storage is necessary for the assertion, exercise, or defense of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person.

In the context of our privacy information, we may provide users with further information on the deletion and retention of data that applies specifically to the respective processing operations.

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Use of Cookies

Cookies are small text files or other storage notes that store information on end devices and read information from the end devices. For example, to store the login status in a user account, a shopping cart content in an e-shop, the content accessed, or the functions used in an online offer. Cookies can also be used for various purposes, e.g., for the purpose of functionality, security, and comfort of online offers as well as the creation of analyses of visitor flows.

Notes on Consent: We use cookies in accordance with legal regulations. Therefore, we obtain prior consent from users, except when it is not required by law. Consent is not required, in particular, if the storage and reading of information, including cookies, is absolutely necessary to provide users with a telemedia service (i.e., our online offer) expressly requested by them. The revocable consent is clearly communicated to the users and contains the information on the respective cookie use.

Notes on the Legal Basis for Data Protection: The legal basis on which we process users' personal data with the help of cookies depends on whether we ask users for consent. If users consent, the legal basis for processing their data is their declared consent. Otherwise, the data processed with the help of cookies is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (e.g., in the economic operation of our online offer and improvement of its usability) or, if this is done in the context of fulfilling our contractual obligations, if the use of cookies is necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations. We clarify the purposes for which we process cookies in the course of this privacy policy or as part of our consent and processing procedures.

Storage Duration: With regard to storage duration, the following types of cookies are distinguished:

- Temporary cookies (also: session or session cookies): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user has left an online offer and closed their end device (e.g., browser or mobile application).

- Permanent cookies: Permanent cookies remain stored even after the end device is closed. For example, the login status can be saved or preferred content can be displayed directly when the user visits a website again. Likewise, the data collected with the help of cookies can be used to measure reach. Unless we provide users with explicit information about the type and storage duration of cookies (e.g., when obtaining consent), users should assume that cookies are permanent and the storage duration can be up to two years.

General Notes on Revocation and Objection (Opt-Out): Users can revoke the consents they have given at any time and also file an objection to processing in accordance with the legal requirements in Art. 21 GDPR. Users can also declare their objection via the settings of their browser, e.g., by deactivating the use of cookies (although this may also limit the functionality of our online services). An objection to the use of cookies for online marketing purposes can also be declared via the websites https://optout.aboutads.info and https://www.youronlinechoices.com/.

Further Notes on Processing Processes, Procedures, and Services:

- Processing of Cookie Data on the Basis of Consent: We use a cookie consent management procedure, in the context of which the users' consents to the use of cookies, or the processing and providers mentioned in the cookie consent management procedure, are obtained and managed and revoked by the users. Here, the declaration of consent is stored in order not to have to repeat the request and to be able to prove the consent in accordance with the legal obligation. The storage can take place server-side and/or in a cookie (so-called opt-in cookie, or with the help of comparable technologies) in order to be able to assign the consent to a user or their device. Subject to individual information on the providers of cookie management services, the following notes apply: The duration of the storage of consent can be up to two years. A pseudonymous user identifier is formed and stored with the time of consent, information on the scope of consent (e.g., which categories of cookies and/or service providers), and the browser, system, and end device used.

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Provision of the Online Offer and Web Hosting

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

Types of Data Processed: Usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses); content data (e.g., entries in online forms).

Data Subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

Purposes of Processing: Provision of our online offer and user-friendliness; information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical devices (computers, servers, etc.)); security measures; reach measurement (e.g., access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); conversion measurement (measurement of the effectiveness of marketing measures); server monitoring and error detection.

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

Further Notes on Processing Processes, Procedures, and Services:

- Provision of Online Offer on Rented Storage Space: For the provision of our online offer, we use storage space, computing capacity, and software that we rent or otherwise obtain from a corresponding server provider (also called a "web hoster"); Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

- Collection of Access Data and Log Files: Access to our online offer 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 access, browser type and version, the user's operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page), and, as a rule, IP addresses and the requesting provider. The server log files can be used, on the one hand, for security purposes, e.g., to prevent server overload (especially in the case of abusive attacks, so-called DDoS attacks) and, on the other hand, to ensure the utilization of the servers and their stability; Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Deletion of Data: Log file information is stored for a maximum of 30 days and then deleted or anonymized. Data whose further retention is required for evidentiary purposes is exempt from deletion until the respective incident is finally clarified.

- Email Sending and Hosting: The web hosting services we use also include the sending, receiving, and storage of emails. For these purposes, the addresses of the recipients and senders as well as other information regarding the email sending (e.g., the providers involved) and the contents of the respective emails are processed. The aforementioned data may also be processed for the purpose of detecting SPAM. We ask you to note that emails on the Internet are generally not sent encrypted. Although emails are usually encrypted during transport, they are not encrypted on the servers from which they are sent and received (unless an end-to-end encryption method is used). We can therefore accept no responsibility for the transmission path of emails between the sender and reception on our server; Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

- HostEurope: Services in the field of providing information technology infrastructure and related services (e.g., storage space and/or computing capacities); Service Provider: Host Europe GmbH, Hansestrasse 111, 51149 Cologne, Germany; Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Website: https://www.hosteurope.de; Privacy Policy: https://www.hosteurope.de/AGB/Datenschutzerklaerung; Order Processing Agreement: https://www.hosteurope.de/Dokumente/.

- SquareSpace: Squarespace offers software as a service for creating and hosting websites; Service Provider: Squarespace, Inc. 8 Clarkson St, New York, NY 10014, USA; Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Website: https://www.squarespace.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.squarespace.com/privacy; Standard Contractual Clauses (ensuring the level of data protection in case of processing in third countries): https://www.squarespace.com/dpa.

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Blogs and Publication Media

We use blogs or comparable means of online communication and publication (hereinafter "publication medium"). The data of the readers are processed for the purposes of the publication medium only to the extent necessary for its presentation and communication between authors and readers or for security reasons. Otherwise, we refer to the information on the processing of visitors to our publication medium within the scope of this privacy policy.

Types of Data Processed: Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses); contact data (e.g., email, phone numbers); content data (e.g., entries in online forms); usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).

Data Subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

Purposes of Processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service; feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via online form); provision of our online offer and user-friendliness.

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

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Contact and Inquiry Management

When contacting us (e.g., via contact form, email, telephone, or via social media) as well as in the context of existing user and business relationships, the information of the inquiring persons is processed to the extent necessary to respond to the contact requests and any requested measures.

Types of Data Processed: Contact data (e.g., email, phone numbers); content data (e.g., entries in online forms); usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).

Data Subjects: Communication partners.

Purposes of Processing: Contact requests and communication; managing and responding to inquiries; feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via online form); provision of our online offer and user-friendliness.

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

Further Notes on Processing Processes, Procedures, and Services:

- Contact Form: When users contact us via our contact form, email, or other communication channels, we process the data communicated to us in this context to process the communicated request; Legal Bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

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Communication via Messenger

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

You can also contact us via alternative means, e.g., via telephone or email. Please use the contact options provided to you or the contact options specified within our online offer.

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

However, we additionally point out to our communication partners that the providers of the messengers cannot view the content, but can find out that and when communication partners communicate with us, as well as technical information about the device used by the communication partners and, depending on the settings of their device, also location information (so-called metadata).

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

Revocation, Objection, and Deletion: You can revoke any given consent and object to communication with us via messenger at any time. In the case of communication via messenger, we delete the messages in accordance with our general deletion guidelines (i.e., e.g., as described above, after the end of contractual relationships, in the context of archiving requirements, etc.) and otherwise as soon as we can assume that we have answered any information from the communication partners, if no reference to a previous conversation is to be expected and the deletion does not conflict with any legal retention obligations.

Reservation of Reference to Other Means of Communication: Finally, we would like to point out that, for reasons of your security, we reserve the right not to answer inquiries via messenger. This is the case if, for example, internal contract matters require special secrecy or a response via messenger does not meet formal requirements. In such cases, we refer you to more appropriate communication channels.

Types of Data Processed: Contact data (e.g., email, phone numbers); usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses); content data (e.g., entries in online forms).

Data Subjects: Communication partners.

Purposes of Processing: Contact requests and communication; direct marketing (e.g., via email or postal mail).

Legal Bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Further Notes on Processing Processes, Procedures, and Services:

- Signal: Signal messenger with end-to-end encryption; Service Provider: Privacy Signal Messenger, LLC 650 Castro Street, Suite 120-223 Mountain View, CA 94041, USA; Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Website: https://signal.org/de; Privacy Policy: https://signal.org/legal/.

- Telegram Broadcasts: Telegram Broadcasts - messenger with end-to-end encryption; Service Provider: Telegram, Dubai; Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Website: https://telegram.org/; Privacy Policy: https://telegram.org/privacy.

- WhatsApp: WhatsApp messenger with end-to-end encryption; Service Provider: WhatsApp Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Quay, Dublin 2, D02 KH28, Ireland; Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Website: https://www.whatsapp.com/; Privacy Policy: https://www.whatsapp.com/legal.

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Video Conferences, Online Meetings, Webinars, and Screen Sharing

We use platforms and applications of other providers (hereinafter referred to as "conference platforms") for the purpose of conducting video and audio conferences, webinars, and other types of video and audio meetings (hereinafter collectively referred to as "conference"). When selecting the conference platforms and their services, we observe the legal requirements.

Data Processed by Conference Platforms: In the context of participation in a conference, the conference platforms process the following personal data of the participants: Data relating to the person (first name, last name), contact information (email address, telephone number), access data (access codes or passwords), profile pictures, information on professional position/function, the IP address of the internet access, information on the participants' end devices, their operating system, the browser and its technical and linguistic settings, information on the content-related communication processes, i.e., entries in chats as well as audio and video data, as well as the use of other available functions (e.g., surveys). The content of the communications is encrypted to the extent technically provided by the conference providers. If participants are registered with the conference platforms, further data may be processed in accordance with the agreement with the respective conference provider.

Logging and Recording: If text entries, participation results (e.g., from surveys), as well as video or audio recordings are logged, this will be transparently communicated to the participants in advance and they will be asked for consent if necessary.

Data Protection Measures for Participants: Please refer to the details of the processing of your data by the conference platforms in their privacy notices and select the optimal security and data protection settings for you within the settings of the conference platforms. Please also ensure data and personal protection in the background of your recording for the duration of a video conference (e.g., by notifying roommates, locking doors, and using the function to make the background unrecognizable, if technically possible). Links to the conference rooms as well as access data must not be passed on to unauthorized third parties.

Notes on Legal Bases: If, in addition to the conference platforms, we also process users' data and ask users for their consent to use the conference platforms or certain functions (e.g., consent to a recording of conferences), the legal basis for processing is this consent. Furthermore, our processing may be necessary for the fulfillment of our contractual obligations (e.g., in participant lists, in the case of reprocessing of discussion results, etc.). Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests in efficient and secure communication with our communication partners.

Data Subjects: Communication partners; users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services); depicted persons.

Purposes of Processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service; contact requests and communication; office and organizational procedures.

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

Further Notes on Processing Processes, Procedures, and Services:

- Google Hangouts / Meet: Messenger and conference software; Service Provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Website: https://hangouts.google.com/; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Order Processing Agreement: https://cloud.google.com/terms/data-processing-addendum; Standard Contractual Clauses (ensuring the level of data protection in case of processing in third countries): https://cloud.google.com/terms/eu-model-contract-clause.

- Zoom: Video conferences, web conferences, and webinars; Service Provider: Zoom Video Communications, Inc., 55 Almaden Blvd., Suite 600, San Jose, CA 95113, USA; Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Website: https://zoom.us; Privacy Policy: https://zoom.us/docs/de-de/privacy-and-legal.html; Order Processing Agreement: https://zoom.us/docs/de-de/privacy-and-legal.html (referred to as Global DPA); Standard Contractual Clauses (ensuring the level of data protection in case of processing in third countries): https://zoom.us/docs/de-de/privacy-and-legal.html (referred to as Global DPA).

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Newsletters and Electronic Notifications

We send newsletters, emails, and other electronic notifications (hereinafter "newsletter") only with the consent of the recipients or a legal permission. If the contents of the newsletter are specifically described in the context of a registration, they are decisive for the consent of the users. Otherwise, our newsletters contain information about our services and us.

To subscribe to our newsletters, it is generally sufficient to provide your email address. However, we may ask you to provide a name for the purpose of personal address in the newsletter or further details if these are required for the purposes of the newsletter.

Double-Opt-In Procedure: Registration for our newsletter is generally carried out in a so-called double-opt-in procedure. This means that after registration, you will receive an email asking you to confirm your registration. This confirmation is necessary so that no one can register with external email addresses. The registrations for the newsletter are logged in order to be able to prove the registration process in accordance with the legal requirements. This includes the storage of the registration and confirmation time as well as the IP address. Likewise, changes to your data stored with the dispatch service provider are logged.

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

The logging of the registration process is based on our legitimate interests for the purpose of proving its proper course. If we commission a service provider to send emails, this is done on the basis of our legitimate interests in an efficient and secure sending system.

Contents:

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

Types of Data Processed: Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses); contact data (e.g., email, phone numbers); meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses); usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times).

Data Subjects: Communication partners; users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

Purposes of Processing: Direct marketing (e.g., via email or postal mail); reach measurement (e.g., access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); conversion measurement (measurement of the effectiveness of marketing measures); profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).

Legal Bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR).

Objection Option (Opt-Out): You can cancel the receipt of our newsletter at any time, i.e., revoke your consents or object to further receipt. You will find a link to cancel the newsletter either at the end of each newsletter or you can use one of the contact options listed above, preferably email.

Further Notes on Processing Processes, Procedures, and Services:

- Measurement of Open and Click Rates: The newsletters contain a so-called "web beacon," i.e., a pixel-sized file that is retrieved from our server when the newsletter is opened, or, if we use a dispatch service provider, from their server. In the course of this retrieval, technical information, such as information about the browser and your system, as well as your IP address and the time of retrieval, are initially collected. This information is used for the technical improvement of our newsletter based on the technical data or the target groups and their reading behavior based on their retrieval locations (which can be determined with the help of the IP address) or the access times. This analysis also includes determining whether the newsletters are opened, when they are opened, and which links are clicked. This information is assigned to the individual newsletter recipients and stored in their profiles until deletion. The evaluations serve us to recognize the reading habits of our users and to adapt our content to them or to send different content according to the interests of our users. The measurement of opening rates and click rates, as well as the storage of the measurement results in the users' profiles and their further processing, are based on the users' consent. A separate revocation of the performance measurement is unfortunately not possible; in this case, the entire newsletter subscription must be canceled or objected to. In this case, the stored profile information will be deleted; Legal Bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR).

- Google Analytics: Measurement of the success of email campaigns and creation of user profiles with a storage duration of up to two years; Service Provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal Bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com/intl/de/about/analytics/; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Order Processing Agreement: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Standard Contractual Clauses (ensuring the level of data protection in case of processing in third countries): https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Objection Option (Opt-Out): Opt-Out Plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, Settings for the Display of Advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated; Further Information: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices (types of processing as well as the data processed).

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Promotional Communication via Email, Mail, Fax, or Phone

We process personal data for the purposes of promotional communication, which may be carried out via various channels, such as email, telephone, mail, or fax, in accordance with legal requirements.

Recipients have the right to revoke given consents at any time or to object to promotional communication at any time.

After revocation or objection, we may store the data required to prove the previous authorization for contact or sending for up to three years after the end of the year of revocation or objection based on our legitimate interests. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defense against claims. Based on the legitimate interest to permanently respect the revocation or objection of the users, we further store the data necessary to avoid renewed contact (e.g., depending on the communication channel, the email address, telephone number, name).

Types of Data Processed: Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses); contact data (e.g., email, phone numbers).

Data Subjects: Communication partners.

Purposes of Processing: Direct marketing (e.g., via email or postal mail).

Legal Bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

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Surveys and Questionnaires

We conduct surveys and questionnaires to collect information for the respective communicated survey or questionnaire purpose. The surveys and questionnaires conducted by us (hereinafter "surveys") are evaluated anonymously. Personal data is only processed to the extent that this is necessary for the provision and technical execution of the surveys (e.g., processing the IP address to display the survey in the user's browser or to enable a resumption of the survey with the help of a cookie).

Data Subjects: Communication partners; participants.

Purposes of Processing: Feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via online form).

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

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Web Analysis, Monitoring, and Optimization

Web analysis (also referred to as "reach measurement") serves the evaluation of visitor flows to our online offer and may include behavior, interests, or demographic information about visitors, such as age or gender, as pseudonymous values. With the help of reach analysis, we can, for example, recognize at what time our online offer or its functions or content are most frequently used or invite reuse. We can also understand which areas require optimization.

In addition to web analysis, we may also use test procedures, e.g., to test and optimize different versions of our online offer or its components.

Unless otherwise stated below, profiles, i.e., data summarized for a usage process, can be created for these purposes and information stored in a browser or in an end device and read from it. The collected data includes, in particular, websites visited and elements used there as well as technical information such as the browser used, the computer system used, and information on usage times. If users have consented to the collection of their location data from us or from the providers of the services we use, location data may also be processed.

The IP addresses of the users are also stored. However, we use an IP masking procedure (i.e., pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. Generally, no clear user data (such as email addresses or names) is stored in the context of web analysis, A/B testing, and optimization, but pseudonyms. This means that we, as well as the providers of the software used, do not know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles for the purposes of the respective procedures.

Types of Data Processed: Usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).

Data Subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

Purposes of Processing: Reach measurement (e.g., access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles); tracking (e.g., interest/behavior-based profiling, use of cookies); provision of our online offer and user-friendliness.

Security Measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).

Legal Bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR).

Further Notes on Processing Processes, Procedures, and Services:

- Google Analytics: Web analysis, reach measurement, and measurement of user flows; Service Provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal Bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com/intl/de/about/analytics/; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Order Processing Agreement: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Standard Contractual Clauses (ensuring the level of data protection in case of processing in third countries): https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Objection Option (Opt-Out): Opt-Out Plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, Settings for the Display of Advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated; Further Information: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices (types of processing as well as the data processed).

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Presence in Social Networks (Social Media)

We maintain online presences within social networks and process user data in this context in order to communicate with active users there or to offer information about us.

We point out that user data may be processed outside the European Union. This may result in risks for users because, for example, the enforcement of users' rights could be made more difficult.

Furthermore, user data within social networks is usually processed for market research and advertising purposes. For example, usage profiles can be created based on user behavior and the resulting interests of users. The usage profiles can in turn be used, for example, to place advertisements within and outside the networks that presumably correspond to the interests of the users. For these purposes, cookies are usually stored on the users' computers, in which the usage behavior and interests of the users are stored. Furthermore, data can also be stored in the usage profiles independently of the devices used by the users (especially if the users are members of the respective platforms and are logged in to them).

For a detailed description of the respective forms of processing and the opt-out options (opt-out), please refer to the privacy policies and information of the operators of the respective networks.

Even in the case of requests for information and the assertion of user rights, we point out that these can be most effectively asserted with the providers. Only the providers have access to the users' data and can directly take appropriate measures and provide information. If you still need help, you can contact us.

Data Subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

Purposes of Processing: Contact requests and communication; feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via online form); marketing.

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

Further Notes on Processing Processes, Procedures, and Services:

- Instagram: Social network; Service Provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Website: https://www.instagram.com; Privacy Policy: https://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy.

- Facebook Pages: Profiles within the social network Facebook - We are jointly responsible with Meta Platforms Ireland Limited for the collection (but not the further processing) of data from visitors to our Facebook page (so-called "fan page"). This data includes information about the types of content users view or interact with, or the actions they take (see "Things You and Others Do and Provide" in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy), as well as information about the devices used by users (e.g., IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings, cookie data; see under "Device Information" in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy). As explained in the Facebook Data Policy under "How do we use this information?", Facebook also collects and uses information to provide analytics services, so-called "Page Insights," to page operators so that they can gain insights into how people interact with their pages and with the content associated with them. We have entered into a special agreement with Facebook ("Information on Page Insights," https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/page_controller_addendum), which in particular regulates the security measures that Facebook must observe and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfill the rights of data subjects (i.e., users can, for example, send information or deletion requests directly to Facebook). The rights of users (in particular to information, deletion, objection, and complaint to the competent supervisory authority), are not restricted by the agreements with Facebook. Further information can be found in the "Information on Page Insights" (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data); Service Provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy; Standard Contractual Clauses (ensuring the level of data protection in case of processing in third countries): https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum; Further Information: Joint Responsibility Agreement: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data. The joint responsibility is limited to the collection by and transmission of data to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, a company based in the EU. The further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, which concerns in particular the transmission of the data to the parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. in the USA (based on the standard contractual clauses concluded between Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and Meta Platforms, Inc.).

- LinkedIn: Social network; Service Provider: LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Plaza Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Website: https://www.linkedin.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy; Order Processing Agreement: https://legal.linkedin.com/dpa; Standard Contractual Clauses (ensuring the level of data protection in case of processing in third countries): https://legal.linkedin.com/dpa; Objection Option (Opt-Out): https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.

- YouTube: Social network and video platform; Service Provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Objection Option (Opt-Out): https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.

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Plugins and Embedded Functions and Content

We integrate functional and content elements into our online offer that are obtained from the servers of their respective providers (hereinafter referred to as "third-party providers"). These may be, for example, graphics, videos, or city maps (hereinafter uniformly referred to as "content").

The integration always requires that the third-party providers of this content process the IP address of the users, since without the IP address they could not send the content to their browser. The IP address is thus required for the display of this content or functions. We endeavor to use only such content whose respective providers use the IP address solely for the delivery of the content. Third-party providers may also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also known as "web beacons") for statistical or marketing purposes. The "pixel tags" can be used to evaluate information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website. The pseudonymous information may also be stored in cookies on the user's device and may include, among other things, technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, visit time, and other information about the use of our online offer, as well as be linked to such information from other sources.

Types of Data Processed: Usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses); location data (information on the geographical position of a device or person).

Data Subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

Purposes of Processing: Provision of our online offer and user-friendliness; marketing; profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).

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

Further Notes on Processing Processes, Procedures, and Services:

- Google Maps: We integrate the maps of the service "Google Maps" from the provider Google. The processed data may include, in particular, IP addresses and location data of users; Service Provider: Google Cloud EMEA Limited, 70 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Website: https://mapsplatform.google.com/; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.

- Instagram Plugins and Content: Instagram plugins and content - This may include, for example, content such as images, videos, or texts and buttons with which users can share content from this online offer within Instagram. - We are jointly responsible with Meta Platforms Ireland Limited for the collection or receipt in the course of a transmission (but not the further processing) of "event data" that Facebook collects by means of functions of Instagram (e.g., embedding functions for content) that are executed on our online offer, or receives in the course of a transmission for the following purposes: a) Display of content as well as advertising information that presumably corresponds to the interests of the users; b) Delivery of commercial and transactional messages (e.g., addressing users via Facebook Messenger); c) Improvement of ad delivery and personalization of features and content (e.g., improving the recognition of which content or advertising information presumably corresponds to the interests of the users). We have entered into a special agreement with Facebook ("Addendum for Responsible Parties," https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum), which in particular regulates the security measures that Facebook must observe (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfill the rights of data subjects (i.e., users can, for example, send information or deletion requests directly to Facebook). Note: If Facebook provides us with measurements, analyses, and reports (which are aggregated, i.e., do not contain information on individual users and are anonymous to us), then this processing is not carried out under joint responsibility, but on the basis of an order processing agreement ("Data Processing Terms," https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing), the "Data Security Terms" (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms), and, with regard to processing in the USA, on the basis of standard contractual clauses ("Facebook EU Data Transfer Addendum, https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum). The rights of users (in particular to information, deletion, objection, and complaint to the competent supervisory authority), are not restricted by the agreements with Facebook; Service Provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Website: https://www.instagram.com; Privacy Policy: https://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy.

- YouTube Videos: Video content; YouTube videos are integrated via a special domain (recognizable by the component "youtube-nocookie") in the so-called "extended data protection mode," whereby no cookies are collected on user activities to personalize video playback. Nevertheless, information about user interaction with the video (e.g., remembering the last playback position), may be stored; Service Provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Website: https://www.youtube.com; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.

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Changes and Updates to the Privacy Policy

We ask you to inform yourself regularly about the content of our privacy policy. We will adapt the privacy policy as soon as the changes in the data processing carried out by us make this necessary. We will inform you as soon as the changes require your cooperation (e.g., consent) or other individual notification.

If we provide addresses and contact information of companies and organizations in this privacy policy, we ask you to note that the addresses may change over time and ask you to check the information before contacting us.

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Definitions

In this section, you will find an overview of the terms used in this privacy policy. Many of the terms are taken from the law and defined primarily in Art. 4 GDPR. The legal definitions are binding. The following explanations, on the other hand, are primarily intended to aid understanding. The terms are sorted alphabetically.

- Conversion Measurement: Conversion measurement (also referred to as "visit action evaluation") is a procedure that can be used to determine the effectiveness of marketing measures. For this purpose, a cookie is usually stored on the users' devices within the websites on which the marketing measures are carried out and then retrieved again on the target website. For example, this allows us to track whether the ads we placed on other websites were successful.

- Personal Data: "Personal data" means 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 (e.g., cookie), or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity of that natural person.

- Profiles with User-Related Information: The processing of "profiles with user-related information," or "profiles" for short, includes any kind of automated processing of personal data that consists of using this personal data to analyze, evaluate, or predict certain personal aspects relating to a natural person (depending on the type of profiling, this may include different information regarding demographics, behavior, and interests, such as interaction with websites and their content, etc.) (e.g., interests in certain content or products, click behavior on a website, or location). Cookies and web beacons are often used for profiling purposes.

- Reach Measurement: Reach measurement (also referred to as web analytics) is used to evaluate the visitor flows of an online offer and can include the behavior or interests of visitors in certain information, such as website content. With the help of reach analysis, website owners can, for example, recognize at what time visitors visit their website and what content they are interested in. This allows them, for example, to better adapt the content of the website to the needs of their visitors. For the purposes of reach analysis, pseudonymous cookies and web beacons are often used to recognize returning visitors and thus obtain more precise analyses of the use of an online offer.

- Server Monitoring and Error Detection: With the help of server monitoring and error detection, we ensure the availability and integrity of our online offer and use the processed data to technically optimize our online offer. Processed data includes performance, load, and comparable technical values that provide information about the stability and any conspicuous features of our online offer. In the event of errors and irregularities, individual requests from users of our online offer are recorded to identify and eliminate sources of problems.

- Location Data: Location data is generated when a mobile device (or another device with the technical requirements for location determination) connects to a radio cell, a WLAN, or similar technical means and functions of location determination. Location data is used to indicate the geographically determinable position on earth at which the respective device is located. Location data can be used, for example, to display map functions or other location-dependent information.

- Tracking: "Tracking" is the term used when the behavior of users can be traced across several online offers. As a rule, behavioral and interest information is stored in cookies or on servers of the providers of the tracking technologies with regard to the online offers used (so-called profiling). This information can then be used, for example, to display advertisements to users that presumably correspond to their interests.

- 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 which is performed upon personal data, whether or not by automatic means. The term is broad and includes virtually any handling of data, be it collection, evaluation, storage, transmission, or deletion.