Privacy Policy

Introduction

We at Whee Institute (“we”, “us” or “our”) are committed to protecting your personal privacy. This Privacy Policy (“policy”) applies to our website, which is owned and controlled by us.

This policy describes how we collect, guard and use the personally identifiable information (“personal information”) you (“user”, “you”, “your” or “data subject”) may provide on our website and through any of its products or services (collectively, “websites” or “services”). It also outlines the choices accessible to you regarding our use of your personal information and how you can access and renew this information.

This policy does not apply to the practices of companies that we do not own or manage, or to individuals that we do not employ or manage. We understand that you are conscious of and care about your own personal privacy interests, and we take this seriously. This policy also describes our policies and practices regarding its collection and use of your personal data and sets forth your privacy rights. We acknowledge that information privacy is an ongoing responsibility, and so we will from time to time update this policy as we undertake new personal data practices or adopt new privacy policies.

General Data Protection Regulation is of a particularly high priority for the management of this website. The use of the internet pages of our website is possible without any indication of personal data; however, if a data subject wants to use special enterprise services via our website, processing of personal data could become essential. If the processing of personal data is required and there is no statutory basis for such processing, we generally obtain consent from the data subject.

The processing of personal data, such as the name, address, country, e-mail address, or telephone number of a data subject shall always be in line with the General Data Protection Regulation, and in accordance with the country-specific data protection regulations applicable to our website. By means of this data protection declaration, we would like to acquaint the general public of the nature, scope, and purpose of the personal data we collect, manage and process. Moreover, data subjects are informed, by means of this data protection declaration, of the rights to which they are entitled.

As the controller, we have implemented numerous technical and organizational measures to ensure a complete protection of personal data processed through this website. Nonetheless, Internet-based data transmissions may in principle have security clefts, so faultless protection may not be guaranteed. For this reason, every data subject is free to transfer personal data to us via alternative means, e.g. by telephone.

Please note that, by utilizing our website, you consent to the data practices described in this policy. If you do not agree with the data practices described in this policy, you should not use our website.

1. Definitions and legal references

Our data protection declaration is based on the terms used by the European legislator for the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation. Our data protection declaration should be legible and understandable for the general public, as well as our customers and business partners. To ensure this, we would like to first explain the terminology used. In this data protection declaration, we use, inter alias, the following terms:

1.1 Collection of general data and information

Our website collects a series of general data and information when a data subject or automated system calls up the website. This general data and information are stored in the server log files.

Collected may be:

the browser types and versions used,
the operating system used by the accessing system,
the website from which an accessing system reaches our website (so-called referrers),
the sub-websites,
the date and time of access to the Internet site,
an Internet protocol address (IP address),
the Internet service provider of the accessing system, and
any other similar data and information that may be used in the event of attacks on our information technology systems.

When using these general data and information, we do not draw any conclusions about the data subject. Rather, this information is needed to:

deliver the content of our website correctly,
optimize the content of our website as well as its advertisement,
ensure the long-term viability of our information technology systems and website technology, and
provide law enforcement authorities with the information necessary for criminal prosecution in case of a cyber-attack.

Accordingly, we analyze anonymously collected data and information statistically, with the purpose of increasing the data protection and data security of our enterprise and to ensure an optimal level of protection for the personal data we process.

The anonymous data of the server log files are stored separately from all personal data provided by a data subject.

1.2. Personal Data (or Data)

Personal data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (“data subject”). An identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.

Any information regarding a natural person, a legal person, an institution or an association, which is, or can be, identified, even indirectly, by reference to any other information, including a personal identification number.

1.3. Usage Data

Information collected automatically from our website (or third-party services employed in our digital network), which can include:

the IP addresses or domain names of the computers utilized by the Users who use this website,
the URI addresses (Uniform Resource Identifier),
the time of the request,
the method utilized to submit the request to the server,
the size of the file received in response,
the numerical code indicating the status of the server’s answer (successful outcome, error, etc.),
the country of origin,
the features of the browser and the operating system utilized by the user,
the various time details per visit (e.g., the time spent on each page within the Application) and the details about the path followed within the Application with special reference to the sequence of pages visited,
and other parameters about the device operating system and/or the user’s IT environment.

1.4. User

The individual using this website, which must coincide with or be authorized by the Data Subject, to whom the Personal Data refers.

1.5. Profiling

Profiling means any form of automated processing of personal data consisting of the use of personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyse or predict aspects concerning that natural person’s performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behaviour, location or movements.

1.6. Pseudonymisation

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

1.7. Data Subject

The data subject is an identified or identifiable natural person, whose personal data is processed by the controller responsible for the processing, or simply put, the legal or natural person to whom the Personal Data refers.

1.8. Data Processor (or Data Supervisor)

Processing is any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction.

The Processor is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or another body which processes personal data on behalf of the controller.

The natural person, legal person, public administration or any other body, association or organization authorized by the Data Controller to process the Personal Data in compliance with this policy.

1.9. Controller or controller responsible for the processing (or Owner)

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

The natural person, legal person, public administration or any another body, association or organisation with the right, also jointly with another Data Controller, to make decisions regarding the purposes, and the methods of processing of Personal Data and the means used, including the security measures concerning the operation and use of our website.

1.10. Restriction of processing

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

1.11. Recipient

The recipient is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or another body, to which the personal data are disclosed, whether a third-party or not. However, public authorities which may receive personal data in the framework of a particular inquiry in accordance with Union or Member State law shall not be regarded as recipients; the processing of those data by those public authorities shall be in compliance with the applicable data protection rules according to the purposes of the processing.

1.12. Third-party

Third-party is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or body other than the data subject, controller, processor and persons who, under the direct authority of the controller or processor, are authorised to process personal data.

1.13. Consent

Consent of the data subject is any freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of the data subject’s wishes by which he or she, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signifies agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her.

1.14. Website

The hardware or software means by which the Personal Data of the User is collected.

1.15. Cookies

The pages of our website use cookies. Cookies are text files that are stored in a computer system via an Internet browser.

Many websites and servers use cookies. Many cookies contain a so-called cookie ID. A cookie ID is a unique identifier of the cookie. It consists of a character string through which pages and servers can be assigned to the specific browser in which the cookie was stored. This allows visited websites and servers to differentiate the individual browser of the data subject from other browsers that contain other cookies. A specific browser can be recognized and identified using the unique cookie ID.

Through the use of cookies, we can provide the users of this website with more user-friendly services that would not be possible without the cookie setting.

By means of a cookie, the information and offers on our website can be optimized for the user in mind. Cookies allow us, as previously mentioned, to recognize our website users. The purpose of this recognition is to make it easier for users to utilize our website. The website user that uses cookies e.g. does not have to enter access data each time the website is accessed, because this is taken over by the website, and the cookie is thus stored on the user’s computer system.

Another example is the cookie of a shopping cart in an online shop. The online store remembers the articles that a customer has placed in the virtual shopping cart via a cookie.

The data subject may, at any time, prevent the setting of cookies through our website by means of corresponding settings of the browser used, and may thus permanently deny the setting of cookies. Moreover, already set cookies may be deleted at any time via browser or other software programs. This is possible in all popular browsers.

If the data subject deactivates the setting of cookies in the browser used, not all functions of our website may be entirely usable.

2. Our principles

We do our very best to protect your privacy by using security technology appropriately. This means:

we make sure that we have appropriate security measures to protect your information; and
we make sure that when we ask another organisation to provide a service for us, they have appropriate security measures.

We will respect your privacy. You should receive marketing (whether by e-mail, post, SMS or telephone) only from us and, if you agree, from other organisations we have carefully chosen. We will make sure it is clear when you can make these choices, for example, we have boxes you need to tick if you want to receive marketing and you can change your preferences if you no longer want to receive it. Notwithstanding, we may e-mail you occasionally with information or inquiries about your registration, your subscription account or postings, for example, with reminders, warnings or copyright requests.

We will collect and use individual user details only if we have your permission or we have sensible business reasons for doing so, such as collecting enough information to manage subscriptions.

We will be clear in our dealings with you as to what information about you we will collect and how we will use it.

We will use personal data information only for the purposes for which it was originally collected and we will make sure we delete it securely.

Our website is accessible via the internet, meaning that people around the world who access our website can see anything you publish on the website, for example, comments about an article.

If we or our service providers transfer any information out of the European Economic Area, it will only be done with the relevant protection being in place.

3. Types of Data collected

Among the types of Personal Data that we collect, by itself or through third parties, there are: Cookies, Usage Data, company name, address, country, city, unique device identifiers for advertising (Google Advertiser ID or IDFA, for example), first name, last name, e-mail address, password, username and website.

Complete details on each type of Personal Data collected are provided in the dedicated sections of this policy or by specific explanation texts displayed prior to the Data collection.

The Personal Data may be freely provided by the user, or, in case of Usage Data, collected automatically when using our website.

All Data requested by our website is mandatory and failure to provide this Data may make it impossible for us to provide our services. In cases where our website specifically states that some Data is not mandatory, users are free not to communicate this Data without any consequences on the availability or the functioning of the service.

Any use of Cookies — or of other tracking tools — by our website or by the owners of third-party services used by our website serves the purpose of providing the service required by the user, in addition to any other purposes described in the present document and in the Cookie Policy, if available.

Users are responsible for any third-party Personal Data obtained, published or shared through our website and confirm that they have the third-party’s consent to provide the Data to the Owner.

We collect information on you:

when you register or become a member of our website, and
when you browse the website, or
through cookies,
if you choose to reveal information in postings, and
when you enter sales promotions and competitions.

Certain services that we provide may involve us collecting additional information (membership, for example), such as where you are, so the service can be provided as designed. This may also apply to certain mobile applications that you download, or which we provide.

4. Mode and place of processing the Data

We process the Data of users in a proper manner and shall take appropriate security measures to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, modification, or unauthorized destruction of the Data.

The Data processing is carried out using computers and/or IT-enabled tools, following organisational procedures and modes strictly related to the purposes indicated. In addition to the Data Controller, in some cases, the Data may be accessible to certain types of persons in charge, involved with the operation of the site (administration, sales, marketing, legal, system administration) or external parties (such as third-party technical service providers, e-mail carriers, hosting providers, IT companies, communications agencies) appointed, if necessary, as Data Processors by us. The updated list of these parties may be requested from the Data Controller at any given time.

4.1. Place

The Data is processed at the Data Controller’s operating offices and in any other places where the parties involved in the processing are located.

4.2. Retention time

The Data is kept for the time necessary to provide the service requested by the user, or stated by the purposes outlined in this document, and the user can always request that the Data Controller suspend or remove the data.

4.3. Routine erasure and blocking of personal data

The data controller shall process and store the personal data of the data subject only for the period necessary to achieve the purpose of storage, or as far as this is granted by the European legislator or other legislators in laws or regulations to which the controller is subject to.

If the storage purpose is not applicable, or if a storage period prescribed by the European legislator or another competent legislator expires, the personal data are routinely blocked or erased in accordance with legal requirements.

5. The use of the collected Data

The Data concerning the user is collected to allow us to provide our services, as well as for the following purposes:

Advertising,
Contacting the user,
SPAM protection,
Analytics,
Remarketing and behavioural targeting,
Commercial affiliation,
Interaction with external social networks and platforms,
Registration and authentication,
Content commenting,
Content performance and features testing (A/B testing),
Displaying content from external platforms,
Handling payments gateways,
Hosting and backend infrastructure,
Infrastructure monitoring,
Interaction with data collection platforms and other third-parties,
Managing contacts and sending messages, and
Tag Management.

We will not share your personal information with others for marketing purposes unless you have given us your permission. If we have your permission, we will share your information only with other organisations we have chosen carefully.

If you are a registered user and attend an event organised by an event partner, data may be shared for event administration purposes.

We may make other organisations’ services available, through our website, although we are not necessarily operating these websites. We process any information which we collect when you access a service provided by another organisation under this policy. The information these other organisations collect is governed by their own privacy policies.

We can access and release personal information to keep relevant laws and government requests, to operate our systems properly and to protect both us and our users.

Any other organisations who access your information in the course of providing services on our behalf will be governed by strict contractual restrictions to make sure that they protect your information and keep to general data protection regulation and privacy laws which apply. We may also independently audit these service providers to make sure that they meet our standards. We may use service providers to help us run these websites (or services available on the websites), some of whom may be based outside the European Economic Area.

Some of our website pages use plugins from other organisations (such as the ‘Facebook Recommend’ function). These other organisations may use information about your visit to our websites on their pages. If you browse these pages while still also logged in to your account with us, the information they collect may be connected to your account on their website.

For more information on how these organisations use information, please read their privacy policies.

The Personal Data used for each purpose is outlined in the specific sections of this document.

6. Data protection provisions about the application and use of Google Remarketing

On this website, the controller has integrated Google Remarketing services. Google Remarketing is a feature of Google AdWords, which allows an enterprise to display advertising to Internet users who have previously resided on the enterprise’s website. The integration of Google Remarketing, therefore, allows an enterprise to create user-based advertising and thus shows relevant advertisements to interested users.

The operating company of the Google Remarketing services is the Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, United States of America.

The purpose of Google Remarketing is the insertion of interest-relevant advertising. Google Remarketing allows us to display advertising on the Google network or on other websites, which are based on individual needs and matched to the interests of users.

Google Remarketing sets a cookie on the information technology system of the data subject. The definition of cookies is explained above. With the setting of the cookie, Google enables a recognition of the visitor of our website if he calls up consecutive web pages, which are also a member of the Google advertising network. With each call-up to an Internet site on which the service has been integrated by Google Remarketing, the web browser of the data subject identifies automatically with Google. During the course of this technical procedure, Google receives personal information, such as the IP address or the surfing behaviour of the user, which Google uses, inter alia, for the insertion of interest relevant advertising.

The cookie is used to store personal information, e.g. the pages visited by the data subject. Each time we visit our pages, personal data, including the IP address of the Internet access used by the data subject, is transmitted to Google in the United States of America. These personal data are stored by Google in the United States of America. Google may pass these personal data collected through the technical procedure to third-parties.

The data subject may, as stated above, prevent the setting of cookies through our website at any time by means of a corresponding adjustment of the browser used and thus permanently deny the setting of cookies. Such an adjustment to the browser used would also prevent Google from setting a cookie on the information technology system of the data subject. In addition, cookies already in use by Google may be removed at any time via a browser or other software programs.

In addition, the data subject has the possibility of objecting to the interest-based advertising by Google.

7. Data protection provisions about the application and use of Google AdWords

On this website, we have integrated Google AdWords. Google AdWords is a service for Internet advertising that allows the advertiser to place advertising in Google search engine results and the Google advertising network. Google AdWords allows an advertiser to pre-define specific keywords with the help of which an advertisement on Google’s search results only then displayed, when the user utilizes the search engine to retrieve a keyword-relevant search result. In the Google Advertising Network, the advertisements are distributed on relevant pages using an automatic algorithm, taking into account the previously defined keywords.

The operating company of Google AdWords is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, United States of America.

The purpose of Google AdWords is the promotion of our website by the inclusion of relevant advertising on the websites of third-parties and in the search engine results of the search engine Google and an insertion of third-party advertising on our website.

If a data subject reaches our website via a Google advertisement, a conversion cookie is filed on the information technology system of the data subject through Google. The definition of cookies is explained above. A conversion cookie loses its validity after thirty days and is not used to identify the data subject. If the cookie has not expired, the conversion cookie is used to check whether certain sub-pages, e.g, the shopping cart from an online shop system, were called up on our website. Through the conversion cookie, both Google and the controller can understand whether a person who reached an AdWords advertisement on our website generated sales, that is, executed or cancelled a sale of goods.

The data and information collected through the use of the conversion cookie are used by Google to create visit statistics for our website. These visit statistics are used in order to determine the total number of users who have been served through AdWords advertisements to ascertain the success or failure of each AdWords advertisement and to optimize our AdWords campaigns in the future. Neither we nor other Google AdWords advertisers receive information from Google that could identify the data subject.

The conversion cookie stores personal information, e.g. the pages visited by the data subject. Each time you visit our pages, personal data, including the IP address of the Internet access used by the data subject, is transmitted to Google in the United States of America. These personal data are stored by Google in the United States of America. Google may pass these personal data collected through the technical procedure to third-parties.

The data subject may, at any time, prevent the setting of cookies by our website, as stated above, by means of corresponding settings of the browser used and thus permanently deny the setting of cookies. Such a setting of the browser used would also prevent Google from placing a conversion cookie on the information technology system of the data subject. In addition, a cookie set by Google AdWords may be deleted at any time via the browser or other software programs.

8. Analytics

The services contained in this section enable us to monitor and analyze web traffic and can be used to keep track of user behaviour.

8.1. Google Analytics (Google Inc.)

Google Analytics is an analysis service provided by Google Inc. (“Google”). Google utilizes the Data collected to track and examine the use of our website, to prepare reports on its activities and share them with other Google services.

We use Google Analytics on our website for anonymous reporting of website usage and for advertising on the website. Furthermore, Google may use the Data collected to contextualize and personalize the advertisements of its own advertising network.

8.2. Facebook Ads conversion tracking (Facebook, Inc.)

Facebook Ads conversion tracking is an analytics service provided by Facebook, Inc. that connects data from the Facebook advertising network with actions performed on our website.

Personal Data collected: Cookies and Usage Data.

8.3. Google AdWords conversion tracking (Google Inc.)

Google AdWords conversion tracking is an analytics service provided by Google Inc. that connects data from the Google AdWords advertising network with actions performed on our website.

Personal Data collected: Cookies and Usage Data.

8.4. WordPress Stats (Automattic Inc.)

WordPress Stats is an analytics service provided by Automattic Inc.

Personal Data collected: Cookies and Usage Data.

8.5. Google Analytics with anonymized IP (Google Inc.)

Google Analytics is a web analysis service provided by Google Inc. (“Google”). Google utilizes the Data collected to track and examine the use of and performance of our website, also to prepare reports on its activities and share them with other Google services.

Google may use the Data collected to contextualize and personalize the advertisements of its own advertising network.

This integration of Google Analytics anonymizes your IP address. It works by shortening users’ IP addresses within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states to the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases will the complete IP address be sent to a Google server and shortened within the United States of America.

Personal Data collected: Cookies and Usage Data.

9. Data protection provisions about the application and use of Google Analytics (with anonymization function)

On this website, we have integrated the component of Google Analytics (with the anonymizer function). Google Analytics is an analytics service. Analytics is the collection, gathering, and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analysis service collects, inter alia, data about the website from which a person has come (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages were visited, or how often and for what duration a sub-page was viewed. Analytics are mainly used for the optimization of a website and in order to carry out a cost-benefit analysis of digital advertising.

The operator of the Google Analytics component is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, United States of America.

For the analytics, through Google Analytics the controller uses the application “_gat. _anonymizeIp”. By means of this application, the IP address of the connection of the data subject is abridged by Google and anonymised when accessing our websites from a Member State of the European Union or another Contracting State to the Agreement on the European Economic Area.

The purpose of the Google Analytics component is to analyze the traffic on our website. Google uses the collected data and information, inter alia, to evaluate the use of our website and to provide online reports, which show the activities on our websites, and to provide other services concerning the use of our website for us.

Google Analytics places a cookie on the information technology system of the data subject. The definition of cookies is explained above. With the setting of the cookie, Google is enabled to analyze the use of our website. With each call-up to one of the individual pages of this website, which is operated by the controller and into which a Google Analytics component was integrated, the browser on the information technology system of the data subject will automatically submit data through the Google Analytics component for the purpose of online advertising and the settlement of commissions to Google. During the course of this technical procedure, the enterprise Google gains knowledge of personal information, such as the IP address of the data subject, which serves Google, inter alia, to understand the origin of visitors and clicks, and subsequently create commission settlements.

The cookie is used to store personal information, such as the access time, the location from which the access was made, and the frequency of visits to our website by the data subject. With each visit to our website, such personal data, including the IP address of the Internet access used by the data subject, will be transmitted to Google in the United States of America. These personal data are stored by Google in the United States of America. Google may pass these personal data collected through the technical procedure to third-parties.

The data subject may, as stated above, prevent the setting of cookies through our website at any time by means of a corresponding adjustment of the browser used and thus permanently deny the setting of cookies. Such an adjustment to the browser used would also prevent Google Analytics from setting a cookie on the information technology system of the data subject. In addition, cookies already in use by Google Analytics may be deleted at any time via a browser or other software programs.

10. Contact forms

Our website contains information that enables a quick electronic contact, as well as direct communication with us, which also includes a general address of the so-called electronic mail (e-mail address). If a data subject contacts the controller by e-mail or via a contact form, the personal data transmitted by the data subject are automatically stored. Such personal data transmitted on a voluntary basis by a data subject to the data controller are stored for the purpose of processing or contacting the data subject. There is no transfer of this personal data to third-parties.

By filling in the contact form with their Data, the User authorizes us to use these details to reply to requests for information, quotes or any other kind of request as indicated by the form’s header.

Personal Data collected: address, city, company name and country.

11. Content commenting

Our website offers users the possibility to leave individual comments on individual article contributions, which is on the website of the controller. A blog is a web-based, publicly-accessible portal, through which one or more people called bloggers or web-bloggers may post articles or write down thoughts in so-called blogposts. Blogposts may usually be commented by third-parties.

Content commenting services allow Users to make and publish their comments on the contents of our website.

Depending on the settings chosen by us, Users may also leave anonymous comments. If there is an e-mail address among the Personal Data provided by the User, it may be used to send notifications of comments on the same content. Users are responsible for the content of their own comments.

If a data subject leaves a comment on an article published on this website, the comments made by the data subject are also stored and published, as well as information on the date of the commentary and on the user’s (pseudonym) chosen by the data subject. In addition, the IP address assigned by the Internet service provider (ISP) to the data subject is also logged. This storage of the IP address takes place for security reasons, and in case the data subject violates the rights of third-parties or posts illegal content through a given comment. The storage of these personal data is, therefore, in the own interest of the data controller, so that he can exculpate in the event of an infringement.

This collected personal data will not be passed to third-parties unless such a transfer is required by law or serves the aim of the defence of the data controller.

11.1. Comment system managed directly

Our website has its own internal content comment system.

Personal Data collected: Cookies, email address, first name, last name, username and website.

11.2. Comment Subscriptions

The comments made on our website may be subscribed to by third-parties. In particular, there is the possibility that a commenter subscribes to the comments following his comments on a particular article published.

If a data subject decides to subscribe to the option, the controller will send an automatic confirmation e-mail to check the double opt-in procedure as to whether the owner of the specified e-mail address decided in favour of this option. The option to subscribe to comments may be terminated at any time.

12. Content performance and features testing (A/B testing)

The services contained in this section allow us to track and analyze the User response concerning web traffic or behaviour regarding changes to the structure, text or any other component of our website.

12.1. Google Website Optimizer (Google Inc.)

Google Website Optimizer is an A/B testing service provided by Google Inc.

Google may use Personal Data to contextualize and personalize the advertisements of its own advertising network.

Personal Data collected: Cookies and Usage Data.

13. Displaying content from external platforms

This type of service allows you to view content hosted on external platforms directly from the pages of our website and interact with them.

This type of service might still collect web traffic data for the pages where the service is installed, even when Users do not use it.

13.1. Google Fonts (Google Inc.)

Google Fonts is a typeface visualization service provided by Google Inc. that allows our website to incorporate resources of this kind on its pages.

Personal Data collected: Usage Data and various types of Data as specified in the privacy policy of the service.

13.2. Gravatar (Automattic Inc.)

Gravatar is an image visualization service provided by Automattic Inc. that allows our website to incorporate the resources of this kind on its pages.

Please note that if Gravatar images are used for comment forms, the commenter’s email address or parts of it may be sent to Gravatar – even if the commenter has not signed up for that service.

Personal Data collected: email address and Usage Data.

13.3. Data protection provisions about the application and use of YouTube

On this website, we have integrated components of YouTube. YouTube is an Internet video portal that enables video publishers to set video clips and other users free of charge, which also provides free viewing, review and commenting on them. YouTube allows you to publish all kinds of videos, so you can access both full movies and television broadcasts, as well as music videos, trailers, and videos made by users via the Internet portal.

The operating company of YouTube is YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, United States of America. The YouTube, LLC is a subsidiary of Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, United States of America.

With each call-up to one of the individual pages of this Internet website, which is operated by the controller and on which a YouTube component (YouTube video) was integrated, the Internet browser on the information technology system of the data subject is automatically prompted to download a display of the corresponding YouTube component.

During the course of this technical procedure, YouTube and Google gain knowledge of what specific sub-page of our website was visited by the data subject.

If the data subject is logged in on YouTube, YouTube recognizes with each call-up to a sub-page that contains a YouTube video, which specific sub-page of our Internet website was visited by the data subject. This information is collected by YouTube and Google and assigned to the respective YouTube account of the data subject.

YouTube and Google will receive information through the YouTube component that the data subject has visited our website, if the data subject at the time of the call to our website is logged in on YouTube; this occurs regardless of whether the person clicks on a YouTube video or not. If such a transmission of this information to YouTube and Google is not desirable for the data subject, the delivery may be prevented if the data subject logs off from their own YouTube account before a call-up to our website is made.

14. Hosting and backend infrastructure

This type of service has the purpose of hosting Data and files that enables our website to run and be distributed as well as to provide a ready-made infrastructure to run specific features or parts of our website. Some of these services work through geographically distributed servers, making it difficult to determine the actual location where the Personal Data is stored.

15. Interaction with data collection platforms and other third-parties

This type of service allows Users to interact with data collection platforms or other services directly from the pages of our website for the purpose of saving and reusing data.

If one of these services is installed, it may collect browsing and Usage Data in the pages where it is installed, even if the Users do not actively use the service.

16. Interaction with external social networks and platforms

This type of service allows interaction with social networks or other external platforms directly from the pages of our website.

The interaction and information obtained through our website are always subject to the User’s privacy settings for each social network.

This type of service might still collect traffic data for the pages where the service is installed, even when Users do not use it.

16.1. Facebook Share button and social widgets (Facebook, Inc.)

The Facebook Share button and social widgets are services allowing interaction with the Facebook social network provided by Facebook, Inc.

Personal Data collected: Cookies and Usage Data.

16.2. Google+ +1 button and social widgets (Google Inc.)

The Google+ +1 button and social widgets are services allowing interaction with the Google+ social network provided by Google Inc.

Personal Data collected: Cookies and Usage Data.

16.3. LinkedIn button and social widgets (LinkedIn Corporation)

The LinkedIn button and social widgets are services allowing interaction with the LinkedIn social network provided by LinkedIn Corporation.

Personal Data collected: Cookies and Usage Data.

16.4. Pinterest “Pin it” button and social widgets (Pinterest)

The Pinterest “Pin it” button and social widgets are services allowing interaction with the Pinterest platform provided by Pinterest Inc.

Personal Data collected: Cookies and Usage Data.

16.5. Twitter Tweet button and social widgets (Twitter, Inc.)

The Twitter Tweet button and social widgets are services allowing interaction with the Twitter social network provided by Twitter, Inc.

Personal Data collected: Cookies and Usage Data.

17. Data protection provisions about the application and use of Facebook (Facebook, Inc.)

On this website, we have integrated components of the enterprise Facebook. Facebook is a social network.

A social network is a place for social meetings on the Internet, an online community, which usually allows users to communicate with each other and interact in a virtual space. A social network may serve as a platform for the exchange of opinions and experiences, or enable the Internet community to provide personal or business-related information. Facebook allows social network users to include the creation of private profiles, upload photos, and network through friend requests.

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

With each call-up to one of the individual pages of this Internet website, which is operated by the controller and into which a Facebook component (Facebook plugins) was integrated, the web browser on the information technology system of the data subject is automatically prompted to download display of the corresponding Facebook component from Facebook through the Facebook component.

During the course of this technical procedure, Facebook is made aware of what specific sub-site of our website was visited by the data subject.

If the data subject is logged in at the same time on Facebook, Facebook detects with every call-up to our website by the data subject — and for the entire duration of their stay on our Internet site — which specific sub-website of our Internet page was visited by the data subject. This information is collected through the Facebook component and associated with the respective Facebook account of the data subject. If the data subject clicks on one of the Facebook buttons integrated into our website, e.g. the “Like” button, or if the data subject submits a comment, then Facebook matches this information with the personal Facebook user account of the data subject and stores the personal data.

Facebook always receives, through the Facebook component, information about a visit to our website by the data subject, whenever the data subject is logged in at the same time on Facebook during the time of the call-up to our website. This occurs regardless of whether the data subject clicks on the Facebook component or not. If such a transmission of information to Facebook is not desirable for the data subject, then he or she may prevent this by logging off from their Facebook account before a call-up to our website is made.

In addition, it is explained there what setting options Facebook offers to protect the privacy of the data subject. Also, different configuration options are made available to allow the elimination of data transmission to Facebook. These applications may be used by the data subject to eliminate a data transmission to Facebook.

18. Data protection provisions about the application and use of Google+

On this website, we have integrated the Google+ button as a component. Google+ is a so-called social network. A social network is a social meeting place on the Internet, an online community, which usually allows users to communicate with each other and interact in a virtual space. A social network may serve as a platform for the exchange of opinions and experiences, or enable the Internet community to provide personal or business-related information. Google+ allows users of the social network to include the creation of private profiles, upload photos and network through friend requests.

The operating company of Google+ is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, United States of America.

With each call-up to one of the individual pages of this website, which is operated by the controller and on which a Google+ button has been integrated, the Internet browser on the information technology system of the data subject automatically downloads a display of the corresponding Google+ button of Google through the respective Google+ button component. During the course of this technical procedure, Google is made aware of what specific sub-page of our website was visited by the data subject.

If the data subject is logged in at the same time to Google+, Google recognizes with each call-up to our website by the data subject and for the entire duration of his or her stay on our Internet website, which specific sub-pages of our Internet page were visited by the data subject. This information is collected through the Google+ button and Google matches this with the respective Google+ account associated with the data subject.

If the data subject clicks on the Google+ button integrated on our website and thus gives a Google+ 1 recommendation, then Google assigns this information to the personal Google+ user account of the data subject and stores the personal data. Google stores the Google+ 1 recommendation of the data subject, making it publicly available in accordance with the terms and conditions accepted by the data subject in this regard. Subsequently, a Google+ 1 recommendation given by the data subject on this website together with other personal data, such as the Google+ account name used by the data subject and the stored photo, is stored and processed on other Google services, such as search-engine results of the Google search engine, the Google account of the data subject or in other places, e.g. on Internet pages, or in relation to advertisements. Google is also able to link the visit to this website with other personal data stored on Google. Google further records this personal information with the purpose of improving or optimizing the various Google services.

Through the Google+ button, Google receives information that the data subject visited our website, if the data subject at the time of the call-up to our website is logged in to Google+. This occurs regardless of whether the data subject clicks or doesn’t click on the Google+ button.

If the data subject does not wish to transmit personal data to Google, he or she may prevent such transmission by logging out of his Google+ account before calling up our website.

19. Data protection provisions about the application and use of Instagram

On this website, we have integrated components of the service Instagram. Instagram is a service that may be qualified as an audio-visual platform, which allows users to share photos and videos, as well as disseminate such data in other social networks.

The operating company of the services offered by Instagram is Instagram LLC, 1 Hacker Way, Building 14 First Floor, Menlo Park, CA, United States of America.

With each call-up to one of the individual pages of this Internet site, which is operated by the controller and on which an Instagram component (Insta button) was integrated, the Internet browser on the information technology system of the data subject is automatically prompted to the download of a display of the corresponding Instagram component of Instagram. During the course of this technical procedure, Instagram becomes aware of what specific sub-page of our website was visited by the data subject.

If the data subject is logged in at the same time on Instagram, Instagram detects with every call-up to our website by the data subject — and for the entire duration of their stay on our Internet site — which specific sub-page of our Internet page was visited by the data subject. This information is collected through the Instagram component and is associated with the respective Instagram account of the data subject. If the data subject clicks on one of the Instagram buttons integrated on our website, then Instagram matches this information with the personal Instagram user account of the data subject and stores the personal data.

Instagram receives information via the Instagram component that the data subject has visited our website provided that the data subject is logged in at Instagram at the time of the call to our website. This occurs regardless of whether the person clicks on the Instagram button or not. If such a transmission of information to Instagram is not desirable for the data subject, then he or she can prevent this by logging off from their Instagram account before a call-up to our website is made.

20. Data protection provisions about the application and use of LinkedIn

We have integrated components of the LinkedIn Corporation on this website. LinkedIn is a web-based social network that enables users with existing business contacts to connect and to make new business contacts. Over 400 million registered people in more than 200 countries use LinkedIn. Thus, LinkedIn is currently the largest platform for business contacts and one of the most visited websites in the world.

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

With each call-up to one of the individual pages of this Internet website, which is operated by the controller and on which a LinkedIn component (LinkedIn plugin) was integrated, the Internet browser on the information technology system of the data subject is automatically prompted to the download of a display of the corresponding LinkedIn component of LinkedIn.

During the course of this technical procedure, LinkedIn gains knowledge of what specific sub-page of our website was visited by the data subject.

If the data subject is logged in at the same time on LinkedIn, LinkedIn detects with every call-up to our website by the data subject — and for the entire duration of their stay on our Internet website — which specific sub-page of our Internet page was visited by the data subject. This information is collected through the LinkedIn component and associated with the respective LinkedIn account of the data subject. If the data subject clicks on one of the LinkedIn buttons integrated on our website, then LinkedIn assigns this information to the personal LinkedIn user account of the data subject and stores the personal data.

LinkedIn receives information via the LinkedIn component that the data subject has visited our website, provided that the data subject is logged in on LinkedIn at the time of the call-up to our website. This occurs regardless of whether the person clicks on the LinkedIn button or not. If such a transmission of information to LinkedIn is not desirable for the data subject, then he or she may prevent this by logging off from their LinkedIn account before a call-up to our website is made.

LinkedIn provides under https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls the possibility to unsubscribe from e-mail messages, SMS messages and targeted advertising, as well as the ability to manage advertising settings. LinkedIn also uses affiliates such as Eire, Google Analytics, BlueKai, DoubleClick, Nielsen, Comscore, Eloqua, and Lotame.

21. Data protection provisions about the application and use of Pinterest

On this website, we have integrated components of Pinterest Inc. Pinterest is a so-called social network. A social network is an Internet social meeting place, an online community that allows users to communicate and interact with each other in a virtual space. A social network may serve as a platform for the exchange of opinions and experiences, or allow the Internet community to provide personal or company-related information. Pinterest enables the users of the social network to publish, inter alia, picture collections and individual pictures as well as descriptions on virtual pinboards (so-called pins), which can then be shared by other user’s (so-called re-pins) or commented on.

The operating company of Pinterest is Pinterest Inc., 808 Brannan Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States of America.

With each call-up to one of the individual pages of this Internet website, which is operated by the controller and on which a Pinterest component (Pinterest plug-in) was integrated, the Internet browser on the information technology system of the data subject automatically prompted to download through the respective Pinterest component a display of the corresponding Pinterest component.

During the course of this technical procedure, Pinterest gains knowledge of what specific sub-page of our website is visited by the data subject.

If the data subject is logged in at the same time on Pinterest, Pinterest detects with every call-up to our website by the data subject — and for the entire duration of their stay on our Internet website — which specific sub-page of our Internet page was visited by the data subject. This information is collected through the Pinterest component and associated with the respective Pinterest account of the data subject. If the data subject clicks on one of the Pinterest buttons, integrated on our website, then Pinterest assigns this information to the personal Pinterest user account of the data subject and stores the personal data.

Pinterest receives information via the Pinterest component that the data subject has visited our website, provided that the data subject is logged in at Pinterest at the time of the call-up to our website. This occurs regardless of whether the person clicks on the Pinterest component or not. If such a transmission of information to Pinterest is not desirable for the data subject, then he or she may prevent this by logging off from their Pinterest account before a call-up to our website is made.

22. Data protection provisions about the application and use of Twitter

On this website, we have integrated components of Twitter. Twitter is a multilingual, publicly-accessible microblogging service on which users may publish and spread so-called ‘tweets,’ e.g. short messages, which are limited to 140 characters. These short messages are available for everyone, including those who are not logged on to Twitter. The tweets are also displayed to so-called followers of the respective user. Followers are other Twitter users who follow a user’s tweets. Furthermore, Twitter allows you to address a wide audience via hashtags, links or retweets.

The operating company of Twitter is Twitter, Inc., 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States of America.

With each call-up to one of the individual pages of this Internet site, which is operated by the controller and on which a Twitter component (Twitter button) was integrated, the Internet browser on the information technology system of the data subject is automatically prompted to download a display of the corresponding Twitter component of Twitter.

During the course of this technical procedure, Twitter gains knowledge of what specific sub-page of our website was visited by the data subject. The purpose of the integration of the Twitter component is a retransmission of the contents of this website to allow our users to introduce this web page to the digital world and increase our visitor numbers.

If the data subject is logged in at the same time on Twitter, Twitter detects with every call-up to our website by the data subject and for the entire duration of their stay on our Internet site which specific sub-page of our Internet page was visited by the data subject. This information is collected through the Twitter component and associated with the respective Twitter account of the data subject. If the data subject clicks on one of the Twitter buttons integrated on our website, then Twitter assigns this information to the personal Twitter user account of the data subject and stores the personal data.

Twitter receives information via the Twitter component that the data subject has visited our website, provided that the data subject is logged in on Twitter at the time of the call-up to our website. This occurs regardless of whether the person clicks on the Twitter component or not. If such a transmission of information to Twitter is not desirable for the data subject, then he or she may prevent this by logging off from their Twitter account before a call-up to our website is made.

23. Managing contacts and sending messages

This type of service makes it possible to manage a database of e-mail contacts, phone contacts or any other contact information to communicate with the User.

These services may also collect data concerning the date and time when the message was viewed by the User, as well as when the User interacted with it, such as by clicking on links included in the message.

23.1. MailChimp (The Rocket Science Group, LLC.)

MailChimp is an e-mail address management and message sending service provided by The Rocket Science Group, LLC.

Personal Data collected: e-mail address.

24. Tag Management

This type of service helps us to manage the tags or scripts needed on our website in a centralized fashion.

This results in the Users’ Data flowing through these services, potentially resulting in the retention of this Data.

24.1. Google Tag Manager (Google LLC)

Google Tag Manager is a tag management service provided by Google LLC.

Personal Data collected: Cookies and Usage Data.

25. Cookie Policy

Our website uses Cookies. To learn more and for a detailed cookie notice, you may consult the Cookie Policy.

For statistical purposes to track how many users we have and how often they visit our website. We collect information listing which of our pages are most frequently visited, and by which types of users and from which countries.
We use other organisations to collect anonymous user information, sometimes through cookies and web beacons, (information embedded in images which allow them to analyse how the website is being used and the number of visitors). For example, our website may feature proprietary measurement software, which will allow you to contribute to market research, like Digital Content Ratings.
Placing cookies on your computer means we can show you advertisements that you might be interested in, and allows us to control the number of times you see them and measure how effective the ad campaign has been. Advertising helps us to keep the website free for you to use. You can find more information on this in the advertising section of this privacy policy, including how you can ‘opt out’.
We may use ‘Flash’ cookies to store your preferences for your media player (for example, volume and so on). If we do not use them, you may not be able to watch some video content.
You can turn cookies off but if you do this, you may not be able to use all services on our website and you might see more pop-ups and other advertising. This is because we would not be able to limit what you see by using cookies. However, you will still be able to see our editorial content.
We or other third-party companies may use cookies to suggest and deliver content which we believe may interest you.

By using the website, you are agreeing to the use of cookies as described.

Changes to this privacy policy

We reserve the right to make changes to this privacy policy at any time by giving notice to our Users on this page. It is strongly recommended to check this page often, referring to the date of the last modification listed at the bottom. If a User objects to any of the changes to the Policy, the User must cease using our website and can request that the Data Controller remove the Personal Data. Unless stated otherwise, the then-current privacy policy applies to all Personal Data the Data Controller has about Users.

Where required by law, will we obtain your consent to make these changes.

This document was last updated on June 4th, 2018