Preamble

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

The terms used are not gender-specific.

Last updated: 24 September 2024

Table of contents

• Preamble

• Controller

• Overview of processing operations

• Relevant legal bases

• General information on data storage and deletion

• Rights of data subjects

• Provision of the online offering and web hosting

• Use of cookies

• Contact and inquiry management

• Presence on social networks (social media)

Controller

Isabelle Schwager
Zur Oberlache 5
55124 Mainz

Email address: isischwager@web.de

Overview of processing operations

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.

• Contact data.

• Content data.

• Usage data.

• Meta, communication and procedural data.

• Log data.

Categories of data subjects

• Communication partners.

• Users.

Purposes of processing

• Communication.

• Organizational and administrative procedures.

• Feedback.

• Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.

• Information technology infrastructure.

• Public relations.

Relevant legal bases

Relevant legal bases under the GDPR: 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. Should more specific legal bases be relevant in individual cases, we will inform you of these in the privacy policy.

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

• Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR) - Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract.

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

National data protection regulations in Germany: In addition to the data protection regulations of the GDPR, national regulations on data protection apply in Germany. These include in particular the Act on 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 individual decision-making, including profiling. Furthermore, the data protection laws of the individual federal states may apply.

Note on the applicability of the GDPR and the Swiss DPA: These data protection notices serve to provide information in accordance with both the Swiss Data Protection Act (DPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). For this reason, please note that the terms of the GDPR are used due to their broader geographical application and comprehensibility. In particular, instead of the terms "processing" of "personal data", "overriding interest" and "particularly sensitive personal data" used in the Swiss DPA, the terms "processing" of "personal data" as well as "legitimate interest" and "special categories of data" used in the GDPR are used. However, the legal meaning of the terms will continue to be determined in accordance with the Swiss DPA within the scope of its applicability.

General information on data storage and deletion

We delete personal data that we process in accordance with the statutory provisions as soon as the underlying consents are revoked or no further legal bases for processing exist. This applies to cases in which the original purpose of processing no longer applies or the data is no longer required. Exceptions to this rule exist if statutory obligations or special interests require longer retention or archiving of the data.

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

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

Where there are several specifications regarding the retention period or deletion deadlines for a piece of data, the longest period is always decisive.

If a period does not expressly begin on a specific date and is at least one year, it automatically starts at the end of the calendar year in which the event triggering the period occurred. In the case of ongoing contractual relationships in the context of which data is stored, the event triggering the period is the date on which the termination or other ending of the legal relationship takes effect.

Data that is no longer retained for the originally intended purpose but due to statutory requirements or other reasons is processed by us exclusively for the reasons that justify its retention.

Further notes on processing operations, procedures and services:

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

  • 10 years - retention period for books and records, annual financial statements, inventories, management reports, opening balance sheets as well as the work instructions and other organizational documents required for their understanding, accounting vouchers and invoices (Section 147 (3) in conjunction with (1) nos. 1, 4 and 4a AO, Section 14b (1) UStG, Section 257 (1) nos. 1 and 4, (4) HGB).

  • 6 years - other business documents: commercial or business letters received, reproductions of commercial or business letters sent, other documents insofar as they are relevant for taxation, e.g. hourly wage slips, operating cost sheets, calculation documents, price labels, but also payroll documents insofar as they are not already accounting vouchers, and cash register receipts (Section 147 (3) in conjunction with (1) nos. 2, 3, 5 AO, Section 257 (1) nos. 2 and 3, (4) HGB).

  • 3 years - data required to take into account potential warranty and compensation claims or similar contractual claims and rights and to process related inquiries, based on previous business experience and customary industry practices, is stored for the duration of the regular statutory limitation period of three years (Sections 195, 199 BGB).

Rights of data subjects

Rights of data subjects under the GDPR: As a data subject, you are entitled to various rights under the GDPR, which arise in particular from Art. 15 to 21 GDPR:

• Right to object: You have the right to object at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning you which is based on Art. 6 (1) lit. e or f GDPR; this also applies to profiling based on these provisions. Where personal data concerning you is processed for the purposes of direct marketing, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for such marketing; this also applies to profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing.

• Right to withdraw consent: You have the right to withdraw any consent you have given at any time.

• Right of access: You have the right to obtain confirmation as to whether data concerning you is being processed and to obtain information about this data as well as further information and a copy of the data in accordance with the statutory requirements.

• Right to rectification: In accordance with the statutory requirements, you have the right to request the completion of data concerning you or the rectification of inaccurate data concerning you.

• Right to erasure and restriction of processing: In accordance with the statutory requirements, you have the right to request that data concerning you be erased without undue delay, or alternatively to request a restriction of the processing of the data in accordance with the statutory requirements.

• Right to data portability: You have the right to receive data concerning you which you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format in accordance with the statutory requirements, or to request its transmission to another controller.

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

Provision of the online offering and web hosting

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

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

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

• Purposes of processing: Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness. Information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical devices (computers, servers, etc.)).

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

• Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further notes on processing operations, procedures and services:

• Wix: Hosting and software for the creation, provision and operation of websites, blogs and other online offerings; service provider: Wix.com Ltd., Nemal St. 40, 6350671 Tel Aviv, Israel; legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); website: https://de.wix.com/; privacy policy: https://de.wix.com/about/privacy; data processing agreement: https://www.wix.com/about/privacy-dpa-users. Basis for third-country transfers: adequacy decision (Israel).

Use of cookies

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

Notes on consent: We use cookies in accordance with the statutory provisions. Therefore, we obtain prior consent from users, unless this is not required by law. In particular, permission is not necessary if the storage and reading of the information, including cookies, is strictly necessary in order to provide users with a telemedia service they have expressly requested (i.e. our online offering). The revocable consent is clearly communicated to users and contains the information on the respective use of cookies.

Notes on legal bases under data protection law: The legal basis under data protection law on which we process users' personal data using cookies depends on whether we ask users for consent. If users consent, the legal basis for processing their data is the declared consent. Otherwise, the data processed using cookies is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (e.g. in the commercial operation of our online offering and the 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 fulfil our contractual obligations. We explain the purposes for which we use cookies in the course of this privacy policy or as part of our consent and processing procedures.

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

• Temporary cookies (also: session cookies): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user has left an online offering 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 and preferred content can be displayed directly when the user visits a website again. Likewise, user data collected using cookies can be used for reach measurement. Unless we provide users with explicit information about the type and storage period of cookies (e.g. when obtaining consent), they should assume that these are permanent and that the storage period can be up to two years.

General notes on withdrawal and objection (opt-out): Users can withdraw the consent they have given at any time and also object to processing in accordance with the statutory requirements, including via the privacy settings of their browser.

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

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

• Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR). Consent (Art. 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR).

Further notes on processing operations, procedures and services:

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

Contact and inquiry management

When contacting us (e.g. by post, contact form, email, telephone or via social media) and in the context of existing user and business relationships, the details of the inquiring persons are processed insofar as this is necessary to respond to the contact inquiries and any requested measures.

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

• Data subjects: Communication partners.

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

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

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

Further notes on processing operations, procedures and services:

• Contact form: When contacting us via our contact form, by email or other communication channels, we process the personal data transmitted to us in order to respond to and process the respective request. This usually includes details such as name, contact information and, if applicable, further information that is communicated to us and is necessary for appropriate processing. We use this data exclusively for the stated purpose of contact and communication; legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Presence on social networks (social media)

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

We would like to point out that user data may be processed outside the European Union. This may result in risks for users because, for example, it could make it more difficult to enforce users' rights.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further notes on processing operations, procedures and services:

• Instagram: Social network, enables the sharing of photos and videos, commenting on and favoriting posts, sending messages, subscribing to profiles and pages; service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland; legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); website: https://www.instagram.com; privacy policy: https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/. Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF).

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