Privacy policy for our website and social media presence

Privacy Policy

1) Introduction and contact details of the responsible party

1.1 We are pleased that you are visiting our website and thank you for your interest. Below, we inform you about how we handle your personal data when you use our website. Personal data is any data that can be used to personally identify you.

1.2 The data controller for this website within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is Auto Albert GmbH, Kaiserstr. 135, 67661 Kaiserslautern, Germany, Tel.: 4963158364, E-Mail: auto@servicealbert.de. The data controller is the natural or legal person who, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data.

2) Data collection when visiting our website

2.1 When you simply browse our website for informational purposes, i.e., without registering or otherwise providing us with information, we only collect data that your browser transmits to the website server (so-called "server log files"). When you access our website, we collect the following data, which is technically necessary for us to display the website to you:

Our visited website
Date and time of access
Amount of data sent in bytes
Source/referrer from which you accessed this page
Browser used
Operating system used
IP address used (possibly in anonymized form)

The processing is carried out in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest in improving the stability and functionality of our website. The data will not be disclosed or used for any other purpose. However, we reserve the right to subsequently review the server log files should there be concrete indications of unlawful use.

2.2 This website uses SSL/TLS encryption for security reasons and to protect the transmission of personal data and other confidential content (e.g., orders or inquiries to the data controller). You can recognize an encrypted connection by the "https://" prefix and the padlock symbol in your browser's address bar.

3) Hosting & Content Delivery Network

3.1 For hosting our website and displaying the page content, we use a provider that performs its services itself or through selected subcontractors exclusively on servers within the European Union.

All data collected on our website is processed on these servers.

We have concluded a data processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of the data of our website visitors and prohibits unauthorized disclosure to third parties.

3.2 IONOS

We use a Content Delivery Network from the following provider: 1&1 IONOS Internet SE, Elgendorfer Str. 57, 56410 Montabaur, Germany

This service allows us to deliver large media files such as graphics, page content, or scripts more quickly via a network of regionally distributed servers. The processing is carried out to protect our legitimate interest in improving the stability and functionality of our website, in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) GDPR.

We have concluded a data processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of the data of our website visitors and prohibits unauthorized disclosure to third parties.

4) Cookies

To make your visit to our website more enjoyable and to enable the use of certain features, we use cookies, which are small text files that are stored on your device. Some of these cookies are automatically deleted after you close your browser (so-called "session cookies"), while others remain on your device for a longer period and allow us to save your website settings (so-called "persistent cookies"). In the latter case, you can find information about the storage duration in your web browser's cookie settings.

If any of the cookies we use process personal data, this processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR either for the performance of the contract, in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR in the case of consent given, or in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR to safeguard our legitimate interests in the best possible functionality of the website and a customer-friendly and effective design of the website visit.

You can configure your browser to notify you when cookies are set and allow you to decide whether to accept them individually, or to exclude the acceptance of cookies in certain cases or entirely.

Please note that if you do not accept cookies, the functionality of our website may be limited.

5) Making contact

5.1 WhatsApp Business

You have the option of contacting us via the WhatsApp messaging service provided by WhatsApp Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland. We use the so-called "Business version" of WhatsApp for this purpose.

If you contact us via WhatsApp regarding a specific transaction (for example, an order you have placed), we will store and use the mobile phone number you use with WhatsApp, as well as your first and last name (if provided), in accordance with Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR, to process and respond to your inquiry. Based on the same legal basis, we may ask you via WhatsApp to provide further data (order number, customer number, address, or email address) in order to assign your inquiry to a specific transaction.

If you use our WhatsApp contact for general inquiries (e.g., regarding our range of services, availability, or our website), we store and use the mobile phone number you use on WhatsApp and – if provided – your first and last name in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest in the efficient and timely provision of the requested information.

Your data will only be used to answer your inquiry via WhatsApp. It will not be shared with third parties.

Please note that WhatsApp Business accesses the address book of the mobile device we use for this purpose and automatically transfers phone numbers stored in the address book to a server of its parent company, Meta Platforms Inc., in the USA. For the operation of our WhatsApp Business account, we use a mobile device whose address book contains only the WhatsApp contact data of users who have actually contacted us via WhatsApp.

This ensures that every person whose WhatsApp contact details are stored in our address book has already consented to the transfer of their WhatsApp phone number from the address books of their chat contacts, in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) GDPR, by accepting the WhatsApp Terms of Service upon first using the app on their device. The transfer of data from users who do not use WhatsApp and/or have not contacted us via WhatsApp is therefore excluded.

For information on the purpose and scope of data collection and the further processing and use of data by WhatsApp, as well as your related rights and settings options to protect your privacy, please refer to WhatsApp's privacy policy: https://www.whatsapp.com /legal /?eea=1#privacy-policy

We have concluded a data processing agreement with the provider, which protects the data of our website visitors and prohibits its transfer to third parties.

The processing described above may involve data transfers to servers of Meta Platforms Inc. in the USA.

For data transfers to the USA, the provider has joined the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which, based on an adequacy decision by the European Commission, ensures compliance with the European level of data protection.

5.2 When you contact us (e.g., via contact form or email), personal data is collected. The specific data collected when using a contact form is indicated on the form itself. This data is stored and used solely for the purpose of responding to your inquiry, contacting you, and for the associated technical administration.

The legal basis for processing this data is our legitimate interest in responding to your inquiry pursuant to Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. If your contact is aimed at concluding a contract, the additional legal basis for processing is Article 6(1)(b) GDPR. Your data will be deleted after your inquiry has been fully processed. This is the case when it can be inferred from the circumstances that the matter has been conclusively resolved and provided that no statutory retention obligations exist.

6) Use of customer data for direct marketing

WhatsApp newsletter

By subscribing to our WhatsApp newsletter, we will regularly send you information about our offers via WhatsApp. The only mandatory information required to send you the newsletter is your mobile phone number.

To receive our newsletter, please add our mobile phone number (provided) to your mobile phone's contacts and send us the message "Start" via WhatsApp. By sending this WhatsApp message, you consent to the use of your personal data in accordance with Article 6 Paragraph 1 Letter a of the GDPR for the purpose of sending you the newsletter. We will then add you to our newsletter mailing list.

The data we collect when you subscribe to our newsletter is used exclusively for sending you promotional material via the newsletter. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time by sending us the message "Stop" via WhatsApp. After you unsubscribe, your mobile phone number will be immediately deleted from our newsletter mailing list, unless you have expressly consented to further use of your data or we reserve the right to use your data for other purposes permitted by law, which we will inform you about in this privacy policy.

Please note that WhatsApp Business gains access to the address book of the mobile device we use for this purpose and automatically transfers phone numbers stored in the address book to a server of the parent company Meta Platforms Inc. in the USA.

For sending our WhatsApp newsletter, we therefore use a mobile device whose address book contains only the WhatsApp contact details of our newsletter recipients. This ensures that every person whose WhatsApp contact details are stored in our address book has already consented to the transfer of their WhatsApp phone number from the address books of their chat contacts in accordance with Article 6 Paragraph 1 Letter a GDPR by accepting the WhatsApp Terms of Service upon first using the app on their device. The transfer of data from users who do not use WhatsApp and/or have not contacted us via WhatsApp is therefore excluded.

We have entered into a data processing agreement with WhatsApp that protects the data of our newsletter recipients and prohibits its transfer to third parties.

The processing described above may involve data transfers to servers of Meta Platforms Inc. in the USA.

7) Online Marketing

Google AdSense

This website uses Google AdSense, a web advertising service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland ("Google"). Google AdSense uses cookies, which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyze how users use the site. Google AdSense also uses web beacons (small, invisible graphics) to collect information. These web beacons allow simple actions, such as website traffic, to be recorded, collected, and analyzed. The information generated by the cookie and/or web beacon about your use of this website (including your IP address) is generally transmitted to and stored on a Google server. This may also involve transmission to the servers of Google LLC in the USA.

Google uses the information obtained in this way to analyze your usage patterns with regard to AdSense ads. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google AdSense is not combined with other Google data. The information collected by Google may be transferred to third parties if required by law and/or if third parties process this data on Google's behalf.
All processing described above, in particular the reading of information on the device used via cookies and/or web beacons, will only be carried out if you have given us your explicit consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. Without this consent, Google AdSense will not be used during your visit to our website.

You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future by deactivating this service in the "Cookie Consent Tool" provided on the website.

Further information on Google's privacy policy can be found here: https://business.safety.google /intl /de /privacy / and https://www.google.de/policies/privacy/

8) Web analytics services

8.1 Google Analytics 4

This website uses Google Analytics 4, a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland ("Google"), which enables an analysis of your use of our website.

By default, Google Analytics 4 does not use cookies when you visit the website unless you explicitly consent to their use. Instead, information about your usage behavior is collected and processed through so-called pings (small data packets sent to the host of an end device). This information includes your IP address, which Google, however, shortens by removing the last digits to prevent direct identification of individuals.

The information is transferred to Google servers and processed there. This may also involve transfers to Google LLC, which is based in the USA.

Google uses the collected information on our behalf to evaluate your use of the website, to compile reports on website activity for us, and to provide other services related to website activity and internet usage. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics and shortened will not be merged with other Google data. The data collected as part of the use of Google Analytics 4 is stored for a period of two months and then deleted.

All processing described above, including data transmission via "pings" and the possible setting of Google Analytics cookies, will only take place if you have given us your explicit consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR.

Without your consent, Google Analytics 4 will not be used during your visit to our website. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future. To exercise your right of revocation, please deactivate this service using the "Cookie Consent Tool" provided on the website.

We have entered into a data processing agreement with Google that ensures the protection of our website visitors' data and prohibits unauthorized disclosure to third parties.

Further legal information regarding Google Analytics 4 can be found at https://business.safety.google /intl /de /privacy /, https://policies.google.com/privacy ?hl=de &gl=de and under https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites

Demographic characteristics
Google Analytics 4 uses the special feature "demographics" to generate statistics that provide information about the age, gender, and interests of website visitors. This is achieved by analyzing advertising and information from third-party providers. This allows for the identification of target groups for marketing activities. However, the collected data cannot be linked to any specific individual and is deleted after a storage period of two months.

Google Signals
As an extension to Google Analytics 4, this website may use Google Signals to generate cross-device reports. If you have enabled personalized ads and linked your devices to your Google account, Google may, subject to your consent to the use of Google Analytics pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR, analyze your usage behavior across devices and create database models, including those related to cross-device conversions. We do not receive any personal data from Google, only statistics. If you wish to stop cross-device analysis, you can deactivate the "Personalized advertising" feature in your Google account settings. To do so, follow the instructions on this page: https://support.google.com /My-Ad-Center-Help /answer /12155764 ?hl=de
For more information about Google Signals, please see the following link: https://support.google.com /analytics /answer /7532985 ?hl=de

UserIDs
As an extension to Google Analytics 4, the "UserIDs" function may be used on this website. If you have consented to the use of Google Analytics 4 in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR, have created an account on this website, and log in with this account on different devices, your activities, including conversions, can be analyzed across devices.

Collection of data provided by users
To improve the analysis results for users whose contact details we have obtained in the context of business or business-like relationships, we use the "collect user-provided data" function.
Subject to your explicit consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR, we will, within the scope of this function, electronically transmit one or more files containing aggregated customer data relating to you (primarily email address and telephone number) to Google. Google does not gain access to unencrypted data, but automatically encrypts the information in the customer files during the transmission process using a special algorithm. Google can then only use the encrypted information to associate it with existing Google accounts that the data subjects have created.
The processing serves to refine measurement data, improves cross-device user tracking, and enables the integration of analysis results into Google Ads' advertising personalization and conversion tracking functions.
You can withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future. Further information on Google's data protection measures regarding the transfer of customer data can be found here: https://support.google.com /google-ads /answer /6334160 ?hl=de &ref_topic=10550182

8.2 1&1 IONOS WebAnalytics

This website uses the web analytics service of the following provider: 1&1 IONOS Internet SE, Elgendorfer Str. 57, 56410 Montabaur, Germany

Using cookies and/or similar technologies (tracking pixels, web beacons, algorithms for reading device and browser information), this service collects and stores pseudonymized visitor data, including information about the device used, such as the IP address and browser information, in order to evaluate it for statistical analysis of user behavior on our website and to create pseudonymized user profiles. Among other things, this enables the analysis of movement patterns (so-called heatmaps), which show the duration of page visits and interactions with page content (e.g., text input, scrolling, clicks, and mouse-overs). Pseudonymization fundamentally precludes any direct identification of individuals. This data is not combined with clear personal data collected through other means.

All processing described above, in particular the reading or storage of information on the device used, will only be carried out if you have given us your explicit consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future by deactivating this service in the "cookie consent tool" provided on the website.

We have concluded a data processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of the data of our website visitors and prohibits unauthorized disclosure to third parties.

8.3 Google Tag Manager

This website uses the “Google Tag Manager”, a service provided by the following provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland (hereinafter: “Google”).

The Google Tag Manager provides a technical foundation for bundling various web applications, including tracking and analytics services, and for calibrating, controlling, and linking them to conditions via a unified user interface. The Google Tag Manager itself does not store or read any information on user devices. The service also does not perform any independent data analysis. However, when a page is accessed, the Google Tag Manager transmits your IP address to Google, where it may be stored. Transmission to servers of Google LLC in the USA is also possible.

This processing will only take place if you have given us your explicit consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) GDPR. Without this consent, Google Tag Manager will not be used during your visit to our website. You can withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future. To exercise your right of withdrawal, please deactivate this service in the "Cookie Consent Tool" provided on the website.

We have concluded a data processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of the data of our website visitors and prohibits unauthorized disclosure to third parties.

Further legal information regarding Google Tag Manager can be found at https://business.safety.google /intl /de /privacy / and https://policies.google.com/privacy ?hl=de &gl=de

9) Retargeting/remarketing and conversion tracking

9.1 Meta Pixel with extended data matching

Within our online service, we use the "Meta Pixel" service from the following provider in extended data matching mode: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Dublin 2, Ireland ("Meta")

When a user clicks on one of our ads on Facebook or Instagram, the URL of our linked page is extended with a parameter using "Meta Pixel." This URL parameter is then entered into the user's browser after redirection via a cookie set by our linked page itself. Furthermore, this cookie collects specific customer data, such as the email address, which we collect on our website linked to the Facebook or Instagram ad during processes like purchases, account logins, or registrations (extended matching). The cookie is then read and enables the transmission of the data, including the specific customer data, to Meta.

We use "Meta Pixel" with advanced matching to make our advertisements (so-called "Ads") on Facebook and/or Instagram more effective and to ensure that they match the interests of users or have certain characteristics (e.g. interests in certain topics or products, which are determined based on the websites visited) that we transmit to Meta (so-called "Custom Audiences").

Furthermore, we analyze the effectiveness of our advertisements by tracking whether users were redirected to our website after clicking on an ad (conversion). Compared to the standard "Meta Pixel" feature, the enhanced matching function helps us better measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns by capturing more attributed conversions.

All transmitted data is stored and processed by Meta, so that it can be assigned to the respective user profile and Meta can use the data for its own advertising purposes in accordance with Meta's data usage guidelines ( https://www.facebook.com /about /privacy /) can use the data. This data can enable Meta and its partners to display ads on and off Facebook.

All processing described above, in particular the setting of cookies for reading information on the device used, will only be carried out if you have given us your explicit consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future by deactivating this service in the "cookie consent tool" provided on the website.

We have concluded a data processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of the data of our website visitors and prohibits unauthorized disclosure to third parties.

The information generated by Meta is usually transferred to and stored on a Meta server; in this context, data may also be transferred to servers of Meta Platforms Inc. in the USA.

9.2 Google Ads conversion tracking

This website uses the online advertising program "Google Ads" and, within the framework of Google Ads, the conversion tracking service of Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland ("Google"). We use Google Ads to draw attention to our attractive offers on external websites using advertising materials (so-called Google AdWords). Based on the data from the advertising campaigns, we can determine the success of individual advertising measures. Our aim is to show you advertising that is relevant to you, to make our website more interesting for you, and to ensure a fair calculation of the advertising costs incurred.

The conversion tracking cookie is set when a user clicks on a Google ad. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device. These cookies typically expire after 30 days and are not used for personal identification. If the user visits certain pages of this website and the cookie has not yet expired, Google and we can recognize that the user clicked on the ad and was redirected to this page. Each Google Ads customer receives a different cookie. Therefore, cookies cannot be tracked across the websites of different Google Ads customers. The information obtained using the conversion cookie is used to generate conversion statistics for Google Ads customers who have opted for conversion tracking. These customers learn the total number of users who clicked on their ad and were redirected to a page with a conversion tracking tag. However, they do not receive any information that can personally identify users. When using Google Ads, personal data may also be transferred to the servers of Google LLC in the USA.

Details about the processing triggered by Google Ads Conversion Tracking and how Google handles website data can be found here: https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites

You can also permanently object to the setting of cookies by Google Ads conversion tracking by downloading and installing the browser plug-in from Google available at the following link:
https://support.google.com /My-Ad-Center-Help /answer /12155656 ?hl=de

Please note that certain features of this website may not be available or may be limited if you have disabled the use of cookies.
Google's privacy policy can be viewed here: https://business.safety.google /intl /de /privacy / and https://www.google.de/policies/privacy/

10) Page functionalities

10.1 Facebook plugins

Our website uses plugins from the social network of the following provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland

These plugins enable direct interaction with content on the social network.

To increase the protection of your data when visiting our website, the plugins are initially deactivated and integrated into the page using a so-called "2-click" or "Shariff" solution.

This integration ensures that when a page of our website containing such plugins is accessed, no connection is established with the provider's servers.

If you are logged into an existing user profile on the provider's social network, information about interactions carried out via the plugins will also be published there and displayed to your contacts.
You can withdraw your consent at any time by deactivating the plugin by clicking it again. However, this withdrawal does not affect data that has already been transferred to the provider.

Data may also be transferred to: Meta Platforms Inc., USA

We have concluded a data processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of the data of our website visitors and prohibits unauthorized disclosure to third parties.

10.2 Instagram plugins

Our website uses plugins from the social network of the following provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland

These plugins enable direct interaction with content on the social network.

To increase the protection of your data when visiting our website, the plugins are initially deactivated and integrated into the page using a so-called "2-click" or "Shariff" solution.

This integration ensures that when a page of our website containing such plugins is accessed, no connection is established with the provider's servers.

Only when you activate the plugins and thereby give your consent to the data transfer in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR, will your browser establish a direct connection to the provider's servers. In this process, regardless of whether you are logged into an existing user profile, information about your device (including your IP address), your browser, and your browsing history will be transmitted to the provider to a certain extent and may be further processed there.

If you are logged into an existing user profile on the provider's social network, information about interactions carried out via the plugins will also be published there and displayed to your contacts.
You can withdraw your consent at any time by deactivating the plugin by clicking it again. However, this withdrawal does not affect data that has already been transferred to the provider.

Data may also be transferred to: Meta Platforms Inc., USA

We have concluded a data processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of the data of our website visitors and prohibits unauthorized disclosure to third parties.

10.3 Google Maps

This website uses an online map service provided by the following provider: Google Maps (API) from Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland (“Google”).

Google Maps is a web service for displaying interactive maps to visually represent geographical information. Using this service will show you our location and make it easier for you to find us.

When you access pages on our website that include a Google Maps map, information about your use of our website (such as your IP address) is transmitted to and stored on Google servers. This may also involve transmission to the servers of Google LLC in the USA. This occurs regardless of whether you have a Google account and are logged in. If you are logged into Google, your data will be directly associated with your account. If you do not want this association with your Google profile, you must log out before activating the button. Google stores and analyzes your data (even for users who are not logged in) as usage profiles.

The collection, storage, and analysis of your data are carried out in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR, based on Google's legitimate interest in displaying personalized advertising, conducting market research, and/or tailoring Google websites to user needs. You have the right to object to the creation of these user profiles, and to exercise this right, you must contact Google. If you do not agree to the future transfer of your data to Google in connection with the use of Google Maps, you can also completely deactivate the Google Maps web service by disabling JavaScript in your browser. Google Maps, and therefore the map display on this website, will then be unavailable.

Where legally required, we have obtained your consent for the processing of your data as described above, in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) GDPR. You can withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future. To exercise your right of withdrawal, please follow the instructions for submitting an objection as described above.

Further information on Google's privacy policy can be found here: https://business.safety.google /intl /de /privacy /

10.4 OpenStreetMap

This website uses an online map service provided by: OpenStreetMap Foundation, St John's Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WS, UK

The online map service is a tool for displaying interactive maps to visually represent geographical information. Using this service will show you our location and facilitate geolocation.

When you access the subpages where the provider's map is integrated, information about your use of our website (such as your IP address) is transmitted to the provider's servers and stored there.

Your personal data is processed in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) GDPR based on our legitimate interest in designing our website to meet user needs. If you do not agree to the future transfer of your data to the provider, you can completely deactivate the provider's online map service by disabling JavaScript in your browser. The online map service on this website will then no longer be available.

When data is transferred to the provider's location, an adequate level of data protection is ensured by an adequacy decision of the European Commission.

10.5 Google Web Fonts

This website uses web fonts from the following provider for consistent font display: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland

When you access a page, your browser loads the necessary web fonts into its browser cache to display text and fonts correctly and establishes a direct connection to the provider's servers. In doing so, certain browser information, including your IP address, is transmitted to the provider.

Data may also be transferred to: Google LLC, USA

The processing of personal data during the connection process with the font provider will only take place if you have given us your explicit consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) GDPR. You can withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by deactivating this service via the "cookie consent tool" provided on the website. If your browser does not support web fonts, a standard font from your computer will be used.

Further information on Google's privacy policy can be found here: https://business.safety.google /intl /de /privacy /

10.6 Google reCAPTCHA

This website uses the CAPTCHA service of the following provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland

Data may also be transferred to: Google LLC, USA.

The provider uses "Google Fonts" for the visual design of the CAPTCHA window; that is, fonts downloaded from the internet by Google. No further information is processed beyond what is already transmitted to Google via the reCAPTCHA functionality.

The service checks whether an entry is made by a natural person or is being misused through automated processing, and blocks spam, DDoS attacks, and similar automated malicious access. To ensure that an action is performed by a human and not an automated bot, the provider collects the IP address of the device used, identification data of the browser and operating system type, as well as the date and duration of the visit, and transmits this information to the provider's servers for analysis. Cookies, small text files stored in the browser of the device, may be used in this process.

If the processing described above is based on cookies, these will only be set if you have given us your explicit consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future by deactivating this service in the "Cookie Consent Tool" provided on the website.

If the processing described above is carried out without the use of cookies, the legal basis is our legitimate interest in establishing individual responsibility on the Internet and preventing misuse and spam in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

We have concluded a data processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of the data of our website visitors and prohibits unauthorized disclosure to third parties.

10.7 Google Translate

This website uses the "Google Translate" service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland ("Google") via an API integration. To automatically display the translation according to your chosen language, your browser connects to Google's servers. In doing so, certain browser information, including your IP address, is transmitted to Google.

Google may use so-called "cookies," small text files that are stored on your device, to save your language preferences. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website (including your truncated IP address) is generally transmitted to and stored on a Google server.

The processing described above may also involve the transfer of data to the servers of Google LLC in the USA.

If cookies are also set when using Google Translate, the processing described above will only take place if you have given us your explicit consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future by deactivating this service in the "Cookie Consent Tool" provided on the website.

If no cookies are set, processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest in the optimal marketing of our offer and the wide-reaching design of our website.

Further information on Google's privacy policy can be found here: https://business.safety.google /intl /de /privacy /

11) Tools and other items

11.1 Cookie consent tool

This website uses a "cookie consent tool" to obtain valid user consent for cookies and cookie-based applications that require consent. The cookie consent tool is displayed to users upon visiting the site as an interactive interface, where consent for specific cookies and/or cookie-based applications can be granted by ticking boxes. By using this tool, all cookies/services requiring consent are only loaded if the respective user grants the corresponding consent by ticking the boxes. This ensures that such cookies are only placed on the user's device if consent has been given.

This tool uses technically necessary cookies to store your cookie preferences. No personal user data is processed in this process.

If, in individual cases, personal data (such as the IP address) is processed for the purpose of storing, assigning or logging cookie settings, this is done in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest in a legally compliant, user-specific and user-friendly consent management for cookies and thus in a legally compliant design of our website.

A further legal basis for processing is Article 6(1)(c) GDPR. As data controllers, we are subject to the legal obligation to make the use of cookies that are not technically necessary dependent on the respective user's consent.

Where necessary, we have concluded a data processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of the data of our website visitors and prohibits unauthorized disclosure to third parties.

Further information about the operator and the settings options of the cookie consent tool can be found directly in the corresponding user interface on our website.

11.2 - Scalable central measurement method of VG Wort

On our website, we use the "Scalable Central Measurement Method" (SZM) of the following provider to determine statistical metrics for calculating the probability of texts being copied: VG WORT (Verwertungsgesellschaft WORT), Untere Weidenstraße 5, 81543 Munich, Germany

For the aforementioned analysis, anonymous measurement data is collected. To recognize computer systems, the access measurement uses either a session cookie or a signature generated from various automatically transmitted information from your browser. IP addresses, as part of the information used to create the signature, are processed only in anonymized form.

Session cookies are small pieces of information that a website stores in the visitor's computer's memory. A session cookie contains a randomly generated, unique identification number, a so-called session ID. It also contains information about its origin and its expiration date. Session cookies cannot store any other data.

If personal data is processed during the described processing activity, this is done in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest in determining the probability of individual texts being copied in order to specify the remuneration claims of authors and publishers.

To prevent cookies from being stored in your browser, you can configure your browser to notify you when cookies are being set, allowing you to decide whether to accept them individually, or to block cookies in certain cases or entirely. Please note that disabling cookies may limit the functionality of our website.

12) Rights of the data subject

12.1 The applicable data protection law grants you the following rights as a data subject (rights of access and intervention) vis-à-vis the controller with regard to the processing of your personal data, whereby reference is made to the legal basis cited for the respective conditions for exercising these rights:

Right of access pursuant to Art. 15 GDPR;
Right to rectification pursuant to Article 16 GDPR;
Right to erasure pursuant to Article 17 GDPR;
Right to restriction of processing pursuant to Article 18 GDPR;
Right to information pursuant to Article 19 GDPR;
Right to data portability pursuant to Art. 20 GDPR;
Right to withdraw consent pursuant to Art. 7 para. 3 GDPR;
Right to lodge a complaint pursuant to Article 77 GDPR.

12.2 RIGHT OF OBJECTION

If we process your personal data based on our overriding legitimate interest as part of a balancing of interests, you have the right to object to this processing at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, with effect for the future.

If you exercise your right to object, we will cease processing the data in question. However, further processing remains possible if we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your interests, fundamental rights and freedoms, or if the processing serves the purpose of establishing, exercising or defending legal claims.

If we process your personal data for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of your personal data for such marketing. You can exercise your right to object as described above.

If you exercise your right to object, we will cease processing the data in question for direct marketing purposes.

13) Duration of storage of personal data

The duration of the storage of personal data is determined by the respective legal basis, the purpose of processing and – if applicable – additionally by the respective statutory retention period (e.g. commercial and tax law retention periods).

When processing personal data on the basis of explicit consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR, the data concerned will be stored until you withdraw your consent.

If statutory retention periods exist for data processed in the context of contractual or quasi-contractual obligations on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR, this data will be routinely deleted after the expiry of the retention periods, provided that it is no longer required for the performance of a contract or for initiating a contract and/or we no longer have a legitimate interest in its continued storage.

When processing personal data on the basis of Article 6(1)(f) GDPR, this data will be stored until you exercise your right to object pursuant to Article 21(1) GDPR, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your interests, rights and freedoms, or the processing serves the purpose of establishing, exercising or defending legal claims.

When processing personal data for direct marketing purposes on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR, this data will be stored until you exercise your right to object pursuant to Art. 21 para. 2 GDPR.

Unless otherwise stated in the other information in this declaration regarding specific processing situations, stored personal data will be deleted when it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or otherwise processed.

As of July 1, 2026, 09:02:42