Data Privacy Policy

We use social plug-ins from various social networks on our website. These plug-ins are functions of the respective social networks via which you are able, for example, to share the contents of our website with your contacts in the social networks or recommend these contents to others. The social plug-ins can be recognized by the logo of the respective social network.

We use social plug-ins from the following operators of social networks.

•    Facebook: Facebook Inc., 1601 S. California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
•    Google+: Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043,USA
•    Twitter: Twitter Inc., Folsom St., Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94107,USA
•    LinkedIn: LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, California 94043, USA
•    Xing: XING SE, Dammtorstrasse 30, 20354 Hamburg, Germany
•    Instagram: Instagram LLC, 1601 Willow Rd, Menlo Park CA 94025, USA

All social plug-ins are deactivated on our website as a default setting so that no data will be transmitted to the providers of the social networks by calling up our website. If you activate an initially deactivated social plug-in and use the functionality of the corresponding social networks, you explicitly give your consent that data will be transferred to the operator of the social network from this point onwards. We have no influence on the extent of the data captured in this way by the providers of the social networks.
According to our knowledge, the following data is transmitted.

•    IP address
•    User identification if you are registered with the corresponding service
•    Previously visited page (referrer) if you have followed a link
•    Type and settings of browser
•    Installed plug-ins such as Adobe® Flash® or Adobe® Reader®
•    URL of the page on which the social plug-in is integrated
•    The date and time of the visit
•    Technical data of the operating system
•    Site related information
•    Cookies

Through incorporation of the social plug-ins, the operators of the social networks receive the information that you have retrieved the respective pages of our Internet presence. If you are simultaneously logged into one of the social networks, the operator will be able to allocate the pages called up to your account with the respective social network. If, in addition to this, you interact with the social plug-ins, e.g. click on the “Like” button for Facebook, the corresponding information will be transmitted to the respective social network.
Even if you are not a member of the social networks named, there is a possibility that they will detect and save your IP address via the social plug-in. Our privacy policy does not apply to your activities on social networking sites that you access through links on our site. Please consult the data protection notes of the social networks for details of the purpose and extent of data processing, acquisition and use by the social networks and on your rights and setting options in this respect.

•    for Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/policy.php
•    for Google+ at: https://www.google.com/intl/de_de/+/policy/+1button.html
•    for Twitter at: www.twitter.com/privacy
•    for LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy
•    for Xing at: https://privacy.xing.com/de/datenschutzerklaerung
•    for Instagram at: https://help.instagram.com/519522125107875?helpref=page_content

If you wish, you can permanently activate the social plug-ins of one or more providers. In this case, data will be permanently transmitted to the provider of the social network as soon as you open a page. You can deactivate individual or even all social plug-ins at any time.

Furthermore, you may also be able to stop data transmission to social networks by technical means. To do this, adjust the security settings in the web browser you are using. Please refer to the “Help” section in your web browser.

Facebook Pixel, Custom Audiences and Facebook Remarketing

Our online information contains the so-called "Facebook pixel" from the social network Facebook – which is operated by Facebook Inc., 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA, or if you are a resident of the EU, Facebook Ireland Ltd, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland ("Facebook"). We use the Facebook pixel for our legitimate interests and for the purpose of analysis, optimisation and economic operation of our online information.

Facebook is certified under the Privacy Shield agreement and thereby offers a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000GnywAAC&status=A).
With the help of the Facebook pixel, it is possible for Facebook to determine the visitors to our online pages as a target group for the display of advertisements (so-called "Facebook ads"). Accordingly, we use the Facebook pixel to display the Facebook ads placed by us only to those Facebook users who have also shown an interest in our online information or who have certain characteristics (e.g. interests in certain topics or products determined on the basis of the websites visited) that we transmit to Facebook (so-called "Custom Audiences"). With the help of the Facebook pixel, we also want to ensure that our Facebook ads correspond to the potential interest of the users and do not have a harassing effect.

With the help of the Facebook pixel, it is possible for Facebook to determine the visitors to our online pages as a target group for the display of advertisements (so-called "Facebook ads"). Accordingly, we use the Facebook pixel to display the Facebook ads placed by us only to those Facebook users who have also shown an interest in our online offer or who have certain characteristics (e.g. interests in certain topics or products determined on the basis of the websites visited) that we transmit to Facebook (so-called "Custom Audiences"). With the help of the Facebook pixel, we also want to ensure that our Facebook ads correspond to the potential interest of the users and do not have a harassing effect.
With the help of the Facebook pixel, we can also track the effectiveness of the Facebook ads for statistical and market research purposes by seeing whether users were redirected to our website after clicking on a Facebook ad (so-called "conversion"). The processing of the data by Facebook takes place within the framework of Facebook's data use policy. Accordingly, general information on the display of Facebook ads, in Facebook's data usage policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy.php. Specific information and details on the Facebook pixel and how it works can be found in Facebook's help section: https://www.facebook.com/business/help/651294705016616.

You can object to the collection and use of your data by the Facebook pixel to display Facebook ads. To adjust which types of ads are displayed to you within Facebook, you can go to the page set up by Facebook and follow the instructions there on the settings for usage-based advertising: https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=ads. The settings are platform independent, i.e. they are applied to all devices, such as desktop computers or mobile devices. You can also opt out of the use of cookies for reach measurement and advertising purposes via the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page (https://optout.networkadvertising.org/) and additionally the US website (https://www.aboutads.info/choices) or the European website (https://www.youronlinechoices.com/uk/your-ad-choices/).

LinkedIn Insight Tag and LinkedIn Ads

We use the conversion tracking technology and the retargeting function of LinkedIn Corporation (LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland) on our website. 
LinkedIn is certified under the Privacy Shield agreement and thereby offers a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law.

In other words: This website uses the Insight Tag from LinkedIn. The provider of this service is LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Plaza, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland.

We use the conversion tracking technology and the retargeting function of LinkedIn Corporation (LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin With the aid of this technology, visitors to this website can be served personalised ads on LinkedIn. Furthermore, the possibility arises to create anonymous reports on the performance of the ads as well as information on website interaction (conversion measurement). For this purpose, the LinkedIn Insight Tag is embedded on this website, which establishes a connection to the LinkedIn server if you visit this website and are logged into your LinkedIn account at the same time.

The LinkedIn Insight Tag also provides a retargeting feature that allows us to display targeted off-site advertising to visitors to our website, which LinkedIn states does not identify the ad recipient.

In other words: The data collected by LinkedIn cannot be assigned to specific individuals by us as the website operator.

See LinkedIn's privacy policy at https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy#choices-oblig for more information about data collection and use, as well as your privacy options and rights.

If you are logged in to LinkedIn, you can deactivate the data collection at any time using the following link and an opt-out cookie: www.linkedin.com/psettings/enhanced-advertising. The following link takes you to a page where you can object to the analysis of usage behaviour as well as targeted advertising by LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out
The opt-out cookie is only valid in this browser and only for our website and is stored on your device. If you delete the cookies in this browser, you must set the opt-out cookie again.

The data processing is justified in each case according to Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR, because we have a legitimate interest in displaying personalised advertising to you and evaluating the use of our website.
If a corresponding consent has been requested (e.g. consent to store cookies), the processing is based exclusively on Art. 6 (1) lit. a GDPR; the consent can be revoked at any time.
Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/l/dpa and https://www.linkedin.com/legal/l/eu-sccs. 

We use cookies on our website in order to enable the use of certain functions of the website, to analyse how visitors use our website and to offer certain services from third-party providers.

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer. Most of the cookies that we use are deleted from your hard disk at the end of the browser session (so-called session cookies). Other cookies remain on your computer and enable us to recognize your computer on your next visit (so-called long-term cookies). In addition, cookies from the third-party providers are also used on our website.

You can prevent the storage of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings in your browser. However, please note that if you do this, you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website.

If you do not want our cookies to be stored on your computer, please disable the storage of cookies from our website in your browser or adjust your browser so that cookies are generally not stored on your computer. Any already stored cookies can also be deleted in your browser.

Disabling the use of cookies may possibly require storing a permanent cookie on your computer. If you subsequently delete this cookie, you will have to carry out the deactivation once again.
The following categories of cookies are used on our website:

To facilitate browsing on our website, we make use of what are known as session cookies. Their purpose is to enable our server to recognize you or your computer/browser as the same visitor despite a possible interim change in IP address. These session cookies enable several connected requests from a user to be allocated to one session. The session cookie is only valid until the end of a session. It is automatically deleted when you close the browser.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics, a web analysis service provided by Google Inc. (“Google”). Google Analytics uses cookies, which are stored on your computer, to help analyse your use of a website.

The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website will generally be transmitted to and stored by servers operated by Google in the United States. Google has submitted to the EU_US Privacy Shield. We have signed a data processing agreement with Google.

We employ Google Analytics exclusively with the extension “_anonymizeIp” for IP anonymization, which ensures that your IP address is truncated prior to transmission by Google within the European Union / European  Economic Area in order to prevent it being linked to a particular individual. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transferred to a Google server in the USA and truncated there.

Google will use this information on our behalf for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website in order to compile reports on website activity for us and to provide us with other services relating to website activity and Internet usage. The IP address transferred by your browser to Google Analytics will not be combined with other data from Google.

You can prevent the storage of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings for your browser. However, please note that if you do this, you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website.
Furthermore, you can prevent the data generated by the cookie and relating to your use of the website (incl. your IP address) from being captured and processed by Google by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available at the following link:
https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.

As an alternative you can click on this link. An opt-out cookie will be set that will prevent the future acquisition of your data by Google Analytics.

Services from third-party providers are also incorporated into our website. With respect to these services, use of personal data takes place by the providers named below, who do not fall within the area of responsibility of the provider of this website.

YouTube

Our online presence includes videos from the external platform YouTube. The platform is operated by YouTube LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA.

If you call up a website on our Internet presence that contains YouTube videos, your browser will establish a direction connection with the YouTube servers and thus a connection to Google. YouTube will transfer the video directly to your browser and incorporate it into the website. Consequently, we have no influence on the scope of the data captured by YouTube via this method.

You can find information on the purpose and extent of data acquisition as well as how the data is processed further and used by YouTube, together with your rights and optional settings to protect your private sphere, in the data protection notes of YouTube:
www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/

YouTube and therefore Google processes your data in the USA and has submitted to the EU_US Privacy Shield.

Google Maps

Furthermore, our web presence also uses Google Maps on a number of subpages to display interactive maps and create route maps.

Google Maps is a cartographic service from Google Inc. (hereinafter referred to as: “Google”), 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, California 94043, USA. Using Google Maps may lead to information on the use of this website, including your IP address and the (starting) address used within the scope of the route planning function being transferred to Google in the USA. Google has submitted to the EU_US Privacy Shield.

If you call up a website from our Internet presence that contains Google Maps, your browser will establish a direction connection with the Google servers. Google will transfer the map contents directly to your browser and incorporate them into the website. Consequently, we have no influence on the scope of the data captured by Google via this method.

According to our knowledge, this involves at least the following data:

•    Date and time of the visit to the web page concerned.
•    Internet address or URL of the web page retrieved
•    IP address
•    The (starting) address entered during the route planning operation

We have no influence on the further processing and use of the data by Google and cannot assume responsibility for this.

If you do not want Google to acquire, process or use data about you via our website, you can deactivate JavaScript in your browser. In this case, however, you will not be able to use the map display.

You can find information on the purpose and extent of data acquisition as well as how the data is processed and used by Google, together with your rights and optional settings to protect your private sphere, in the data protection notes of Google:
www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/

We use Hotjar to better understand the needs of our users and to optimise the offering and experience on this website. Hotjar is the web analytics service of Hotjar Ltd, Level 2, St. Julians Business Centre, 3 Eila Zammit Street, St. Julians STJ 1000, Malta.

Hotjar's technology gives us a better understanding of our users' experiences (e.g. how much time users spend on which pages, which links they click on, what they like and dislike etc.) and this helps us to tailor our services to our users' feedback. Hotjar uses cookies and other technologies to collect data about our users' behaviour and their devices, including device IP address (anonymised only), screen size, device type (unique device identifiers), browser information, location (country only), preferred language for viewing our website. Hotjar stores this information on our behalf in a pseudonymised user profile. The storage period is limited to one year. Hotjar is contractually prohibited from selling the data collected on our behalf.
You can find more information at https://www.hotjar.com/privacy.

The legal basis is your consent, Art. 6 para.1 lit. a DSGVO. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser. In this case, however, you may no longer be able to use all the functions of this website to their full extent.

We partner with Microsoft Clarity to better understand the needs of our users and to optimise the offer and experience on this website. Microsoft Clarity is the web analytics service of Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmont, Washington 98052, USA.
With the help of Microsoft Clarity technology, we gain a better understanding of our users‘ experiences (e.g. how much time users spend on which pages, which links they click on, what they like and don't like, etc.). This helps us to tailor our offering to our users’ feedback. Microsoft Clarity works with cookies and other technologies to collect data about the behaviour of our users and their end devices, in particular the IP address of the device (only in anonymised form), screen size, device type (unique device identifiers), information about the browser used, location (country only), preferred language for displaying our website. Microsoft Clarity stores this information on our behalf in a pseudonymised user profile on servers in the EU. The storage period is limited to one year. Microsoft Clarity is contractually prohibited from selling the data collected on our behalf. Further information can be found at https://clarity.microsoft.com/terms.