Table of contents

• Introduction and Overview
• scope
• Legal basis
• Contact details of the person responsible
• Storage period
• Rights under the General Data Protection Regulation
• Data transfer to third countries
• Security of data processing
• communication
• Cookies
• Webhosting Introduction
• Website modular systems introduction
• Web Analytics Introduction
• Social Media Introduction
• Online Marketing Introduction
• Explanation of terms used
• Closing words

Introduction and Overview

We have drawn up this privacy policy (version 28.08.2025-113047136) to explain to you, in accordance with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and applicable national laws, which personal data (hereinafter referred to as "data") we as the controller – and the processors commissioned by us (e.g., providers) – process and will process in the future, and what legal options you have. The terms used are to be understood as gender-neutral.
In short: We provide you with comprehensive information about the data we process about you.

Data protection declarations usually sound very technical and use legal jargon. This data protection declaration, on the other hand, is intended to describe the most important things to you as simply and transparently as possible. Wherever it promotes transparency, technical terms are explained in a reader-friendly manner , links to further information are provided, and graphics are used. We are thus informing you in clear and simple language that we only process personal data in the context of our business activities if there is a corresponding legal basis. This is certainly not possible if you give explanations that are as brief, unclear, and legal-technical as possible, as is often the norm on the Internet when it comes to data protection. I hope you find the following explanations interesting and informative and that you may find some information there that you were not aware of.
If you still have any questions, please contact the responsible office listed below or in the imprint, follow the links provided, and view further information on third-party websites. Our contact details can also be found in the imprint.

scope

This privacy policy applies to all personal data processed by us within the company and to all personal data processed by companies commissioned by us (contract processors). By personal data, we mean information within the meaning of Art. 4 No. 1 GDPR, such as a person's name, email address, and postal address. The processing of personal data ensures that we can offer and bill our services and products, whether online or offline. The scope of this privacy policy includes:

• all online presences (websites, online shops) that we operate
• Social media presence and email communication
• mobile apps for smartphones and other devices

In short: This privacy policy applies to all areas in which personal data is processed in a structured manner within the company via the aforementioned channels. Should we enter into legal relationships with you outside of these channels, we will inform you separately if necessary.

Legal basis

In the following privacy policy, we provide you with transparent information on the legal principles and regulations, i.e. the legal basis of the General Data Protection Regulation, that enable us to process personal data.
Regarding EU law, we refer to REGULATION (EU) 2016/679 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 27 April 2016. This EU General Data Protection Regulation is available online on EUR-Lex, the gateway to EU law, at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32016R0679 .

We only process your data if at least one of the following conditions applies:

1. Consent (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR): You have given us your consent to process data for a specific purpose. An example would be storing the data you entered in a contact form.
2. Contract (Article 6 (1) (b) GDPR): We process your data to fulfill a contract or pre-contractual obligations with you. For example, if we conclude a purchase agreement with you, we require personal information in advance.
3. Legal obligation (Article 6 (1) (c) GDPR): We process your data if we are subject to a legal obligation. For example, we are legally obligated to retain invoices for accounting purposes. These usually contain personal data.
4. Legitimate interests (Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR): In the case of legitimate interests that do not restrict your fundamental rights, we reserve the right to process personal data. For example, we need to process certain data in order to operate our website securely and economically efficiently. This processing therefore constitutes a legitimate interest.

We generally do not apply other conditions, such as the processing of recordings in the public interest, the exercise of official authority, or the protection of vital interests. Should such a legal basis be applicable, it will be indicated at the appropriate point.

In addition to the EU regulation, national laws also apply:

• In Austria this is the Federal Act on the Protection of Natural Persons with regard to the Processing of Personal Data ( Data Protection Act ), or DSG for short.
• In Germany, the Federal Data Protection Act ( BDSG) applies.

If other regional or national laws apply, we will inform you about them in the following sections.

Contact details of the person responsible

If you have any questions regarding data protection or the processing of personal data, you will find the contact details of the controller in accordance with Article 4 (7) of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) below:
Blumerie Florists GmbH
Marokkanergasse 25/2
1030 Vienna

Email: office@blumerie.at
Phone: +43 681 841 55332
Imprint: https://www.blumerie.at/pages/impressum

Storage period

Our general principle is that we only store personal data for as long as it is absolutely necessary to provide our services and products. This means that we delete personal data as soon as the reason for processing it no longer exists. In some cases, we are legally obligated to retain certain data even after the original purpose no longer applies, for example, for accounting purposes.

If you wish to have your data deleted or withdraw your consent to data processing, the data will be deleted as quickly as possible and unless there is an obligation to store it.

We will inform you below about the specific duration of the respective data processing, provided we have further information on this.

Rights under the General Data Protection Regulation

In accordance with Articles 13 and 14 of the GDPR, we inform you of the following rights to which you are entitled to ensure fair and transparent data processing:

• According to Article 15 of the GDPR, you have the right to information about whether we process your data. If so, you have the right to receive a copy of the data and the following information:
  • for what purpose we carry out the processing;
  • the categories, i.e. the types of data that are processed;
  • who receives this data and, if the data is transferred to third countries, how security can be guaranteed;
  • how long the data is stored;
  • the existence of the right to rectification, erasure or restriction of processing and the right to object to processing;
  • that you can complain to a supervisory authority (links to these authorities can be found below);
  • the origin of the data if we did not collect it from you;
  • whether profiling is carried out, i.e. whether data is automatically evaluated to create a personal profile of you.
• According to Article 16 of the GDPR, you have the right to rectification of data, which means that we must correct data if you find any errors.
• According to Article 17 GDPR, you have the right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”), which specifically means that you can request that your data be deleted.
• According to Article 18 GDPR, you have the right to restriction of processing, which means that we may only store the data but not use it further.
• According to Article 20 GDPR, you have the right to data portability, which means that we will provide you with your data in a common format upon request.
• According to Article 21 GDPR, you have the right to object, which, once enforced, will result in a change in the processing.
  • If the processing of your data is based on Article 6 (1) (e) (public interest, exercise of official authority) or Article 6 (1) (f) (legitimate interest), you may object to the processing. We will then examine as quickly as possible whether we can legally comply with this objection.
  • If data is used for direct marketing purposes, you can object to this type of data processing at any time. We may then no longer use your data for direct marketing purposes.
  • If data is used for profiling, you can object to this type of data processing at any time. We may no longer use your data for profiling after this time.
• According to Article 22 GDPR, you may have the right not to be subjected to a decision based solely on automated processing (e.g. profiling).
• According to Article 77 of the GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint. This means you can lodge a complaint with the data protection authority at any time if you believe that the processing of personal data violates the GDPR.

In short: You have rights – do not hesitate to contact the responsible body listed above!

If you believe that the processing of your data violates data protection law or that your data protection rights have been violated in any other way, you can lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority. In Austria, this is the Data Protection Authority, whose website can be found at https://www.dsb.gv.at/ . In Germany, each federal state has a data protection officer. For further information, you can contact the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI) . The following local data protection authority is responsible for our company:

Austrian Data Protection Authority

Head: Dr. Matthias Schmidl
Address: Barichgasse 40-42, 1030 Vienna
Telephone number: +43 1 52 152-0
Email address: dsb@dsb.gv.at
Website: https://www.dsb.gv.at/

Data transfer to third countries

We only transfer or process data in countries outside the scope of the GDPR (third countries) if you consent to this processing or if there is other legal permission. This applies in particular if the processing is required by law or necessary to fulfill a contractual relationship, and in any case only to the extent that it is generally permitted. Your consent is in most cases the most important reason for us to process data in third countries. The processing of personal data in third countries such as the USA, where many software manufacturers offer services and have their servers located, may mean that personal data is processed and stored in unexpected ways.

We expressly point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, an adequate level of protection for data transfers to the USA currently only exists if a US company that processes personal data of EU citizens in the USA is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. Further information can be found at: https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en

Data processing by US services that are not active participants in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework may result in data not being processed and stored anonymously. Furthermore, US government authorities may have access to individual data. Furthermore, collected data may be linked to data from other services of the same provider, provided you have a corresponding user account. Where possible, we try to use server locations within the EU, if offered.
We will provide you with more detailed information about data transfers to third countries, where applicable, at the appropriate points in this privacy policy.

Security of data processing

To protect personal data, we have implemented both technical and organizational measures. Where possible, we encrypt or pseudonymize personal data. This makes it as difficult as possible for third parties to derive personal information from our data.

Article 25 of the GDPR refers to "data protection through design and by default," meaning that security must always be considered and appropriate measures implemented, both in software (e.g., forms) and hardware (e.g., access to the server room). Below, we will discuss specific measures where necessary.

TLS encryption with https

TLS, encryption, and https sound very technical, and they are. We use HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) to securely transmit data over the internet.
This means that the entire transmission of all data from your browser to our web server is secure – no one can “eavesdrop”.

We have thus introduced an additional security layer and comply with data protection by design ( Article 25, Paragraph 1 GDPR ). By using TLS (Transport Layer Security), an encryption protocol for secure data transmission over the Internet, we can ensure the protection of confidential data.
You can recognize the use of this data transfer security by the small lock symbol top left of the browser, to the left of the internet address (e.g. examplepage.de) and the use of the https scheme (instead of http) as part of our internet address.
If you want to learn more about encryption, we recommend Google searching for “Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure wiki” to get good links to further information.

communication

Communication Summary 👥 Affected parties: All those who communicate with us by phone, email or online form 📓 Data processed: e.g., telephone number, name, email address, entered form data. Further details can be found in the respective contact type used. 🤝 Purpose: Handling communication with customers, business partners, etc. 📅 Storage period: Duration of the business transaction and the legal regulations ⚖️ Legal basis: Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR (consent), Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR (contract), Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests)

If you contact us and communicate by phone, email or online form, personal data may be processed.

The data will be processed for the purpose of handling and processing your inquiry and the related business transaction. The data will be stored for as long as required by law.

Affected persons

The above-mentioned processes affect everyone who contacts us via the communication channels we provide.

phone

When you call us, the call data is stored pseudonymously on the respective device and by the telecommunications provider used. Furthermore, data such as name and telephone number may subsequently be sent via email and stored for the purpose of responding to your inquiry. The data will be deleted as soon as the transaction is completed and legal requirements permit.

e-mail

If you communicate with us via email, data may be stored on your device (computer, laptop, smartphone, etc.) and stored on the email server. The data will be deleted as soon as the transaction is completed and legal requirements permit.

Online forms

If you communicate with us via an online form, data will be stored on our web server and, if applicable, forwarded to an email address provided by us. The data will be deleted as soon as the transaction is completed and legal requirements permit.

Legal basis

The processing of data is based on the following legal bases:

• Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR (consent): You give us your consent to store your data and to use it further for the purposes related to the business case;
• Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR (contract): There is a need to fulfil a contract with you or a processor such as the telephone provider or we have to process the data for pre-contractual activities, such as preparing an offer;
• Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (Legitimate Interests): We want to handle customer inquiries and business communications in a professional manner. To enable efficient communication, certain technical facilities, such as email programs, Exchange servers, and mobile operators, are necessary.

Cookies

Cookies Summary 👥 Affected: Visitors to the website 🤝 Purpose: Depends on the specific cookie. You can find more details below or contact the software manufacturer that sets the cookie. 📓 Data processed: Depends on the cookie used. You can find more details below or contact the software manufacturer that sets the cookie. 📅 Storage period: depends on the respective cookie, can vary from hours to years ⚖️ Legal basis: Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR (consent), Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests)

What are cookies?

Our website uses HTTP cookies to store user-specific data.
Below we explain what cookies are and why they are used so that you can better understand the following privacy policy.

Whenever you surf the internet, you use a browser. Common browsers include Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge. Most websites store small text files in your browser. These files are called cookies.

One thing is undeniable: cookies are truly useful little helpers. Almost all websites use cookies. More precisely, they are HTTP cookies, as there are other cookies for other purposes as well. HTTP cookies are small files that our website stores on your computer. These cookie files are automatically stored in the cookie folder, the "brain" of your browser. A cookie consists of a name and a value. When defining a cookie, one or more attributes must also be specified.

Cookies store certain user data about you, such as language or personal site settings. When you visit our site again, your browser transmits the "user-related" information back to our site. Thanks to cookies, our website knows who you are and offers you the settings you are used to. In some browsers, each cookie has its own file; in others, such as Firefox, all cookies are stored in a single file.

The following graphic shows a possible interaction between a web browser, such as Chrome, and the web server. The web browser requests a website and receives a cookie from the server, which the browser reuses whenever another page is requested.

There are both first-party and third-party cookies. First-party cookies are created directly by our site, while third-party cookies are created by partner websites (e.g., Google Analytics). Each cookie must be evaluated individually, as each cookie stores different data. The expiration time of a cookie also varies, from a few minutes to a few years. Cookies are not software programs and do not contain viruses, Trojans, or other "malware." Cookies also cannot access information on your PC.

For example, cookie data can look like this:

Name: _ga
Value: GA1.2.1326744211.152113047136-9
Purpose: Distinguishing between website visitors
Expiry date: after 2 years

A browser should be able to support these minimum sizes:

• At least 4096 bytes per cookie
• At least 50 cookies per domain
• At least 3000 cookies in total

What types of cookies are there?

The specific cookies we use depend on the services used and are explained in the following sections of this privacy policy. At this point, we would like to briefly discuss the different types of HTTP cookies.

There are four types of cookies:

Essential cookies
These cookies are necessary to ensure basic website functions. For example, these cookies are needed when a user adds a product to their shopping cart, then continues browsing to other pages, and only later proceeds to checkout. These cookies ensure that the shopping cart is not deleted, even when the user closes their browser window.

Functional cookies
These cookies collect information about user behavior and whether the user receives any error messages. These cookies also measure the loading time and behavior of the website in different browsers.

Targeted cookies
These cookies improve user experience. For example, entered locations, font sizes, or form data are saved.

Advertising cookies
These cookies are also called targeting cookies. They are used to deliver customized advertising to the user. This can be very useful, but also very annoying.

Typically, when you first visit a website, you'll be asked which of these cookie types you'd like to allow. And, of course, this decision will also be saved in a cookie.

If you would like to know more about cookies and are not afraid of technical documentation, we recommend https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc6265 , the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request for Comments called “HTTP State Management Mechanism”.

Purpose of processing via cookies

The purpose ultimately depends on the cookie in question. You can find more details below or contact the manufacturer of the software that sets the cookie.

What data is processed?

Cookies are small helpers for a variety of tasks. Unfortunately, it's not possible to generalize what data is stored in cookies, but we will inform you about the data processed and stored in the following privacy policy.

Storage duration of cookies

The storage period depends on the respective cookie and is further specified below. Some cookies are deleted after less than an hour, while others can remain stored on a computer for several years.

You also have control over the storage period. You can manually delete all cookies via your browser at any time (see also "Right of Objection" below). Furthermore, cookies based on consent will be deleted at the latest after you revoke your consent, although the legality of their storage remains unaffected until then.

Right of objection – how can I delete cookies?

You decide how and whether you want to use cookies. Regardless of the service or website from which the cookies originate, you always have the option to delete, deactivate, or only partially accept cookies. For example, you can block third-party cookies but allow all other cookies.

If you want to find out which cookies have been stored in your browser, if you want to change or delete cookie settings, you can find this in your browser settings:

Chrome: Delete, enable, and manage cookies in Chrome

Safari: Managing cookies and website data with Safari

Firefox: Clear cookies to remove data that websites have stored on your computer

Internet Explorer: Deleting and managing cookies

Microsoft Edge: Delete and manage cookies

If you don't want cookies at all, you can set your browser to always notify you when a cookie is about to be set. This allows you to decide for each individual cookie whether or not to accept it. The process varies depending on your browser. The best way to find instructions is to search for "delete cookies in Chrome" or "disable cookies in Chrome" in the case of a Chrome browser.

Legal basis

The so-called "Cookie Directive" has been in place since 2009. It stipulates that the storage of cookies requires your consent (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR). However, reactions to these guidelines vary greatly within the EU countries. In Austria, however, this directive was implemented in Section 165 (3) of the Telecommunications Act (2021). In Germany, the Cookie Directive was not implemented as national law. Instead, this directive was largely implemented in Section 15 (3) of the Telemedia Act (TMG), which was replaced by the Digital Services Act (DDG) in May 2024.

For strictly necessary cookies, even if consent is not given, legitimate interests exist (Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR), which in most cases are of an economic nature. We want to provide website visitors with a pleasant user experience, and for this, certain cookies are often absolutely necessary.

If non-essential cookies are used, this only happens with your consent. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR.

In the following sections you will be informed in more detail about the use of cookies, if the software used uses cookies.

Webhosting Introduction

Web hosting summary 👥 Affected: Visitors to the website 🤝 Purpose: professional hosting of the website and securing its operation 📓 Data processed: IP address, time of website visit, browser used, and other data. Further details can be found below or from the respective web hosting provider. 📅 Storage period: depends on the respective provider, but usually 2 weeks ⚖️ Legal basis: Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests)

What is web hosting?

When you visit websites these days, certain information—including personal data—is automatically created and stored, including on this website. This data should be processed as sparingly as possible and only with justification. By "website," we mean the entirety of all web pages on a domain, i.e., everything from the home page to the very last subpage (like this one). By "domain," we mean, for example, example.de or sampleexample.com.

If you want to view a website on a computer, tablet, or smartphone, you use a program called a web browser. You probably know some web browsers by name: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari. We simply refer to them as "browsers" or "web browsers."

To display the website, the browser must connect to another computer where the website's code is stored: the web server. Operating a web server is a complex and time-consuming task, which is why it's usually handled by professional providers. They offer web hosting and thus ensure reliable and error-free storage of website data. A lot of technical terms, but please stay tuned, it gets even better!

When the browser connects to your computer (desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone) and during data transfer to and from the web server, personal data may be processed. On the one hand, your computer stores data, and on the other hand, the web server must also store data for a period of time to ensure proper operation.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so the following graphic illustrates the interaction between the browser, the Internet and the hosting provider.

Why do we process personal data?

The purposes of data processing are:

1. Professional website hosting and operational security
2. to maintain operational and IT security
3. Anonymous evaluation of access behavior to improve our service and, if necessary, for criminal prosecution or the pursuit of claims

What data is processed?

Even while you are currently visiting our website, our web server, which is the computer on which this website is stored, usually automatically saves data such as

• the complete Internet address (URL) of the website accessed
• Browser and browser version (e.g. Chrome 87)
• the operating system used (e.g. Windows 10)
• the address (URL) of the previously visited page (referrer URL) (e.g. https://www.beispielquellsite.de/vondabinichgekommen/ )
• the hostname and IP address of the device from which access is made (e.g. COMPUTERNAME and 194.23.43.121)
• Date and time
• in files, the so-called web server log files

How long is data stored?

As a rule, the above-mentioned data is stored for two weeks and then automatically deleted. We do not share this data, but cannot rule out the possibility that it may be viewed by authorities in the event of illegal activity.

In short: Your visit is logged by our provider (the company that runs our website on special computers (servers)), but we do not share your data without your consent!

Legal basis

The legality of the processing of personal data within the framework of web hosting arises from Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (protection of legitimate interests), because the use of professional hosting with a provider is necessary in order to present the company securely and user-friendly on the Internet and to be able to pursue attacks and claims arising from this if necessary.

As a rule, there is a contract for order processing between us and the hosting provider in accordance with Art. 28 f. GDPR, which ensures compliance with data protection and guarantees data security.

Website modular systems introduction

Website modular systems Privacy Policy Summary 👥 Affected: Visitors to the website 🤝 Purpose: Optimization of our service 📓 Data processed: Data such as technical usage information such as browser activity, clickstream activity, session heatmaps, as well as contact details, IP address, or your geographic location. Further details can be found further down in this privacy policy and in the privacy policy of the providers. 📅 Storage period: depends on the provider ⚖️ Legal basis: Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests), Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR (consent)

What are website builders?

We use a website builder system for our website. Builder systems are special forms of content management systems (CMS). With a builder system, website operators can create a website very easily and without any programming knowledge. Many web hosts also offer builder systems. Using a builder system may also collect, store, and process your personal data. This privacy policy provides you with general information about data processing by builder systems. Further information can be found in the provider's privacy policy.

Why do we use website builders for our website?

The biggest advantage of a modular system is its ease of use. We want to offer you a clear, simple, and well-organized website that we can easily operate and maintain ourselves—without external support. A modular system now offers many helpful features that we can use even without programming knowledge. This allows us to design our web presence according to our wishes and offer you an informative and enjoyable experience on our website.

What data is stored by a modular system?

Which data is stored depends, of course, on the website builder system used. Each provider processes and collects different types of website visitor data. However, technical usage information such as operating system, browser, screen resolution, language and keyboard settings, hosting provider, and the date of your website visit are generally collected. Tracking data (e.g., browser activity, clickstream activity, session heatmaps, etc.) may also be processed. Personal data may also be collected and stored. This usually includes contact information such as email address, telephone number (if you have provided one), IP address, and geographic location data. You can find out exactly which data is stored in the provider's privacy policy.

How long and where is the data stored?

We will inform you about the duration of data processing below in connection with the website modular system used, if we have further information about it. You can find detailed information about this in the provider's privacy policy. In general, we only process personal data for as long as it is absolutely necessary to provide our services and products. The provider may store your data according to its own specifications, over which we have no control.

Right of objection

You always have the right to access, correct, and delete your personal data. If you have any questions, you can also contact the person responsible for the website building block system you use at any time. You can find contact information either in our privacy policy or on the website of the respective provider.

You can delete, deactivate, or manage cookies that providers use for their functions in your browser. Depending on the browser you use, this works differently. Please note, however, that if you do this, not all functions may work as usual.

Legal basis

We have a legitimate interest in using a website builder system to optimize our online service and present it in an efficient and user-friendly manner. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests). However, we only use the builder system if you have given your consent.

If the processing of data is not absolutely necessary for the operation of the website, the data will only be processed with your consent. This particularly applies to tracking activities. The legal basis in this regard is Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR.

This privacy policy provides you with the most important general information regarding data processing. If you would like more detailed information, you can find further information – if available – in the following section or in the provider's privacy policy.

Web Analytics Introduction

Web Analytics Privacy Policy Summary 👥 Affected: Visitors to the website 🤝 Purpose: Evaluation of visitor information to optimize the website. 📓 Processed data: Access statistics, which include data such as access locations, device data, access duration and time, navigation behavior, click behavior, and IP addresses. Further details can be found in the respective web analytics tool used. 📅 Storage period: depends on the web analytics tool used ⚖️ Legal basis: Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR (consent), Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests)

What is web analytics?

We use software on our website to evaluate the behavior of website visitors, known as web analytics or web analysis for short. This data is collected and stored, managed and processed by the respective analytics tool provider (also known as a tracking tool). This data is used to create analyses of user behavior on our website and make them available to us as the website operator. In addition, most tools offer various testing options. For example, we can test which offers or content are most popular with our visitors. To do this, we show you two different offers for a limited period of time. After the test (a so-called A/B test), we know which product or content our website visitors find more interesting. For such testing procedures, as for other analytics procedures, user profiles can be created and the data stored in cookies.

Why do we use web analytics?

We have a clear goal in mind with our website: to provide the best web offering on the market for our industry. To achieve this goal, we want to offer the best and most interesting offering on the market, while also ensuring that you feel completely at home on our website. With the help of web analysis tools, we can take a closer look at the behavior of our website visitors and then improve our website accordingly for you and us. For example, we can determine the average age of our visitors, where they come from, when our website is most frequently visited, or which content or products are particularly popular. All of this information helps us optimize the website and thus adapt it to your needs, interests, and wishes.

What data is processed?

Exactly which data is stored depends, of course, on the analysis tools used. However, as a general rule, we store information such as the content you view on our website, the buttons or links you click, the time you access a page, the browser you use, the device (PC, tablet, smartphone, etc.) you use to visit the website, and the computer system you use. If you have consented to the collection of location data, this may also be processed by the web analysis tool provider.

Your IP address is also stored. According to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), IP addresses are personal data. However, your IP address is generally stored pseudonymously (i.e., in an unrecognizable and abbreviated form). For the purposes of testing, web analysis, and web optimization, no direct data such as your name, age, address, or email address is stored. All of this data, if collected, is stored pseudonymously. This means that you cannot be identified as an individual.

The following example shows schematically how Google Analytics works as an example of client-based web tracking with JavaScript code.

How long the respective data is stored always depends on the provider. Some cookies only store data for a few minutes or until you leave the website again; other cookies can store data for several years.

Duration of data processing

We will inform you below about the duration of data processing, as soon as we have further information. Generally, we only process personal data for as long as it is absolutely necessary to provide our services and products. If required by law, such as in the case of accounting, this retention period may be exceeded.

Right of objection

You also have the right and option to revoke your consent to the use of cookies or third-party services at any time. This can be done either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection through cookies by managing, deactivating, or deleting cookies in your browser.

Legal basis

The use of web analytics requires your consent, which we have obtained through our cookie popup. According to Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR (consent), this consent constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when collected through web analytics tools.

In addition to consent, we have a legitimate interest in analyzing the behavior of website visitors and thus improving our offering technically and economically. Web analytics helps us detect website errors, identify attacks, and improve efficiency. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests) . However, we only use these tools if you have given your consent.

Since web analytics tools use cookies, we also recommend reading our general privacy policy on cookies. To learn exactly which of your data is stored and processed, you should read the privacy policies of the respective tools.

Information on specific web analytics tools, if available, can be found in the following sections.

Google Analytics Privacy Policy

Google Analytics Privacy Policy Summary 👥 Affected: Visitors to the website 🤝 Purpose: Evaluation of visitor information to optimize the website. 📓 Data processed: Access statistics, which include data such as access locations, device data, access duration and time, navigation behavior, and click behavior. You can find more details about this further down in this privacy policy. 📅 Storage period: individually adjustable, by default Google Analytics 4 stores data for 14 months ⚖️ Legal basis: Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR (consent), Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests)

What is Google Analytics?

We use the analysis tracking tool Google Analytics, version Google Analytics 4 (GA4) from the American company Google Inc., on our website. Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services in Europe. Google Analytics collects data about your actions on our website. Through a combination of various technologies such as cookies, device IDs, and login information, you as a user can be identified across different devices. This also allows your actions to be analyzed across platforms.

For example, if you click on a link, this event is stored in a cookie and sent to Google Analytics. The reports we receive from Google Analytics help us better tailor our website and service to your needs. Below, we'll go into more detail about the tracking tool and, above all, inform you about which data is processed and how you can prevent this.

Google Analytics is a tracking tool used to analyze our website's traffic. These measurements and analyses are based on a pseudonymous user identification number. This number does not contain any personal data such as name or address, but is used to assign events to a device. GA4 uses an event-based model that records detailed information on user interactions such as page views, clicks, scrolling, and conversion events. GA4 also incorporates various machine learning functions to better understand user behavior and certain trends. GA4 uses machine learning functions to model. This means that, based on the collected data, even missing data can be extrapolated to optimize the analysis and also to provide forecasts.

For Google Analytics to work, a tracking code is embedded in our website code. When you visit our website, this code records various events that you perform on our website. With GA4's event-based data model, we as website operators can define and track specific events to obtain analytics of user interactions. This allows us to track not only general information such as clicks or page views, but also specific events that are important to our business. Such special events can include, for example, submitting a contact form or purchasing a product.

As soon as you leave our website, this data is sent to the Google Analytics servers and stored there.

Google processes the data, and we receive reports about your user behavior. These reports may include, among others, the following:

• Audience reports: Audience reports help us get to know our users better and know more precisely who is interested in our service.
• Ad reporting: Ad reporting helps us analyze and improve our online advertising.
• Acquisition reports: Acquisition reports provide us with helpful information about how we can get more people excited about our service.
• Behavioral reports: This tells us how you interact with our website. We can track your path on our site and the links you click.
• Conversion reports: A conversion is a process in which you perform a desired action based on a marketing message. For example, when you go from being a mere website visitor to becoming a buyer or newsletter subscriber. These reports help us learn more about how our marketing efforts are being received. This is how we want to increase our conversion rate.
• Real-time reports: This lets us know immediately what's happening on our website. For example, we can see how many users are currently reading this text.

In addition to the analysis reports mentioned above, Google Analytics 4 also offers the following features:

• Event-based data model: This model captures very specific events that can occur on our website. For example, playing a video, purchasing a product, or subscribing to our newsletter.
• Advanced analytics features: These features allow us to better understand your behavior on our website or certain general trends. For example, we can segment user groups, conduct comparative analyses of target groups, or track your journey or path through our website.
• Predictive modeling: Based on collected data, machine learning can extrapolate missing data to predict future events and trends. This can help us develop better marketing strategies.
• Cross-platform analysis: Data can be collected and analyzed from both websites and apps. This allows us to analyze user behavior across platforms, provided, of course, that you have consented to data processing.

Why do we use Google Analytics on our website?

Our goal with this website is clear: to provide you with the best possible service. The statistics and data from Google Analytics help us achieve this goal.

The statistically analyzed data provides us with a clear picture of our website's strengths and weaknesses. On the one hand, we can optimize our site so that it's easier for interested people to find on Google. On the other hand, the data helps us better understand you as a visitor. This allows us to know exactly what we need to improve on our website to provide you with the best possible service. The data also helps us implement our advertising and marketing measures more individually and cost-effectively. After all, it only makes sense to show our products and services to people who are interested in them.

What data does Google Analytics store?

Google Analytics uses a tracking code to create a random, unique ID linked to your browser cookie. This allows Google Analytics to recognize you as a new user and assign you a user ID. The next time you visit our site, you will be recognized as a "returning" user. All collected data is stored together with this user ID. This makes it possible to evaluate pseudonymous user profiles.

To analyze our website with Google Analytics, a property ID must be inserted into the tracking code. The data is then stored in the corresponding property. The Google Analytics 4 property is the default for every newly created property. Data is stored for different lengths of time depending on the property used.

Using identifiers such as cookies, app instance IDs, user IDs, or custom event parameters, your interactions are measured across platforms, provided you have consented. Interactions are all types of actions you perform on our website. If you also use other Google systems (such as a Google Account), data generated through Google Analytics may be linked to third-party cookies. Google does not share Google Analytics data unless we, as the website operator, authorize this. Exceptions may apply if required by law.

According to Google, no IP addresses are logged or stored in Google Analytics 4. However, Google uses the IP address data to derive location data and deletes it immediately afterward. All IP addresses collected from users in the EU are therefore deleted before the data is stored in a data center or on a server.

Because Google Analytics 4 focuses on event-based data, the tool uses significantly fewer cookies than previous versions (such as Google Universal Analytics). However, there are some specific cookies used by GA4. These include:

Name: _ga
Value: 2.1326744211.152113047136-5
Purpose: By default, analytics.js uses the cookie _ga to store the user ID. It is primarily used to distinguish website visitors.
Expiry date: after 2 years

Name: _gid
Value: 2.1687193234.152113047136-1
Purpose: The cookie is also used to distinguish between website visitors
Expiry date: after 24 hours

Name: _gat_gtag_UA_<property-id>
Value: 1
Purpose: Used to reduce the request rate. If Google Analytics is provided via Google Tag Manager, this cookie is named _dc_gtm_ <property-id>.
Expiry date: after 1 minute

Note: This list cannot claim to be exhaustive, as Google continually changes its cookie choices. GA4 also aims to improve data protection. Therefore, the tool offers several options for controlling data collection. For example, we can specify the storage period ourselves and also control data collection.

Here we show you an overview of the most important types of data collected with Google Analytics:

Heatmaps: Google creates so-called heatmaps. Heatmaps show exactly the areas you click on. This gives us information about where you are on our site.

Session duration: Google defines the time you spend on our site without leaving the site as session duration. If you have been inactive for 20 minutes, the session ends automatically.

Bounce rate : A bounce occurs when you only view one page on our website and then leave our website again.

Account creation: When you create an account or place an order on our website, Google Analytics collects this data.

Location: IP addresses are not logged or stored in Google Analytics. However, location data is derived shortly before the IP address is deleted.

Technical information: Technical information includes, among other things, your browser type, your Internet service provider or your screen resolution.

Source: Google Analytics and we are of course also interested in which website or advertisement you came to our site from.

Other data includes contact information, any ratings, media playback (e.g., when you play a video on our site), sharing content via social media, or adding content to your favorites. This list is not exhaustive and serves only as a general guide to data storage by Google Analytics.

How long and where is the data stored?

Google has distributed its servers all over the world. You can find out exactly where Google's data centers are located here: https://datacenters.google/

Your data is distributed across multiple physical storage devices. This has the advantage of being faster to access and better protected against tampering. Every Google data center has appropriate emergency backup programs for your data. If, for example, Google's hardware fails or natural disasters cripple servers, the risk of service interruption at Google remains low.

The retention period for data depends on the properties used. The retention period is always determined individually for each property. Google Analytics offers us four options for controlling the retention period:

• 2 months: this is the shortest storage period.
• 14 months: By default, GA4 stores data for 14 months.
• 26 months: you can also store the data for 26 months.
• Data will only be deleted when we delete it manually

Additionally, you can choose to have data deleted only if you no longer visit our website within the period we select. In this case, the retention period will be reset each time you visit our website again within the specified period.

Once the specified period has expired, the data is deleted once a month. This retention period applies to your data linked to cookies, user recognition, and advertising IDs (e.g., cookies from the DoubleClick domain). Report results are based on aggregated data and are stored independently of user data. Aggregated data is the merging of individual pieces of data into a larger unit.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

Under European Union data protection law, you have the right to access, update, delete, or restrict your data. You can prevent Google Analytics 4 from using your data by using the browser add-on for deactivating Google Analytics JavaScript (analytics.js, gtag.js). You can download and install the browser add-on at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de . Please note that this add-on only disables data collection by Google Analytics.

If you generally want to deactivate, delete or manage cookies, you will find the relevant links to the instructions for the most popular browsers in the “Cookies” section.

Legal basis

The use of Google Analytics requires your consent, which we have obtained through our cookie popup. According to Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR (consent), this consent constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when collected through web analytics tools.

In addition to consent, we have a legitimate interest in analyzing the behavior of website visitors and thus improving our offering technically and economically. With the help of Google Analytics, we can detect website errors, identify attacks, and improve efficiency. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests) . However, we only use Google Analytics if you have given your consent.

Google processes your data, among other places, in the USA. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data of EU citizens to the USA. Further information can be found at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en .

In addition, Google uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard contractual clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to and stored in third countries (such as the USA). Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with European data protection standards when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed, and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here, among other places: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/ .

We hope we have been able to provide you with the most important information about data processing by Google Analytics. If you would like to learn more about the tracking service, we recommend these two links: https://marketingplatform.google.com/about/analytics/terms/de/ and https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=de .

If you would like to learn more about data processing, please refer to the Google Privacy Policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de .

Google Analytics Demographics and Interest Reports

We have enabled advertising reporting features in Google Analytics. The demographic and interest reports contain information about age, gender, and interests. This allows us to gain a better understanding of our users—without being able to assign this data to specific individuals. You can learn more about these advertising features at https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/3450482?hl=de_AT&utm_id=ad .

You can stop the use of your Google Account activities and information by checking the box in “Advertising Settings” at https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated .

Social Media Introduction

Social Media Privacy Policy Summary 👥 Affected: Visitors to the website 🤝 Purpose: Presentation and optimization of our service, contact with visitors, interested parties, etc., advertising 📓 Data processed: Data such as telephone numbers, email addresses, contact details, user behavior data, information about your device and your IP address. You can find more details in the social media tool you use. 📅 Storage period: depends on the social media platforms used ⚖️ Legal basis: Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR (consent), Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests)

What is social media?

In addition to our website, we are also active on various social media platforms. User data may be processed so that we can specifically address users interested in us via social networks. Furthermore, elements of a social media platform may also be embedded directly into our website. This is the case, for example, if you click a so-called social button on our website and are redirected directly to our social media presence. Social media refers to websites and apps through which registered members can produce content, share content openly or in specific groups, and network with other members.

Why do we use social media?

For years, social media platforms have been the place where people communicate and connect online. Our social media presence allows us to bring our products and services closer to prospective customers. The social media elements integrated into our website help you switch to our social media content quickly and seamlessly.

The data stored and processed through your use of a social media channel primarily serves the purpose of conducting web analytics. The goal of these analyses is to develop more precise and personalized marketing and advertising strategies. Depending on your behavior on a social media platform, the evaluated data can be used to draw appropriate conclusions about your interests and create so-called user profiles. This also enables the platforms to present you with tailored advertisements. Cookies are usually placed in your browser for this purpose, which store data about your usage behavior.

We generally assume that we remain responsible for data protection even when we use the services of a social media platform. However, the European Court of Justice has ruled that in certain cases, the operator of the social media platform may be jointly responsible with us within the meaning of Art. 26 GDPR. Where this is the case, we will specifically indicate this and work on the basis of a relevant agreement. The essence of the agreement is then set out below for the relevant platform.

Please note that when using social media platforms or our integrated elements, your data may also be processed outside the European Union, as many social media channels, such as Facebook or Twitter, are American companies. This may make it more difficult for you to exercise or enforce your rights regarding your personal data.

What data is processed?

Exactly which data is stored and processed depends on the respective social media platform provider. However, this typically includes data such as telephone numbers, email addresses, data you enter into a contact form, user data such as which buttons you click, who you like or follow, when you visited which pages, information about your device, and your IP address. Most of this data is stored in cookies. Especially if you have a profile on the social media channel you visit and are logged in, data can be linked to your profile.

All data collected via a social media platform is also stored on the providers' servers. This means that only the providers have access to the data and can provide you with the appropriate information or make changes.

If you want to know exactly which data is stored and processed by social media providers and how you can object to data processing, you should carefully read the respective company's privacy policy. If you have any questions about data storage and processing or wish to assert your rights, we recommend that you contact the provider directly.

Duration of data processing

We will inform you below about the duration of data processing, as soon as we have further information. For example, the social media platform Facebook stores data until it is no longer needed for its own purposes. However, customer data that is compared with its own user data is deleted within two days. Generally, we only process personal data for as long as absolutely necessary to provide our services and products. If required by law, such as in the case of accounting, this retention period may be exceeded.

Right of objection

You also have the right and option to revoke your consent to the use of cookies or third-party services, such as embedded social media elements, at any time. This can be done either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection through cookies by managing, deactivating, or deleting cookies in your browser.

Since social media tools may use cookies, we also recommend our general privacy policy regarding cookies. To learn exactly which of your data is stored and processed, you should read the privacy policies of the respective tools.

Legal basis

If you have consented to your data being processed and stored by integrated social media elements, this consent serves as the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR) . In principle, if you have given your consent, your data will also be stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR) in fast and effective communication with you or other customers and business partners. However, we only use the tools if you have given your consent. Most social media platforms also place cookies in your browser to store data. We therefore recommend that you read our privacy policy on cookies carefully and view the privacy policy or cookie guidelines of the respective service provider.

Information on specific social media platforms – where available – can be found in the following sections.

Facebook Privacy Policy

Facebook Privacy Policy Summary 👥 Affected: Visitors to the website 🤝 Purpose: Optimization of our service 📓 Data processed: Data such as customer data, user behavior data, information about your device and your IP address. You can find more details below in the privacy policy. 📅 Storage period: until the data is no longer useful for Facebook's purposes ⚖️ Legal basis: Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR (consent), Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests)

What are Facebook tools?

We use selected tools from Facebook on our website. Facebook is a social media network operated by Meta Platforms Inc., or in Europe by Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland. These tools enable us to offer you and people interested in our products and services the best possible service.

If data is collected and forwarded from you via our embedded Facebook elements or via our Facebook page (fan page), both we and Facebook Ireland Ltd. are responsible for this. Facebook alone bears responsibility for the further processing of this data. Our joint obligations have also been anchored in a publicly accessible agreement at https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum . This states, for example, that we must clearly inform you about the use of Facebook tools on our site. Furthermore, we are also responsible for ensuring that the tools are securely integrated into our website in accordance with data protection law. Facebook, on the other hand, is responsible for the data security of Facebook products, for example. If you have any questions about data collection and processing by Facebook, you can contact the company directly. If you address the question to us, we are obliged to forward it to Facebook.

Below we provide an overview of the various Facebook tools, which data is sent to Facebook and how you can delete this data.

Among many other products, Facebook also offers what it calls "Facebook Business Tools." This is Facebook's official name. However, since the term is hardly known, we've decided to simply call them Facebook Tools. These include:

• Facebook Pixel
• social plug-ins (such as the “Like” or “Share” button)
• Facebook Login
• Account Kit
• APIs (application programming interfaces)
• SDKs (collection of programming tools)
• Platform integrations
• Plugins
• Codes
• Specifications
• Documentation
• Technologies and services

Through these tools, Facebook expands its services and has the ability to obtain information about user activities outside of Facebook.

Why do we use Facebook tools on our website?

We want to show our services and products only to people who are genuinely interested in them. With the help of advertisements (Facebook Ads), we can reach precisely these people. However, in order to show users suitable advertising, Facebook needs information about people's wishes and needs. This provides the company with information about user behavior (and contact details) on our website. This allows Facebook to collect better user data and display suitable advertisements about our products or services to interested people. These tools thus enable tailored advertising campaigns on Facebook.

Facebook calls data about your behavior on our website "event data." This is also used for measurement and analytics services. Facebook can thus create "campaign reports" on our behalf about the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns. Furthermore, analytics give us better insight into how you use our services, website, or products. As a result, we use some of these tools to optimize your user experience on our website. For example, you can use the social plugins to share content from our site directly on Facebook.

What data are stored by Facebook tools?

By using certain Facebook tools, personal data (customer data) may be sent to Facebook. Depending on the tools used, customer data such as name, address, telephone number, and IP address may be sent.

Facebook uses this information to compare the data with the data it has about you (if you are a Facebook member). Before customer data is transmitted to Facebook, a process called "hashing" occurs. This means that a data set of any size is transformed into a character string. This also serves to encrypt data.

In addition to contact data, "event data" is also transmitted. "Event data" refers to the information we receive about you on our website. For example, which subpages you visit or which products you purchase from us. Facebook does not share the information received with third parties (such as advertisers) unless the company has explicit permission or is legally obligated to do so. "Event data" can also be linked to contact data. This enables Facebook to offer better, personalized advertising. After the aforementioned matching process, Facebook deletes the contact data.

In order to deliver optimized advertisements, Facebook only uses event data if it has been combined with other data (collected by Facebook in other ways). Facebook also uses this event data for security, protection, development, and research purposes. Much of this data is transferred to Facebook via cookies. Cookies are small text files that are used to store data or information in browsers. Depending on the tools you use and whether you are a Facebook member, different numbers of cookies will be created in your browser. We go into more detail about individual Facebook cookies in the descriptions of the individual Facebook tools. General information about the use of Facebook cookies can also be found at https://www.facebook.com/policies/cookies .

How long and where is the data stored?

Facebook generally stores data until it is no longer needed for its own services and products. Facebook has servers distributed around the world where its data is stored. However, customer data is deleted within 48 hours after it has been compared with its own user data.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

According to the General Data Protection Regulation, you have the right to information, rectification, portability and erasure of your data.

Complete deletion of your data will only occur if you completely delete your Facebook account. Here's how to delete your Facebook account:

1) Click on Settings on the right side of Facebook.

2) Then click on “Your Facebook information” in the left column.

3) Now click “Deactivation and deletion”.

4) Now select “Delete account” and then click “Continue and delete account”

5) Now enter your password, click “Next” and then “Delete account”

The data Facebook receives from our site is stored, among other things, via cookies (e.g., social plugins). You can deactivate, delete, or manage individual or all cookies in your browser. This works differently depending on the browser you use. Under the "Cookies" section, you will find links to the relevant instructions for the most popular browsers.

If you don't want cookies at all, you can set your browser to always notify you when a cookie is about to be set. This allows you to decide for each individual cookie whether to accept it or not.

Legal basis

If you have consented to your data being processed and stored by integrated Facebook tools, this consent serves as the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR) . In principle, your data will also be stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR) in fast and effective communication with you or other customers and business partners. However, we only use the tools if you have given your consent. Most social media platforms also place cookies in your browser to store data. We therefore recommend that you read our privacy policy on cookies carefully and view Facebook's privacy policy or cookie guidelines.

Facebook processes your data, among other places, in the USA. Facebook and Meta Platforms are active participants in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data of EU citizens to the USA. Further information can be found at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en .

In addition, Facebook uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard contractual clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to and stored in third countries (such as the USA). Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Facebook undertakes to comply with European data protection standards when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed, and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here, among other places: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Facebook data processing conditions, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing .

We hope we have provided you with the most important information about the use and processing of data by Facebook tools. If you would like to learn more about how Facebook uses your data, we recommend you read the data policy at https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/ .

Instagram Privacy Policy

Instagram Privacy Policy Summary 👥 Affected: Visitors to the website 🤝 Purpose: Optimization of our service 📓 Data processed: Data such as user behavior data, information about your device, and your IP address. You can find more details below in the privacy policy. 📅 Storage period: until Instagram no longer needs the data for its purposes ⚖️ Legal basis: Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR (consent), Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests)

What is Instagram?

We have integrated Instagram functions into our website. Instagram is a social media platform of Instagram LLC, 1601 Willow Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. Instagram has been a subsidiary of Meta Platforms Inc. since 2012 and is one of the Facebook products. Embedding Instagram content on our website is called embedding. This allows us to show you content such as buttons, photos, or videos from Instagram directly on our website. When you visit web pages on our website that have an integrated Instagram function, data is transmitted to, stored, and processed by Instagram. Instagram uses the same systems and technologies as Facebook. Your data is therefore processed across all Facebook companies.

Below, we want to give you a more detailed insight into why Instagram collects data, what data it collects, and how you can largely control data processing. Since Instagram is part of Meta Platforms Inc., we obtain our information from both the Instagram guidelines and the Meta privacy policy itself.

Instagram is one of the most popular social media networks worldwide. It combines the benefits of a blog with those of audiovisual platforms like YouTube or Vimeo. You can upload photos and short videos to "Insta" (as many users casually call the platform), edit them with various filters, and share them on other social networks. And if you don't want to be active yourself, you can simply follow other interesting users.

Why do we use Instagram on our website?

Instagram is the social media platform that has truly exploded in recent years. And, of course, we've responded to this boom. We want you to feel as comfortable as possible on our website. That's why we take a variety of content seriously. Embedded Instagram features allow us to enrich our content with helpful, funny, or exciting content from the Instagram world. Since Instagram is a subsidiary of Facebook, the data collected can also be used for personalized advertising on Facebook. This way, our ads only reach people who are genuinely interested in our products or services.

Instagram also uses the collected data for measurement and analysis purposes. We receive aggregated statistics and thus gain more insight into your preferences and interests. It's important to note that these reports do not identify you personally.

What data does Instagram store?

When you visit one of our pages that has integrated Instagram features (such as Instagram images or plug-ins), your browser automatically connects to Instagram's servers. Data is sent to, stored, and processed by Instagram, regardless of whether you have an Instagram account or not. This includes information about our website, your computer, purchases made, advertisements you see, and how you use our services. Furthermore, the date and time of your interaction with Instagram are also stored. If you have an Instagram account or are logged in, Instagram stores significantly more data about you.

Facebook distinguishes between customer data and event data. We assume the same is true for Instagram. Customer data includes, for example, name, address, telephone number, and IP address. This customer data will only be transmitted to Instagram after it has been "hashed." Hashing means converting a data set into a character string. This allows contact data to be encrypted. The aforementioned "event data" will also be transmitted. Facebook—and consequently Instagram—understands "event data" as data about your user behavior. It may also happen that contact data is combined with event data. The collected contact data will be compared with the data Instagram already has about you.

The collected data is transmitted to Facebook via small text files (cookies), which are usually placed in your browser. Depending on the Instagram features used and whether you have an Instagram account, different amounts of data are stored.

We assume that data processing on Instagram works the same way as on Facebook. This means: if you have an Instagram account or have visited www.instagram.com , Instagram has at least set a cookie. If this is the case, your browser sends information to Instagram via the cookie as soon as you interact with an Instagram function. This data is deleted or anonymized after 90 days at the latest (after comparison). Although we have studied Instagram's data processing in detail, we cannot say exactly what data Instagram collects and stores.

Below, we show you the cookies that are set in your browser at a minimum when you click on an Instagram function (such as a button or an Instagram image). For our test, we assume that you don't have an Instagram account. If you are logged in to Instagram, significantly more cookies will be set in your browser.

These cookies were used in our test:

Name: csrftoken
Value: ""
Purpose: This cookie is most likely set for security reasons to prevent forged requests. However, we were unable to determine this further.
Expiry date: after one year

Name: mid
Value: ""
Purpose: Instagram sets this cookie to optimize its own services and offers on and off Instagram. The cookie sets a unique user ID.
Expiry date: after the end of the session

Name: fbsr_113047136124024
Value: not specified
Purpose: This cookie stores the log-in request for users of the Instagram app.
Expiry date: after the end of the session

Name: rur
Value: ATN
Purpose: This is an Instagram cookie that ensures functionality on Instagram.
Expiry date: after the end of the session

Name: urlgen
Value: “{”194.96.75.33”: 1901}:1iEtYv:Y833k2_UjKvXgYe113047136”
Purpose: This cookie is used for Instagram’s marketing purposes.
Expiry date: after the end of the session

Note: We cannot claim to be comprehensive here. Which cookies are set in each individual case depends on the embedded functions and your use of Instagram.

How long and where is the data stored?

Instagram shares the information it receives between Facebook companies, external partners, and people you connect with around the world. Data processing is carried out in compliance with its own data policy. Your data is distributed across Facebook servers around the world, partly for security reasons. Most of these servers are located in the USA.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

Thanks to the General Data Protection Regulation, you have the right to access, portability, rectification, and erasure of your data. You can manage your data in your Instagram settings. If you want to completely delete your data on Instagram, you must permanently delete your Instagram account.

Here's how to delete your Instagram account:

First, open the Instagram app. On your profile page, scroll down and click on "Help Center." This will take you to the company's website. On the website, click on "Manage Account" and then "Delete Your Account."

If you delete your account entirely, Instagram will delete posts such as your photos and status updates. Information that other people have shared about you is not part of your account and therefore will not be deleted.

As mentioned above, Instagram primarily stores your data via cookies. You can manage, disable, or delete these cookies in your browser. Managing them works slightly differently depending on your browser. Under the "Cookies" section, you'll find links to the relevant instructions for the most popular browsers.

You can also generally configure your browser so that you are always informed when a cookie is about to be set. You can then decide individually whether you want to accept the cookie or not.

Legal basis

If you have consented to your data being processed and stored by integrated social media elements, this consent serves as the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR) . In principle, your data will also be stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR) in fast and effective communication with you or other customers and business partners. However, we only use the integrated social media elements if you have given your consent. Most social media platforms also place cookies in your browser to store data. We therefore recommend that you read our privacy policy on cookies carefully and view the privacy statement or cookie policy of the respective service provider.

Instagram processes your data, among other places, in the USA. Instagram and Meta Platforms are active participants in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data of EU citizens to the USA. Further information can be found at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en .

Instagram also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard contractual clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to and stored in third countries (such as the USA). Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Instagram undertakes to comply with European data protection standards when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed, and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here, among other places: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

We've tried to provide you with the most important information about data processing by Instagram. You can learn more about Instagram's data policy at https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/ .

Online Marketing Introduction

Online Marketing Privacy Policy Summary 👥 Affected: Visitors to the website 🤝 Purpose: Evaluation of visitor information to optimize the website. 📓 Data processed: Access statistics, which include data such as access locations, device data, access duration and time, navigation behavior, click behavior, and IP addresses. Personal data such as name or email address may also be processed. Further details can be found in the respective online marketing tool used. 📅 Storage period: depends on the online marketing tools used ⚖️ Legal basis: Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR (consent), Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests)

What is online marketing?

Online marketing refers to all measures conducted online to achieve marketing goals such as increasing brand awareness or closing a deal. Furthermore, our online marketing measures aim to draw people's attention to our website. In order to present our offerings to many interested people, we therefore engage in online marketing. This usually involves online advertising, content marketing, or search engine optimization. To ensure that we can use online marketing efficiently and effectively, personal data is also stored and processed. This data helps us, on the one hand, to show our content only to those who are actually interested in it, and on the other hand, it allows us to measure the advertising success of our online marketing measures.

Why do we use online marketing tools?

We want to show our website to everyone who is interested in what we offer. We realize that this isn't possible without consciously implemented measures. That's why we use online marketing. There are various tools that make our online marketing efforts easier and, based on data, continually provide suggestions for improvement. This allows us to target our campaigns more precisely to our target audience. The ultimate purpose of these online marketing tools is to optimize our offering.

What data is processed?

To ensure our online marketing works and the success of our measures can be measured, user profiles are created and data is stored, for example, in cookies (small text files). Using this data, we can not only place advertisements in the traditional sense, but also present our content directly on our website in a way that you prefer. There are various third-party tools that offer these functions and therefore also collect and store data from you. The cookies mentioned store, for example, which web pages you have visited on our website, how long you viewed these pages, which links or buttons you clicked, or which website you came to us from. In addition, technical information can also be stored. For example, your IP address, which browser you use, which device you use to visit our website, or the time you accessed our website and when you left it again. If you have consented to us determining your location, we can also store and process this information.

Your IP address is stored in pseudonymized form (i.e., shortened). Unique data that directly identifies you as a person, such as your name, address, or email address, is also stored only in pseudonymized form for advertising and online marketing purposes. This means we cannot identify you as a person; we only store the pseudonymized information in the user profiles.

The cookies may also be deployed, analyzed, and used for advertising purposes on other websites that use the same advertising tools. The data may then also be stored on the servers of the advertising tool providers.

In exceptional cases, unique data (name, email address, etc.) may also be stored in user profiles. This storage occurs, for example, if you are a member of a social media channel that we use for our online marketing activities and the network links previously received data to the user profile.

With all the advertising tools we use that store your data on their servers, we only receive aggregated information and never data that identifies you as an individual. The data simply shows how well our advertising measures performed. For example, we see which actions prompted you or other users to visit our website and purchase a service or product there. Based on these analyses, we can improve our advertising in the future and tailor it even more precisely to the needs and desires of interested parties.

Duration of data processing

We will inform you below about the duration of data processing, if we have further information. Generally, we only process personal data for as long as it is absolutely necessary to provide our services and products. Data stored in cookies is stored for different lengths of time. Some cookies are deleted as soon as you leave the website, while others can remain stored in your browser for several years. The respective privacy policies of the individual providers usually provide detailed information about the individual cookies used by the provider.

Right of objection

You also have the right and option to revoke your consent to the use of cookies or third-party providers at any time. This can be done either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection through cookies by managing, deactivating, or deleting cookies in your browser. The legality of the processing up to the point of revocation remains unaffected.

Since online marketing tools typically use cookies, we also recommend reading our general privacy policy on cookies. To learn exactly which of your data is stored and processed, you should read the privacy policies of the respective tools.

Legal basis

If you have consented to the use of third-party providers, this consent forms the legal basis for the corresponding data processing. According to Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR (consent), this consent constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when collected through online marketing tools.

We also have a legitimate interest in measuring online marketing activities in an anonymized form in order to use the data obtained to optimize our offerings and our activities. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interests) . However, we only use these tools if you have given your consent.

Information on specific online marketing tools – where available – can be found in the following sections.

Explanation of terms used

We always strive to make our privacy policy as clear and understandable as possible. However, this is not always easy, especially when it comes to technical and legal topics. It often makes sense to use legal terms (such as personal data) or certain technical expressions (such as cookies, IP address). However, we do not want to use these without explanation. Below you will find an alphabetical list of important terms used that we may not have sufficiently addressed in the previous privacy policy. If these terms are taken from the GDPR and are definitions, we will also cite the GDPR texts here and add our own explanations if necessary.

Processor

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

‘processor’ means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which processes personal data on behalf of the controller;

Explanation: As a company and website owner, we are responsible for all data we process from you. In addition to the controllers, there may also be so-called processors. This includes any company or individual that processes personal data on our behalf. Processors can therefore include, in addition to service providers such as tax advisors, hosting or cloud providers, payment or newsletter providers, or large companies such as Google or Microsoft.

consent

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

‘Consent’ of the data subject means 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;

Explanation: On websites, such consent is usually given via a cookie consent tool. You're probably familiar with this. Whenever you visit a website for the first time, you'll usually be asked via a banner whether you agree to data processing. You can usually also set individual settings and thus decide for yourself which data processing you allow and which you don't. If you do not consent, no personal data may be processed. In principle, consent can of course also be given in writing, i.e., not via a tool.

Personal data

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

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

Explanation: Personal data is all data that can identify you as an individual. This is usually data such as:

• name
• address
• E-mail address
• Postal address
• Telephone number
• birth date
• Identification numbers such as social security number, tax identification number, identity card number or registration number
• Bank details such as account numbers, credit information, account balances and much more.

According to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), your IP address also counts as personal data . IT experts can use your IP address to determine at least the approximate location of your device and, subsequently, you as the subscriber. Therefore, storing an IP address also requires a legal basis within the meaning of the GDPR. There are also so-called "special categories" of personal data that also deserve special protection. These include:

• racial and ethnic origin
• political opinions
• religious or ideological beliefs
• union membership
• genetic data such as data obtained from blood or saliva samples
• biometric data (information about mental, physical or behavioral characteristics that can identify a person).
  Health data
• Data on sexual orientation or sex life

Profiling

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

‘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;

Explanation: Profiling involves compiling various information about a person in order to learn more about them. Profiling is often used online for advertising purposes or for credit checks. Web or advertising analysis programs, for example, collect data about your behavior and interests on a website. This results in a specific user profile that can be used to target advertising to a specific audience.

Person responsible

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

‘controller’ means the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data; 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;

Explanation: In our case, we are responsible for the processing of your personal data and are therefore the "controller." If we forward collected data to other service providers for processing, these are "processors." A "processing agreement (DPA)" must be signed for this purpose.

processing

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

‘processing’ means 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;

Note: When we refer to "processing" in our privacy policy, we mean any type of data processing. As mentioned above in the original GDPR statement, this includes not only the collection but also the storage and processing of data.

Closing words

Congratulations! If you're reading these lines, you've truly "fought" your way through our entire privacy policy, or at least scrolled this far. As you can see from the length of our privacy policy, we take the protection of your personal data anything but lightly.
It is important to us to inform you to the best of our knowledge and belief about the processing of personal data. In doing so, we not only want to tell you which data is processed, but also explain the reasons for using various software programs. Privacy policies usually sound very technical and legalistic. However, since most of you are not web developers or lawyers, we wanted to take a different approach and explain the matter in simple and clear language. Of course, this is not always possible due to the subject matter. Therefore, the most important terms are explained in more detail at the end of the privacy policy.
If you have any questions about data protection on our website, please do not hesitate to contact us or the responsible party. We wish you a pleasant stay and hope to welcome you back to our website soon.

All texts are protected by copyright.

Source: Privacy Policy created with the Data Protection Generator for Austria from AdSimple