The Honeypot Files

Privacy Policy

Preamble

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

The terms used are not gender-specific.

As of: July 8, 2026

Table of Contents

  • Preamble
  • Controller
  • Overview of Processing Operations
  • Relevant Legal Bases
  • Security Measures
  • Transmission of Personal Data
  • International Data Transfers
  • General Information on Data Retention and Erasure
  • Rights of Data Subjects
  • Provision of the Online Offering and Web Hosting
  • Use of Cookies
  • Blogs and Publication Media
  • Contact and Inquiry Management
  • Web Analytics, Monitoring, and Optimization
  • Presence on Social Networks (Social Media)
  • Plug-ins and Embedded Functions and Content
  • Changes and Updates
  • Definitions of Terms

Controller

Daniel Schrader (thehoneypotfiles.io) Bubachstraße 19 94437 Mamming Germany

Email address: gotcha@thehoneypotfiles.io

Overview of Processing Operations

The following overview summarizes the types of data processed and the purposes of their processing, and refers to the data subjects concerned.

Types of data processed

  • Inventory data.
  • Employee data.
  • Contact data.
  • Content data.
  • Usage data.
  • Meta, communication, and procedural data.
  • Log data.

Categories of data subjects

  • Service recipients and clients.
  • Employees.
  • Communication partners.
  • Users.
  • Third parties.
  • Whistleblowers.

Purposes of processing

  • Communication.
  • Security measures.
  • Reach measurement.
  • Tracking.
  • Target group formation.
  • Organizational and administrative procedures.
  • Feedback.
  • Marketing.
  • Profiles with user-related information.
  • Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.
  • Information technology infrastructure.
  • Whistleblower protection.
  • Public relations.

Relevant Legal Bases

Relevant legal bases under the GDPR: Below you will find an overview of the legal bases of the GDPR on the basis of which we process personal data. Please note that in addition to the provisions of the GDPR, national data protection requirements may apply in your or our country of residence or domicile. Should more specific legal bases be relevant in individual cases, we will inform you of these in the privacy policy.

  • Consent (Art. 6(1)(1)(a) GDPR) – The data subject has given consent to the processing of their personal data for one or more specific purposes.
  • Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6(1)(1)(b) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party, or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract.
  • Legal obligation (Art. 6(1)(1)(c) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.
  • Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(1)(f) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party, provided that the interests, fundamental rights, and freedoms of the data subject requiring the protection of personal data do not override such interests.

National data protection regulations in Germany: In addition to the data protection regulations of the GDPR, national data protection regulations apply in Germany. This includes, in particular, the Act on Protection against Misuse of Personal Data in Data Processing (Federal Data Protection Act – BDSG). The BDSG contains, in particular, special provisions on the right of access, the right to erasure, the right to object, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes, and transmission as well as automated decision-making in individual cases, including profiling. Furthermore, the data protection laws of the individual federal states may apply.

Reference to applicability of the GDPR and the Swiss FADP: These privacy notices serve to provide information both under the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) and under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). For this reason, please note that, due to the broader geographical application and comprehensibility, the terms of the GDPR are used. In particular, instead of the terms "processing" of "personal data," "overriding interest," and "particularly sensitive personal data" used in the Swiss FADP, the terms "processing" of "personal data," "legitimate interest," and "special categories of data" used in the GDPR are applied. However, the legal meaning of the terms continues to be determined in accordance with the Swiss FADP insofar as the Swiss FADP applies.

Applicability of data protection requirements in the country of domicile: In the country in which the controller has its domicile, national data protection provisions apply in addition to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Security Measures

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures in accordance with the legal requirements, taking into account the state of the art, the implementation costs, and the nature, scope, circumstances, and purposes of processing, as well as the varying likelihood and severity of the risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, in order to ensure a level of protection appropriate to the risk.

The measures include, in particular, safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data by controlling physical and electronic access to the data as well as the access, input, disclosure, availability, and separation of the data concerning it. Furthermore, we have established procedures that ensure the exercise of data subject rights, the erasure of data, and responses to threats to the data. Moreover, we already take the protection of personal data into account during the development and selection of hardware, software, and procedures, in accordance with the principle of data protection by design and by default.

Securing online connections using TLS/SSL encryption technology (HTTPS): In order to protect the data of users transmitted via our online services from unauthorized access, we use TLS/SSL encryption technology. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) are the cornerstones of secure data transmission on the internet. These technologies encrypt the information transmitted between the website or app and the user's browser (or between two servers), thereby protecting the data from unauthorized access. TLS, as the more advanced and secure version of SSL, ensures that all data transmissions meet the highest security standards. When a website is secured by an SSL/TLS certificate, this is signaled by the display of HTTPS in the URL. This serves as an indicator to users that their data is transmitted securely and encrypted.

Transmission of Personal Data

In the course of our processing of personal data, it may happen that the data is transmitted to, or disclosed to, other entities, companies, legally independent organizational units, or persons. Recipients of this data may include, for example, service providers commissioned with IT tasks, or providers of services and content that are integrated into a website. In such cases, we comply with the legal requirements and, in particular, conclude corresponding contracts or agreements with the recipients of your data that serve to protect your data.

International Data Transfers

Data processing in third countries: Insofar as we process data in a third country (i.e., outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)), or this occurs in the context of using third-party services or the disclosure or transmission of data to other persons, entities, or companies (which is apparent from the postal address of the respective provider or if reference is expressly made in the privacy policy to a data transfer to third countries), this is always done in accordance with the legal requirements.

For data transfers to the USA, we rely primarily on the Data Privacy Framework (DPF), which was recognized as a secure legal framework by an adequacy decision of the EU Commission dated July 10, 2023. In addition, we have concluded standard contractual clauses with the respective providers that comply with the requirements of the EU Commission and establish contractual obligations to protect your data.

This dual safeguard ensures comprehensive protection of your data: The DPF forms the primary level of protection, while the standard contractual clauses serve as an additional safeguard. Should changes arise within the framework of the DPF, the standard contractual clauses take effect as a reliable fallback option. This ensures that your data always remains adequately protected, even in the event of any political or legal changes.

We inform you of the individual service providers as to whether they are certified under the DPF and whether standard contractual clauses are in place. Further information on the DPF and a list of certified companies can be found on the website of the US Department of Commerce at https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/ (in English).

For data transfers to other third countries, corresponding security measures apply, in particular standard contractual clauses, explicit consent, or legally required transfers. Information on third-country transfers and applicable adequacy decisions can be found in the information provided by the EU Commission: https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/data-protection/international-dimension-data-protection_en?prefLang=de.

General Information on Data Retention and Erasure

We erase personal data that we process in accordance with the legal provisions as soon as the underlying consent is withdrawn or there are no further legal bases for the processing. This applies to cases in which the original purpose of processing ceases to apply or the data is no longer required. Exceptions to this rule exist where legal obligations or special interests require a longer retention or archiving of the data.

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

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

Where multiple retention periods or erasure deadlines are specified for a piece of data, the longest period is always decisive. Data that is no longer retained for the originally intended purpose but due to legal requirements or other reasons is processed exclusively for the reasons that justify its retention.

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

  • 10 years – Retention period for books and records, annual financial statements, inventories, management reports, opening balance sheets, as well as the work instructions and other organizational documents required to understand them (Section 147(1) No. 1 in conjunction with (3) AO, Section 14b(1) UStG, Section 257(1) No. 1 in conjunction with (4) HGB).
  • 8 years – Accounting vouchers, such as invoices and cost receipts (Section 147(1) Nos. 4 and 4a in conjunction with (3) sentence 1 AO and Section 257(1) No. 4 in conjunction with (4) HGB).
  • 6 years – Other business documents: received commercial or business letters, reproductions of dispatched commercial or business letters, other documents insofar as they are relevant for taxation, e.g., hourly wage slips, operating cost accounting sheets, calculation documents, price labels, but also payroll documents insofar as they are not already accounting vouchers, and cash register receipts (Section 147(1) Nos. 2, 3, 5 in conjunction with (3) AO, Section 257(1) Nos. 2 and 3 in conjunction with (4) HGB).
  • 3 years – Data required to consider potential warranty and damage claims or similar contractual claims and rights, as well as to process related inquiries, based on previous business experience and customary industry practices, is stored for the duration of the regular statutory limitation period of three years (Sections 195, 199 BGB).

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

Rights of Data Subjects

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

  • Right to object: You have the right, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you which is carried out on the basis of Art. 6(1)(e) or (f) GDPR; this also applies to profiling based on these provisions. Where personal data concerning you is processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purpose of such marketing; this also applies to profiling insofar as it is related to such direct marketing.
  • Right to withdraw consent: You have the right to withdraw consent granted at any time.
  • Right of access: You have the right to request confirmation as to whether data concerning you is being processed and to obtain access to this data, as well as further information and a copy of the data in accordance with the legal requirements.
  • Right to rectification: In accordance with the legal requirements, you have the right to request the completion of data concerning you or the rectification of inaccurate data concerning you.
  • Right to erasure and restriction of processing: In accordance with the legal requirements, you have the right to demand that data concerning you be erased without delay, or alternatively, in accordance with the legal requirements, to demand a restriction of the processing of the data.
  • Right to data portability: You have the right to receive data concerning you which you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format in accordance with the legal requirements, or to demand its transmission to another controller.
  • Complaint to a supervisory authority: Without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work, or place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data concerning you infringes the requirements of the GDPR.

Provision of the Online Offering and Web Hosting

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

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g., page views and time spent, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, timestamps, identification numbers, involved persons); log data (e.g., log files relating to logins or the retrieval of data or access times).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness; information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical devices (computers, servers, etc.)); security measures.
  • Retention and erasure: Erasure in accordance with the information in the section "General Information on Data Retention and Erasure."
  • Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures, and services:

  • Provision of the online offering on rented storage space: For the provision of our online offering, we use storage space, computing capacity, and software that we rent or otherwise obtain from a corresponding server provider (also called a "web host"); legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(1)(f) GDPR).
  • Collection of access data and log files: Access to our online offering is logged in the form of so-called "server log files." The server log files may include the address and name of the retrieved web pages and files, the date and time of retrieval, the volume of data transferred, notification of successful retrieval, the browser type and version, the user's operating system, the referrer URL (the previously visited page), and, as a rule, IP addresses and the requesting provider. The server log files can be used, on the one hand, for security purposes, e.g., to avoid overloading the servers (particularly in the case of abusive attacks, so-called DDoS attacks), and, on the other hand, to ensure the utilization of the servers and their stability; legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(1)(f) GDPR). Erasure of data: Log file information is stored for a maximum of 30 days and then deleted or anonymized. Data whose further retention is required for evidentiary purposes is exempt from erasure until the respective incident has been finally clarified.

Use of Cookies

The term "cookies" refers to functions that store information on users' devices and read information from them. Cookies can also be used in relation to various concerns, e.g., for the purposes of the functionality, security, and comfort of online offerings, as well as the creation of analyses of visitor flows. We use cookies in accordance with the legal provisions. To this end, we obtain the prior consent of users where required. If consent is not necessary, we rely on our legitimate interests. This applies where the storage and reading of information is essential in order to be able to provide expressly requested content and functions. These include, for example, the storage of settings and ensuring the functionality and security of our online offering. Consent can be withdrawn at any time. We provide clear information about its scope and which cookies are used.

Information on data protection legal bases: Whether we process personal data using cookies depends on consent. If consent is given, it serves as the legal basis. Without consent, we rely on our legitimate interests, which are explained above in this section and in the context of the respective services and procedures.

Retention period: With regard to the retention period, the following types of cookies are distinguished:

  • Temporary cookies (also: session cookies): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user has left an online offering and closed their device (e.g., browser or mobile application).
  • Permanent cookies: Permanent cookies remain stored even after the device is closed. For example, the login status can be stored and preferred content displayed directly when the user visits a website again. Likewise, the user data collected using cookies can be used for reach measurement. Unless we provide users with explicit information about the type and retention period of cookies (e.g., in the context of obtaining consent), they should assume that these are permanent and that the retention period can be up to two years.

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

  • Types of data processed: Meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, timestamps, identification numbers, involved persons).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(1)(f) GDPR).

Blogs and Publication Media

We use blogs or comparable means of online communication and publication (hereinafter "publication medium"). The data of readers is processed for the purposes of the publication medium only insofar as it is necessary for its presentation and the communication between authors and readers or for security reasons. Otherwise, we refer to the information on the processing of the visitors of our publication medium within these privacy notices.

  • Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g., textual or pictorial messages and contributions as well as information concerning them, such as details of authorship or the time of creation); usage data (e.g., page views and time spent, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, timestamps, identification numbers, involved persons).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via an online form); provision of our online offering and user-friendliness; security measures; organizational and administrative procedures.
  • Retention and erasure: Erasure in accordance with the information in the section "General Information on Data Retention and Erasure."
  • Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures, and services:

  • Comments and contributions: When users leave comments or other contributions, their IP addresses may be stored on the basis of our legitimate interests. This is done for our security, in case someone leaves unlawful content in comments and contributions (insults, prohibited political propaganda, etc.). In this case, we ourselves may be held liable for the comment or contribution and are therefore interested in the identity of the author. Furthermore, we reserve the right to process the users' information for the purpose of spam detection on the basis of our legitimate interests. On the same legal basis, we reserve the right, in the case of surveys, to store the IP addresses of users for the duration of the survey and to use cookies in order to avoid multiple votes. The personal information, any contact and website information, and the content details communicated in the context of the comments and contributions are stored by us permanently until the user objects; legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(1)(f) GDPR).

Contact and Inquiry Management

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

  • Types of data processed: Contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g., textual or pictorial messages and contributions as well as information concerning them, such as details of authorship or the time of creation); meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, timestamps, identification numbers, involved persons).
  • Data subjects: Communication partners.
  • Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Communication; organizational and administrative procedures; feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via an online form); provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.
  • Retention and erasure: Erasure in accordance with the information in the section "General Information on Data Retention and Erasure."
  • Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(1)(f) GDPR); performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6(1)(1)(b) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures, and services:

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

Web Analytics, Monitoring, and Optimization

Web analytics (also referred to as "reach measurement") serves to evaluate the visitor flows of our online offering and may include behavior, interests, or demographic information about visitors, such as age or gender, as pseudonymous values. By means of reach analysis, we can, for example, recognize at what time our online offering or its functions or content are used most frequently, or invite reuse. It is also possible for us to understand which areas require optimization.

In addition to web analytics, we may also use test procedures, for example to test and optimize different versions of our online offering or its components.

Unless otherwise specified below, for these purposes, profiles, i.e., data combined into a usage process, may be created and information stored in a browser or on a device and then read out. The information collected includes, in particular, visited websites and the elements used there, as well as technical information such as the browser used, the computer system used, and details of usage times. Insofar as users have consented to the collection of their location data by us or by the providers of the services we use, the processing of location data is also possible.

Furthermore, the IP addresses of users are stored. However, we use an IP masking procedure (i.e., pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. In general, no clear data of users (such as email addresses or names) is stored in the context of web analytics, A/B testing, and optimization, but rather pseudonyms. This means that we, as well as the providers of the software used, do not know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles for the purpose of the respective procedures.

Information on legal bases: Insofar as we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for the data processing is consent. Otherwise, the user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e., interest in efficient, economical, and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to refer you to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g., page views and time spent, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, timestamps, identification numbers, involved persons).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Reach measurement (e.g., access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).
  • Retention and erasure: Erasure in accordance with the information in the section "General Information on Data Retention and Erasure." Storage of cookies for up to 2 years (unless otherwise stated, cookies and similar storage methods can be stored on users' devices for a period of two years).
  • Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).
  • Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(1)(a) GDPR); legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(1)(f) GDPR).

Analytics with Umami

This website uses Umami, a self-hosted, cookieless analytics tool, for statistical analysis of visits. Umami runs on our own infrastructure in the EU; no data is shared with third parties. No cookies are set and no cross-device tracking takes place. Only aggregated information is collected (e.g. pages viewed, referrer, browser/OS type, approximate country). The IP address is processed only briefly to derive the country and is not stored; no attribution to an individual is made. The legal basis is our legitimate interest in anonymous analytics (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Presence on Social Networks (Social Media)

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

We point out that user data may be processed outside the area of the European Union. This may result in risks for users because, for example, the enforcement of user rights could be made more difficult.

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

For a detailed description of the respective processing operations and the opt-out options, we refer to the privacy policies and information of the operators of the respective networks.

In the case of requests for access and the assertion of data subject rights, we also point out that these can be asserted most effectively with the providers. Only the latter have access to the users' data in each case and can directly take appropriate measures and provide information. Should you nevertheless require assistance, you can contact us.

  • Types of data processed: Contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g., textual or pictorial messages and contributions as well as information concerning them, such as details of authorship or the time of creation); usage data (e.g., page views and time spent, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Communication; feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via an online form); public relations.
  • Retention and erasure: Erasure in accordance with the information in the section "General Information on Data Retention and Erasure."
  • Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures, and services:

  • LinkedIn: Social network – We are jointly responsible with LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company for the collection (but not the further processing) of data of visitors used to create the "Page Insights" (statistics) of our LinkedIn profiles. This data includes information about the types of content that users view or interact with, as well as the actions they take. In addition, details about the devices used are recorded, such as IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings, and cookie data, as well as information from user profiles, such as job function, country, industry, hierarchy level, company size, and employment status. Data protection information on the processing of user data by LinkedIn can be found in LinkedIn's privacy policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy. We have concluded a special agreement with LinkedIn Ireland ("Page Insights Joint Controller Addendum," https://legal.linkedin.com/pages-joint-controller-addendum), which regulates in particular which security measures LinkedIn must observe and in which LinkedIn has agreed to fulfill the rights of data subjects (i.e., users can, for example, address requests for access or erasure directly to LinkedIn). The rights of users (in particular the right to access, erasure, objection, and complaint to the competent supervisory authority) are not restricted by the agreements with LinkedIn. The joint responsibility is limited to the collection and transmission of the data to LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, a company based in the EU. The further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, in particular with regard to the transmission of the data to the parent company LinkedIn Corporation in the USA; service provider: LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Plaza, Dublin 2, Ireland; legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(1)(f) GDPR); website: https://www.linkedin.com; privacy policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy; basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF), standard contractual clauses (https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy). Opt-out option: https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.

Plug-ins and Embedded Functions and Content

We integrate functional and content elements into our online offering that are obtained from the servers of their respective providers (hereinafter referred to as "third-party providers"). These may be, for example, graphics, videos, or city maps (hereinafter uniformly referred to as "content").

The integration always requires that the third-party providers of this content process the IP address of users, since without the IP address they could not send the content to their browser. The IP address is therefore necessary for the display of this content or functions. We endeavor to use only content whose respective providers use the IP address solely for the delivery of the content. Third-party providers may also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also referred to as "web beacons") for statistical or marketing purposes. The "pixel tags" can be used to evaluate information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website. The pseudonymous information may also be stored in cookies on the user's device and may contain, among other things, technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, time of visit, and further information on the use of our online offering, but may also be linked with such information from other sources.

Information on legal bases: Insofar as we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for the data processing is consent. Otherwise, the user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e., interest in efficient, economical, and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to refer you to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g., page views and time spent, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, timestamps, identification numbers, involved persons).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness; reach measurement (e.g., access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); tracking (e.g., interest/behavior-based profiling, use of cookies); target group formation; marketing.
  • Retention and erasure: Erasure in accordance with the information in the section "General Information on Data Retention and Erasure." Storage of cookies for up to 2 years (unless otherwise stated, cookies and similar storage methods can be stored on users' devices for a period of two years).
  • Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(1)(a) GDPR); legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures, and services:

Changes and Updates

We ask you to regularly inform yourself about the content of our privacy policy. We adapt the privacy policy as soon as changes to the data processing operations carried out by us make this necessary. We will inform you as soon as the changes require an act of cooperation on your part (e.g., consent) or other individual notification.

Insofar as we provide addresses and contact information of companies and organizations in this privacy policy, please note that the addresses may change over time and we ask you to verify the information before making contact.

Definitions of Terms

In this section, you will find an overview of the terms used in this privacy policy. Insofar as the terms are legally defined, their legal definitions apply. The following explanations, on the other hand, are primarily intended to aid understanding.

  • Employees: Employees are persons who are in an employment relationship, whether as staff, employees, or in similar positions. An employment relationship is a legal relationship between an employer and an employee, established by an employment contract or agreement. It includes the employer's obligation to pay the employee remuneration while the employee performs their work. The employment relationship comprises various phases, including the establishment, in which the employment contract is concluded, the performance, in which the employee carries out their work activity, and the termination, when the employment relationship ends, whether by dismissal, termination agreement, or otherwise. Employee data is all information relating to these persons in the context of their employment. This includes aspects such as personal identification data, identification numbers, salary and bank data, working hours, vacation entitlements, health data, and performance evaluations.
  • Inventory data: Inventory data comprises essential information necessary for the identification and management of contractual partners, user accounts, profiles, and similar assignments. This data may include, among other things, personal and demographic information such as names, contact information (addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses), dates of birth, and specific identifiers (user IDs). Inventory data forms the basis for any formal interaction between persons and services, facilities, or systems, by enabling a clear assignment and communication.
  • Content data: Content data comprises information generated in the course of the creation, editing, and publication of content of all kinds. This category of data may include texts, images, videos, audio files, and other multimedia content published on various platforms and media. Content data is not limited to the actual content but also includes metadata that provides information about the content itself, such as tags, descriptions, author information, and publication dates.
  • Contact data: Contact data is essential information that enables communication with persons or organizations. It includes, among other things, telephone numbers, postal addresses, and email addresses, as well as means of communication such as social media handles and instant messaging identifiers.
  • Meta, communication, and procedural data: Meta, communication, and procedural data are categories that contain information about the manner in which data is processed, transmitted, and managed. Meta data, also known as data about data, comprises information that describes the context, origin, and structure of other data. It can include details about file size, creation date, the author of a document, and change histories. Communication data captures the exchange of information between users via various channels, such as email traffic, call logs, messages on social networks, and chat histories, including the persons involved, timestamps, and transmission paths. Procedural data describes the processes and procedures within systems or organizations, including workflow documentation, protocols of transactions and activities, as well as audit logs used to track and review operations.
  • Usage data: Usage data refers to information that captures how users interact with digital products, services, or platforms. This data comprises a broad range of information showing how users use applications, which functions they prefer, how long they spend on certain pages, and via which paths they navigate through an application. Usage data can also include the frequency of use, timestamps of activities, IP addresses, device information, and location data. It is particularly valuable for analyzing user behavior, optimizing user experiences, personalizing content, and improving products or services. In addition, usage data plays a decisive role in recognizing trends, preferences, and potential problem areas within digital offerings.
  • Personal data: "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 (e.g., cookie), or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity of that natural person.
  • Profiles with user-related information: The processing of "profiles with user-related information," or "profiles" for short, comprises any type of automated processing of personal data consisting of the use of such personal data to analyze, evaluate, or predict certain personal aspects relating to a natural person (depending on the type of profiling, this may include different information regarding demographics, behavior, and interests, such as interaction with websites and their content, etc.) (e.g., interests in certain content or products, click behavior on a website, or location). Cookies and web beacons are frequently used for profiling purposes.
  • Log data: Log data is information about events or activities that have been logged in a system or network. This data typically contains information such as timestamps, IP addresses, user actions, error messages, and other details about the use or operation of a system. Log data is often used to analyze system problems, for security monitoring, or to create performance reports.
  • Reach measurement: Reach measurement (also referred to as web analytics) serves to evaluate the visitor flows of an online offering and may include the behavior or interests of visitors in certain information, such as the content of websites. With the help of reach analysis, operators of online offerings can, for example, recognize at what time users visit their websites and which content they are interested in. This enables them, for example, to better adapt the content of the websites to the needs of their visitors. For the purposes of reach analysis, pseudonymous cookies and web beacons are frequently used to recognize returning visitors and thus obtain more precise analyses of the use of an online offering.
  • Tracking: "Tracking" refers to the ability to trace the behavior of users across multiple online offerings. As a rule, behavioral and interest information regarding the online offerings used is stored in cookies or on the servers of the providers of the tracking technologies (so-called profiling). This information can subsequently be used, for example, to display advertisements to users that presumably correspond to their interests.
  • Controller: The "controller" is 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.
  • Processing: "Processing" is any operation or set of operations performed on personal data, whether or not by automated means. The term is broad and encompasses practically any handling of data, whether it is collecting, evaluating, storing, transmitting, or erasing.
  • Target group formation: Target group formation (English "Custom Audiences") refers to the determination of target groups for advertising purposes, e.g., the display of advertisements. For example, based on a user's interest in certain products or topics on the internet, it can be inferred that this user is interested in advertisements for similar products or the online shop in which they viewed the products. "Lookalike Audiences" (or similar target groups) refers to the display of content deemed suitable to users whose profiles or interests presumably correspond to the users for whom the profiles were created. For the purposes of forming Custom Audiences and Lookalike Audiences, cookies and web beacons are generally used.