Data protection

General information on the handling of your data
Vincentz Network GmbH & Co. KG takes the protection of your personal data very seriously. We believe that you should always know what data we collect from you and how we use it, and that you should have significant control over both. It is part of our service offering that personal data is collected, processed and used from you, as it is our aim to provide you with user-friendly and customer-focused useful services. The following information describes what information we collect from you and how we handle it.

What data is collected?
In principle, you can visit our websites without providing us with your personal data. However, certain services on our websites require registration, during which we request information from you such as your name and e-mail address. This data is referred to as inventory data. Wherever possible, we give you the opportunity to decide freely whether you wish to provide us with your data. In some cases, however, data is also collected automatically. For example, your computer automatically sends us information such as IP address, browser type or access times when you use our websites. This data is referred to as usage data.

What are cookies and tracking pixels?
“Cookies” are files that are stored on your computer when you visit our website and that your browser “remembers”. Cookies can be blocked by your browser so that, for example, only the site that set them can read them. The next time you visit this site, the cookie will be sent from your browser to the server, e.g. to offer you new contributions to your area of interest during this visit. If you do not wish to take advantage of cookies, you can simply delete them and deactivate the function in your browser. However, we will then not be able to offer you some of the services on our website. You can find out more about this in the help function of your browser. We also use so-called tracking pixels or GIF files to support online advertising and, where necessary, for IVW counting. This enables us to evaluate how many visitors have been to our pages and which advertisements they have accessed. The information collected with cookies or GIF files does not contain your name, address, telephone number or e-mail address.

What does Vincentz Network use your data for?
We use cookies in particular for the distribution of customer-oriented information and advertising and for counting page views. In addition, we may create pseudonymized user profiles for the purposes of advertising, market or opinion research or for the needs-based design of our services. This allows us to check our services for popularity and constantly improve them. You can object to this use at any time. In this case, we ask that you also deactivate the cookies in your browser. We require your consent for any further and in particular personal use. We also use anonymized usage statistics to describe our services to potential partners, advertisers and other contacts. With your consent, we use your data for advertising purposes. You can revoke this consent at any time, and we will inform you of this again in the advertising approach.

Does Vincentz Network pass on your data to third parties?
Vincentz Network only shares your data with partners or customers of Vincentz Network whose services you have accessed (e.g. the whitepaper of a specific manufacturer) with your consent. When you access the service, you will recognize which company is involved and can decide whether or not to download this third-party offer. This carefully selected disclosure is only made for the purposes of advertising, market or opinion research.

Can the use and application of personal data or this privacy policy change?
We continuously monitor the handling of personal data against the background of data protection regulations and adapt it if necessary. Please take note of our privacy policy at regular intervals, which reflects the current status of our handling of personal information. We will announce any changes here.

METIS – Online counting of VG Wort
Cookies and reports on access figures We use “session cookies” from VG Wort, Munich, to measure access to texts in order to record the probability of copying. Session cookies are small units of information that a provider stores in the working memory of the visitor’s computer. A randomly generated unique identification number, a so-called session ID, is stored in a session cookie. A cookie also contains information about its origin and the storage period. Session cookies cannot store any other data. These measurements are carried out by INFOnline GmbH using the Scalable Central Measurement Method (SZM). They help to determine the probability of individual texts being copied for the purpose of compensating authors and publishers for their legal claims. We do not collect any personal data via cookies. Many of our pages are equipped with JavaScript calls, which we use to report access to the collecting society Verwertungsgesellschaft Wort (VG Wort). In this way, we enable our authors to participate in the distributions of VG Wort, which ensure the statutory remuneration for the use of copyrighted works in accordance with Section 53 UrhG. It is also possible to use our website without cookies. Most browsers are set to accept cookies automatically. However, you can deactivate the storage of cookies or set your browser to notify you as soon as cookies are sent. Further information on data protection in the measurement process can be found on the website of INFOnline GmbHwhich operates the measurement procedure, and the data protection website of VG Wort. Twitter plugin This site uses plugins from the social network Twitter, which is operated by Twitter, Inc, 795 Folsom Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA. www.twitter.com. When you access web pages on our website that contain such a plugin, a connection is established to the Twitter servers, the plugin is transmitted directly to your browser and integrated into the website. As a result, the Twitter server receives the information that you have accessed the corresponding page. If you are currently logged in to Twitter as a member, Twitter assigns this information to your personal user account. If you use the plug-in functions (e.g. clicking the “Tweet” button, posting a comment), this information is also assigned to your Twitter account. You can only prevent this by logging out of Twitter before using the plugin. For more information on the collection and use of data by Twitter, your rights and options for protecting your privacy, please refer to the Twitter privacy policy: http://twitter.com/privacy To prevent data collection by Twitter, you can log out of Twitter before visiting our pages or activate the “Do not Track” function in your browser or disable the use of Java scripts in your browser or block the execution of scripts from the twitter.com domain. Facebook plugin This website uses social plugins from the social network Facebook www.facebook.com . The operator is Facebook Inc, 1601 S. California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. You can recognize the Facebook button on our website by the white “f” on a blue tile or by the “thumbs up” sign. When you click on this button, data is transmitted to the corresponding social network. This includes, among other things, the date and time of the visit to the website in question, the Internet address or URL on which the visitor is located and technical data about the IP address, the browser and operating system used by the visitor, as well as the user ID number if the visitor is logged in to Facebook. In this case, Facebook can assign the visit to your Facebook account. By clicking on this button, you consent to the transmission of this data to the corresponding social network. For information on data collection and use, please refer to Facebook’s data usage guidelines.

Xing plugin
This site uses plugins from the social network xing.com (“Xing”), which is operated by XING AG, Gänsemarkt 43, 20354 Hamburg, Germany. When you visit a page on our website that contains such a plugin, your browser establishes a direct connection to the Xing servers. The content of the plugin is transmitted by Xing directly to your browser, which integrates it into the website. By integrating the plugin, Xing receives the information that you have accessed the corresponding page. If you are currently logged in to Xing, Xing can assign the visit to your Xing account. The purpose and scope of the data collection and the further processing and use of the data by Xing as well as your rights in this regard and setting options to protect your privacy can be found in Xing’s data protection information: http://www.xing.com/privacy LinkedIn plugin This website uses Java Script code from LinkedIn Ireland, Wilton Plaza, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland (LinkedIn). If you have activated JavaScript in your browser and have not installed a JavaScript blocker, your browser may transmit personal data to LinkedIn. We do not know what data LinkedIn links to the data received and for what purposes LinkedIn uses this data. Further information on this can be found in LinkedIn’s privacy policy: http://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy?trk=hb_ft_priv . To prevent the execution of Java Script code from LinkedIn altogether, you can install a Java Script blocker or block it in your browser settings accordingly. Youtube We embed YouTube videos on some of our websites. The operator of the corresponding plugins is YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066, USA. When you visit a page with the YouTube plugin, a connection to YouTube servers is established. YouTube is informed which pages you visit. If you are logged into your YouTube account, YouTube can assign your surfing behavior to you personally. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account beforehand. When a YouTube video is started, the provider uses cookies that collect information about user behavior. If you have deactivated the storage of cookies for the Google Ad program, you will not have to expect any such cookies when watching YouTube videos. However, YouTube also stores non-personal usage information in other cookies. If you wish to prevent this, you must block the storage of cookies in your browser. Further information on data protection at “Youtube” can be found in the provider’s privacy policy at https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/

Google Analytics
This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Inc (“Google”). Google Analytics uses “cookies”, which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyze how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. However, if IP anonymization is activated on this website, your IP address will first be truncated by Google within member states of the European Union or in other states party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and truncated there. Google will use this information on behalf of the operator of this website for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage to the website operator. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with other Google data. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website. You can also prevent Google from collecting the data generated by the cookie and relating to your use of the website (including your IP address) and from processing this data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available at the following link: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de You can prevent the collection of data by Google Analytics by clicking on the following link: Deactivate Google Analytics An opt-out cookie will be set to prevent the future collection of your data when you visit this website. You can find more information on terms of use and data protection at http://www.google.com/analytics/terms/de.html or at https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/. Please note that on this website Google Analytics has been extended by the code “gat._anonymizeIp();” to ensure an anonymized collection of IP addresses (so-called IP masking). (Source: www.datenschutzbeauftragter-info.de)

Google Analytics Remarketing
This website uses the remarketing function of Google Inc. This function is used to present interest-based advertisements to website visitors within the Google advertising network. A so-called “cookie” is stored in the browser of the website visitor, which makes it possible to recognize the visitor when he or she visits websites that belong to the Google advertising network. On these pages, the visitor can be presented with advertisements that relate to content that the visitor has previously accessed on websites that use Google’s remarketing function. According to its own information, Google does not collect any personal data during this process. However, if you do not wish to use Google’s remarketing function, you can deactivate it by changing the relevant settings at http://www.google.com/settings/ads . Alternatively, you can deactivate the use of cookies for interest-based advertising via the advertising network initiative by following the instructions at http://www.networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp follow the instructions.

Facebook Remarketing
This website uses the remarketing function “Custom Audiences” of Facebook Inc, 1601 S. California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA (“Facebook”). Using this function, the provider can target visitors to the website with advertising by displaying personalized, interest-based Facebook ads to visitors to the website when they visit the Facebook social network. To perform this function, the Facebook remarketing tag is implemented on the provider’s website. This tag is used to establish a direct connection to the Facebook servers when the website is visited. This tells the Facebook server which of our web pages you have visited. Facebook assigns this information to your personal Facebook user account. For more information on the collection and use of data by Facebook, your rights in this regard and ways to protect your privacy, please refer to Facebook’s privacy policy at https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/ . If you do not want Facebook to assign the collected information directly to your Facebook user account, you can deactivate the remarketing function “Custom Audiences” here. To do this, you must be logged in to Facebook.

Google Ad Words Conversion Tracking
Our website uses Google Conversion Tracking. If you have reached our website via an ad placed by Google, Google Adwords will set a cookie on your computer. The conversion tracking cookie is set when a user clicks on an ad placed by Google. These cookies lose their validity after 30 days and are not used for personal identification. If the user visits certain pages of our website and the cookie has not yet expired, we and Google can recognize that the user clicked on the ad and was redirected to this page. Each Google AdWords customer receives a different cookie. Cookies can therefore not be tracked via the websites of AdWords customers. The information collected using the conversion cookie is used to generate conversion statistics for AdWords customers who have opted for conversion tracking. Customers are told the total number of users who clicked on their ad and were redirected to a page with a conversion tracking tag. However, they do not receive any information that can be used to personally identify users. If you do not wish to participate in tracking, you can refuse the setting of a cookie required for this – for example, by setting your browser to generally deactivate the automatic setting of cookies or to set your browser so that cookies from the domain “googleleadservices.com” are blocked. Please note that you may not delete the opt-out cookies as long as you do not wish measurement data to be recorded. If you have deleted all your cookies in the browser, you must set the respective opt-out cookie again. HotJar We use Hotjar, an analysis software from Hotjar Ltd (“Hotjar”), 3 Lyons Range, 20 Bisazza Street, Sliema SLM 1640, Malta, Europe. Hotjar makes it possible to measure and evaluate user behavior (clicks, mouse movements, scroll heights, etc.) on our website. The information generated by the “tracking code” and “cookie” about your visit to our website is transmitted to the Hotjar servers in Ireland and stored there. Hotjar will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of our website, compiling reports on website activity and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. You can prevent the collection of data by Hotjar by clicking on the following link and following the instructions there: https://www.hotjar.com/opt-out.

OpenX
We use the tracking technology of OpenX Technologies Inc (“OpenX”, address for data protection issues: OpenX Technologies, Inc, Attention: Legal Department, 888 East Walnut Street, 2nd Fl, 91101 Pasadena/CA, United States). This may include cookies. OpenX collects and stores usage data in pseudonymous profiles for the purpose of web analysis or to enable interest-based advertising. You can object to this data collection and storage at any time with effect for the future by setting an opt-out cookie on your end device. You can find more information on this opt-out option and on data processing by OpenX in OpenX’s privacy policy(https://openx.com/legal/privacy-policy/).

AddThis
We use plugins from the AddThis service on our websites, which is operated by AddThis, LLC, 1595 Spring Hill Rd, Suite 300, Vienna, VA 22182, USA (“AddThis”). AddThis provides tools for creating and designing websites to make it easier for website visitors to share the current page with other Internet users by e-mail or in social networks. You can recognize the plugins by the “Tweet”, “E-Mail”, “LinkedIn” and “g+1” buttons integrated on parts of our website. AddThis also provides tools for website operators to help analyze and improve the use of their own website or to enable a direct user approach. AddThis also uses cookies and web beacons (small graphics, “tracking pixels”, which enable log file recording and log file analysis). When you use an AddThis plugin, your Internet browser establishes a direct connection with the AddThis servers and, if applicable, the selected social network. The data generated in the process (such as time of use or browser language) is transmitted to AddThis and processed there. If you send content from our website to social networks, a connection can be established between your visit to the website and your user profile on the relevant social network. You can find more information on data processing and data protection by AddThis at http://www.addthis.com/privacy/privacy-policy. We do not process the data concerned or pass it on to third parties. By using the AddThis plugin, you consent to the processing of data by AddThis. You can also object to the collection and storage of data by AddThis at any time with effect for the future by setting an opt-out cookie. To do this, visit http://www.addthis.com/privacy/opt-out.

Soundcloud
We use the provider SoundCloud for the integration of audio material. SoundCloud is operated by SoundCloud Limited, headquartered at 33 St James Square, London SW1Y 4JS, UK. We use plugins from the provider SoundCloud on some of our websites. When you access the web pages of our website that have such a plugin, a connection to the SoundCloud servers is established and the plugin is displayed. This tells the SoundCloud server which of our web pages you have visited. If you are logged in to SoundCloud as a member, SoundCloud can assign this information to your personal user account. When using the plugin, e.g. clicking the start button of an audio file, this information is also assigned to your user account. You can prevent this assignment by logging out of your SoundCloud user account before using our website and deleting the corresponding cookies from SoundCloud. You can find further information on data processing and information on data protection by SoundCloud at https://soundcloud.com/pages/privacy.

Scorecard Research
Tracking from ScorecardResearch, a service of Full Circle Studies, Inc. is integrated on our websites. By collecting data on Internet behavior on certain websites that have registered with comScore, Inc., ScorecardResearch is able to generate reports on Internet behavior and trends. ComScore, Inc. is a recognized authority on Internet and general business trends whose collected data is regularly used by leading media outlets and by the largest Internet service providers from around the world. To learn more about comScore, please visit www.comscore.com. For more information on ScorecardResearch’s measurement process and privacy policy, please visit www.scorecardresearch.com/privacy.aspx. As a website visitor, you have the right to object to data storage. To opt out of this measurement at browser level, click here: http://www.scorecardresearch.com/preferences.aspx

User Like
If you contact us via the chat on our websites, this is done via the Userlike software, a live chat software from the company Userlike UG (haftungsbeschränkt). Userlike uses cookies that are stored on your computer and enable a personal conversation with you in the form of a real-time chat on the website. The data collected will not be used to personally identify the visitor to this website and will not be merged with personal data about the bearer of the pseudonym, unless personal data is provided voluntarily when using the live chat. You can find Userlike’s privacy policy here: https://www.userlike.com/de/privacy_policy

Lead Inspector
Lead Inspector GmbH technologies are used to collect, process and store data for marketing purposes and to recognize web visitors in order to statistically evaluate visitor access. Lead Inspector GmbH technology uses this data to determine addresses, but only in cases where it can ensure that the visitor is a company and not an individual person. So-called cookies can be used for this purpose. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer and enable your use of the website to be analyzed. The company data collected by Lead Inspector GmbH may also contain personal data. Lead Inspector GmbH may use information left behind by visits to the websites to create anonymized user profiles. If IP addresses are collected, they are anonymized immediately after collection by deleting the last number block. The collection and storage of data by Lead Inspector GmbH for this website can be revoked at any time with effect for the future at www.leadinspector.de/widerspruch.

Collection of general information
When you access our website, information of a general nature is automatically collected. This information (server log files) includes, for example, the type of web browser, the operating system used, the domain name of your internet service provider and similar. This is exclusively information that does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about your person. This information is technically necessary in order to correctly deliver the website content you have requested and is mandatory when using the Internet. Anonymous information of this kind is statistically evaluated by us in order to optimize our Internet presence and the technology behind it.

Collection and processing when using email or the contact form
If you contact us by email or via the contact form, the information you provide will be stored for the purpose of processing the inquiry and for possible follow-up questions. The information provided will also be used to inform you about our products such as events, specialist journals and books, specialist web portals and e-learning offers as well as company-related services such as market research or lead campaigns.

Comment function
When users leave comments on the blog, the time of their creation and the user name previously selected by the website visitor are saved in addition to this information. This is for our security, as we can be prosecuted for illegal content on our website, even if it was created by users.

SSL encryption
To protect the security of your data during transmission, we use state-of-the-art encryption methods (e.g. SSL) via HTTPS.

Provision of chargeable services
In order to provide chargeable services, we request additional data, such as payment details.

Use of the e-mail address for sending newsletters
When you register to receive our newsletter, the data you provide will be used for this purpose. Subscribers may also be informed by e-mail about circumstances relevant to the service or registration (for example, changes to the newsletter offer or technical circumstances). The information provided will also be used to inform you about our products such as events, specialist journals or books, specialist web portals and e-learning offers as well as company-related services such as market research or lead campaigns. We require a valid e-mail address for effective registration. We use the “double opt-in” procedure to verify that a registration is actually made by the owner of an e-mail address. For this purpose, we log the subscription to the newsletter, the sending of a confirmation email and the receipt of the requested reply. No further data is collected. This data is used exclusively for sending the newsletter and is not passed on to third parties. You can revoke your consent to the storage of your personal data and its use for sending the newsletter at any time. There is a corresponding link in every newsletter. You can also unsubscribe directly on this website at any time or inform us of your wish to do so via the contact option provided at the end of this privacy policy.

Registration on our website
When registering to use our personalized services, some personal data is collected, such as name, address, contact and communication data such as telephone number and email address. If you are registered with us, you can access content and services that we only offer to registered users. Registered users also have the option of changing or deleting the data provided during registration at any time. Of course, we will also provide you with information about the personal data we have stored about you at any time. We will also be happy to correct or delete this data at your request, provided there are no statutory retention obligations to the contrary. To contact us in this regard, please use the contact details provided at the end of this privacy policy.

Information, correction, blocking, deletion and objection
You have the right to receive information about your personal data stored by us at any time. You also have the right to have your personal data corrected, blocked or, apart from the prescribed data storage for business processing, deleted. Please contact our data protection officer. You will find the contact details below. To ensure that data can be blocked at any time, this data must be kept in a lock file for control purposes. You can also request the deletion of the data, provided there is no legal archiving obligation. If such an obligation exists, we will block your data on request. You can make changes or withdraw your consent by notifying us accordingly with effect for the future.

Use of script libraries (Google Web Fonts)
We use script libraries and font libraries such as Google Web Fonts(https://www.google.com/webfonts/) on this website in order to display our content correctly and graphically appealing across all browsers. Google web fonts are transferred to the cache of your browser to avoid multiple loading. If the browser does not support Google web fonts or prevents access, content is displayed in a standard font. Calling up script libraries or font libraries automatically triggers a connection to the library operator. It is theoretically possible – although it is currently unclear whether and for what purposes – that operators of such libraries collect data. The privacy policy of the library operator Google can be found here: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/

Use of Google Maps
This website uses Google Maps API to display geographical information visually. When Google Maps is used, Google also collects, processes and uses data about the use of the map functions by visitors. You can find more information about data processing by Google in the Google privacy policy. You can also change your personal data protection settings there in the data protection center. Detailed instructions on managing your own data in connection with Google products can be found here.

Changes to our privacy policy
We reserve the right to amend this privacy policy from time to time so that it always complies with current legal requirements or to implement changes to our services in the privacy policy, e.g. when introducing new services. The new privacy policy will then apply to your next visit.

Questions for the data protection officer
If you have any questions about data protection, please send us an e-mail or contact our data protection officer directly: STREIT GmbH E-mail: ds-beauftragter@streit-online.de Lahnstraße 27-29 64625 Bensheim Status: July 12, 2019

Declaration of consent