This privacy policy explains the nature, scope and purpose of the processing of personal data (hereinafter referred to as “data”) in the context of the provision of our services and within our online offer and the associated websites, functions and content as well as external online presences, such as our social media profile (hereinafter collectively referred to as “online offer”). With regard to the terms used, such as “processing” or “controller”, we refer to the definitions in Art. 4 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Person responsible
Friends and Sponsors of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University e.V.
Eilfschornsteinstraße 18
52062 Aachen
Aachen, Germany
4ME@fb4.rwth-aachen.de
Management: Ruth Heßberger-Hees M.A.
Types of data processed
– Inventory data (e.g., personal master data, names or addresses).
– Contact data (e.g., e-mail, telephone numbers).
– Content data (e.g., text entries, photographs, videos).
– Usage data (e.g., websites visited, interest in content, access times).
– Meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).
Categories of affected persons
Visitors and users of the online offer (hereinafter we also refer to the data subjects collectively as “users”).
Purpose of the processing
– Providing the online offering, its functions and content.
– Responding to contact requests and communicating with users.
– Security measures.
– Reach measurement/marketing
Terminology used
“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.
“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. The term is broad and covers practically any handling of data.
“Pseudonymization” means the processing of personal data in such a manner that the personal data can no longer be attributed to a specific data subject without the use of additional information, provided that such additional information is kept separately and is subject to technical and organizational measures to ensure that the personal data are not attributed to an identified or identifiable natural person.
“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 analyze or predict aspects concerning that natural person’s performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, location or movements. “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.
“Processor” means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which processes personal data on behalf of the controller.
Relevant legal bases
In accordance with Art. 13 GDPR, we inform you of the legal basis of our data processing.
For users from the area of application of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), i.e. the EU and the EEC, the following applies if the legal basis is not mentioned in the data protection declaration:
The legal basis for obtaining consent is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a and Art. 7 GDPR;
The legal basis for the processing for the fulfillment of our services and the implementation of contractual measures as well as answering inquiries is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR;
The legal basis for processing for the fulfillment of our legal obligations is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR;
In the event that vital interests of the data subject or another natural person require the processing of personal data, Art. 6 para. 1 lit. d GDPR serves as the legal basis.
The legal basis for the processing necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. e GDPR.
The legal basis for processing to safeguard our legitimate interests is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.
The processing of data for purposes other than those for which they were collected is governed by the provisions of Art. 6 para. 4 GDPR.
The processing of special categories of data (in accordance with Art. 9 para. 1 GDPR) is governed by the provisions of Art. 9 para. 2 GDPR.
Security measures
We take 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 the processing as well as the different likelihood and severity of the risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, 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 access to the data, as well as the access, input, disclosure, safeguarding of availability and its separation. Furthermore, we have established procedures that guarantee the exercise of data subject rights, the deletion of data and the response to data threats. Furthermore, we take the protection of personal data into account as early as the development and selection of hardware, software and processes, in accordance with the principle of data protection through technology design and data protection-friendly default settings. Cooperation with processors, joint controllers and third parties If we disclose data to other persons and companies (processors, joint controllers or third parties) as part of our processing, transfer it to them or otherwise grant them access to the data, this is only done on the basis of legal permission (e.g. if the transfer of data to third parties, such as payment service providers, is necessary to fulfill the contract), users have consented, a legal obligation provides for this or on the basis of our legitimate interests (e.g. when using agents, web hosts, etc.).
If we disclose, transmit or otherwise grant access to data to other companies in our group of companies, this is done in particular for administrative purposes as a legitimate interest and, in addition, on a basis that complies with the legal requirements.
Transfers to third countries
If we process data in a third country (i.e. outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or the Swiss Confederation) or if this occurs in the context of the use of third-party services or disclosure or transfer of data to other persons or companies, this will only take place if it is done to fulfill our (pre)contractual obligations, on the basis of your consent, on the basis of a legal obligation or on the basis of our legitimate interests. Subject to legal or contractual permissions, we only process or leave the data in a third country if the legal requirements are met. This means, for example, that the processing takes place on the basis of special guarantees, such as the officially recognized determination of a level of data protection corresponding to the EU (e.g. for the USA through the “Privacy Shield”) or compliance with officially recognized special contractual obligations.
Rights of the data subjects
You have the right to request confirmation as to whether the data in question is being processed and to request information about this data as well as further information and a copy of the data in accordance with the legal requirements.
You have the right to request the completion of the data concerning you or the correction of incorrect data concerning you in accordance with the legal requirements. In accordance with the legal requirements, you have the right to demand that the data in question be deleted immediately or, alternatively, to demand that the processing of the data be restricted in accordance with the legal requirements.
You have the right to request that the data concerning you that you have provided to us be received in accordance with the legal requirements and to request that it be transferred to other data controllers.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority in accordance with the statutory provisions.
Right of withdrawal
You have the right to withdraw your consent with effect for the future. Right to object
You can object to the future processing of data concerning you at any time in accordance with the legal requirements. In particular, you may object to processing for direct marketing purposes.
Cookies and right to object to direct advertising
Cookies” are small files that are stored on users’ computers. Different information can be stored within the cookies. A cookie is primarily used to store information about a user (or the device on which the cookie is stored) during or after their visit to an online service. Temporary cookies, or “session cookies” or “transient cookies”, are cookies that are deleted after a user leaves an online service and closes their browser. The content of a shopping cart in an online store or a login status, for example, can be stored in such a cookie. Cookies that remain stored even after the browser is closed are referred to as “permanent” or “persistent”. For example, the login status can be saved if the user visits the website after several days. The interests of users can also be stored in such a cookie and used for reach measurement or marketing purposes. “Third-party cookies” are cookies that are offered by providers other than the controller who operates the online service (otherwise, if they are only the controller’s cookies, they are referred to as ‘first-party cookies’).
We may use temporary and permanent cookies and provide information about this in our privacy policy.
If users do not want cookies to be stored on their computer, they are asked to deactivate the corresponding option in the system settings of their browser. Stored cookies can be deleted in the system settings of the browser. The exclusion of cookies can lead to functional restrictions of this online offer.
A general objection to the use of cookies used for online marketing purposes can be declared for a large number of services, especially in the case of tracking, via the US website http://www.aboutads.info/choices/ or the EU website http://www.youronlinechoices.com/. Furthermore, the storage of cookies can be achieved by deactivating them in the browser settings. Please note that you may then not be able to use all the functions of this website.
Deletion of data
The data processed by us will be deleted or its processing restricted in accordance with the legal requirements. Unless expressly stated in this privacy policy, the data stored by us will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required for its intended purpose and the deletion does not conflict with any statutory retention obligations. If the data is not deleted because it is required for other and legally permissible purposes, its processing will be restricted. This means that the data is blocked and not processed for other purposes. This applies, for example, to data that must be retained for commercial or tax law reasons.
Changes and updates to the privacy policy
We ask you to inform yourself regularly about the content of our privacy policy. We will adapt the privacy policy as soon as changes to the data processing 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.
Provision of our statutory and business-related services
We process the data of our members, supporters, interested parties, customers or other persons in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b. GDPR. GDPR, insofar as we offer them contractual services or act within the framework of an existing business relationship, e.g. with members, or are ourselves recipients of services and benefits. Otherwise, we process the data of data subjects in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interests, e.g. when it comes to administrative tasks or public relations work.
The data processed, the type, scope and purpose and the necessity of their processing are determined by the underlying contractual relationship. This generally includes inventory and master data of the persons (e.g., name, address, etc.), as well as contact data (e.g., e-mail address, telephone, etc.), contract data (e.g., services used, content and information provided, names of contact persons) and, if we offer services or products subject to payment, payment data (e.g., bank details, payment history, etc.).
We delete data that is no longer required to fulfill our statutory and business purposes. This is determined according to the respective tasks and contractual relationships. In the case of business processing, we retain the data for as long as it may be relevant for business transactions and with regard to any warranty or liability obligations. The necessity of retaining the data is reviewed every three years; otherwise the statutory retention obligations apply.
Registration function
Users can create a user account. As part of the registration process, the required mandatory information is communicated to the users and processed on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR for the purpose of providing the user account. The processed data includes in particular the login information (name, password and an email address). The data entered during registration is used for the purpose of using the user account and its purpose. Users may be informed by e-mail about information relevant to their user account, such as technical changes. If users have terminated their user account, their data relating to the user account will be deleted, subject to a statutory retention obligation. It is the responsibility of users to back up their data before the end of the contract in the event of termination. We are entitled to irretrievably delete all user data stored during the term of the contract. As part of the use of our registration and login functions and the use of the user account, we store the IP address and the time of the respective user action. This data is stored on the basis of our legitimate interests and those of the user in protection against misuse and other unauthorized use. This data will not be passed on to third parties unless it is necessary to pursue our claims or there is a legal obligation to do so pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c. GDPR. The IP addresses are anonymized or deleted after 7 days at the latest.
Contact us
When contacting us (e.g. by contact form, e-mail, telephone or via social media), the user’s details will be used to process the contact request and its processing in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b. (in the context of contractual/pre-contractual relationships), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. (other requests) GDPR. The information provided by users may be stored in a customer relationship management system (“CRM system”) or comparable inquiry organization. We delete the requests if they are no longer required. We review the necessity every two years; the statutory archiving obligations also apply.
Contact form and e-mail contact
Description and scope of data processing
There is a form on the website that can be used to contact us electronically. If a user makes use of this option, the data entered in the input mask will be transmitted and stored. These data are
Salutation
your name
Address (optional)
E-mail address
Telephone (optional)
Furthermore, forms can be used for various registration and contact purposes, which request data from the user tailored to the occasion. The user’s consent is obtained for the processing of the data as part of the sending process and reference is made to this privacy policy. Alternatively, contact can be made via the email address provided. In this case, the user’s personal data transmitted with the e-mail will be stored. The data will not be passed on to third parties in this context. The data is used exclusively for processing the conversation.
2. legal basis for data processing
The legal basis for the processing of the data is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR if the user has given consent.
The legal basis for the processing of data transmitted in the course of sending an email is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. e GDPR.
3. purpose of data processing
The processing of the personal data from the input mask serves solely to process the contact. If contact is made by email, this also constitutes the necessary legitimate interest in processing the data.
The other personal data processed during the sending process is used to prevent misuse of the contact form and to ensure the security of the university’s IT systems.
4. duration of storage
The data is deleted as soon as it is no longer required to achieve the purpose for which it was collected. For the personal data from the input screen of the contact form and those sent by email, this is the case when the respective conversation with the user has ended. The conversation is ended when it can be inferred from the circumstances that the matter in question has been conclusively clarified.
5. possibility of objection and removal
The user has the option to revoke their consent to the processing of personal data at any time. If the user contacts us by email, they can object to the storage of their personal data at any time. In such a case, the conversation cannot be continued.
The e-mail contact for revoking consent and objecting to storage can be sent to the following address: erfolgen:4ME@rwth-aachen.de All personal data stored in the course of contacting us will be deleted in this case.
Newsletter
With the following information we inform you about the contents of our newsletter as well as the registration, dispatch and statistical evaluation procedure and your rights of objection. By subscribing to our newsletter, you agree to receive it and to the procedures described.
Content of the newsletter: We only send newsletters, emails and other electronic notifications with advertising information (hereinafter “newsletter”) with the consent of the recipient or legal permission. If the contents of the newsletter are specifically described when registering for the newsletter, they are decisive for the user’s consent. Otherwise, our newsletters contain information about our services and us.
Double opt-in and logging: Registration for our newsletter takes place in a so-called double opt-in procedure. This means that after registering you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your registration. This confirmation is necessary so that no-one can register with other people’s e-mail addresses. Subscriptions to the newsletter are logged in order to be able to prove the registration process in accordance with legal requirements. This includes storing the time of registration and confirmation as well as the IP address. Changes to your data stored with the mailing service provider are also logged.
Registration data: To register for the newsletter, it is sufficient to enter your e-mail address. Optionally, we ask you to provide a name so that we can address you personally in the newsletter. The newsletter and the performance measurement associated with it are sent on the basis of the consent of the recipients in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a, Art. 7 GDPR in conjunction with Section 7 para. 2 no. 3 UWG or, if consent is not required, on the basis of our legitimate interests in direct marketing in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lt. f. GDPR in conjunction with. § 7 para. 3 UWG.
The registration process is logged on the basis of our legitimate interests in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. We are interested in using a user-friendly and secure newsletter system that serves both our business interests and the expectations of users and also allows us to provide proof of consent.
Cancellation/revocation – You can cancel the receipt of our newsletter at any time, i.e. revoke your consent. You will find a link to unsubscribe from the newsletter at the end of each newsletter. We may store the unsubscribed e-mail addresses for up to three years on the basis of our legitimate interests before deleting them in order to be able to prove that consent was previously given. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defense against claims. An individual request for deletion is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed at the same time.
Collection of access data and log files
We, or our hosting provider, collect on the basis of our legitimate interests within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR. GDPR, we collect data about every access to the server on which this service is located (so-called server log files). The access data includes the name of the website accessed, file, date and time of access, amount of data transferred, notification of successful access, browser type and version, the user’s operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page), IP address and the requesting provider. Log file information is stored for security reasons (e.g. to investigate misuse or fraud) for a maximum of 7 days and then deleted. Data whose further storage is required for evidence purposes is excluded from deletion until the respective incident has been finally clarified.
Content delivery network from StackPath
We use a so-called “Content Delivery Network” (CDN), offered by StackPath, LLC, 2021 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1100 Dallas, Texas 75201, USA. StackPath is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thus offers a guarantee of compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000CbahAAC&status=Active).
A CDN is a service that is used to deliver the content of our online offering, in particular large media files such as graphics or scripts, more quickly with the help of regionally distributed servers connected via the Internet. User data is processed solely for the aforementioned purposes and to maintain the security and functionality of the CDN.
The use is based on our legitimate interests, i.e. interest in a secure and efficient provision, analysis and optimization of our online offer.
Further information can be found in StackPath’s privacy policy: https://www.stackpath.com/legal/privacy-statement.
Online presence in social media
We maintain online presences within social networks and platforms in order to communicate with the customers, interested parties and users active there and to inform them about our services.
We would like to point out that user data may be processed outside the European Union. This may result in risks for users because, for example, it could make it more difficult to enforce users’ rights. With regard to US providers that are certified under the Privacy Shield, we would like to point out that they thereby undertake to comply with the data protection standards of the EU.
Furthermore, user data is generally processed for market research and advertising purposes. For example, user profiles can be created from the usage behavior and the resulting interests of the users. The usage profiles can in turn be used, for example, to place advertisements inside and outside the platforms that presumably correspond to the interests of the users. For these purposes, cookies are generally stored on the user’s computer, in which the user’s usage behavior and interests are stored. Furthermore, data can also be stored in the user profiles independently of the devices used by the users (especially if the users are members of the respective platforms and are logged in to them).
The processing of users’ personal data is based on our legitimate interests in effective user information and communication with users in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR. GDPR. If the users are asked by the respective providers of the platforms for consent to the data processing described above, the legal basis for the processing is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a., Art. 7 GDPR.
For a detailed description of the respective processing and the possibilities of objection (opt-out), we refer to the following linked information from the providers.
In the case of requests for information and the assertion of user rights, we would also like to point out that these can be asserted most effectively with the providers. Only the providers have access to the users’ data and can take appropriate measures and provide information directly. If you still need help, you can contact us.
Facebook, -pages, -groups, (Facebook Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland) on the basis of an agreement on joint processing of personal data – Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/, especially for pages: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data , Opt-Out: https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=ads and http://www.youronlinechoices.com, Privacy Shield: https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000GnywAAC&status=Active.
Google/ YouTube (Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA) – Datenschutzerklärung: https://policies.google.com/privacy, Opt-Out: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated, Privacy Shield: https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active.
Instagram (Instagram Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA) – Datenschutzerklärung/ Opt-Out: http://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy/.
Twitter (Twitter Inc., 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA) – Datenschutzerklärung: https://twitter.com/de/privacy, Opt-Out: https://twitter.com/personalization, Privacy Shield: https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000TORzAAO&status=Active.
Pinterest (Pinterest Inc., 635 High Street, Palo Alto, CA, 94301, USA) – Datenschutzerklärung/ Opt-Out: https://about.pinterest.com/de/privacy-policy.
LinkedIn (LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland) – Privacy Policy https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy , Opt-Out: https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out, Privacy Shield: https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000L0UZAA0&status=Active.
Xing (XING AG, Dammtorstraße 29-32, 20354 Hamburg, Germany) – Privacy Policy/ Opt-Out: https://privacy.xing.com/de/datenschutzerklaerung.
Wakalet (Wakelet Limited, 76 Quay Street, Manchester, M3 4PR, United Kingdom) – Privacy Policy/ Opt-Out: https://wakelet.com/privacy.html.
Soundcloud (SoundCloud Limited, Rheinsberger Str. 76/77, 10115 Berlin, Germany) – Privacy Policy/ Opt-Out: https://soundcloud.com/pages/privacy.
Integration of third-party services and content
On the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimization and economic operation of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR), we use content or service offers from third-party providers within our online offer. GDPR) content or service offers from third-party providers in order to integrate their content and services, such as videos or fonts (hereinafter uniformly referred to as “content”).
This always presupposes that the third-party providers of this content are aware of the IP address of the user, as they would not be able to send the content to their browser without the IP address. The IP address is therefore required to display this content. We endeavor to only use content whose respective providers only use the IP address to deliver the content. Third-party providers may also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also known as “web beacons”) for statistical or marketing purposes. Pixel tags can be used to analyze 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 contain, among other things, technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, visit time and other information about the use of our online offer, as well as being linked to such information from other sources.
Youtube
We integrate the videos of the platform “YouTube” of the provider Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. Privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/, Opt-Out: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
Google Maps
We integrate the maps of the “Google Maps” service of the provider Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. The processed data may include, in particular, IP addresses and location data of users, which, however, are not collected without their consent (usually as part of the settings of their mobile devices). The data may be processed in the USA. Privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/, opt-out: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
OpenStreetMap
We integrate the maps of the “OpenStreetMap” service (https://www.openstreetmap.de), which are offered on the basis of the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL) by the OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF). Privacy policy: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Privacy_Policy. To the best of our knowledge, OpenStreetMap uses user data exclusively for the purpose of displaying the map functions and temporarily storing the selected settings. This data may include, in particular, users’ IP addresses and location data, which are not collected without their consent (usually as part of the settings of their mobile devices). The data may be processed in the USA. Further information can be found in OpenStreetMap’s privacy policy: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Privacy_Policy.