Data Protection

Statement of Data Protection Conditions for the Internet

The following pertains to the use of this website. As the party responsible for data processing (controller), we process your personal data collected via our website and store them for the period necessary to achieve the specified purposes and to comply with statutory requirements. In the following, we inform you about the data we collect and the way we process them. Furthermore, we inform you about your data privacy rights pertaining to the use of this website. Personal data, as defined by Article 4(1) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) includes any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person.

 

1. Name and contact information of the person responsible for data processing (controller) and of the corporate Data Protection Officer

This data protection information shall apply to the processing of data on our Institute’s website www.imw.fraunhofer.de/en by the controller, the:

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Hansastrasse 27 c,
D-80686 München (Munich, Germany)

On behalf of the Fraunhofer IMW

E-Mail: info@imw.fraunhofer.de
Telefon: +49 341 231039-0
Fax: +49 341 231039-190

You can reach the Data Protection Officer of the Fraunhofer Institute at the above address c/o Data Protection Officer or at datenschutz@zv.fraunhofer.de. Please do not hesitate to contact the Data Protection Officer directly at any time in case of any questions concerning your data protection rights and/or your rights as data subject.

2. Processing of Personal Data and Purposes of Data Processing

During your Website Visit

Every time you visit our web pages, our website servers save the data of your device accessing our website in a protocol file. This storage is temporary; our website server saves the following access data until their automated deletion:

  1. The IP address of the requesting device
  2. Access date and time
  3. Name and URL of the accessed data
  4. The data volume transmitted
  5. The message whether the access was successful
  6. The browser and operating system used
  7. The name of the Internet Provider (ISP)
  8. The referring website (referrer URL)

These data are processed for the following purposes:

  1. To enable the use of the website (connection setup)
  2. Administration of the network infrastructure
  3. Appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure IT systems and data security taking into account the state-of-the-art technology
  4. To offer user-friendly service
  5. To optimize the Internet offering

Legal foundations for the above processing purposes:

  • Processing in response to a website visit pursuant to numbers 1-2 the first sentence of Article 6(1), point (b) (requirement for compliance with provisions of the website user contract)
  • Processing pursuant to number 3, the first sentence of Article 6(1), point (c) GDPR (legal obligation to implement technical and organisational measures to ensure secure data processing pursuant to Article 32 GDPR) and the first sentence of Article 6(1), point (f) GDPR (legitimate interests in data processing for the network and information security) as well as
  • Data processing pursuant to numbers 4 – 5, the first sentence of Article 6(1), lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests). Our legitimate interests in the processing of data are based on our desire to offer user-friendly optimised web pages [our legitimate interests may also include the distribution of direct advertising.]

After the set period of 30 days, our web server automatically deletes the above-mentioned data. To the extent that data are processed longer for purposes pursuant to numbers 2 – 5, we will anonymise or delete the data as soon as their storage no longer serves the respective purpose.

Furthermore, we insert Cookies once you visit our website and we use analytical services as well. For more information on the use of Cookies and analytical services, please see Sections 4 and 5 of this Data Protection Statement.

Visitor Registration for Events

We invite web visitors on a regular basis to different kinds of events. Our website visitors are able to register online.

In order to register online, our website’s visitors have to provide some mandatory data. These data include

  • First and last name
  • Address
  • Email address

Should we request additional mandatory data, we will specifically identify them (using an * for example). In addition, our website’s users often have the opportunity to volunteer additional information.

We process the mandatory data to identify you as event participant and to reserve a place for you. In addition, we conclude and perform the participation contract with you and provide you with information before, during and after the event to ensure that you enjoy your participation and that the event proceeds as smoothly as planned. The voluntary data help us to plan and organise our events in tune with your interests and age.

We collect the data in response to the enquiries of interested participants. Pursuant to the first sentence of Article 6(1), point (b) GDPR, data collection for the purposes mentioned is necessary for the performance of the participation contract and in order to take steps prior to entering into the participation contract.

We store data we collect in context with registrations to events for six (6) months unless you consented to a longer storage period than set forth in the first sentence of  Article 6(1), point (a) GDPR.

Subscriptions to our Newsletter

We will send our newsletter to your email address on a regular basis provided you explicitly consent to our use of your email address as recipient address for our newsletter pursuant to the first sentence of Article 6(1), point (a) GDPR. The newsletters inform you about our Institute and other facilities and events of (Fraunhofer e.V.)  To receive our newsletter, we ask you to provide us with the following mandatory data:

  • Email address
  • Title
  • First name
  • Last name
  • In the case of PR distribution lists, the name of your company and/or press medium is also mandatory information.

We need your name and title to address you personally in our newsletter.

You may volunteer to provide us with additional information about you (such as your address and telephone number). We use these data to contact you by mail or telephone (e.g. for the purpose of press invitations).

Upon receiving your subscription, we will email you a subscription notice. Please confirm receipt of this notice. We need this confirmation to send our newsletter to you. This process is known as double opt-in procedure. Your response serves as proof that you are indeed the person who requested our newsletter.

You may unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time. You may find an ‘unsubscribe’ link at the end of each of our newsletters. Alternatively, you may also unsubscribe by email [newsletter@imw.fraunhofer.de] or by using the following link: www.fraunhofer.de/de/fraunhofer-newsletter-abmeldung.html.

Upon receiving your unsubscribe notice, we will delete your email address immediately.

Subscription to our PR Distribution List

We will send regular press releases and media information to your email address provided you explicitly consent to joining our PR distribution list as well as to our using your email address for this purpose pursuant to the first sentence of Article 6(1), point (a) GDPR. We ask you for the following mandatory data to complete your PR distribution list subscription:

  • Title
  • Last name, first name
  • Email address

You may also volunteer your company name and/or your media corporation.

We need your title and name to address our communications to you personally.

 We use your company name and/or the name of your media corporation to identify you as member of the media and to send you invitations by mail.

Once we receive your subscription, we will send you a subscription confirmation email. We need you to reply to this email to confirm that you are indeed the person who wants to subscribe to our PR distribution list (double opt-in procedure). .

You may unsubscribe at any time either by using the unsubscribe link at the end of every press release or announcement or alternatively by email [newsletter@imw.fraunhofer.de].

Upon receiving your unsubscribe notification, we will immediately delete your email address from our subscriber list.

Use of Contact Forms

We offer our website’s visitors the opportunity to contact us via a form on our website. To enable you to communicate with us via this form, we request the following data:

  • Title
  • Last name, first name
  • Email address

We need these data to find out who contacted us and to process the user request. We process the data in response to your enquiry. Our purpose is to answer your inquiry for the purposes of our legitimate interests pursuant to the first sentence of Article 6(1), point (f) GDPR. Once we have satisfied the enquiry via contact form, we will automatically delete the personal data collected.

The Use of Online Shops

On certain topics, we offer an online shop on our website. In this shop, visitors may buy publications by scientists associated with the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. As part of the order process, we collect the following mandatory data:

  • Title
  • First and last name
  • Address
  • Email address

The collecting and processing of these data have the following purposes:

  • To identify you as our contract partner
  • To check the provided data for plausibility
  • To complete the order and invoicing processes

In addition, site visitors may volunteer more data (such as the company name, different invoice address and contact data).

Data processing is triggered by your request. It is necessary for processing your order and meeting the conditions for the contract pursuant to the first sentence of Article 6, (1), point (b) GDPR. During this process, we use your email address to send you an order confirmation. We use all collected contact data exclusively to handle any inquiries in context with your order.

We store the personal data collected in context with your order until the end of the statutory warranty period (2 years, Sec. 438(1) No. 3 BGB [German Civil Code]) and automatically delete them afterwards unless fiscal safekeeping and documentation legislation requires a longer storage time pursuant to the first sentence of Article 6(1), point (c) GDPR and in particular pursuant to Sec. 147 AO [German Fiscal Code]). For this storage period (ordinarily ten (10) years after entering into the sales contract), we will re-process the data solely for audits by the fiscal authorities. All other data processing is prohibited.

3. Transfer of Personal Data to Third Parties

With exception of the above-mentioned cases of data processing by service providers on our behalf (see event registrations, newsletter subscription, etc.) we give your personal data only to third parties (i.e. to natural and legal persons other than you, the data subject), the controller or the service provider or its vicarious agents if:

  • You consented explicitly to the data transfer to a third party pursuant to the first sentence of Article 6(1), point (a) GDPR
  • The data transfer is necessary for the performance of the contract with you pursuant to the first sentence of Article 6(1), point (b) GDPR
    • Data transfer to the mail order firm which will deliver the goods you ordered
    • Payment data transfer to payment service providers and credit institutes for payment transactions
  • We are legally obligated to surrender the data to financial or judicial authorities pursuant to the first sentence of Article 6(1), point (c) GDPR
  • Transferring your data to third parties is required to establish, exercise or defend legal claims, and there is no reason to assume that you as data subject could have an overriding interest worth protecting in the non-transfer of your personal data pursuant to Article 6(1) S. 1, point (f) GDPR. Such a data transfer to government and/or law enforcement authorities may occur in cases of attacks on our IT systems.

Third parties may use the transferred data only for the above-mentioned purposes.

 If you have registered for an event, it may be necessary in the course of the contractual performance that your personal data be transferred to an external organiser. The confirmation of your event registration will name the event organiser and inform you whether it is an external organiser. This event organiser will not only organise and manage the event but also process personal registration data.

Pursuant to Article 28 GDPR, our service providers host our websites on servers located in Germany exclusively.

4.   Cookies

We use server-side cookies. Cookies are small files which are automatically created by your browser and stored in your device (PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone or similar device) once you visit our website. Cookies do not harm your computer, and they do not contain viruses, Trojans or other malware.

Cookies contain information pertaining to the specific device, which accessed our website. However, this does not provide us with direct knowledge of your identity.

One reason for us to use cookies is to make the use of our website more convenient for you. We use session cookies to allow session controls such as controls for inserting data into forms or saving shopping carts. At the latest, session cookies are deleted when you close your browser.

We also use temporary cookies to optimise the user-friendliness of our website. Your device stores these cookies temporarily for a specific time. Once you visit our website again, our server will recognise your device as prior visitor and remember your settings and preferences. You will not have to enter these parameters again.

We also use cookies to gather data for our website statistics. This helps us evaluate and optimise our web offering (see Section 5). These cookies allow us to recognise repeat visits from your device. They will be deleted automatically after a specific time.

The data obtained with the help of cookies help us pursue our legitimate interests as website owners and serve the legitimate interests of third parties pursuant to the first sentence of Article 6(1), point (f) GDPR.

Most browsers accept cookies automatically. However, you are able to configure your browser in such a way that the application does not store cookies on your computer or always shows an alert before storing new cookies. However, the complete deactivation of cookies may prevent you from using all of the functions on our website.

5.      Web analysis/Tracking

LeadLab (Wiredminds GmbH)

For our website, we use the Leadlab service of the Wireminds GmbH service provider and the company’s pixel counting technology to analyse the habits of our website users. The analysis helps us optimise our website. The service allows us to recognise which companies visit our website. The data do not enable us to identify users directly.

In context with the Leadlab web services, we use cookies and tag pixels that allow our service to analyse how you use our website. The cookie stores information including personal data regarding the behaviour of website visitors and transmits this information directly to Wireminds GmbH unless Wiredminds collects it directly. Wiredminds uses pseudonyms and anonymises the data whenever possible before processing and analysing the data and creating a user profile.

Without your explicit consent, neither Wiredminds nor we use the so collected data to identify you personally, and your personal data are never matched with data under a pseudonym associated with you.

To the extent that IP addresses are collected, they are stripped of their last control number block upon collection to anonymise the addresses instantly.

You may find the data protection statement of Wiredminds on their website.

The provider processes the data based on our legitimate interest pursuant to Article 6(1), point (f) GDPR in the optimisation of our online offerings and our web presence. Wiredminds processes the data on our behalf, and we have entered into an order processing agreement with Wireminds GmbH. It ensures that the data processing on our behalf is done in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and that the rights of the data subjects are protected.

If you choose to object to the collection of data and the analysis of your user activities, please use our opt-out cookie to prevent installing our cookies. This will prevent the future collection of data when you use our website.  The opt-out cookie in your device is valid only in this browser and only for our website. If you delete the cookies in this browser, you have to install the opt-out cookie again.

Matomo

On our website, we use the Matomo open source service by InnoCraft Ltd in New Zealand to analyse the activities of our website users and to optimise our website and its content based on this analysis. During this process, we do not receive any information that identifies our users.

 Matomo uses cookies that enable the service to analyse the activities of our website users. The cookie contains information, including personal information, on your visitor behaviour on our website. Under a pseudonym, Matomo creates your user profile for analytical purposes. Since we host Matomo on our own server, the analysis does not require the processing of data by third parties.

Without your specific permission, we do not use the data collected to identify you personally and will not match the data with personal data under a pseudonym associated with you.

To the extent that we collect IP addresses, these addresses are stripped of their last control number block upon collection to anonymise the IP addresses instantly.  

We process statistical data based on our legitimate interest pursuant to Article 6(1), point (f) GDPR in the optimisation of our online offering and our web presence.

Currently, Matomo Web Services analyse your website visit.

6.   Social Plugins

We use social plug-ins (media buttons) on our website. These are small buttons. Click on them to place the content of our website under your profile in social network sites.

If you click on such a button, a link will be established between our website and the social network to which you subscribe. Aside from the respective content, the social network provider will receive other personal information. This includes the information that you are visiting our website right now.

In order to integrate the social plug-in we use the so-called Shariff Solution. This solution prevents your device from creating a link to the social network merely because you visit a website featuring a social plug-in button without clicking on it. This means that a link is established only if you click on the social plug-in button.

We integrate the following social plug-ins on our website:

Facebook Ireland Limited: share on Facebook

Some information is transferred to the US domicile of the parent company Facebook Inc. This company complies with the data protection regulations of the US Privacy Shield and is registered with the US Privacy Shield Program of the US Department of Commerce.

Purpose and scope of the data collection and further processing and use of the data by Facebook and your user rights as well as your ability to protect your privacy rights by changing your browser settings are subject to Facebook’s Data Protection Regulation.

Twitter International Company: share on Twitter

Some information is transferred to the US parent company Twitter Inc. The Twitter International Company complies with the data protection regulations of the US Privacy Shield. Twitter Inc. is registered with the US Privacy Shield Program of the US Department of Commerce.

Please find more information on Twitter’s data protection in Twitter’s Data Protection Regulation.

Google LLC: share on Google LLC

Google complies with the Data Protection Regulations of the US Privacy Shield and is registered with the US Privacy Shield Program of the US Department of Commerce.

Please find more information on Google’s data protection in Google’s Data Protection Regulation.

Xing SE: share on Xing

Please find more information on Xing’s data protection in Xing’s Data Protection Regulation.

Pinterest Europe Ltd: share on Pinterest

Please find more information on Pinterest’s data protection in Pinterest’s Data Protection Regulation.

7.   YouTube

With consent pursuant to the first sentence of Article 6(1), point (f) GDPR, we use components (videos) of YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Avenue, 94066 San Bruno, CA (USA) (hereinafter referred to as ‘YouTube’), a company of Google Inc., Amphitheatre Parkway, 94043 Mountain View (USA), (hereinafter referred to as ‘Google’).

We use the ‘extended data protection mode’ option provided by YouTube.

Upon requesting an Internet page with embedded video, our website connects to the YouTube servers and renders the content on the Internet page using your browser.

According to the information provided by YouTube, in the ‘extended data protection mode’, your data will be transferred to the US YouTube servers only while you watch the video. The transferred data include the Internet page you just viewed and device-specific data including your IP address. By clicking ‘run’ on the video you agree to this transfer.

Should you be logged into your YouTube account at the same time, YouTube will associate these collected data with your member account. You may prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account prior to visiting our website.

Google complies with the data protection regulation of the US Privacy Shield and is registered with the US Privacy Shield Program of the US Department of Commerce.

You may find further information on data protection in context with YouTube in Google’s Data Protection Regulation.

8.   Your Rights as Data Subject

You have the following rights:

  • Pursuant to Article 7(3) GDPR, you have the right to withdraw at any time any consent you may have given to us before.  Consequently, we may no longer continue the respective activity.
  • Pursuant to Article 15 GDPR, you have the right to obtain information on your personal data which we have processed. In particular, you have the right to information on the following:

Purposes of the data processing

The category of personal data,

The categories of recipients to which we disclosed or will disclose your data,

The planned storage periods of data,

The existence of the right to correction, deletion, restriction of processing and objection,

The right to appeal,

The right to know the origin of your data in the event that we did not collect these data,

The right to meaningful and detailed information on the existence of automated decision-making including profiling and, if applicable, relevant information on the details thereof;

  • Pursuant to Article 16 GDPR, you have the right to obtain without undue delay  the rectification of inaccurate personal data and/or the completion of incomplete personal data in storage at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft,
  • Pursuant to Article 17 GDPR, you have the right to the erasure of your personal data unless the erasure interferes with the execution of the right to the free expression of opinions and to information, with the compliance with legal obligations, is necessary in the public interest or for establishing, exercising or defending legal claims,
  • Pursuant to Article 18 GDPR, you have the right to restriction of processing of your personal data if you contest or challenge the accuracy of these data, the processing of the data is unlawful but you oppose the erasure of these data and we no longer need the data while you still need the data to establish, exercise or defend legal claims or you have raised an objection against the data processing pursuant to Article 21 GDPR,
  • Pursuant to Article 20 GDPR, you have the right to receive the personal data concerning you in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format or to demand the transmit to another controller and
  • Pursuant to Article 77 GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. As a rule, you may find such authority at your habitual residence, your workplace or our company domicile.

Information on your right to object pursuant to Article 21 GDPR

You have the right to object at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of your personal data pursuant to Article 6(1), point (f) GDPR (data processing for the purposes of the legitimate interests) and Article 6,(1), point (e) GDPR (data processing for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest). This shall also apply to profiling as prescribed by Article 4 No. 4 GDPR, which is based on this provision.

Once you file an objection, we will no longer process your personal data unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for processing which override your interests, rights and freedoms, or unless the processing serves the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.

To the extent that your objection addresses the processing of data for direct advertising, we will stop the processing immediately. In this case, citing a special situation is not required. This shall also apply to profiling in as far as it relates to such direct advertising.

If you would like to assert your right to object, an email to datenschutz@zv.fraunhofer.de will suffice.

9.   Data Security

We transmit all your personal data using the widely used and secure TLS (Transport Layer Security) encryption standard. The TLS protocol is a proven and secure standard that is also used in online banking transactions.  

Moreover, we use suitable technical and organisational safety procedures to protect your data against accidental or wilful manipulation, partial or complete loss, destruction or against the unauthorised access by third parties. We constantly improve these security measures as the technology advances.

10.   Timeliness and Amendments to this Data Protection Information

This data protection information as amended in July of 2018 is currently applicable. Due to improvements of our website and website offers or by virtue of amended statutory or administrative standards, it may become necessary to amend this data protection information. You may find the latest data protection information by clicking the link on this website: https://www.imw.fraunhofer.de/en/data_protection.html. You may read or print this updated and amended version at any time.

11.  Severability

Should individual provisions of this data protection declaration be or become invalid either in part or in their entirety or prove infeasible at any time, this shall not affect the remaining provisions. This shall apply accordingly to gaps in this declaration.