Data protection

1.1. Contact details

The controller pursuant to Art. 4 (7) of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is Rupprecht Consult - Forschung & Beratung GmbH, Erftstraße 15 - 17, 50672 Cologne, Germany, email: info@rupprecht-consult.eu. We are legally represented by Dr Katrin Jana Spille and Dr Wolfgang Karlheinz Backhaus.

Our data protection officer can be contacted via heyData GmbH, Schützenstraße 5, 10117 Berlin, www.heydata.eu, email: datenschutz@heydata.eu.

1.2. Scope of data processing, processing purposes and legal bases

The scope of data processing, processing purposes and legal bases are explained in detail below. The following are generally considered to be the legal basis for data processing:

Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR serves as the legal basis for processing operations for which we obtain consent.

Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR is the legal basis if the processing of personal data is necessary for the performance of a contract, e.g. if a website visitor purchases a product from us or we perform a service for them. This legal basis also applies to processing that is necessary for pre-contractual measures, such as enquiries about our products or services.

Art. 6 (1) (c) GDPR applies if we fulfil a legal obligation by processing personal data, as may be the case in tax law, for example.

Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR serves as the legal basis if we can invoke legitimate interests for the processing of personal data, e.g. for cookies that are necessary for the technical operation of our website.

1.3. Data processing outside the EEA

Insofar as we transfer data to service providers or other third parties outside the EEA, adequacy decisions by the EU Commission pursuant to Art. 45 para. 3 GDPR guarantee the security of the data during transfer, insofar as these exist, as is the case, for example, for the United Kingdom, Canada and Israel.

When transferring data to service providers in the USA, the legal basis for the data transfer is an adequacy decision by the EU Commission if the service provider has additionally certified itself under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework.

In other cases (e.g. if no adequacy decision exists), the legal basis for data transfer is usually standard contractual clauses, unless we indicate otherwise. These are a set of rules adopted by the EU Commission and form part of the contract with the respective third party. According to Art. 46(2)(b) GDPR, they guarantee the security of data transfer. Many of the providers have given contractual guarantees that go beyond the standard contractual clauses and protect the data beyond the standard contractual clauses. These include, for example, guarantees regarding the encryption of data or regarding the obligation of the third party to notify data subjects if law enforcement agencies wish to access data.

1.4. Storage period

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 there are no legal retention obligations preventing its deletion. If the data is not deleted because it is required for other, legally permissible purposes, its processing will be restricted, i.e. the data will be blocked and not processed for other purposes. This applies, for example, to data that we are required to retain for commercial or tax reasons.

1.5. Rights of data subjects

Data subjects have the following rights vis-à-vis us with regard to their personal data:

Right to information

Right to correction or deletion

Right to restriction of processing

Right to object to processing

Right to data portability

Right to revoke consent at any time

Data subjects also have the right to complain to a data protection supervisory authority about the processing of their personal data. Contact details for data protection supervisory authorities are available at https://www.bfdi.bund.de/DE/Service/Anschriften/Laender/Laender-node.html.

1.6. Obligation to provide data

Customers, interested parties or third parties must only provide us with personal data within the scope of a business relationship or other relationship that is necessary for the establishment, implementation and termination of the business relationship or other relationship, or that we are legally obliged to collect. Without this data, we will generally have to refuse to conclude a contract or provide a service, or we will no longer be able to perform an existing contract or other relationship.

Mandatory information is marked as such.

1.7. No automated decision-making in individual cases

We do not use fully automated decision-making in accordance with Article 22 of the GDPR to establish and implement a business relationship or other relationship. If we use these procedures in individual cases, we will inform you separately if this is required by law.

1.8. Contact

When you contact us, e.g. by e-mail or telephone, we store the data you provide (e.g. names and e-mail addresses) in order to answer your questions. The legal basis for processing is our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR) in responding to enquiries addressed to us. We delete the data collected in this context once storage is no longer necessary, or restrict processing if there are legal retention obligations.

1.9. Customer surveys

From time to time, we conduct customer surveys to get to know our customers and their wishes better. In doing so, we collect the data requested in each case. It is in our legitimate interest to get to know our customers and their wishes better, so that the legal basis for the associated data processing is Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR. We delete the data once the results of the surveys have been evaluated.

2. Data processing on our website

2.1. Note for website visitors from Germany

Our website stores information on the end device of website visitors (e.g. cookies) or accesses information that is already stored on the end device (e.g. IP addresses). The following sections provide details of what this information is.

This storage and access is based on the following provisions:

Insofar as this storage or access is absolutely necessary in order for us to provide the service expressly requested by website visitors (e.g. to operate a chatbot used by website visitors or to ensure the IT security of our website), it is carried out on the basis of Section 25 (2) No. 2 of the Telecommunications Digital Services Data Protection Act (TDDDG).

Otherwise, this storage or access is based on the consent of the website visitors (Section 25 (1) TDDDG).

Subsequent data processing is carried out in accordance with the following sections and on the basis of the provisions of the GDPR.

2.2. Informational use of the website

When the website is used for informational purposes, i.e. when visitors to the site do not provide us with any specific information, we collect the personal data that the browser transmits to our server in order to ensure the stability and security of our website. This is in our legitimate interest, so the legal basis is Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR.

This data includes:

IP address

Date and time of the request

Time zone difference to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

Content of the request (specific page)

Access status/HTTP status code

Amount of data transferred in each case

Website from which the request originates

Browser

Operating system and its interface

Language and version of the browser software.

This data is also stored in log files. It is deleted when its storage is no longer necessary, at the latest after 14 days.

2.3. Web hosting and provision of the website

Our website is hosted by All-Inkl.com. The provider is René Münnich (‘ALL-INKL.COM - Neue Medien Münnich’), Hauptstraße 68, 02742 Friedersdorf. The provider processes the personal data transmitted via the website, e.g. content, usage, meta/communication data or contact data, in the EU. Further information can be found in the provider's privacy policy at https://all-inkl.com/datenschutzinformationen/.

It is in our legitimate interest to provide a website, so the legal basis for the data processing described is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR.

2.4. Job advertisements

We publish vacancies in our company on our website, on pages linked to the website or on third-party websites.

The data provided in the application is processed for the purpose of carrying out the application process. Insofar as this is necessary for our decision to establish an employment relationship, the legal basis is Art. 88 (1) GDPR in conjunction with § 26 (1) BDSG. We have marked the data required to carry out the application process accordingly or have indicated it. If applicants do not provide this data, we cannot process their application.

Further data is voluntary and not required for an application. If applicants provide further information, the basis for this is their consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR).

We ask applicants to refrain from providing information on political opinions, religious beliefs and similar sensitive data in their CVs and cover letters. This information is not required for an application. If applicants nevertheless provide such information, we cannot prevent its processing in the context of processing the CV or cover letter. Their processing is then also based on the consent of the applicants (Art. 9 (2) (a) GDPR).

Finally, we process applicants' data for further application procedures if they have given us their consent to do so. In this case, the legal basis is Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR.

We pass on the applicants' data to the relevant employees in the human resources department, to our processors in the recruitment area and to other employees involved in the application process.

If we enter into an employment relationship with the applicant following the application process, we will only delete the data after the employment relationship has ended. Otherwise, we delete the data no later than six months after rejecting an applicant.

If applicants have given us their consent to use their data for further application procedures, we only delete their data one year after receiving the application.

2.5. Technically necessary cookies

Our website uses cookies. Cookies are small text files that are stored in the web browser on the end device of a website visitor. Cookies help to make the website more user-friendly, effective and secure. Insofar as these cookies are necessary for the operation of our website or its functions (hereinafter ‘technically necessary cookies’), the legal basis for the associated data processing is Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in providing customers and other site visitors with a functional website.

Specifically, we use technically necessary cookies for the following purpose or purposes:

Cookies that apply language settings and

Flash cookies that are set for the playback of media content

2.6. Third-party providers

2.6.1. Usercentrics

We use Usercentrics to manage consent. The provider is Usercentrics GmbH, Sendlinger Straße 7, 80331 Munich. The provider processes meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses) in the EU.

The legal basis for processing is Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c GDPR. Processing is necessary to fulfil a legal obligation to which we are subject.

The data is deleted when the purpose for which it was collected no longer applies and there is no obligation to retain it. Further information is available in the provider's privacy policy at https://usercentrics.com/privacy-policy/.

2.6.2. Matomo

We use Matomo for analysis. However, processing only takes place on our servers. We process usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times) and meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses) in the EU.

The legal basis for processing is Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR. Processing is based on consent. Data subjects can revoke their consent at any time by contacting us, e.g. using the contact details provided in our privacy policy. The revocation does not affect the lawfulness of the processing until the revocation.

The data will be deleted when the purpose for which it was collected no longer applies and there are no retention obligations.

2.6.3. Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics for analysis. The provider is Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. The provider processes usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times) and meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses) in the USA.

The legal basis for processing is Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR. Processing is based on consent. Data subjects can revoke their consent at any time by contacting us, e.g. using the contact details provided in our privacy policy. Revocation does not affect the lawfulness of processing until revocation.

The legal basis for the transfer to a country outside the EEA is an adequacy decision. The security of the data transferred to the third country (i.e. a country outside the EEA) is guaranteed because the EU Commission has decided, within the framework of an adequacy decision pursuant to Art. 45 (3) GDPR, that the third country offers an adequate level of protection.

The data will be deleted when the purpose for which it was collected no longer applies and there is no obligation to retain it. Further information is available in the provider's privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

2.6.4. Google Web Fonts

We use Google Web Fonts for fonts on the website. The provider is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. The provider processes meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses) in the USA.

Further information is available in the provider's privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

2.6.5. heyData

We have integrated a data protection seal on our website. The provider is heyData GmbH, Schützenstraße 5, 10117 Berlin, Germany. The provider processes meta/communication data (e.g. IP addresses) in the EU.

The legal basis for the processing is Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in providing website visitors with confirmation of our data protection compliance. At the same time, the provider has a legitimate interest in ensuring that only customers with existing contracts use its seals, which is why a mere image copy of the certificate is not a viable alternative to confirmation.

The data is masked after collection so that it is no longer personally identifiable. Further information is available in the provider's privacy policy at https://heydata.eu/datenschutzerklaerung.

3. Data processing on social media platforms

We are represented on social media networks in order to present our organisation and our services there. The operators of these networks regularly process their users' data for advertising purposes. Among other things, they create user profiles based on their online behaviour, which are used, for example, to display advertising on the network pages and elsewhere on the Internet that corresponds to the interests of the users. To this end, the operators of the networks store information about usage behaviour in cookies on the users' computers. It cannot be ruled out that the operators may combine this information with other data. Further information and instructions on how users can object to processing by the site operators can be found in the privacy policies of the respective operators listed below. It is also possible that the operators or their servers are located in non-EU countries, meaning that they process data there. This may pose risks for users, e.g. because it makes it more difficult to enforce their rights or because government agencies may access the data.

When users of the networks contact us via our profiles, we process the data provided to us in order to respond to their enquiries. This is in our legitimate interest, so the legal basis is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR.

3.1. YouTube

We maintain a profile on YouTube. The operator is Google Ireland Limited Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4. Ireland. The privacy policy is available here: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

3.2. LinkedIn

We maintain a profile on LinkedIn. The operator is LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland. The privacy policy is available here: https://https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy?_l=de_DE. You can object to data processing via the settings for advertisements: https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.

4. Changes to this privacy policy

We reserve the right to change this privacy policy with future effect. The current version is available here.

5. Questions and comments

If you have any questions or comments regarding this privacy policy, please do not hesitate to contact us using the contact details provided above.