Privacy Policy

1. Data Protection at a Glance

General Notes

The following notes provide a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit this website. Personal data is all data with which you can be personally identified. Detailed information on the subject of data protection can be found in our privacy policy listed below this text.

Data Collection on This Website

Who is responsible for data collection on this website?

The data processing on this website is carried out by United Networks gUG. You can find our contact details in the section “Note on the responsible body” in this privacy policy.

How do we collect your data?

Your data is collected, on the one hand, by you providing it to us. This may be data that you enter in a contact form.

Other data is automatically collected or with your consent by our IT systems when you visit the website. These are mainly technical data (e.g., internet browser, operating system, or time of the page view). This data is collected automatically as soon as you enter this website.

What do we use your data for?

Part of the data is collected to ensure error-free provision of the website. Other data can be used to analyze your user behavior.

What rights do you have regarding your data?

You have the right at any time to obtain information free of charge about the origin, recipient, and purpose of your stored personal data. You also have the right to request the correction or deletion of this data. If you have given consent to data processing, you can revoke this consent at any time for the future. You also have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data under certain circumstances. Furthermore, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.

For this and other questions on the subject of data protection, you can contact us at any time.

Analysis Tools and Tools from Third-Party Providers

When you visit this website, your surfing behavior can be statistically evaluated. This is mainly done with analysis programs.

Detailed information about these analysis programs can be found in the following privacy policy.

2. Hosting

We host the content of our website with the following provider: Google Ireland Limited (“Google”) Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4. Ireland Tel: +353 1 543 1000. Fax: +353 1 686 5660.

When you visit our website, Google collects various log files including your IP addresses.

Details can be found in Google’s privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en

The use of Google is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in the most reliable presentation of our website. If a corresponding consent has been requested, the processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information in the user’s terminal device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. The consent can be revoked at any time.

Data Processing Agreement

We have concluded a data processing agreement (AVV) for the use ofthe above-mentioned service. This is a data protection contract required by law, ensuring that the service processes personal data of our website visitors only according to our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

3. General Information and Mandatory Information

Data Protection

personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with the statutory data protection regulations and this privacy policy.

When you use this website, various personal data are collected.

Personal data is data with which you can be personally identified. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this happens.

Please note that data transmission over the Internet (e.g., communication by email) can have security gaps. Complete protection of data from access by third parties is not possible.

Note on the Responsible Entity

The responsible entity for data processing on this website is:

United Networks gUG
Aachener Str. 63
54294 Trier

Phone: +49 (0) 651 603 440 80
Email: [email protected]

The responsible entity is the natural or legal person who alone or jointly with others decides on the purposes and means of processing personal data (e.g., names, email addresses, etc.).

Data Retention Period

Unless a more specific storage period has been specified in this privacy policy, your personal data will remain with us until the purpose for data processing no longer applies. If you assert a legitimate request for deletion or revoke consent to data processing, your data will be deleted unless we have other legally permissible reasons for storing your personal data (e.g., tax or commercial law retention periods); in the latter case, the deletion will occur after these reasons cease to apply.

General Notes on the Legal Bases for Data Processing on This Website

If you have consented to data processing, we process your personal data based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR or Art. 9 para. 2 lit. a GDPR, if special data categories according to Art. 9 para. 1 GDPR are processed. In case of explicit consent to the transfer of personal data to third countries, data processing is also based on Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. If you have consented to the storage of cookies or to access information in your terminal device (e.g., via device fingerprinting), data processing is also based on § 25 para. 1 TTDSG. The consent can be revoked at any time. If your data is required for contract fulfillment or for the execution of pre-contractual measures, we process your data based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR. Furthermore, we process your data if it is necessary to fulfill a legal obligation based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR. Data processing can also be based on our legitimate interest according to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The respective legal bases applicable in individual cases are informed in the following paragraphs of this privacy policy.

Note on Data Transfer to Data Protection Non-Secure Third Countries and Transfer to US Companies Not DPF-Certified

We use, among other things, tools from companies based in data protection non-secure third countries and US tools whose providers are not certified according to the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF). If these tools are active, your personal data can be transferred and processed in these countries. We point out that in data protection non-secure third countries, a level of data protection comparable to that in the EU cannot be guaranteed.

We note that the USA, as a safe third country, generally has a level of data protection comparable to that in the EU. Data transfer to the USA is therefore permissible if the recipient has certification under the “EU-US Data Privacy Framework” (DPF) or has appropriate additional safeguards. Information on transfers to third countries, including the data recipient, can be found in this privacy policy.

United Networks gUG is aware of the existing security gap. However, we are currently unable to switch to other providers for various reasons. It is our endeavor to continuously work on closing the existing security gap despite these challenges. In the meantime, we are committed to implementing alternative protective measures to secure our community members’ sensitive data as best as possible.

Revocation of Your Consent to Data Processing

Many data processing operations are only possible with your express consent. You can revoke consent that you have already given at any time. The legality of the data processing carried out until the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

Right to Object to Data Collection in Special Cases and Against Direct Advertising (Art. 21 GDPR)

IF THE DATA PROCESSING IS BASED ON ART. 6 PARA. 1 LIT. E OR F GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AT ANY TIME, FOR REASONS ARISING FROM YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION, TO OBJECT TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING BASED ON THESE PROVISIONS. THE RESPECTIVE LEGAL BASIS ON WHICH PROCESSING IS BASED CAN BE FOUND IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU OBJECT, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA CONCERNED, UNLESS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR THE PROCESSING WHICH OVERRIDE YOUR INTERESTS, RIGHTS, AND FREEDOMS, OR THE PROCESSING IS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, EXERCISE OR DEFENSE OF LEGAL CLAIMS (OBJECTION ACCORDING TO ART. 21 PARA. 1 GDPR).

IF YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS PROCESSED TO CONDUCT DIRECT ADVERTISING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA CONCERNING YOU FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUCH ADVERTISING; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING INSOFAR AS IT IS RELATED TO SUCH DIRECT ADVERTISING. IF YOU OBJECT, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL THEN NO LONGER BE USED FOR DIRECT ADVERTISING PURPOSES (OBJECTION ACCORDING TO ART. 21 PARA. 2 GDPR).

Complaint to the Competent Supervisory Authority

In the event of violations of the GDPR, affected persons have a right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, particularly in the member state of their habitual residence, place of work, or the place of the alleged infringement. The right to lodge a complaint

Information, Correction, and Deletion

Under the applicable legal provisions, you have the right at any time to obtain free information about your stored personal data, their origin and recipients, and the purpose of the data processing, and, if necessary, a right to correction or deletion of these data. For this and other questions on the subject of personal data, you can contact us at any time.

Right to Restrict Processing

You have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. You can contact us at any time for this purpose. The right to restrict processing exists in the following cases:

If you dispute the accuracy of your personal data stored with us, we usually need time to verify this. For the duration of the examination, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data.
If the processing of your personal data has been/is being carried out unlawfully, you can request the restriction of data processing instead of deletion.
If we no longer need your personal data, but you need them to exercise, defend or assert legal claims, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data instead of deletion.
If you have lodged an objection according to Art. 21 Para. 1 GDPR, a balance must be struck between your interests and ours. As long as it has not been determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data.

If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, these data – apart from their storage – may only be processed with your consent or for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims, or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person, or for reasons of important public interest of the European Union or a Member State.

4. Data Collection on This Website Cookies

Our web pages use so-called “cookies”. Cookies are small data packets and do not cause any damage to your device. They are either stored temporarily for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (permanent cookies) on your device. Session cookies are automatically deleted after your visit. Permanent cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them yourself or they are automatically deleted by your web browser.

Cookies can be first-party cookies (set by us) or third-party cookies (set by third-party companies). Third-party cookies enable the integration of certain services from third-party companies within web pages (e.g., cookies for processing payment services).

Cookies serve various functions. Many cookies are technically necessary, as certain website functions would not work without them (e.g., the shopping cart function or the display of videos). Other cookies can be used to analyze user behavior or for advertising purposes.

Cookies that are necessary for the execution of the electronic communication process, for providing certain functions desired by you (e.g., for the shopping cart function), or for optimizing the website (e.g., cookies for measuring the web audience) are stored based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR, unless another legal basis is specified. United Networks gUG has a legitimate interest in storing necessary cookies for the technically error-free and optimized provision of its services. If consent to store cookies and similar recognition technologies has been requested, the processing is carried out exclusively based on this consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG); consent can be revoked at any time.

You can configure your browser to inform you about the setting of cookies and allow cookies only in individual cases, reject the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general, and activate the automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. Disabling cookies may limit the functionality of this website.

Inquiry by Email or Telephone

If you contact us by email or telephone, your inquiry, including all personal data arising from it (name, inquiry), will be stored and processed by us for the purpose of processing your request. We do not pass on this data without your consent.

The processing of this data is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR, if your inquiry is related to the fulfillment of a contract or necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, processing is based on our legitimate interest in effectively processing inquiries directed to us (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR) if this has been requested; consent can be revoked at any time.

The data sent to us by you via contact inquiries remain with us until you request us to delete them, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g., after your request has been processed). Mandatory statutory provisions – in particular statutory retention periods – remain unaffected.

5. Social Media

Facebook

This website integrates elements of the social network Facebook. The provider of this service is Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Dublin 2, Ireland. However, according to Facebook, the collected data is also transferred to the USA and other third countries.

An overview of the Facebook social media elements can be found here: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/?locale=en_US.

When the social media element is active, a direct connection between your device and the Facebook server is established. Facebook thus receives the information that you have visited this website with your IP address. If you click the Facebook “Like button” while logged into your Facebook account, you can link the contents of this website to your Facebook profile. This allows Facebook to associate your visit to this website with your user account. We would like to point out that we as the provider of the pages have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data and their use by Facebook. Further information can be found in Facebook’s privacy policy at: https://en-gb.facebook.com/privacy/explanation.

To the extent that consent (Consent) has been obtained, the use of the above-mentioned service is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR and § 25 TTDSG. Consent can be revoked at any time. If no consent has been obtained, the use of the service is based on our legitimate interest in the widest possible visibility in social media.

To the extent that personal data is collected on our website with the help of the tool described here and forwarded to Facebook, we and Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, 7 / 12 Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland, are jointly responsible for this data processing (Art. 26 GDPR). The joint responsibility is limited exclusively to the collection of the data and their forwarding to Facebook. The processing by Facebook following the forwarding is not part of the joint responsibility. The obligations incumbent on us jointly were stipulated in an agreement on joint processing. The text of the agreement can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum. According to this agreement, we are responsible for providing the privacy information when using the Facebook tool and for the legally compliant implementation of the tool on our website. Facebook is responsible for the data security of Facebook products. Rights of affected persons (e.g., requests for information) regarding data processed by Facebook can be asserted directly with Facebook. If you assert the rights of affected persons with us, we are obliged to forward these to Facebook.

The transfer of data to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum, https://en-gb.facebook.com/help/566994660333381 , and https://www.facebook.com/policy.php.

The company has a certification under the “EU-US Data Privacy Framework” (DPF). The DPF is an agreement between the European Union and the USA, which aims to ensure compliance with European data protection standards in data processing in the USA. Each company certified under the DPF commits to comply with these data protection standards. Further information on this can be obtained from the provider under the following link: https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/s/participant-search/participantdetail?contact=true&id=a2zt0000000GnywAAC&status=Active

X (formerly Twitter)

Functions of the service X (formerly Twitter) are integrated on this website. These functions are offered by the parent company X Corp., 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA. For data processing of individuals living outside the USA, the branch office Twitter International Unlimited Company, One Cumberland Place, Fenian Street, Dublin 2, D02 AX07, Ireland, is responsible.

When the social media element is active, a direct connection is established between your device and the X server. X (formerly Twitter) thereby receives information about your visit to this website. By using X (formerly Twitter) and the “Re-Tweet” or “Repost” function, the websites you have visited are linked to your X (formerly Twitter) account and made known to other users. We would like to point out that we as the provider of the pages have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data or their use by X (formerly Twitter). Further information can be found in the privacy policy of X (formerly Twitter) at: https://twitter.com/en/privacy.

The data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://gdpr.twitter.com/en/controller-to-controller-transfers.html.

You can change your privacy settings at X (formerly Twitter) in the account settings at https://twitter.com/account/settings.

Instagram

Functions of the service Instagram are integrated on this website. These functions are offered by Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland.

When the social media element is active, a direct connection is established between your device and the Instagram server. Instagram thereby receives information about your visit to this website.

If you are logged in to your Instagram account, you can link the contents of this website to your Instagram profile by clicking on the Instagram button. This allows Instagram to associate the visit to this website with your user account. We would like to point out that we as the provider of the pages have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data or their use by Instagram.

To the extent that personal data is collected on our website using the tool described here and forwarded to Facebook or Instagram, we and Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland, are jointly responsible for this data processing (Art. 26 GDPR). The joint responsibility is limited exclusively to the collection of the data and their transfer to Facebook or Instagram. The processing by Facebook or Instagram following

the transfer is not part of the joint responsibility. The obligations incumbent upon us jointly were stipulated in an agreement on joint processing. The text of the agreement can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum. According to this agreement, we are responsible for providing the data protection information when using the Facebook or Instagram tools and for the legally compliant implementation of the tools on our website. Facebook is responsible for the data security of the Facebook or Instagram products. Rights of affected persons (e.g., requests for information) regarding data processed by Facebook or Instagram can be asserted directly with Facebook. If you assert the rights of affected persons with us, we are obliged to forward these to Facebook.

The data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum, https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/, and https://en-gb.facebook.com/help/566994660333381.

Further information can be found in Instagram’s privacy policy: https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/.

6. Newsletter

Newsletter Data

If you wish to subscribe to the newsletter offered on the website, we require an email address from you, as well as information that allows us to verify that you are the owner of the provided email address and agree to receive the newsletter. Other data is not collected or is collected on a voluntary basis. We use this data exclusively for sending the requested information and do not pass it on to third parties.

The processing of the data entered into the newsletter subscription form is based solely on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). You can revoke your consent to the storage of the data, the email address, and their use for sending the newsletter at any time. The legality of the data processing operations already carried out remains unaffected by the revocation.

The data you have provided us for the purpose of receiving the newsletter will be stored by us until you unsubscribe from the newsletter and will be deleted from the newsletter distribution list after you unsubscribe from the newsletter or after the purpose ceases to exist. We reserve the right to delete or block email addresses from our newsletter distribution list at our discretion within the scope of our legitimate interest according to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

Data stored by us for other purposes remains unaffected.

After you unsubscribe from the newsletter distribution list, your email address may be stored by us or the newsletter service provider in a blacklist, if necessary, to prevent future mailings. The data from the blacklist is used only for this purpose and is not merged with other data. This serves both your interest and our interest in complying with the legal requirements for sending newsletters (legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR). The storage in the blacklist is not time-limited. You may object to the storage if your interests outweigh our legitimate interest.

7. Plugins and Tools

YouTube

This website integrates videos from the YouTube website. The operator of the website is Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

When you visit one of our web pages that has YouTube embedded, a connection is established to the YouTube servers. This informs the YouTube server which of our pages you have visited.

Furthermore, YouTube may store various cookies on your device or use similar recognition technologies (e.g., device fingerprinting). This way, YouTube can obtain information about visitors to this website. This information is used, among other things, to compile video statistics, improve user-friendliness, and prevent fraud attempts.

If you are logged into your YouTube account, you enable YouTube to directly associate your browsing behavior with your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account.

The use of YouTube is in the interest of the widest possible visibility in social media. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. If corresponding consent has been requested, the processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a 10 / 12 GDPR and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information in the user’s end device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. The consent can be revoked at any time.

Further information on the handling of user data can be found in YouTube’s privacy policy at: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en.

(Source: www.e-recht24.de)