Privacy Policy

1. Data Protection at a Glance

General Information

The following information provides a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit this website. Personal data refers to any data that can be used to personally identify you. For detailed information on data protection, please refer to our Privacy Policy listed below this text.

Data Collection on This Website

Who Is Responsible for Data Collection on This Website?

Data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. You can find the operator’s contact information in the “Information on the Responsible Party” section of this privacy policy.

How do we collect your data?

Your data is collected, on the one hand, when you provide it to us. This may include, for example, data you enter into a contact form.

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

How do we use your data?

Some of the data is collected to ensure the website functions properly. Other data may be used to analyze your user behavior.

What rights do you have regarding your data?

You have the right at any time to receive, free of charge, information about the origin, recipients, 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 your consent to data processing, you may revoke this consent at any time with future effect. You also have the right, under certain circumstances, to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. Furthermore, you have the right to file a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.

You may contact us at any time regarding this matter or any other questions about data protection.

Analytics Tools and Third-Party Tools

When you visit this website, your browsing behavior may be analyzed for statistical purposes. This is primarily done using so-called analytics programs.

You can find detailed information about these analytics programs in the following privacy policy.

2. Hosting

We host the content of our website with the following provider:

External Hosting

This website is hosted externally. The personal data collected on this website is stored on the host’s servers. This may primarily include IP addresses, contact requests, metadata and communication data, contract data, contact information, names, website visits, and other data generated through a website.

External hosting is carried out for the purpose of fulfilling our contractual obligations to our potential and existing customers (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR) and in the interest of ensuring the secure, fast, and efficient provision of our online services by a professional provider (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). If consent has been obtained, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TDDDG, insofar as the consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TDDDG. Consent may be revoked at any time.

Our hosting provider(s) will process your data only to the extent necessary to fulfill its service obligations and will follow our instructions regarding this data.

We use the following hosting provider(s):

Strato GmbH
Otto-Ostrowski-Straße 7
10249 Berlin

Data Processing

We have entered into a data processing agreement (DPA) for the use of the above-mentioned service. This is a contract required by data protection law that ensures the service provider processes the personal data of our website visitors only in accordance with our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

3. General Information and Mandatory Disclosures

Privacy Policy

The operators of this website take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with applicable data protection laws and this Privacy Policy.

When you use this website, various types of personal data are collected. Personal data is data that can be used to personally identify you. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and how we use it. It also explains how and for what purpose this is done.

Please note that data transmission over the Internet (e.g., when communicating via email) may be subject to security vulnerabilities. It is not possible to completely protect data from access by third parties.

Information on the Data Controller

The data controller responsible for data processing on this website is:

Institut für Nachrichtentechnik
Technische Universität Braunschweig
Schleinitzstraße 22
38106 Braunschweig

Represented by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Eduard Jorswieck

Phone: 0531 – 391 2480
Fax: 0531 – 391 5192
e.jorswieck@tu-braunschweig.de

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

Retention Period

Unless a more specific retention period is stated in this Privacy Policy, we will retain your personal data until the purpose for which it was collected no longer applies. If you submit a valid request for erasure or revoke your consent to data processing, your data will be erased unless we have other legally permissible grounds for storing your personal data (e.g., retention periods under tax or commercial law); in the latter case, the data will be erased once these grounds no longer apply.

General Information on the Legal Basis for Data Processing on This Website

If you have consented to data processing, we process your personal data on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR or Article 9(2)(a) of the GDPR, provided that special categories of data as defined in Article 9(1) of the GDPR are being processed. In the event of explicit consent to the transfer of personal data to third countries, data processing is also carried out on the basis of Article 49(1)(a) of the GDPR. If you have consented to the storage of cookies or to access to information on your device (e.g., via device fingerprinting), data processing is additionally based on Section 25(1) of the German Telemedia Act (TDDDG). You may revoke your consent at any time. If your data is necessary for the performance of a contract or for the implementation of pre-contractual measures, we process your data on the basis of Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR. Furthermore, we process your data if it is necessary to comply with a legal obligation on the basis of Article 6(1)(c) of the GDPR. Data processing may also be based on our legitimate interest pursuant to Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Information regarding the specific legal bases applicable in each individual case is provided in the following sections of this Privacy Policy.

Notice Regarding the Transfer of Data to Third Countries That Do Not Meet Data Protection Standards and the Transfer of Data to U.S. Companies That Are Not DPF-Certified

Among other things, we use tools from companies based in third countries that do not meet data protection standards, as well as U.S. tools whose providers are not certified under the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (DPF). When these tools are active, your personal data may be transferred to and processed in these countries. Please note that a level of data protection comparable to that of the EU cannot be guaranteed in third countries that are not considered safe for data protection purposes.

Please note that the U.S., as a safe third country, generally maintains a level of data protection comparable to that of the EU. Accordingly, data transfers to the U.S. are permitted if the recipient is certified under the “EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework” (DPF) or has appropriate additional safeguards in place. Information on transfers to third countries, including the recipients of the data, can be found in this Privacy Policy.

Recipients of Personal Data

As part of our business operations, we collaborate with various external parties. In some cases, this requires the transfer of personal data to these external parties. We only disclose personal data to external parties if this is necessary for the performance of a contract, if we are legally obligated to do so (e.g., disclosure of data to tax authorities), if we have a legitimate interest in the disclosure pursuant to Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR, or if another legal basis permits the disclosure of data. When using data processors, we only disclose our customers’ personal data on the basis of a valid data processing agreement. In the case of joint processing, a joint processing agreement is concluded.

Withdrawal of Your Consent to Data Processing

Many data processing operations are only possible with your explicit consent. You may withdraw any consent you have already given at any time. The lawfulness of the data processing carried out prior to the withdrawal remains unaffected by the withdrawal.

Right to object to data collection in specific cases and to direct marketing (Art. 21 GDPR)

IF DATA PROCESSING IS BASED ON ART. 6, PAR. 1, SUBPAR. E OR F OF THE GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AT ANY TIME TO OBJECT TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA ON GROUNDS RELATING TO YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING BASED ON THESE PROVISIONS. YOU CAN FIND THE SPECIFIC LEGAL BASIS ON WHICH PROCESSING IS BASED IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU OBJECT, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA, UNLESS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR THE PROCESSING THAT OVERRIDE YOUR INTERESTS, RIGHTS, AND FREEDOMS, OR THE PROCESSING IS NECESSARY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, EXERCISE, OR DEFENSE OF LEGAL CLAIMS (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21(1) OF THE GDPR).

IF YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS PROCESSED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT MARKETING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA FOR SUCH MARKETING PURPOSES; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING, TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS RELATED TO SUCH DIRECT MARKETING. IF YOU OBJECT, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL NO LONGER BE USED FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21(2) OF THE GDPR).

Right to File a Complaint with the Competent Supervisory Authority

In the event of violations of the GDPR, data subjects have the right to file a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of their habitual residence, their place of work, or the location of the alleged violation. This right to lodge a complaint is without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedies.

Right to Data Portability

You have the right to have data that we process automatically—based on your consent or in fulfillment of a contract—provided to you or to a third party in a commonly used, machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of the data to another controller, this will only take place to the extent that it is technically feasible.

Access, Rectification, and Erasure

Subject to applicable legal provisions, you have the right at any time to receive, free of charge, information about your stored personal data, its origin, recipients, and the purpose of data processing, as well as the right to have this data corrected or deleted, if applicable. You may contact us at any time regarding this matter or any other questions about personal data.

Right to Restriction of Processing

You have the right to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted. You may contact us at any time to do so. The right to restriction of processing applies in the following cases:

If you dispute the accuracy of your personal data stored by us, we generally need time to verify this. For the duration of the verification, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data.
If the processing of your personal data was or is unlawful, you may request the restriction of data processing instead of erasure.
If we no longer need your personal data, but you need it to exercise, defend, or assert legal claims, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data instead of erasure.
If you have lodged an objection pursuant to Article 21(1) of the GDPR, a balancing of your interests against ours must be carried out. As long as it has not yet 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, such data—apart from its storage—may be processed only with your consent, or to assert, exercise, or defend legal claims, or to protect the rights of another natural or legal person, or for reasons of an important public interest of the European Union or a Member State.

SSL or TLS Encryption

For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content—such as orders or inquiries you send to us as the website operator—this site uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the fact that the address bar of your browser changes from “http://” to “https://” and by the lock icon in your browser’s address bar.

When SSL or TLS encryption is enabled, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

4. Data Collection on This Website

Cookies

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

Cookies may originate from us (first-party cookies) or from third-party companies (so-called third-party cookies). Third-party cookies enable the integration of certain third-party services within websites (e.g., cookies for processing payment services).

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

Cookies that are necessary for carrying out the electronic communication process, for providing certain functions you have requested (e.g., the shopping cart function), or for optimizing the website (e.g., cookies for measuring website traffic) (necessary cookies), are stored on the basis of Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR, unless another legal basis is specified. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing necessary cookies to ensure the technically error-free and optimized provision of its services. If consent to the storage of cookies and similar recognition technologies has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of this consent (Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TDDDG); consent may be revoked at any time.

You can configure your browser to notify you when cookies are set and to allow cookies only on a case-by-case basis, to block the acceptance of cookies in specific cases or generally, and to enable the automatic deletion of cookies when you close your browser. Disabling cookies may limit the functionality of this website.

You can find out which cookies and services are used on this website in this Privacy Policy.

Consent via Borlabs Cookie

Our website uses Borlabs Cookie’s consent technology to obtain your consent to the storage of certain cookies in your browser or to the use of certain technologies, and to document this in compliance with data protection regulations. This technology is provided by Borlabs GmbH, Rübenkamp 32, 22305 Hamburg (hereinafter “Borlabs”).

When you visit our website, a Borlabs cookie is stored in your browser, which records the consents you have given or any revocations of those consents. This data is not shared with the provider of Borlabs Cookie.

The collected data is stored until you request that we delete it, delete the Borlabs cookie yourself, or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies. Mandatory statutory retention periods remain unaffected. Details regarding the processing of data by the Borlabs cookie can be found at https://de.borlabs.io/kb/welche-daten-speichert-borlabs-cookie/.

Borlabs’ cookie consent technology is used to obtain the legally required consent for the use of cookies. The legal basis for this is Article 6(1)(c) of the GDPR.

Contact Form

If you submit inquiries to us via the contact form, the information you provide in the inquiry form—including the contact details you enter there—will be stored by us for the purpose of processing your inquiry and in case of follow-up questions. We will not disclose this data without your consent.

The processing of this data is based on Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR, provided that your inquiry relates to the performance of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective handling of inquiries directed to us (Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR) or on your consent (Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR), provided that consent was requested; consent may be revoked at any time.

The data you enter in the contact form will remain with us until you request its deletion, revoke your consent to its storage, or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies (e.g., after your inquiry has been fully processed). Mandatory legal provisions—in particular retention periods—remain unaffected.

Inquiries via email, phone, or fax

If you contact us by email, phone, or fax, your inquiry—including all personal data contained therein (name, inquiry)—will be stored and processed by us for the purpose of handling your request. We will not disclose this data without your consent.

The data you send us via contact requests will remain with us until you request its deletion, revoke your consent to its storage, or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies (e.g., after your request has been fully processed). Mandatory legal provisions—in particular statutory retention periods—remain unaffected.

5. Plugins and Tools

Google Fonts (locally hosted)

This site uses so-called Google Fonts, provided by Google, to ensure consistent font display. The Google Fonts are installed locally. No connection to Google’s servers is established.

For more information about Google Fonts, visit https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq and see Google’s Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

Google Maps

This site uses the Google Maps mapping service. The provider is Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. This service allows us to embed maps on our website.

To use the features of Google Maps, it is necessary to store your IP address. This information is generally transmitted to a Google server in the United States and stored there. The provider of this site has no influence over this data transmission. When Google Maps is activated, Google may use Google Fonts to ensure consistent font rendering. When you access Google Maps, your browser loads the necessary web fonts into its cache to display text and fonts correctly.

We use Google Maps to ensure an appealing presentation of our online offerings and to make it easy to locate the places listed on our website. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. If consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TDDDG, insofar as the consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TDDDG. Consent may be revoked at any time.

Data transfers to the U.S. are based on the EU Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses. Details can be found here: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/gdprcontrollerterms/ and https://privacy.google.com/businesses/gdprcontrollerterms/sccs/.

For more information on how user data is handled, please see Google’s Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

The company is certified under the “EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework” (DPF). The DPF is an agreement between the European Union and the United States designed to ensure compliance with European data protection standards when data is processed in the United States. Every company certified under the DPF commits to complying with these data protection standards. For more information, please visit the provider’s website at the following link: https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/participant/5780.

Google reCAPTCHA

We use “Google reCAPTCHA” (hereinafter “reCAPTCHA”) on this website. The provider is Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

reCAPTCHA is designed to verify whether data entry on this website (e.g., in a contact form) is performed by a human or by an automated program. To do this, reCAPTCHA analyzes the website visitor’s behavior based on various characteristics. This analysis begins automatically as soon as the website visitor enters the website. For the analysis, reCAPTCHA evaluates various pieces of information (e.g., IP address, the length of time the website visitor spends on the website, or mouse movements made by the user). The data collected during the analysis is forwarded to Google.

reCAPTCHA analyses run entirely in the background. Website visitors are not notified that an analysis is taking place.

The storage and analysis of data are based on Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in protecting its web offerings from abusive automated scanning and spam. If consent has been obtained, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TDDDG, insofar as the consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TDDDG. Consent may be revoked at any time.

For more information about Google reCAPTCHA, please refer to Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service at the following links: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de and https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=de.

SolidWP

We have integrated SolidWP into this website. The provider is iThemes Media LLC, 1720 South Kelly Avenue, Edmond, OK 73013, USA (hereinafter “SolidWP”).

SolidWP serves to protect our website from unauthorized access or malicious cyberattacks. For this purpose, SolidWP collects, among other things, your IP address, the time and source of login attempts, and log data (e.g., the browser used). SolidWP is installed locally on our servers.

SolidWP transmits the IP addresses of repeat attackers to a central SolidWP database in the United States (Network Brute Force Protection) in order to prevent such attacks in the future.

The use of SolidWP is based on Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in protecting its website as effectively as possible against cyberattacks. If consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TDDDG, insofar as the consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TDDDG. Consent may be revoked at any time.

ManageWP

We manage this website using the ManageWP tool. The provider is GoDaddy.com WP Europe, Trg republike 5, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia (hereinafter “ManageWP”).

With ManageWP, we can, among other things, monitor the security and performance of our website and create automatic backups. ManageWP therefore has access to all content on the website
, including our databases. ManageWP is hosted on the provider’s servers.

The use of ManageWP is based on Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in operating its website(s) as effectively and securely as possible. If consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TDDDG, insofar as the consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TDDDG. Consent may be revoked at any time.

The company is certified under the “EU-US Data Privacy Framework” (DPF). The DPF is an agreement between the European Union and the United States designed to ensure compliance with European data protection standards for data processing in the United States. Every company certified under the DPF commits to complying with these data protection standards. For more information, please visit the provider’s website at the following link: https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/s/participant-search/participant-detail?contact=true&id=a2zt0000000TN9xAAG&status=Active.

6. Audio and Video Conferences

Data Processing

We use online conferencing tools, among other methods, to communicate with our customers. The specific tools we use are listed below. When you communicate with us via video or audio conference over the Internet, your personal data is collected and processed by us and by the provider of the respective conferencing tool.

The conferencing tools collect all data that you provide or use to access the tools (email address and/or your phone number). Furthermore, the conferencing tools process the duration of the conference, the start and end times of your participation in the conference, the number of participants, and other “contextual information” related to the communication process (metadata).

Furthermore, the tool provider processes all technical data necessary for handling the online communication. This includes, in particular, IP addresses, MAC addresses, device IDs, device type, operating system type and version, client version, camera type, microphone or speaker, and the type of connection.

If content is exchanged, uploaded, or otherwise made available within the tool, it is also stored on the tool providers’ servers. Such content includes, in particular, cloud recordings, chat/instant messages, voicemails, uploaded photos and videos, files, whiteboards, and other information shared while using the service.

Please note that we do not
have full control over the data processing operations of the tools used. Our options depend largely on the corporate policies of the respective provider. For further information on data processing by the conferencing tools, please refer to the privacy policies of the respective tools, which we have listed below this text.

Purpose and Legal Bases

The conference tools are used to communicate with prospective or existing contractual partners or to offer specific services to our customers (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR). Furthermore, the use of these tools serves to generally simplify and expedite communication with us or our company (legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). To the extent that consent has been requested, the use of the relevant tools is based on this consent; consent may be revoked at any time with future effect.

Retention Period

The data collected directly by us via the video and conferencing tools is deleted from our systems as soon as you request deletion, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies. Stored cookies remain on your device until you delete them. Mandatory statutory retention periods remain unaffected.

We have no influence over the retention period of your data stored by the operators of the conferencing tools for their own purposes. For details, please contact the operators of the conferencing tools directly.

Conferencing Tools Used

We use the following conferencing tools:

Microsoft Teams

We use Microsoft Teams. The provider is Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited, One Microsoft Place, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, Ireland. For details on data processing, please refer to the Microsoft Teams Privacy Statement: https://privacy.microsoft.com/de-de/privacystatement.

The company is certified under the “EU-US Data Privacy Framework” (DPF). The DPF is an agreement between the European Union and the United States designed to ensure compliance with European data protection standards for data processing in the United States. Every company certified under the DPF commits to complying with these data protection standards. For more information, please visit the provider’s website at the following link:
https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/s/participant-search/participant-detail?contact=true&id=a2zt0000000KzNaAAK&status=Active.