Privacy policy/ Legal notice

Responsible for this website:

Cecilia Szabó, Ringsstraße 44, B 221, 50996 Cologne/Germany

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 is any data that can be used to identify you personally. For detailed information on the subject of 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. Their contact details can be found in the „Information on the responsible body“ section of this privacy policy.

How do we collect your data?

Your data is collected when you provide it to us. This may be data that you enter in a contact form, for example.

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

What do we use your data for?

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

What rights do you have regarding your data?

You have the right to receive information about the origin, recipient, and purpose of your stored personal data free of charge at any time. You also have the right to request the correction or deletion of this data. If you have given your 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.

You can contact us at any time if you have any questions about this or other data protection issues.

2. Hosting

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

The provider is STRATO GmbH, Otto-Ostrowski-Straße 7, 10249 Berlin

For details, please refer to STRATO’s privacy policy: https://www.strato.de/datenschutz/

The host is used for the purpose of fulfilling contracts with our potential and existing contractual partners (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR) and in the interest of a secure, fast, and efficient provision of our online services by a professional provider (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

If corresponding consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR and § 25 (1) TTDSG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s terminal device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

Order processing

We have concluded a contract for order processing (AVV) for the use of the above-mentioned service. This is a contract required by data protection law, which ensures that the personal data of our website visitors is only processed in accordance with our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

3. General information and mandatory information

Data protection

The operators of these pages take the protection of your 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 is collected. Personal data is data that can be used to identify you personally. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this is done.

We would like to point out that data transmission over the Internet (e.g., when communicating by email) can have security gaps. Complete protection of data against access by third parties is not possible.

Information about the responsible body

The responsible body for data processing on this website is:

Cecilia Szabó
csz@cecilia.szabo.com

The responsible body 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.).

Storage period

Unless a more specific storage period is specified in this privacy policy, your personal data will remain stored until the purpose for data processing no longer applies. If you assert a legitimate request for deletion or revoke your 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, deletion will take place after these reasons 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 Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR or Art. 9 (2) (a) GDPR, if special categories of data are processed in accordance with Art. 9 (1) GDPR. In the event of express consent to the transfer of personal data to third countries, data processing is also carried out on the basis of Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. If you have consented to the storage of cookies or access to information on your end device (e.g., via device fingerprinting), data processing is also carried out on the basis of Section 25 (1) TTDSG. Consent can be revoked 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 Art. 6 (1) lit. b GDPR. Furthermore, we process your data if it is necessary to fulfill a legal obligation on the basis of Art. 6 (1) lit. c GDPR. Data processing may also be carried out on the basis of our legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR. The relevant legal basis in each individual case is explained in the following paragraphs of this privacy policy.

Note on data transfer to third countries that are not secure under data protection law and transfer to US companies that are not DPF-certified

Among other things, we use tools from companies based in third countries that are not secure in terms of data protection law, as well as US tools whose providers are not certified under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF). When these tools are active, your personal data may be transferred to these countries and processed there. We would like to point out that a level of data protection comparable to that in the EU cannot be guaranteed in third countries that are not secure in terms of data protection law.

We would like to point out that the US, as a secure third country, generally has a level of data protection comparable to that of the EU. Data transfer to the US is therefore permissible if the recipient is certified under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF) or has appropriate additional safeguards in place. Information on transfers to third countries, including data recipients, can be found in this privacy policy.

Recipients of personal data

We work with various external parties in the course of our business activities. In some cases, this requires the transfer of personal data to these external parties. We only pass on personal data to external parties if this is necessary for the performance of a contract, if we are legally obliged to do so (e.g., disclosure of data to tax authorities), if we have a legitimate interest in the disclosure pursuant to Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR, or if another legal basis permits the disclosure of data. When using processors, we only pass on personal data on the basis of a valid contract for data processing. In the case of joint processing, a contract for joint processing is concluded.

Revocation of your consent to data processing

Many data processing operations are only possible with your express consent. You can revoke your consent 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 specific cases and to direct marketing (Art. 21 GDPR)

If data processing is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. e) or f) GDPR, you have the right to object to the processing of your personal data at any time for reasons arising from your particular situation; 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 unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing that override your interests, rights, and freedoms, or the processing serves to assert, exercise, or defend legal claims (objection pursuant to Art. 21 (1) GDPR).

If your personal data is processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purpose of such marketing; this also applies to profiling insofar as 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) GDPR).

Right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority

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

Right to data portability

You have the right to have data that we process automatically on the basis of your consent or in fulfillment of a contract handed over to you or to a third party in a common, machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of the data to another controller, this will only be done if it is technically feasible.

Information, correction, and deletion

Within the framework of the applicable legal provisions, you have the right to obtain information free of charge at any time about your stored personal data, its origin and recipients, and the purpose of data processing, and, if applicable, a right to correction or deletion of this data. You can contact us at any time for this purpose or if you have any further questions on the subject of personal data.

Right to restriction of 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 restriction of processing applies in the following cases:

  • If you dispute the accuracy of your personal data stored by us, we usually 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/is unlawful, you can request the restriction of data processing instead of deletion.
  • 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 its deletion.
  • If you have lodged an objection pursuant to Art. 21 (1) GDPR, a balance must be struck between your interests and ours. As long as it is not yet clear 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, this data may—apart from its storage—only be processed with your consent or for the assertion, exercise, or defense of legal claims or for the protection of 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

This site uses SSL or TLS encryption for security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or inquiries that you send to us as the site operator. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the fact that the address line of the browser changes from „http://“ to „https://“ and by the lock symbol in your browser line.

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

Objection to advertising emails

We hereby object to the use of contact data published within the scope of the imprint obligation for sending unsolicited advertising and information materials. The operators of the pages expressly reserve the right to take legal action in the event of unsolicited sending of advertising information, for example through spam emails.

4. Data collection on this website

Cookies

Our websites 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 at the end of your visit. Permanent cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them yourself or your web browser automatically deletes them.

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

Cookies have various functions. Numerous 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 evaluate user behavior or for advertising purposes.

Cookies that are necessary for the electronic communication process, for the provision of certain functions you have requested (e.g., for the shopping cart function) or for the optimization of the website (e.g., cookies for measuring the web audience) (necessary cookies) are stored on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR, unless another legal basis is specified. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing necessary cookies for 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 based solely on this consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR and Section 25(1) TTDSG); consent can be revoked at any time.

You can set your browser so that you are informed about the setting of cookies and only allow cookies in individual cases, exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general, and activate the automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. If cookies are deactivated, the functionality of this website may be restricted.

You can find out which cookies and services are used on this website in this privacy policy.

Server log files

The provider of the pages automatically collects and stores information in so-called server log files, which your browser automatically transmits to us. These are:

  • Browser type and browser version
  • Operating system used
  • Referrer URL
  • Host name of the accessing computer
  • Time of the server request
  • IP address

This data is not merged with other data sources.

This data is collected on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the technically error-free presentation and optimization of its website—for this purpose, the server log files must be collected.

Requests by email, telephone, or fax

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

This data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR, provided that your inquiry is related to the fulfillment 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 processing of inquiries addressed to us (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR) if this has been requested; consent can be revoked at any time.

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

5. Audio and video conferences

Data processing

We use online conference tools, among other things, to communicate with our customers and partners. 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 the provider of the respective conference tool.

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

In addition, the tool provider processes all technical data required to handle 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 provider’s 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 are largely determined by the corporate policy of the respective provider. For further information on data processing by the conference tools, please refer to the privacy policies of the respective tools, which we have listed below this text.

Purpose and legal basis

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

Storage period

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

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

Conference tools used

We use the following conference tools:

Zoom

We use Zoom. This service is provided by Zoom Communications Inc., San Jose, 55 Almaden Boulevard, 6th Floor, San Jose, CA 95113, USA. Details on data processing can be found in Zoom’s privacy policy: https://explore.zoom.us/de/privacy/.

Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://explore.zoom.us/de/privacy/.

Order processing

We have concluded a contract for order processing (AVV) for the use of the above-mentioned service. This is a contract required by data protection law, which ensures that the personal data of our website visitors is only processed in accordance with our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

6. Own services

We kindly ask you to refrain from sending us applications. If you do send us an application, we will process your associated personal data (e.g., contact and communication data, application documents, etc.) to the extent necessary for responding to you or returning/deleting or destroying the physical and electronic documents. Your personal data will only be passed on to persons involved in processing your application.