Data Protection

1. Data Protection at a Glance

General Information

The following notes provide a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit this website. Personal data means all data that can be used to identify you personally.

Data Collection on this Website

Who is responsible for data collection on this website?

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

How do we collect your data?

On the one hand, your data is collected when you provide it to us. This may, for example, be data that you enter into a contact form. Other data is collected automatically or after your consent when visiting the website by our IT systems. This data is primarily technical data (e.g. internet browser, operating system, or the time of the page access). The collection of this data occurs automatically as soon as you enter this website.

What do we use your data for?

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

Analytics Tools and Tools from Third Parties

When visiting this website, your surfing behavior may be statistically evaluated. This is mainly done with so-called analytics programs.

Detailed information on these analytics programs can be found in the following privacy policy.

2. Hosting

This website is hosted externally. The personal data collected on this website is stored on the servers of the hosting provider(s). This may include, in particular, IP addresses, contact requests, meta and communication data, contract data, contact details, names, website access data, and other data generated via a website.

The external hosting is carried out for the purpose of fulfilling contracts with our potential and existing customers (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR) and in the interest of providing our online services securely, quickly, and efficiently through a professional provider (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). Where consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TTDSG, insofar as consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent can be revoked at any time. Our hosting provider(s) will process your data only to the extent necessary to fulfill their service obligations and will follow our instructions with respect to this data.

Hetzner

We host our website with Hetzner. The provider is Hetzner Online GmbH, Industriestr. 25, 91710 Gunzenhausen, Germany (hereinafter “Hetzner”).

For details, please refer to Hetzner’s privacy policy:
https://www.hetzner.com/de/rechtliches/datenschutz

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

Data Processing Agreement

We have entered into a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) with the provider named above. This is a contract required by data protection law that ensures that the provider processes the personal data of our website visitors only in accordance with our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

3. General Notes and Mandatory Information

Data Protection

The operators of this website take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with the statutory data protection regulations as well as this privacy policy.

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

We point out that data transmission over the Internet (e.g., communication by e-mail) may have security gaps. Complete protection of the data from access by third parties is not possible.

Information on the Responsible Party

The party responsible for data processing on this website is:

Verein für kontrollierte alternative Tierhaltungsformen e.V. (KAT)
Konrad-Zuse-Platz 5
53227 Bonn
Phone: +49 (0)228 95960-0
E-mail: info@kat.eu

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

Storage Duration

Unless a more specific storage period has been stated within this privacy policy, your personal data will remain with us until the purpose for the data processing no longer applies. If you make 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 cease to apply.

General Information on the Legal Bases for Data Processing on this Website

Insofar as you have consented to data processing, we process your personal data on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR. In the event of explicit consent to the transfer of personal data to third countries, processing is also carried out on the basis of Art. 49(1)(a) 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 also based on § 25(1) TTDSG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

If your data is necessary for the performance of a contract or for pre-contractual measures, we process your data on the basis of Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR. Furthermore, if data processing is required to fulfill a legal obligation, it is based on Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR. Data processing may also take place on the basis of our legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The specific legal basis applicable in each individual case is explained in the following paragraphs of this privacy policy.

Note on Data Transfers to the USA and Other Third Countries

Among other things, we use tools from companies based in the USA or other countries that are not considered secure under data protection law. When these tools are active, your personal data may be transferred to and processed in these third countries. We would like to point out that these countries cannot guarantee a level of data protection comparable to that of the EU. For example, US companies are obliged to hand over personal data to security authorities without you as the affected person being able to take legal action against this. It can therefore not be excluded that US authorities (e.g., intelligence agencies) may process, evaluate, and permanently store your data located on US servers for surveillance purposes. We have no influence on these processing activities.

Recipients of Personal Data

In the course of our business activities, we work with various external parties. In some cases, this also involves the transfer of personal data to these external parties. We only disclose personal data to external parties if it is necessary in the context of fulfilling a contract, if we are legally obliged to do so (e.g., to tax authorities), if we have a legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR in the transfer, or if another legal basis permits the data transfer. When using data processors, we disclose personal data of our customers only on the basis of a valid Data Processing Agreement. In the case of joint processing, a joint processing agreement is concluded.

Revocation of Your Consent to Data Processing

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

Right to Object

You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data under the conditions set out in Art. 21 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 the place of the alleged infringement. The right to lodge a complaint exists without prejudice to other administrative or judicial remedies.

You are free to submit a complaint to the competent supervisory authority:

State Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information NRW
Kavalleriestr. 2–4
40213 Düsseldorf
Phone: +49 (0)211 38424-0
E-mail: poststelle@ldi.nrw.de

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 commonly used, machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of the data to another controller, this will only be done insofar as it is technically feasible.

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 site operator, this site uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the browser’s address line changing from “http://” to “https://” and by the lock icon in your browser line.
When SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

Access, Deletion, and Rectification

Within the framework of applicable legal provisions, you have the right at any time to obtain information free of charge about your stored personal data, its origin and recipients, and the purpose of the data processing, as well as, where applicable, a right to correction or deletion of this data. You may contact us at any time regarding this or other questions concerning personal data.

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 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 may request the restriction of data processing instead of deletion.
If we no longer need your personal data, but you need it for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims, you have the right to request restriction of the processing of your personal data instead of deletion.
If you have objected pursuant to Art. 21(1) GDPR, a balancing of interests must be carried out between your interests and ours. As long as it has not yet been determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to request restriction of the processing of your personal data.

If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, such data – apart from being stored – 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 of a Member State.

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 either stored temporarily for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (persistent cookies) on your device. Session cookies are automatically deleted after your visit ends. Persistent cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them yourself or they are automatically removed by your web browser.

In some cases, cookies from third-party companies may also be stored on your device when you enter our website (third-party cookies). These enable us or you to use certain services of the third-party company (e.g., cookies used to process payment services).

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

Cookies that are required to carry out electronic communications, to provide certain functions you have requested (e.g., the shopping cart function), or to optimize the website (e.g., cookies for measuring web audiences) are stored on the basis of Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR, unless another legal basis is specified. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing necessary cookies to ensure technically error-free and optimized provision of its services. If consent has been requested for the storage of cookies and comparable recognition technologies, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of this consent (Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR and § 25 (1) TTDSG); consent can be revoked at any time.

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

Details about which cookies and services are used on this website can be found in this privacy policy.

Consent with Usercentrics

This website uses the consent management technology of Usercentrics on the Contact page to obtain your consent for storing certain cookies on your device or for using specific technologies, and to document this in a data-protection-compliant manner. The provider of this technology is Usercentrics GmbH, Sendlinger Straße 7, 80331 Munich, Germany, website: https://usercentrics.com/de/ (hereinafter “Usercentrics”).

When you open the Contact page, the following personal data are transmitted to Usercentrics:

Your consent(s) or the revocation of your consent(s)
Your IP address
Information about your browser
Information about your device
Time of your visit to the website
Geolocation

In addition, Usercentrics stores a cookie in your browser to assign the consents granted or their revocation to you. The data collected in this way are stored until you ask us to delete them, delete the Usercentrics cookie yourself, or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies. Mandatory legal retention periods remain unaffected.

The Usercentrics banner on this website was configured with the help of eRecht24. You can recognize this by the fact that the eRecht24 logo appears in the banner. To display the eRecht24 logo, a connection is established to eRecht24’s image server. The IP address is transmitted in this process but stored only in anonymized form in the server logs. The image server of eRecht24 is located in Germany with a German provider. The banner itself is provided exclusively by Usercentrics.

The use of Usercentrics serves to obtain the legally required consents for the use of specific technologies. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 (1)(c) GDPR.

Data Processing Agreement

We have concluded a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) for the use of the service mentioned above. This legally required contract ensures that the provider processes the personal data of our website visitors only in accordance with our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

Server Log Files

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

Browser type and version
Operating system used
Referrer URL (page from which the request originated)
Hostname of the accessing computer
Date and time of the server request
IP address (of the requesting computer, shortened so that no personal reference can be made / anonymized)

These data will not be combined with data from other sources.
Collection of this data is based on Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the technically error-free presentation and optimization of the website – for this, the server log files must be recorded.

Contact Form

If you send us inquiries via the contact form, your details from the inquiry form, including the contact data you provide there, will be stored by us for the purpose of processing the inquiry and in case of follow-up questions. We do not share this data without your consent.

The processing of this data is based on Art. 6 (1)(b) GDPR, provided your inquiry is related to the fulfillment of a contract or necessary for pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective handling of inquiries (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 enter in the contact form remain with us until you request deletion, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g., after your inquiry has been fully processed). Mandatory statutory provisions – in particular retention periods – remain unaffected.

Inquiry by Email, Telephone or Fax

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

The processing of this data is based on Art. 6 (1)(b) GDPR, provided your inquiry is related to contract performance or necessary for pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective handling of inquiries (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 transmitted to us via contact inquiries remain with us until you request deletion, 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 – especially statutory retention periods – remain unaffected.

Registration on this Website

You can register on this website to use additional functions on the site. We use the data entered for this purpose only to enable you to use the respective offer or service for which you have registered. The mandatory information requested during registration must be provided in full; otherwise, we will reject the registration.

We use the email address provided at registration to inform you about important changes, such as changes to the scope of our services or technically necessary updates.

The processing of the data entered during registration is based on Art. 6 (1)(b) GDPR for the purpose of carrying out the user relationship established by registration and, if applicable, initiating further contracts.

The data collected during registration will be stored as long as you are registered on this website and will then be deleted. Statutory retention periods remain unaffected.

5. Analytics Tools and Advertising

Google Tag Manager

We use Google Tag Manager. The provider is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Google Tag Manager is a tool that allows us to integrate tracking or analytics tools and other technologies into our website. Google Tag Manager itself does not create user profiles, store cookies, or perform independent analyses. It merely serves to manage and deploy the tools integrated through it. However, Google Tag Manager collects your IP address, which may also be transmitted to Google’s parent company in the United States.

The use of Google Tag Manager is based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the fast and uncomplicated integration and administration of various tools on its website. If consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG, insofar as the consent includes 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 U.S. Every company certified under the DPF is committed to upholding these data protection standards. For more information, please visit the provider’s page:
https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/participant/5780.

Google Analytics

This website uses features of the web analytics service Google Analytics. The provider is Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Google Analytics enables the website operator to analyze the behavior of website visitors. The operator receives various usage data, such as page views, session duration, operating systems used, and user origin. These data may be compiled by Google into a user ID and assigned to the respective device of the visitor.

Google Analytics uses technologies that enable user recognition for the purpose of analyzing user behavior (e.g., cookies or device fingerprinting). The information collected by Google about your use of this website is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there.

The use of this analysis tool is based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior to optimize both its web offering and its advertising. If 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 device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent may be revoked at any time.

Data transfer to the USA is based on the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC). Details can be found here:
https://privacy.google.com/businesses/controllerterms/mccs/.

IP Anonymization

We have activated the IP anonymization feature on this website. As a result, your IP address is shortened by Google within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states to the Agreement on the European Economic Area before transmission to the USA. Only in exceptional cases is the full IP address sent to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. On behalf of the website operator, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, compile reports on website activity, and provide other services related to website and internet usage to the operator. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics is not merged with other Google data.

Browser Plugin

You can prevent Google from collecting and processing your data by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link:
https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.

For more information on how Google Analytics handles user data, please refer to Google’s privacy policy:
https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=de.

Data Processing Agreement

We have concluded a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) with Google and fully comply with the strict requirements of the German data protection authorities when using Google Analytics.

6. Plugins and Tools

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.

The purpose of reCAPTCHA is to check whether data entered on this website (e.g., in a contact form) is made by a human or by an automated program. To do this, reCAPTCHA analyzes the behavior of the website visitor based on various characteristics. This analysis starts automatically as soon as the visitor enters the website. For the analysis, reCAPTCHA evaluates various data (e.g., IP address, time spent on the website, or mouse movements made by the user). The data collected during the analysis are transmitted to Google.

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

The storage and analysis of data are based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in protecting its web offerings from abusive automated spying and SPAM. If consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG, insofar as the consent includes 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

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 U.S. Every company certified under the DPF is committed to upholding these standards. Further information can be found on the provider’s website:
https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/participant/5780

7. Audio and Video Conferences

Data Processing

We use, among other things, online conference tools to communicate with our customers. The 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 conference tool.

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

In addition, the provider of the tool processes all technical data required for conducting 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 type of connection.

If content is exchanged, uploaded, or otherwise made available within the tool, this content is also stored on the servers of the tool provider. Such content may include, in particular, cloud recordings, chat or 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 procedures of the tools used. Our options depend largely on the corporate policies of the respective provider. For more information on data processing by the conference tools, please refer to the privacy statements of the respective tools listed below.

Purpose and Legal Bases

The conference tools are used to communicate with potential or existing contractual partners or to offer specific services to our customers (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR). The use of these tools also serves to simplify and speed up communication with us or our company (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 may be withdrawn at any time with effect for the future.

Storage Duration

The data directly collected by us via video and conference tools will be 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 on the storage duration of your data that is stored by the operators of the conference tools for their own purposes. For details, please contact the operators of the respective conference tools directly.

We use the following conference tool:

Microsoft Teams

We use Microsoft Teams. The provider is Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited, One Microsoft Place, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, Ireland. Details on data processing can be found in 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 U.S. Every company certified under the DPF is committed to upholding these data protection standards. Further information can be found on the provider’s website:
https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/participant/6474