Data Protection

Privacy Policy

I. Contact person and contact details of the data protection officer

II. General information on data processing, the legal basis and the purposes of the processing

III. Cookies

IV. Recipients of data

V. Storage period

VII. Right of revocation and objection

VIII. Secure data transmission and data security

IX. Amendments of the privacy policy

I. Contact person and contact details of the data protection officer

The controller of your personal data within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and the German Federal Data Protection Act (“BDSG”) is:

Wider Sense GmbH

Pfalzburger Str. 43-44

10717 Berlin

Phone: +49 30 240 88 240

E-mail: info@widersense.org

Wider Sense TraFo gGmbH

Pfalzburger Str. 43-44

10717 Berlin

Phone: +49 30 240 88 240

E-mail: info@widersense.org

Regarding all questions on the subject of data protection, but also in connection with our service or the use of our website, you can contact us or our data protection officer at any time.

You can reach our data protection officer under:

Christian Aretz
VP Data Protection GmbH
E-mail: info@vpdata.de

If you wish to contact our data protection officer directly, please refer to us.

II. General information on data processing, the legal basis and the purposes of the processing

“Personal data” within the meaning of the GDPR and the BDSG are all information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. This includes, above all, information that allows conclusions to be drawn about your identity.

We process personal data when you access our website, when you contact us or register for our events, as well as for advertising purposes. We also process your data when you apply for a job with us.

In most cases, you can decide which personal data you want to give us. However, if you decline to do so, we may not be able to offer you certain services. We have marked mandatory data that we require for the provision of our services accordingly.

1. Data processing when accessing the website

During the purely informative use of our website, we process personal data that your browser transmits to our server and that is technically necessary for the presentation of our website and the guarantee of stability and security, data for the analysis of your usage behavior of our website, as well as data to make your visit to our website as pleasant as possible.

a. Browser data
Your browser transmits data to our server that is technically necessary for the presentation of our website and to ensure stability and security. This involves the following data: browser type and browser version, operating system used, referrer URL, host name of the accessing computer, time of the server request and IP address.

The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 p.1 lit. f GDPR. Our legitimate interest is to be able to present you with a secure and stable, as well as functional website and its content.

b. Website analysis
With your consent, we will analyze the use of our website by using the service “Google Analytics”.

During your website visit, data is collected in particular on the pages you visit, your behavior on the page, your approximate location (country and city), your IP address in truncated form (so that no clear assignment is possible), technical information (such as browser, Internet provider, terminal device and screen resolution), and the source of origin of your visit.

The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a GDPR, section 25 para. 1 TTDSG.

c. Integration of videos on the website
We have integrated videos on our website. For this purpose, we use the providers “Youtube” and “Vimeo”. Normally, when you call up a page with embedded videos, your IP address is already sent to Youtube and cookies are installed on your computer. However, we have embedded our videos with the extended data protection mode. By doing so no more information about visitors is stored unless they watch the video. When you click on the video, your IP address is transmitted and the service recognizes that you have viewed the video. If you are logged in to Youtube or Vimeo, this information is also assigned to your user account. You can prevent this by logging out before viewing the video.

The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 p.1 lit. a GDPR, section 25 para. 1 TTDSG.

We have no influence on data that is processed by the services as controllers according to their terms of use. For more information about the processing of your personal data by Youtube, please refer to the data protection information of Youtube at www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/.

d. Integration of audio files on the website
We have integrated audio files on our website. For this purpose, we use the provider “Soundcloud”. When you click on the audio file, your IP address is transmitted to Soundcloud and Soundcloud learns that you have listened to the audio file on the website. If you are logged in to Soundcloud, this information is also assigned to your user account. You can prevent this by logging out of Soundcloud before viewing the video.

The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 p.1 lit. a GDPR.

We have no influence on data that is processed by Soundcloud as controller according to the terms of use of Soundcloud. For more information about the processing of your personal data by Soundcloud, please refer to the data protection information of Soundcloud under https://soundcloud.com/pages/privacy.

e. Integration of maps on the website
We have integrated “Mapbox” on our website so that we can show you interactive maps and enable you to use the map function conveniently. After activating the map view, Mapbox receives the information that you have accessed the corresponding subpage of our website.

The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 p.1 lit. a GDPR.

We have no influence on data that is processed by Mapbox as controller in accordance with Mapbox’s terms of use. For more information on the processing of your personal data by Mapbox, please refer to Mapbox’s data protection information at https://www.mapbox.com/legal/privacy.

2. Data processing when contacting us

You can get in touch with us via our contact forms, by e-mail, mail or telephone. We process the personal data collected in the context of contacting us via our contact forms, by e-mail, mail or telephone exclusively for the purpose of communicating with you.

The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 p.1 lit. b DSGVO.

3. Data processing for advertising purposes

You can register on our website to receive our newsletter. To do so, you must enter your e-mail address in the field provided for this purpose on our website.

Subsequently, you will receive a notification e-mail. By clicking on the link contained in this e-mail, you confirm that you wish to receive our newsletter (double opt-in). If you do not click on this confirmation link, you will not receive a newsletter.

With our newsletter you will regularly receive articles on exciting studies, events and much more.

If you have signed up for our newsletter, we use commercially available technology to measure your interaction with our newsletter. It is important to know what the readers of our newsletter are interested in. Therefore, it is important for us to see, for example, whether a newsletter was opened or which links were clicked. We use the data collected here in pseudonymized form to further develop and optimize our newsletter.

The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 p.1 lit. a GDPR.

In addition, we send promotional emails to registered customers with information about our products and services.

4. Data processing for applications

You can apply to join our company via the contact form provided on our website, by e-mail or by post. The purpose of the data collection is to carry out the application process in order to possibly establish an employment relationship. To process your application, we collect the data you provide. Since confidentiality cannot be guaranteed when sending applications by e-mail without encryption, you can also apply by post.

The legal basis for the processing is Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b and Art. 88 para. 1 GDPR in conjunction with. Section 26 para. 1 BDSG.

If the application does not result in an employment relationship, this data will be deleted six months after completion of the application process.

The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f GDPR. Our legitimate interest is the protection of our legal interests.

5. Data processing in connection with interviews

If we invite you to participate in interviews or expert discussions, we process your personal data. For the purpose of organizing and conducting interviews, we process the following categories of personal data:

– Name, first name,

– Contact details,

– Job title.

The data originates either from a publicly accessible source (e.g. your company website, or a public directory or similar) or we have received the data from a third party. You will be informed separately about the exact source of the data. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f GDPR. Our legitimate interest lies in contacting you, building up a network of experts and obtaining specialist expertise. If it is a compensated interview, the legal basis for the processing is Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit b GDPR.

If we process additional data from you, you will be informed separately about the processing and the legal basis.

III. Cookies

We use cookies on our website. Cookies are small text files that contain a randomly generated user ID with which you can be recognized on future website visits. You can find more information on this in the following overview.

IV. Recipients of data

Your data will only be disclosed in accordance with a legal basis. The service providers we use can be divided into the following categories:

Technical service providers (IV.1.)

Service providers for newsletters (IV.2.)

Service providers for web analysis (IV.3.)

Service providers for the integration of videos on the website (IV.4.)

Service provider for the integration of maps on our website (IV.5.)

Service providers for audio files on the website (IV.6.)

Partner companies (IV.7.)

All third parties to whom we disclose your personal data may only use this data for the above-mentioned purposes. In addition, they are obliged to process the data only in accordance with our specifications and the relevant data protection laws. Processors are carefully selected and commissioned by us and are bound by our instructions. Furthermore, we are contractually entitled to monitor the processors´ compliance with the relevant contractual and legal regulations.

In the event of a legal obligation, we are required to disclose information about you if the disclosure is requested by authorities or law enforcement bodies. The legal basis for this in these cases is Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. c GDPR.

1. Technical service provider

We use an external service provider to host our website. The service provider used is the the Hetzner Online GmbH, Industriestr. 25, 91710 Gunzenhausen, Germany.

2. Service provider for newsletter mailing

We use an external service provider for the dispatch and evaluation of our newsletter. The service provider used is the Sendinblue GmbH, Köpenicker Str. 126, 10179 Berlin, Germany.

3. Web analytics service provider

We analyze your use of our website using the web analysis tool “Google Analytics”. Google Analytics is a service of the Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

To the extent that we transfer personal data to third countries for which there is no adequacy decision by the European Commission, we do so on the basis of Standard Contractual Clauses issued by the European Commission in accordance with the review procedure under Art. 93 para. 2 of the GDPR. In addition, we have implemented safeguards in line with the relevant data transfer impact assessments. You can obtain a copy of the appropriate safeguards and further information by sending a request to the address above.

4. Service provider for embedding videos on the website.

To embed videos on our website, we use the service provider, “Youtube”. Youtube is a service of the Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

5. Service provider for the integration of maps on the website

We embed maps on our website using “Mapbox”. Mapbox is a service of the Mapbox, Inc., 740 15th Street Northwest Washington, DC 20005, USA.

To the extent that we transfer personal data to third countries for which there is no adequacy decision by the European Commission, we do so on the basis of Standard Contractual Dlauses issued by the European Commission in accordance with the review procedure under Art. 93 para. 2 of the GDPR. In addition, we have implemented safeguards in line with the relevant data transfer impact assessments. You can obtain a copy of the appropriate safeguards and further information by sending a request to the address above.

6. Service provider for audio files on the website.

We embed audio files on our website using “Soundcloud”. Soundcloud is a service of the SoundCloud Global Limited & Co. KG, Rheinsberger Str. 76/77, 10115 Berlin.

7. Partner companies

To simplify business processes, there is close cooperation between the Wider Sense GmbH and the Wider Sense TraFo gGmbH.

V. Storage period

We store your personal data for as long as it is necessary to achieve the respective purpose, in particular for the fulfillment of our legal and contractual obligations. Once the purpose has been achieved, the data is deleted, unless the law permits us to continue storing it for specific purposes, including the defense of legal claims. For this reason, we retain contractual data for three years from the end of the year in which the business relationship with you ends.

In addition, we may need to store your data for billing purposes. In this context, we are subject to statutory storage and documentation obligations that may arise from the German Commercial Code, the German Fiscal Code, the German Banking Act and the German Money Laundering Act. The periods prescribed there for the storage of documents are two to ten years.

VI. Your rights

You have the following rights in accordance with the legal provisions regarding the processing of personal data concerning you:

– Right to access

– Right to rectification and deletion

– Right to restriction of processing

– Right to object to processing

– Right to revoke consent you have given

– Right to data portability

In addition, you have the right to complain to a supervisory authority about data processing by us. Our registered office is in Berlin. The competent supervisory authority is: Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information.

VII. Right of revocation and objection

You have the right to revoke any consent you have given to us at any time. We will then no longer continue the processing based on this consent for the future. The lawfulness of the processing carried out on the basis of consent until revocation is not affected by the revocation. If the data processing by us is based on a legitimate interest, you have the right to object to the processing of your data at any time. This may arise for reasons relating to your particular situation. You may object to the processing of your data for direct marketing purposes at any time, even without giving reasons. In order to exercise your right of revocation or objection, please send an informal message to the contact details mentioned in section I. above.

VIII. Secure data transmission and data security

We implement technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal data from access and misuse by unauthorized persons. When personal data is transmitted, it is protected by the use of encryption. These measures are continuously revised and improved.

IX. Amendments of the privacy policy

Due to the further development of our website or due to changed legal or official requirements, it may become necessary to update this privacy policy. The current version can be viewed and printed out at any time on our website.

Last update: July 2023