Privacy Policy

This website is operated by tcworld GmbH, the service provider of tekom Germany and tekom Europe (hereinafter: tekom).

§1 Information on the Processing of Personal Data

  1. In the following passages, we have provided information on the processing of personal data when you use this WebPortal. Personal data is all data that can be related to you personally, for example your name, address, email addresses, and behavior as a user. "Processing" means any operation performed on personal data, such as collecting, recording, storing, or changing data.
  2. Both associations
    • Gesellschaft für Technische Kommunikation – tekom Deutschland e.V. and
    • European Association for Technical Communication – tekom Europe e.V.

(hereinafter "tekom")
work together with tcworld GmbH as service provider. tcworld GmbH renders services for members and is an event organizer and publishing house for tekom publications, as well as a provider of training in the field of technical communication.
The controller, as defined by Article 4 (7) in conjunction with Article 26 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is tcworld GmbH, together with the above-mentioned associations ("joint controllership").

  1. A joint controllership is where two or more controllers are jointly responsible for processing personal data because they can jointly (not necessarily to the same extent!) determine the purposes and means of the processing. The GDPR stipulates that joint controllers
    • must specify, by means of an arrangement between them, which controller is responsible for which duties as regards the exercising of the rights of the data subject (e.g. duty to provide information), unless this is determined by Union or Member State law
    • may designate a contact point for data subjects in the arrangement, and
    • must make additional, key points of the arrangement (e.g. the actual functions and relations of the joint controllers) available to the data subject.
  2. However, these specifications apply with binding effect only within the scope of the internal relationship between the joint controllers – for example if it must be proved that one of the joint controllers has actually fulfilled its contractual obligations. Regardless of any arrangements made, data subjects have the right to exercise their rights in respect of and against each of the controllers. Joint controllers should incorporate a liability clause in the contract, in which they specify which controller is liable for which data incidents within the internal relationship. Data subjects are free to choose which of the joint controllers should be liable to them.
  3. The address of their joint office is:
    Heilbronnerstraße 86
    70191 Stuttgart
    GERMANY
    info(at)tekom.de
    +49 711 65704-0
    Fax +49 711 65704-99
  4. Our joint data protection officer can be contacted at datenschutz(at)tekom.de or at our postal address for the attention of the "Data Protection Officer".
  5. If we use contracted service providers for individual functions of our site or would like to use your data for promotional purposes, we will inform you in detail below of the relevant processes. We will also inform you of the defined criteria for the storage period.

§2 Your Rights

  1. You have the following rights in respect to us regarding the personal data concerning you:
    • Right to information,
    • Right to have data corrected or deleted,
    • Right to have processing restricted,
    • Right to object to processing,
    • Right to data portability.
  2. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority regarding our processing of your personal data.

§3 Collection of Personal Data When You Visit Our WebPortal

  1. If you use the WebPortal for purely informational reasons, that is, if you do not log in, register or otherwise transmit information to us, we do not gather any personal data, with the exception of data that your browser transmits to enable you to visit the WebPortal.
  2. We collect the following data, which are necessary for us in order to display our WebPortal to you and to ensure its stability and security (legal basis is Article 6 (1) 1 lit. f) GDPR)
    • IP address
    • Date and time of the request
    • Time zone difference from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
    • Content of the request (specific page)
    • Access status / HTTP status code
    • Amount of data transmitted each time
    • Website from which the request originates
    • Referring URL (the site previously visited)
    • Browser
    • Operating system and its interface
    • Language and browser software version
    • Provider
  3. In addition to the above-mentioned data, cookies are stored on your computer when you use our WebPortal.
  4. Cookies are small text files stored in association with the browser you use on your hard disk, which cause certain information to flow to the location that sets the cookie (in this case, us). Cookies cannot run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. They are used to make internet service more user-friendly and effective on the whole.
  5. This WebPortal uses the following types of cookies, whose scope and functionality are explained below:
    1. Transient cookies (see a below)
    2. Persistent cookies (see b below)

a) Transient cookies are automatically deleted when you close the browser. Session cookies belong to this group in particular. These cookies store what is known as a Session ID, using which various requests by your browser can be assigned to the shared session. This way, your computer can be recognized when you return to the website. Session cookies are deleted when you log out or close your browser.

b) Persistent cookies are automatically deleted after a predetermined duration, which can vary depending on the cookie. You can delete these cookies anytime in the security settings of your browser.

  1. You can configure your browser settings as you wish and, e.g., refuse the acceptance of third-party or all cookies. Please note, however, that you then may not be able to use all the functions of this website.
  2. We use cookies so that we can identify you for subsequent visits in case you have an account with us. Otherwise, you would have to log in again each time you visit our site.

§4 Registration and Login

tekom and tekom Europe members, as well as members of associated associations and subscribers to the professional journal ‘tcworld magazine’, can read all technical articles after entering their login data for 'my tekom'. Those who are neither tekom members nor subscribers can register free of charge to read three new technical articles every two months. To do so, the following data must be entered:

  • Last name
  • First name
  • Email
  • Postal address
  • Password

For registration, we use the so called the double opt-in procedure. This means that after you have entered your email address, we will send you a confirmation email to the email address you entered, in which we ask you to confirm that you have registered for the online ‘tcworld magazine’. If you do not confirm, your registration data will be deleted. If you do confirm, a user profile will be created for you. You can change or delete this profile at any time under "Profile".

§5 Use of Web Analysis Services

(1) To optimize our WebPortal, we use the web analysis service Matomo, which analyzes what visitors access on our WebPortal. The statistics obtained allow us to improve our services and make them more interesting for you as a user. The legal basis for the use of Piwik is Article 6 (1) 1 lit. f) GDPR.

(2) We use Matomo in conformity with the GDPR:

Analysis is done using by cookies (see above). Cookies collect information regarding your use of our WebPortal. This information is stored solely on our server in Germany. We use "AnonymizeIP". With this, IP addresses are then only used in a shortened form, which does not enable individual identification of users' personal data. The IP address transmitted from your browser by Matomo will not be associated with any other data collected by us.

(3) The Matomo program is an open source project. Information from this third party concerning data protection can be found here: www.matomo.org/privacy/policy.

(4) You have the option of preventing Matomo cookies from being stored on your computer and your use of this website being tracked by Matomo. To do so, you must modify the settings on your internet browser accordingly. If you prevent the storage of cookies, please be advised that you then may not be able to use all the features of this website.

§6 Newsletters

(1) For registration for our newsletters, we use what is known as the double opt-in procedure. This means that, after you specify your email address, we send a confirmation email to the address you specified in which we ask you to confirm that you wish to be sent the newsletter. If you do not confirm within 7 days, your registration will be automatically deleted. If you do confirm that you wish to receive the newsletter, we will store your email address until you unsubscribe from the newsletter. This storage is solely for the purpose of being able to send you the newsletter. Furthermore, both at the point of registration and confirmation, we store your IP address and the time, in order to prevent misuse of your personal data.

(2) The disclosure of your email address is necessary so that we can send you the newsletter. The disclosure of your name is voluntary and allows us to address you personally in the newsletter.

(3) You can decide for yourself which of our newsletters you want to receive via a subscription center. The link to the subscription center is provided with each newsletter. If you are registered as a user or member under 'my tekom', you can follow the link to the subscription center directly from there.

(4) Your consent to be sent the newsletter can be revoked at any time. To revoke it, you can click the link to the subscription center provided in every newsletter email, send an email to info(at)tekom.de, or declare your revocation in a message using the contact data specified in the imprint page of this WebPortal.

(5) Please note that when we send you newsletters, we analyze your user behavior. More information on this is available in the section

§7 Use of Marketo/Analysis of User Behavior through Tracking

(1) We use the services of Marketo EMEA Limited to send out our newsletter and other mailings (call for papers), to manage advertising permissions, and to collect statistical data on the use of our WebPortal and optimize the site accordingly. The legal basis for this is Article 6 (1) 1 lit. f) GDPR.

(2) We would like to point out that when sending out the newsletters or other requested information on our behalf, Marketo analyzes your user behavior. To perform this analysis, the emails that are dispatched contain "web beacons" (also known as "tracking pixels"). These are single-pixel image files that link to our WebPortal, thereby enabling us to perform a session-based analysis of your user behavior. We record when you read our newsletter, which links in the newsletter you click on, and conclude from this what your personal interests are. Marketo stores the information collected in this way on its server in the EU/EEA.

(3) Tracking is not possible if you have disabled the display of images by default in your email program. In this event, however, the newsletter will not be displayed to you in full and you may not be able to use all of its functions. If you manually allow the images to be displayed, the above-mentioned tracking will take place.

(4) If you purchase a product or service from us, your email address and name will be imported into Marketo’s systems so that we can send you information emails for similar goods or services in future. The legal basis for this is Article 6 (1) 1 lit f) GDPR.

(5) Marketo’s address and URL with its Privacy Notice:

Marketo EMEA Ltd.
Cairn House
South County Business Park
Leopardstown Road
Dublin 18
IRELAND
https://documents.marketo.com/legal/privacy/

§8 Social Media

A variety of social media links such as links to XING, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter are integrated into our WebPortal.

However, these links are not integrated through social media plug-ins. The graphics of the social media platforms contain only an http link to our respective presence on social media. This means that when you visit our website, no direct connection is established with the servers of the various social media platforms.

§9 Google Maps

(1) We use the services of Google Maps on this WebPortal. This enables us to display interactive maps directly on the WebPortal and provide you with convenient use of the map function.

(2) When you visit our WebPortal, Google is notified that you have accessed the corresponding sub-page of our WebPortal. In addition, the data mentioned above in this Privacy Policy is transmitted. This happens regardless of whether you have a Google account and are logged in or not. If you are logged in with Google, your data is assigned directly to your account. If you do not want this data to be assigned to your profile at Google, you must log out before activating the button. Google will store your data as user profiles and use it for the purposes of advertising, market research, and/or the needs-based design of its website. An analysis of this type is performed (even for users who are not logged in) specifically in order to deliver needs-based advertising and to inform other users of the social network about your activities on our WebPortal. You have the right to object to the creation of this user profile, although to exercise this right, you must contact Google.

(3) Further information on the purpose and scope of the data collection and its processing by the plug-in provider can be found in the provider’s privacy policies. These policies also contain additional information on your rights in this regard and your settings options for protecting your privacy: www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy. Google also processes your personal data in the US and is certified under the EU-US Privacy Shield Framework.