This privacy policy clarifies the nature, scope and purpose of the processing of personal data (hereinafter referred to as “data”) within our online offer and the associated websites, functions and content as well as external online presences, such as our social media profile. (hereinafter collectively referred to as “online offer”). With regard to the terms used, such as “personal data” or their “processing”, we refer to the definitions in Art. 4 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Responsible:
QUOVADIS field & tab GmbH
Schildergasse 24-30
50667 Köln
Amtsgericht Köln, HRB 56041
Managing directors:
Ute Wetzlar (ute.wetzlar@quovadis.net)
Markus Meeth (markus.meeth@quovadis.net)
Data Protection Officer:
datenschutz@quovadis.net
If you require confidentiality, please contact our data protection officer by post with the note “Personal/Confidential”.
Data collected and purpose of processing
If you register as a test subject with QUOVADIS in order to be invited to studies and tests in the future, we need personal data from you. This is because our customers give us clear instructions about the type of people they need for their studies and tests. Our task is to find the desired persons and recruit them for the respective studies and tests. To this end, we search our volunteer database for the right people and write to them. The better we know you, the more often we can invite you as a test subject. This data is functional data - it is essential to ensure that we can fulfill our task of finding suitable test subjects.
Data collected: Name, e-mail address, address, age, gender, education, occupation, net household income and other data such as hobbies and interests. When registering via our online portal, your IP address and information passed on by cookies or comparable technologies are also stored.
Purpose of collection: We use this data to find exactly those people in our database that our customers need for their research. The processing of your personal data for this purpose is necessary in order to be able to recruit you as a test subject. Note: We do not store any payment or credit card information from you.
Processing of special categories of data (Art. 9 para. 1 GDPR): In principle, no special categories of data are processed unless they are provided by the user for processing, e.g. entered in online forms.
Categories of data subjects affected by the processing:
- Customers / interested parties / suppliers.
- Visitors and users of the online offer.
- Interested parties / test persons for participation in market research studies
In the following, we also refer to the data subjects collectively as “users”.
1. Relevant legal bases
In accordance with Art. 13 GDPR, we inform you of the legal basis of our data processing. If the legal basis is not stated in the privacy policy, the following applies: The legal basis for obtaining consent is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a and Art. 7 GDPR, the legal basis for processing for the performance of our services and implementation of contractual measures as well as responding to inquiries is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR, the legal basis for processing to fulfill our legal obligations is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR, and the legal basis for processing to protect our legitimate interests is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. In the event that vital interests of the data subject or another natural person require the processing of personal data, Art. 6 para. 1 lit. d GDPR serves as the legal basis.
2. Changes and updates to the privacy policy
We ask you to inform yourself regularly about the content of our privacy policy. We will adapt the privacy policy as soon as changes to the data processing carried out by us make this necessary. We will inform you as soon as the changes require an act of cooperation on your part (e.g. consent) or other individual notification.
3. Security measures
We take appropriate technical and organizational measures in accordance with Art. 32 GDPR, taking into account the state of the art, the costs of implementation and the nature, scope, context and purposes of processing as well as the risk of varying likelihood and severity for the rights and freedoms of natural persons, to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk; the measures include, in particular, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data by controlling physical access to the data, as well as the access, input, disclosure, safeguarding of availability and their separation. Furthermore, we have established procedures that guarantee the exercise of data subject rights, the deletion of data and the response to data threats. Furthermore, we take the protection of personal data into account as early as the development or selection of hardware, software and procedures, in accordance with the principle of data protection through technology design and data protection-friendly default settings (Art. 25 GDPR).
4. Cooperation with processors and third parties
4.1. If, as part of our processing, we disclose data to other persons and companies (contract processors or third parties), transfer it to them or otherwise grant them access to the data, this is only done on the basis of legal permission (e.g. if a transfer of the data to third parties, such as payment service providers, is required to fulfill the contract in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR), you have given your consent, a legal obligation to do so, or on the basis of our legitimate Interests (e.g. when using agents, web hosts, etc.).
4.2. If we commission third parties to process data on the basis of a so-called “order processing contract,” this is done on the basis of Article 28 GDPR.
5. Transfers to third countries
If we process data in a third country (i.e. outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)) or this is done as part of the use of third-party services or disclosure or transfer of data to third parties, this is only done if it is done to fulfill our (pre) contractual obligations, on the basis of your consent, on the basis of a legal obligation or on the basis of our legitimate interests. Subject to legal or contractual permits, we process or have the data processed in a third country only if the special requirements of Art. 44 ff. GDPR are met. This means that processing is carried out, for example, on the basis of special guarantees, such as the officially recognized determination of a level of data protection corresponding to the EU (e.g. for the USA through the “Privacy Shield”) or compliance with officially recognized special contractual obligations (so-called “standard contractual clauses”).
6. Rights of data subjects
6.1. You have the right to request confirmation as to whether the relevant data is being processed and to request information about this data as well as further information and a copy of the data in accordance with Article 15 GDPR.
6.2. They have accordingly. Art. 16 GDPR, the right to request the completion of data concerning you or the correction of incorrect data concerning you.
6.3. In accordance with Article 17 GDPR, you have the right to request that the relevant data be deleted immediately or, alternatively, to request that the processing of the data be restricted in accordance with Article 18 GDPR.
6.4. You have the right to request that the data concerning you that you have provided to us be received in accordance with Article 20 GDPR and to request that it be transmitted to other responsible persons.
6.5. In accordance with Article 77 GDPR, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.
7. Right of withdrawal
You have the right to withdraw your consent in accordance with Article 7 (3) GDPR with effect for the future.
8. Right of objection
You can object to the future processing of data concerning you at any time in accordance with Article 21 GDPR. In particular, the objection may be made against processing for direct marketing purposes.
9. Cookies and right of objection in the case of direct marketing
We use temporary and permanent cookies, i.e. small files that are stored on users' devices (explanation of the term and function, see last section of this privacy policy). Some cookies are used for security purposes or are necessary to operate our online offer (e.g., to display the website) or to save the user decision when confirming the cookie banner. In addition, we or our technology partners use cookies for reach measurement and marketing purposes, which users are informed about in the course of the privacy policy.
A general objection to the use of cookies used for online marketing purposes can be made on a variety of services, especially in the case of tracking, via the US site http://www.aboutads.info/choices/ or the EU site http://www.youronlinechoices.com/ be explained. Cookies can also be saved by switching them off in the browser settings. Please note that you may then not be able to use all functions of this online offer.
10. Deletion of data
10.1. The data processed by us will be deleted or restricted in its processing in accordance with Articles 17 and 18 GDPR. Unless expressly stated in this privacy policy, the data stored by us will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required for its purpose and the deletion does not conflict with any legal storage requirements. If the data is not deleted because it is necessary for other and legally permitted purposes, its processing will be restricted. This means that the data is blocked and not processed for other purposes. This applies, for example, to data that must be stored for commercial or tax reasons.
10.2. According to legal requirements, storage takes place in particular for 6 years in accordance with Section 257 (1 HGB) (commercial books, inventories, opening balance sheets, annual financial statements, commercial letters, accounting documents, etc.) and for 10 years in accordance with Section 147 (1 AO) (books, records, management reports, accounting documents, commercial and business letters, documents relevant to taxation, etc.).
11. Provision of contractual services
11.1. We process inventory data (e.g. names and addresses as well as contact details of users), contract data (e.g., services used, names of contact persons, payment information) for the purpose of fulfilling our contractual obligations and services in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit b. GDPR. The entries marked as mandatory in online forms are required for the conclusion of the contract.
11.2. Users can register in our test subject database. As part of registration, the required mandatory information is provided to users. The user profiles are not public and cannot be indexed by search engines. If users have cancelled their profile, their data will be deleted with regard to the user profile, subject to their storage being necessary for commercial or tax law reasons in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR.
11.3. As part of registration and re-registrations as well as using our online services, we store the IP address and the time of the respective user action. The data is stored on the basis of our legitimate interests, as well as the user in protecting against misuse and other unauthorized use. In principle, this data will not be passed on to third parties unless it is necessary to pursue our claims or there is a legal obligation to do so in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR.
11.4. The deletion takes place after the expiry of legal warranty and comparable obligations, the need to store the data is reviewed every three years; in the case of legal archiving obligations, the deletion takes place after their expiry (end of commercial (6 years) and tax (10 years) retention obligation); information remains in the customer account until it is deleted.
12. Online presence on social media
12.1. On the basis of our legitimate interests within the meaning of Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR, we maintain online presences within social networks and platforms in order to be able to communicate with customers, interested parties and users active there and to inform them about our services there. When accessing the respective networks and platforms, the terms and conditions and data processing guidelines of their respective operators apply.
12.2. Unless otherwise stated in our privacy policy, we process users' data if they communicate with us within social networks and platforms, e.g. write posts on our online presences or send us messages.
13. Cookies & reach measurement
13.1. Cookies are information that is transferred from our web server or third-party web servers to users' web browsers and stored there for later retrieval. Cookies can be small files or other types of information storage.
13.2. We use “session cookies”, which are only stored for the duration of your current visit to our online presence (e.g. to save your login status or the shopping cart function and thus make it possible to use our online offer at all). A session cookie stores a randomly generated unique identification number, a so-called session ID. In addition, a cookie contains information about its origin and storage period. These cookies cannot store any other data. Session cookies are deleted when you have finished using our online offer and log out or close your browser, for example.
13.3. Users are informed about the use of cookies as part of pseudonymous reach measurement as part of this privacy policy.
13.4. If users do not want cookies to be stored on their computer, they are asked to deactivate the corresponding option in their browser's system settings. Saved cookies can be deleted in the browser's system settings. The exclusion of cookies may result in functional restrictions of this online offer.
13.5. You can prevent the use of cookies, which are used for audience measurement and advertising purposes, via the deactivation page of the Network Advertising Initiative (http://optout.networkadvertising.org/) and in addition the US website (http://www.aboutads.info/choices) or the European website (http://www.youronlinechoices.com/uk/your-ad-choices/) disagree.
14. Google Analytics
14.1. We use Google Analytics, a web analysis service provided by Google LLC (“Google”), on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimization and economic operation of our online offering within the meaning of Article 6 (1) lit. f. GDPR). Google uses cookies. The information generated by the cookie about the use of the online offer by users is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there.
14.2. Google is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thus offers a guarantee that it complies with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active).
14.3. Google will use this information on our behalf to evaluate the use of our online offer by users, to compile reports on activities within this online offer and to provide us with other services related to the use of this online offer and Internet usage. Pseudonymous user profiles of users can be created from the processed data. Change cookie settings
14.4. We only use Google Analytics with activated IP anonymization. This means that the IP address of users is abbreviated by Google within member states of the European Union or in other states party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and abbreviated there.
14.5. The IP address transmitted by the user's browser is not combined with other data from Google. Users can prevent the storage of cookies by setting their browser software accordingly; users can also prevent Google from collecting the data generated by the cookie and related to their use of the online offer and from processing this data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.
14.6. For more information on Google's use of data, settings and objection options, please visit Google's websites: https://www.google.com/intl/de/policies/privacy/partners (“Use of data by Google when you use our partners' websites or apps”), https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads (“use of data for advertising purposes”), https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated(“Manage information that Google uses to show you advertising”).
14.7. In addition, personal data will be anonymized or deleted after 14 months.
15. Google Fonts and Google Maps
15.1. We integrate fonts (“Google Fonts”) from the provider Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. Privacy statement: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/, Opt-out: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
15.2. We integrate maps from the “Google Maps” service provided by Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. The processed data may include, in particular, users' IP addresses and location data, which, however, cannot be collected without their consent (usually as part of the settings of their mobile devices). The data can be processed in the USA. Privacy statement: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/, Opt-out: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
16th newsletter
16.1. With the following information, we will inform you about the content of our newsletter as well as the registration, shipping and statistical evaluation procedures as well as your rights of objection. By subscribing to our newsletter, you agree to receive it and to the procedures described.
16.2. Content of the newsletter: We send newsletters, emails and other electronic notifications with information about our market research studies (hereinafter “newsletter”) only with the consent of the recipients or legal permission. If the content of the newsletter is specifically described as part of a subscription to the newsletter, they are decisive for the consent of the users.
16.3. Double opt-in and logging: Registration for our newsletter takes place in a so-called double opt-in process. This means that after registration, you will receive an email asking you to confirm your registration. This confirmation is necessary so that no one can register with foreign email addresses. Subscriptions to the newsletter are logged in order to be able to prove the registration process in accordance with legal requirements. This includes saving the time of registration and confirmation, as well as the IP address. Changes to your data stored with the shipping service provider are also logged.
16.4. Registration data: To sign up for the newsletter, it is sufficient to provide your email address and name
16.5. The newsletter is sent and performance measurement is based on the consent of the recipients in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a, Art. 7 DSGVO in conjunction with § 7 para. 2 no. 3 UWG or on the basis of legal permission in accordance with § 7 para. 3 UWG.
16.6. The registration process is logged on the basis of our legitimate interests in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO and serves as proof of consent to receive the newsletter.
16.7. Cancellation/Withdrawal — Newsletter recipients can cancel their receipt of our newsletter at any time, i.e. withdraw their consent. A link to cancel the newsletter can be found at the end of each newsletter. At the same time, their consent to the performance measurement expires. Unfortunately, it is not possible to cancel the performance measurement separately; in this case, the entire newsletter subscription must be cancelled. When you unsubscribe from newsletters, the personal data will be deleted, unless their storage is required or justified by law, in which case their processing will only be limited to these exceptional purposes. In particular, we can store the unsubscribed email addresses for up to three years on the basis of our legitimate interests before we delete them for the purpose of sending the newsletter in order to be able to prove a previously given consent. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of possible defense against claims. An individual request for deletion is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed at the same time.
