Privacy Policy
This privacy policy explains how we collect, process, and protect your personal data when you use our website.
This privacy policy is provided in accordance with German data protection law (DSGVO).
Last updated: 2024-01-01
Controller (Verantwortlicher)
The controller responsible for data processing on this website is:
General Information on Data Processing
What is Personal Data?
Personal data is any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. This includes, for example, your name, email address, IP address, or any other information that can be used to identify you directly or indirectly.
Scope of Data Processing
We process personal data only to the extent necessary to provide our services and operate this website. We do not sell your personal data to third parties. The scope of data processing is limited to what is described in the respective sections below.
Legal Bases According to Art. 6 DSGVO
The processing of personal data is based on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR / DSGVO), specifically Art. 6 DSGVO. The legal basis for each type of data processing is explained in the respective sections below:
- Art. 6(1)(a) DSGVO: Consent (for future tracking/analytics, if implemented)
- Art. 6(1)(b) DSGVO: Performance of a contract or pre-contractual measures (contact inquiries)
- Art. 6(1)(f) DSGVO: Legitimate interest (server logs, essential cookies, affiliate links)
Access Data / Server Log Files
When you access our website, your browser automatically transmits certain information to our server. This information is stored in server log files.
Data Collected:
- IP address (may be anonymized)
- Browser type and version
- Operating system
- Referrer URL (the website from which you accessed our site)
- Date and time of access
- Requested URL
Purpose:
This data is collected for:
- Technical operation of the website
- Security and error analysis
- Preventing abuse
The data is not used to identify individual users.
Legal Basis:
Art. 6(1)(f) DSGVO - Legitimate interest in the secure and reliable operation of the website.
Storage Duration:
Server log files are typically stored for a maximum of 7 days and then automatically deleted, unless longer storage is required for security purposes or legal obligations.
Contact via Email or Contact Form
If you contact us via email or our contact form, we process the data you provide to respond to your inquiry.
Data Collected:
- Your email address (required)
- Your name (optional, if provided)
- Your message content
- Timestamp of your inquiry
Purpose:
We process this data solely to respond to your inquiry and provide customer support.
Legal Basis:
Art. 6(1)(b) DSGVO - Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract or to take steps prior to entering into a contract (answering your inquiry).
Storage Duration:
We store your data only as long as necessary to process the request and handle any follow-up questions. Typically, this is no longer than 12 months after the last contact, unless legal retention periods require longer storage.
No Transfer to Third Parties:
We do not share your personal data with third parties. Your data is processed exclusively by us.
Cookies
Our website uses cookies to ensure proper functionality and improve user experience.
Essential Cookies (Currently Used):
We use only essential cookies that are strictly necessary for the website to function. These cookies do not require your consent under Art. 6(1)(f) DSGVO (legitimate interest).
Essential cookies may include:
- Session cookies for website functionality
- Security cookies
Tracking and Marketing Cookies:
Currently, we do not use tracking cookies, advertising cookies, or marketing cookies.
Note: If we decide to use non-essential cookies in the future, we will:
- Request your explicit consent before setting such cookies
- Update this privacy policy accordingly
- Provide you with the option to withdraw consent at any time
Legal Basis:
Essential cookies: Art. 6(1)(f) DSGVO - Legitimate interest in website functionality.
Future tracking cookies (if used): Art. 6(1)(a) DSGVO - Your consent.
Affiliate Links
Important Disclosure:
Our website may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
How Affiliate Links Work:
When you click on an affiliate link, you are redirected to a third-party website (the merchant). At this point, the third-party provider may collect data about your visit.
Data Processing:
- Before clicking: We do not transfer any personal data to third-party providers simply by displaying affiliate links on our website.
- After clicking: Once you click on an affiliate link, you leave our website and the third-party provider's privacy policy applies. We are not responsible for the data processing practices of third-party providers.
Legal Basis:
Art. 6(1)(f) DSGVO - Legitimate economic interest in generating revenue to support the operation and maintenance of this free educational website.
Your Rights:
You can avoid data transfer to third-party providers by not clicking on affiliate links. All affiliate links are clearly marked as such.
Analytics
Current Status:
This website currently does not use analytics or tracking tools such as Google Analytics.
Future Analytics (If Implemented):
Note: This section will be updated if analytics or tracking tools are introduced in the future. If we decide to implement such tools, we will:
- Request your explicit consent before activating analytics
- Use privacy-friendly settings (e.g., IP anonymization)
- Update this privacy policy with detailed information about the analytics tool used
- Provide you with the option to withdraw consent at any time
Your Rights
Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR / DSGVO), you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
1. Right to Access (Art. 15 DSGVO)
You have the right to obtain confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning you is being processed, and, where that is the case, access to the personal data and information about the processing.
2. Right to Rectification (Art. 16 DSGVO)
You have the right to obtain the rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning you and to have incomplete personal data completed.
3. Right to Erasure (Art. 17 DSGVO)
You have the right to obtain the erasure of personal data concerning you, subject to certain conditions (e.g., if the data is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected).
4. Right to Restriction of Processing (Art. 18 DSGVO)
You have the right to obtain restriction of processing where you contest the accuracy of the data, the processing is unlawful, or we no longer need the data but you require it for legal claims.
5. Right to Data Portability (Art. 20 DSGVO)
You have the right to receive the personal data concerning you in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and to transmit that data to another controller.
6. Right to Object (Art. 21 DSGVO)
You have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to processing of personal data based on Art. 6(1)(f) DSGVO (legitimate interest).
7. Right to Lodge a Complaint (Art. 77 DSGVO)
You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority if you believe that the processing of your personal data violates the GDPR. The supervisory authority responsible for us is:
Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI)
Graurheindorfer Str. 153
53117 Bonn, Germany
Website: www.bfdi.bund.de
How to Exercise Your Rights:
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at contact@studygerman.io. We will respond to your request within one month.
Data Security
We implement technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, loss, destruction, or alteration.
Technical Measures:
- SSL / HTTPS encryption: All data transmitted between your browser and our server is encrypted using SSL/TLS technology.
- Secure server infrastructure: Our servers are protected by firewalls and security measures.
- Regular security updates: We keep our systems and software up to date.
Organizational Measures:
- Access to personal data is restricted to authorized personnel only
- Regular training on data protection for staff
- Data processing agreements with service providers (if applicable)
Important Note:
While we implement security measures, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal data.
Updates to This Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our data processing practices, legal requirements, or website functionality.
When we make significant changes to this privacy policy, we will:
- Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
- Notify you of significant changes (if we have your contact information and if required by law)
We encourage you to review this privacy policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your personal data.
Last updated: 2024-01-01