Privacy Policy

1. Overview of Data Protection

General Information

The following information provides a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit this website. Personal data refers to any data that can personally identify you. Detailed information on data protection can be found in our privacy policy listed below.

Data Collection on This Website

Who is responsible for data collection on this website?

Data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. Their contact details can be found in the „Information on the Responsible Party“ section of this privacy policy.

How do we collect your data?

Your data is collected when you provide it to us. This may include data you enter into a contact form.

Other data is collected automatically or with your consent when you visit the website. This primarily includes technical data (e.g., internet browser, operating system, or time of page access). The collection of this data occurs automatically as soon as you enter this website.

What do we use your data for?

Some of the data is collected to ensure the proper functioning of the website. Other data may be used to analyze your user behavior. If contracts can be concluded or initiated via the website, the transmitted data will also be processed for contract offers, orders, or other inquiries.

What rights do you have regarding your data?

You have the right to receive information about the origin, recipient, and purpose of your stored personal data at any time, free of charge. You also have the right to request the correction or deletion of this data. If you have given consent to data processing, you can revoke this consent at any time for the future. Additionally, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data under certain circumstances. Furthermore, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.

For this and other questions regarding data protection, you can contact us at any time.

Analysis Tools and Third-Party Tools

When visiting this website, your surfing behavior may be statistically evaluated. This is primarily done using analysis programs.

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

2. Hosting

We host the content of our website with the following provider:

Strato

The provider is Strato AG, Otto-Ostrowski-Straße 7, 10249 Berlin (hereinafter referred to as „Strato“). When you visit our website, Strato collects various log files, including your IP addresses.

Further information can be found in Strato’s privacy policy: https://www.strato.de/datenschutz/.

The use of Strato is based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in the most reliable presentation of our website. If appropriate consent has been obtained, processing is carried out exclusively based on 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 can be revoked at any time.

Data Processing Agreement

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) for the use of the above-mentioned service. This is a legally required contract that ensures that this service processes the personal data of our website visitors only according to our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

3. General Information and Mandatory Disclosures

Data Protection

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

When you use this website, various personal data is collected. Personal data is data that can personally identify you. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this happens.

We point out that data transmission over the Internet (e.g., communication by email) can have security vulnerabilities. A complete protection of data against access by third parties is not possible.

Information on the Responsible Party

The responsible party for data processing on this website is:

Solveig Haas
Lüder-von-Bentheim-Straße 18
28209 Bremen
Email: hallo@geek-socials.com

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

Storage Duration

Unless a more specific storage period is specified in this privacy policy, your personal data will remain with us until the purpose for data processing ceases to apply. If you assert 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 occur after these reasons cease to apply.

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

If you have consented to data processing, we process your personal data based on Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR or Art. 9(2)(a) GDPR if special categories of data are processed according to Art. 9(1) GDPR. In the case of explicit consent to the transfer of personal data to third countries, data processing is also based on Art. 49(1)(a) GDPR. If you have consented to the storage of cookies or access to information on your device (e.g., via device fingerprinting), data processing is additionally based on § 25(1) TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time. If your data is required to fulfill a contract or to carry out pre-contractual measures, we process your data based on Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR. Furthermore, we process your data if it is necessary to fulfill a legal obligation based on Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR. Data processing may also be based on our legitimate interest according to Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The respective legal bases in each individual case are explained in the following paragraphs of this privacy policy.

Note on Data Transfer to Third Countries Not Considered Safe Under Data Protection Law and Transfer to US Companies Not Certified Under the DPF

We use tools from companies based in third countries that are not considered safe under data protection law, as well as US tools whose providers are not certified under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF). When these tools are active, your personal data may be transferred to these countries and processed there. We point out that in third countries not considered safe under data protection law, a level of data protection comparable to that in the EU cannot be guaranteed.

We point out that the USA is generally considered a safe third country with a level of data protection comparable to that in the EU. Data transfer to the USA is therefore permissible if the recipient has certification under the „EU-US Data Privacy Framework“ (DPF) or has suitable additional guarantees. Information on transfers to third countries, including the data recipients, can be found in this privacy policy.

Recipients of Personal Data

In the course of our business activities, we work with various external parties. In some cases, it is also necessary to transmit personal data to these external parties. We only pass on personal data to external parties if this is necessary for contract fulfillment, if we are legally obliged to do so (e.g., transfer of data to tax authorities), if we have a legitimate interest under Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR in the transfer, or if another legal basis permits the data transfer. When using processors, we only pass on personal data of our customers based on 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 can revoke consent already given at any time. The legality of the data processing carried out until the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

Right to Object to Data Collection in Special Cases and to Direct Advertising (Art. 21 GDPR)

IF DATA PROCESSING IS BASED ON ART. 6(1)(E) OR (F) GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME, FOR REASONS ARISING FROM YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION, TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING BASED ON THESE PROVISIONS. THE RESPECTIVE LEGAL BASIS ON WHICH PROCESSING IS BASED CAN BE FOUND IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU OBJECT, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS YOUR AFFECTED PERSONAL DATA UNLESS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR THE PROCESSING THAT OVERRIDE YOUR INTERESTS, RIGHTS, AND FREEDOMS OR THE PROCESSING SERVES TO ASSERT, EXERCISE, OR DEFEND LEGAL CLAIMS (OBJECTION UNDER ART. 21(1) GDPR).

IF YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS PROCESSED FOR DIRECT ADVERTISING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA CONCERNING YOU FOR SUCH ADVERTISING; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH DIRECT ADVERTISING. IF YOU OBJECT, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL SUBSEQUENTLY NO LONGER BE USED FOR DIRECT ADVERTISING PURPOSES (OBJECTION UNDER ART. 21(2) 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, particularly 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.

Right to Data Portability

You have the right to have data that we process automatically based on your consent or in fulfillment of a contract handed over to you or to a third party in a common, machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of the data to another controller, this will only be done to the extent technically feasible.

Information, Correction, and Deletion

Within the framework of the applicable legal provisions, you have the right to free information about your stored personal data, its origin and recipient, and the purpose of data processing and, if applicable, a right to correction or deletion of this data at any time. For this and other questions about personal data, you can contact us at any time.

Right to Restriction of Processing

You have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. To do so, you can contact us at any time. The right to restriction of processing applies in the following cases:

If you contest the accuracy of the personal data we hold about you, we usually need time to verify this. During the verification period, you have the right to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted.
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 require it for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims, you may request the restriction of processing instead of deletion.
If you have objected to processing pursuant to Art. 21(1) GDPR, a balance must be struck between your interests and ours. As long as it has not been determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to request the 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 a Member State.

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 website operator—this site uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the change in the address line of the browser from „http://“ to „https://“ and 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.

Objection to Promotional Emails

We hereby object to the use of contact data published within the framework of the legal notice obligation for sending unsolicited advertising and information materials. The operators of this website expressly reserve the right to take legal action in the event of unsolicited promotional information, such as spam emails.

4. Data Collection on This Website

Cookies

Our website uses so-called „cookies.“ Cookies are small data packets that do not harm your device. They are either stored temporarily for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (permanent cookies) on your device. Session cookies are automatically deleted after your visit ends. Permanent cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them yourself or your web browser deletes them automatically.

Cookies can be set by us (first-party cookies) or by third-party companies (so-called third-party cookies). Third-party cookies enable the integration of specific services from third-party companies within websites (e.g., cookies for payment processing services).

Cookies have various functions. Many cookies are technically necessary, as certain website functions would not work without them (e.g., the shopping cart function or displaying videos). Other cookies may be used to analyze user behavior or for advertising purposes.

Cookies that are required to carry out electronic communication processes, to provide certain functions you have requested (e.g., for the shopping cart), or to optimize the website (e.g., cookies to measure the web audience) 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 the storage of necessary cookies for the technically error-free and optimized provision of its services. If consent for the storage of cookies and similar recognition technologies has been requested, processing is based exclusively on this consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG); the consent can be revoked at any time.

You can configure your browser to inform you about the setting of cookies and to allow cookies only in individual cases, to exclude the acceptance of cookies in certain cases or generally, and to enable the automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. Disabling cookies may limit the functionality of this website.

You can find out which cookies and services are used on this website in this privacy policy.

Contact Form

If you send us inquiries via the contact form, your information from the inquiry form, including the contact details you provided 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, if your inquiry is related to the performance of a contract or is necessary to carry out pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, the processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective processing of inquiries directed to us (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 will remain with us until you request us to delete it, revoke your consent to store it, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g., after your inquiry has been processed). Mandatory legal provisions—especially retention periods—remain unaffected.

Request by Email, Phone, or Fax

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

The processing of this data is based on Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR if your request is related to the performance of a contract or is necessary to carry out pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, the processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective processing of inquiries directed to us (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 send to us via contact inquiries will 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 processed). Mandatory statutory provisions—especially statutory retention periods—remain unaffected.

5. Social Media

Facebook

This website includes elements of the Facebook social network. The provider of this service is Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland. According to Facebook, the collected data is also transferred to the USA and other third countries.

An overview of Facebook social media elements can be found here: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/?locale=en_US.

When the social media element is active, a direct connection is established between your device and the Facebook server. Facebook is thus informed that you have visited this website with your IP address. If you click the Facebook “Like” button while logged into your Facebook account, you can link the content of this website to your Facebook profile. This allows Facebook to associate your visit to this website with your user account. We would like to point out that, as the provider of the website, we have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data or its use by Facebook. Further information can be found in Facebook’s privacy policy: https://facebook.com/privacy/explanation.

The use of this service is based on your consent in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

If personal data is collected on our website using the tool described here and forwarded to Facebook, we and Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland are jointly responsible for this data processing (Art. 26 GDPR). This joint responsibility is limited exclusively to the collection of data and its transfer to Facebook. The subsequent processing by Facebook is not part of the joint responsibility. The obligations we share have been defined in a joint processing agreement. The wording of the agreement can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum.

According to this agreement, we are responsible for providing privacy information when using the Facebook tool and for implementing the tool securely on our website. Facebook is responsible for the data security of Facebook products. Data subject rights (e.g., access requests) regarding data processed by Facebook can be asserted directly with Facebook. If you assert rights with us, we are obliged to forward them to Facebook.

Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum
https://www.facebook.com/help/566994660333381
https://www.facebook.com/policy.php

The company is certified under the “EU-US Data Privacy Framework” (DPF). The DPF is an agreement between the European Union and the USA to ensure compliance with European data protection standards in the USA. Companies certified under the DPF commit to complying with these standards. More information is available from the provider here: https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/participant/4452.

Instagram

This website includes features of the Instagram service. These features are offered by Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland.

When the social media element is active, a direct connection is established between your device and the Instagram server. Instagram is thereby informed that you have visited this website.

If you are logged into your Instagram account, you can link the content of this website to your Instagram profile by clicking the Instagram button. This allows Instagram to associate your visit to this website with your user account. We would like to point out that, as the provider of this website, we have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data or its use by Instagram.

The use of this service is based on your consent in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

If personal data is collected on our website using the tool described here and forwarded to Facebook or Instagram, we and Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland are jointly responsible for this data processing (Art. 26 GDPR). This joint responsibility is limited exclusively to the collection of data and its transfer to Facebook or Instagram. The subsequent processing by these platforms is not part of the joint responsibility. The obligations we share have been defined in a joint processing agreement. The wording of the agreement can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum.

According to this agreement, we are responsible for providing privacy information when using the Facebook or Instagram tools and for implementing them securely on our website. Facebook is responsible for the data security of Facebook and Instagram products. Data subject rights (e.g., access requests) regarding data processed by Facebook or Instagram can be asserted directly with those platforms. If you assert rights with us, we are obliged to forward them to Facebook.

Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum
https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/
https://www.facebook.com/help/566994660333381

Further information can be found in Instagram’s privacy policy: https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/.

6. Newsletter

Newsletter Data

If you would like to receive the newsletter offered on the website, we require an email address from you as well as information that allows us to verify that you are the owner of the email address provided and that you agree to receive the newsletter. No further data is collected or only on a voluntary basis. We use this data exclusively for sending the requested information and do not pass it on to third parties.

The processing of the data entered into the newsletter subscription form is based exclusively on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). You can revoke your consent to the storage of the data, the email address, and its use for sending the newsletter at any time, for example via the “unsubscribe” link in the newsletter. The legality of the data processing operations already carried out remains unaffected by the revocation.

The data you provide to us for the purpose of subscribing to the newsletter will be stored by us or the newsletter service provider until you unsubscribe from the newsletter and deleted from the newsletter distribution list after you unsubscribe or once the purpose no longer applies. We reserve the right to remove or block email addresses from our newsletter distribution list at our own discretion within the scope of our legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR.

Data stored by us for other purposes remains unaffected.

After you have unsubscribed from the newsletter distribution list, your email address may be stored by us or the newsletter service provider in a blacklist if this is necessary to prevent future mailings. The data from the blacklist is used only for this purpose and is not merged with other data. This serves both your interest and our interest in complying with legal requirements for sending newsletters (legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). Storage in the blacklist is not time-limited. You can object to the storage if your interests outweigh our legitimate interest.

7. Plugins and Tools

YouTube

This website incorporates videos from the YouTube website. The operator of the site is Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

When you visit one of our pages with a YouTube plugin, a connection to YouTube’s servers is established. YouTube is informed which of our pages you have visited.

Furthermore, YouTube may store various cookies on your device or use similar recognition technologies (e.g., device fingerprinting). In this way, YouTube can obtain information about visitors to this website. This information is used, among other things, to collect video statistics, improve user-friendliness, and prevent fraud attempts. The data collected is also processed in the Google advertising network.

If you are logged into your YouTube account, you enable YouTube to associate your browsing behavior directly with your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account.

The use of YouTube is in the interest of an appealing presentation of our online offerings. This constitutes a legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. If appropriate consent has been obtained, processing is based exclusively on 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 can be revoked at any time.

Further information on the handling of user data can be found in YouTube’s privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en.

The company is certified under the “EU-US Data Privacy Framework” (DPF). The DPF is an agreement between the European Union and the USA that ensures compliance with European data protection standards in the USA. Every company certified under the DPF commits to complying with these data protection standards. Further information is available from the provider here: https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/participant/5780.

Font Awesome

This site uses Font Awesome for uniform display of fonts and icons. The provider is Fonticons, Inc., 6 Porter Road Apartment 3R, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

When you call up a page, your browser loads the required fonts into your browser cache to display texts, fonts, and symbols correctly. For this purpose, the browser you use must connect to the servers of Font Awesome. This gives Font Awesome knowledge that this website has been accessed via your IP address.

The use of Font Awesome is based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in the uniform presentation of the typeface on our website. If appropriate consent has been obtained, processing is based exclusively on 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 can be revoked at any time.

If your browser does not support Font Awesome, a standard font from your computer will be used.

Further information on Font Awesome can be found in their privacy policy: https://fontawesome.com/privacy.

Google reCAPTCHA

We use “Google reCAPTCHA” (hereinafter referred to as “reCAPTCHA”) on this website. The provider is Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

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

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

Data storage and analysis 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 appropriate consent has been obtained, processing is based exclusively on 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 can be revoked at any time.

Further information on Google reCAPTCHA can be found in the Google Privacy Policy and Google Terms of Service under the following links: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en and https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en.