Data Protection and Privacy Policy

GlobalSME.net - Data Protection and Privacy Policy | with effect of May 25, 2018

In a nutshell

We are very delighted by your interest in this project and we are happy to have you visit this website.

As you know, data protection is a complex and evolving subject matter. The following are some of the main points of our data protection and privacy policy as laid out further below.

On this website...

• we process your data in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
• we use your data strictly for the purpose of providing networking services to you, our members.
• we do not share your data with third parties without your express consent.
• your IP-address is automatically anonymised within the legally permittable storage period of up to 7 (seven) days (in order to prevent misuse of our systems).
• we do not use third party advertising-, tracking-, or analysis-services (e.g. third party cookies, banners, pop ups, etc...).
• we only use temporary session cookies (i.e. to ensure correct functionality and display in your browser for the duration of your visit).
• your data (i.e. your member information as well as all your contents or comments) are deleted automatically when you delete your user account.

For further information on how your data is being handled on this website, please refer to the following Data Protection and Privacy Policy below.

 

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Our Data Protection and Privacy Policy

Data protection is of a particularly high priority for the operators of GlobalSME.net. The use of the webpages on GlobalSME.net is possible without disclosure of personal data; however, if a visitor wants to use the services provided by this website, the creation of a user account, and thus the disclosure of certain personal data could become necessary. Insofar as the processing of personal data is necessary and there is no statutory basis for such processing, we generally obtain consent from the user.

The processing of personal data, such as the company name, company address, e-mail address, or telephone number of a registered user shall always be in line with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and in accordance with the country-specific data protection regulations applicable to GlobalSME.net.

By means of this data protection and privacy policy, we would like to inform the general public of the nature, scope, and purpose of the personal data we collect, use and process. Furthermore, users are informed, by means of this data protection and privacy policy, of the rights to which they are entitled.

As the controller, GlobalSME.net has implemented numerous technical and organizational measures to ensure the most complete protection of personal data processed through this website. However, internet-based data transmissions may in principle have security gaps, so absolute protection can not be guaranteed. For this reason, we keep the amount of data required in order to use the functionality of this website to a minimum.

 

1. Definitions

The data protection and privacy policy of GlobalSME.net is based on the terms used by the European legislator for the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Our data protection and privacy policy should be legible and understandable for the general public, as well as our members and business partners. To ensure this, we would like to first explain the terminology used.

In this data protection declaration, we use, inter alia, the following terms:

• Personal data - personal data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (“data subject”). An identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.
• Data subject - the data subject is any identified or identifiable natural person, whose personal data is processed by the controller responsible for the processing.
• Processing - processing is any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction.
• Restriction of processing - restriction of processing is the marking of stored personal data with the aim of limiting their processing in the future.
• Profiling - profiling means any form of automated processing of personal data consisting of the use of personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyse or predict aspects concerning that natural person's performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behaviour, location or movements.
• Pseudonymisation - pseudonymisation is the processing of personal data in such a manner that the personal data can no longer be attributed to a specific data subject without the use of additional information, provided that such additional information is kept separately and is subject to technical and organisational measures to ensure that the personal data are not attributed to an identified or identifiable natural person.
• Controller - the controller or controller responsible for the processing is the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data; where the purposes and means of such processing are determined by Union or Member State law, the controller or the specific criteria for its nomination may be provided for by Union or Member State law.
• Processor - the processor is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which processes personal data on behalf of the controller.
• Recipient - the recipient is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or another body, to which the personal data are disclosed, whether a third party or not. However, public authorities which may receive personal data in the framework of a particular inquiry in accordance with Union or Member State law shall not be regarded as recipients; the processing of those data by those public authorities shall be in compliance with the applicable data protection rules according to the purposes of the processing.
• Third party - a third party is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or body other than the data subject, controller, processor and persons who, under the direct authority of the controller or processor, are authorised to process personal data.
• Consent - the consent of the data subject is any freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of the data subject's wishes by which he or she, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signifies agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her.

 

2. Name and Address of the controller

Controller for the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), other data protection laws applicable in Member states of the European Union and other provisions related to data protection is:

 

3. Cookies

Many Internet sites and servers use cookies. Cookies are text files that are stored in a computer system via an Internet browser. Some cookies are necessary for the functionality of a website (e.g. the correct display in the browser or the "memory" of a shopping cart during the visit), while others track and store information about the user site site-visits and surf behavior in his or her internet browser permanently in order to provide targeted advertisments for future browser sessions and site visits.

GlobalSME.net does not utilize any third party advertising services, nor do we have any interest in tracking our members surf behavior.

This website therefore only uses so called "Session Cookies", which are necessary for the correct functioning and display of this website in the data subject's browser for the duration of the visit on our website.

These cookies are temporary and automatically get deleted at the end of the browser session (i.e. when the browser is closed). No data are being collected from or stored on the data subject's computer or device.

The setting of cookies may be, in general, at any time prevented by means of a corresponding setting of the Internet browser used, and may thus permanently deny the setting of cookies. Furthermore, already set cookies may be deleted at any time via an Internet browser or other software programs. This is possible in all popular Internet browsers.

If the data subject deactivates the setting of cookies in the Internet browser used, not all functions of our website may be entirely usable.

 

4. Collection of general data and information

This website collects a series of general data and information when a data subject or automated system calls up the website. These general data and information are stored in the server log files. Collected may be:

1. the browser types and versions used,
2. the operating system used by the accessing system,
3. the website from which an accessing system reaches our website (so-called referrers),
4. the sub-websites,
5. the date and time of access to the Internet site,
6. an Internet protocol address (IP address),
7. the Internet service provider of the accessing system, and
8. any other similar data and information that may be used in the event of attacks on our information technology systems.

 

When using these general data and information, the operators of this website do not draw any conclusions about the data subject.

Rather, this information is needed to:

1. deliver the content of our website correctly,
2. optimize the content of our website,
3. ensure the long-term viability of our information technology systems and website technology, and
4. provide law enforcement authorities with the information necessary for criminal prosecution in case of a cyber-attack.

Therefore, GlobalSME.net analyzes anonymously collected data and information statistically, with the aim of increasing the data protection and data security of our enterprise, and to ensure an optimal level of protection for the personal data we process. The anonymous data of the server log files are stored temporarily as well as separately from all personal data provided by a data subject.

 

5. Registration

The data subject has the option to register on this website by creating a user account. The registration for a user account requires disclosure of certain personal data.

The extent of personal data that are transmitted to the controller is determined by the registration form used for the process of registration. The personal data entered by the data subject are collected and stored exclusively for internal use by the controller, and for his own purposes.

By registering on this website, the IP address—assigned by the Internet service provider (ISP) and used by the data subject—date, and time of the registration are also stored. The storage of this data takes place against the background that this is the only way to prevent the misuse of our services, and, if necessary, to make it possible to investigate committed offenses.

Insofar, the storage of this data for an allowed period of up to 7 (seven) days is necessary to secure the controller. These data are not passed on to third parties unless there is a statutory obligation to pass on the data, or if the transfer serves the aim of criminal prosecution.

The registration of the data subject, with the voluntary disclosure of personal data, is intended to enable the controller to offer the data subject contents or services that may only be offered to registered users due to the nature of the matter in question. Registered persons are free to change the personal data specified during the registration at any time, or to have them completely deleted from the data stock of the controller.

The data controller shall, at any time, provide information upon request to each data subject as to what personal data are stored about the data subject. In addition, the data controller shall correct or delete personal data at the request or indication of the data subject, insofar as there are no statutory storage obligations. The entirety of the controller’s employees are available to the data subject in this respect as contact persons.

 

6. Newsletter

• Purpose: GlobalSME.net informs its registered members and business partners regularly (quarterly) by means of a newsletter about news and updates in relation to this website and its members. Our newsletter may only be received by the data subject if (1) the data subject has a valid e-mail address and (2) the data subject subscribesto the newsletter.
• Service-Provider: We send our newsletters through our own internal system. No third party service provider is being utilized. Therefore we retain full controll over our members data.

• Subscription: Users can subscribe to the newsletter in two ways: (1) during the process of registration for a user account through the registration form, or (2) after a users has registered an user account, through the account settings.

  As part of the legally required double opt-in procedure, during the registration of a new user account, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address provided by the data subject in order to confirm the rightful ownership of that e-mail address.

  During the registration for the newsletter, we store the date and time of the registration. The collection of this data is necessary in order to understand the (possible) misuse of the e-mail address of a data subject at a later date, and it therefore serves the aim of the legal protection of the controller. The personal data collected as part of a registration for the newsletter will only be used to send our newsletter.

  In addition, newsletter subscribers may be informed by e-mail, as long as this is necessary for the operation of the newsletter service or a registration in question, as this could be the case in the event of modifications to the newsletter offer, or in the event of a change in technical circumstances. There will be no transfer of personal data collected in relation to the newsletter service to third parties.

• Tracking: Tracking refers to process of analysing if a newsletter has been received and read by the recipient, and whether the recipient has clicked on any link inside the newsletter. We do not utilize tracking in our newsletter.
• Unsubscription: The subscription to our newsletter may be terminated by the data subject at any time and in three different ways: (1) through a corresponding "unsubscribe"-link at the end of each newsletter, (2) through the user account settings on the website, or (3) by communicating this to the controller in a different way.

 

7. Links to Social Media Sites

With the exception of YouTube and SoundCloud embedded media files (see numbers 8 and 9 below), this website does not utilize any plug-ins of social media sites. The social media buttons in the footer section (at the bottom) of each page are merely links to my profile pages on the respective sites. As such, those links do not collect nor process any of this site visitors' data, unless the user chooses to click on the links in order to visit the respective websites or apps.

If a visitor of this website does not wish to have his or her data collected and/or processed by any of those social media providers, then he or she can do so by simply avoiding to click on any of the links in the footer section associated with those social media providers.

The controller of this website is not responsible for any collection and/or processing of data on the social media sites presented as links in the footer section of this website.

For more information, visitors may want to review the privacy policies of each social media provider as listed below:

• Twitter | https://twitter.com/en/privacy
• Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/legal/privacy/
• YouTube | https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/
• SoundCloud | https://soundcloud.com/pages/privacy

 

 

8. Data protection provisions about the application and use of YouTube

On this website, the controller has integrated components of YouTube.

YouTube is an Internet video portal that enables video publishers to set video clips and other users free of charge, which also provides free viewing, review and commenting on them. YouTube allows you to publish all kinds of videos, so you can access both full movies and TV broadcasts, as well as music videos, trailers, and videos made by users via the Internet portal.

The operating company of YouTube is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Irland.

With each call-up to one of the individual pages of this Internet site, which is operated by the controller and on which a YouTube component (YouTube video) was integrated, the Internet browser on the information technology system of the data subject is automatically prompted to download a display of the corresponding YouTube component. Further information about YouTube may be obtained under https://www.youtube.com/yt/about/en/. During the course of this technical procedure, YouTube and Google gain knowledge of what specific sub-page of our website was visited by the data subject.

If the data subject is logged in on YouTube, YouTube recognizes with each call-up to a sub-page that contains a YouTube video, which specific sub-page of our Internet site was visited by the data subject. This information is collected by YouTube and Google and assigned to the respective YouTube account of the data subject.

YouTube and Google will receive information through the YouTube component that the data subject has visited our website, if the data subject at the time of the call to our website is logged in on YouTube; this occurs regardless of whether the person clicks on a YouTube video or not. If such a transmission of this information to YouTube and Google is not desirable for the data subject, the delivery may be prevented if the data subject logs off from their own YouTube account before a call-up to our website is made.

Videos hosted on YouTube are embedded on this website through the iframe-function and using the privacy mode. This mode allows users to watch a video without the collection and processing of their user behaviour.

However, when loading a page that features an embedded YouTube video, certain data will be exchanged between the user's browers and the servers of YouTube/Google in the USA even without playing the embedded video. Those data include functional data like the preview image (thumbnail), the font for the video title as well as the IP-address of the visitor's device.

On this website, visitors are being notified before loading a page that features an embedded video. That way, any unintentional exchange of data with external servers should be avoided as far as possible.

YouTube's data protection provisions, available at https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/, provide information about the collection, processing and use of personal data by YouTube and Google.

 

9. Data protection provisions about the application and use of SoundCloud

On this website, the controller has integrated components of SoundCloud.

SoundCloud is an online music and audio service-provider, that enables members to publish and to distribute audio clips on its platform, which also provides free viewing, review and commenting on them. SoundCLoud allows you to publish all kinds of audio files, so you can access full music albums, as well as podcasts, audiobooks and other audio content by users via the Internet portal.

The operating company of SoundCloud is SoundCloud Limited, c/o Third Floor, 20 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7AN, United Kingdom

With each call-up to one of the individual pages of this Internet site, which is operated by the controller and on which a SoundCloud component ("Audio Player") was integrated, the Internet browser on the information technology system of the data subject is automatically prompted to download a display of the corresponding SoundCloud component. Further information about SoundCloud may be obtained under https://soundcloud.com/pages/contact. During the course of this technical procedure, SoundCloud gains knowledge of what specific sub-page of our website was visited by the data subject.

If the data subject is logged in on SoundCloud, SoundCloud recognizes with each call-up to a sub-page that contains an embedded SoundCloud Audio Player, which specific sub-page of our Internet site was visited by the data subject. This information is collected by SoundCloud and assigned to the respective SoundCloud account of the data subject.

SoundCloud will receive information through the embedded SoundCloud component that the data subject has visited our website, if the data subject at the time of the call to our website is logged in on SoundCloud; this occurs regardless of whether the person clicks on an embedded SoundCloud Audio Player or not. If such a transmission of this information to SoundCloud is not desirable for the data subject, the delivery may be prevented if the data subject logs off from their own SoundCloud account before a call-up to our website is made.

Audio files hosted on SoundCloud are accessible through the embedded SoundCloud Player on this website. This player allows users to listen to audio files locally without having to leave this website.

However, when loading a page that features an embedded SoundCloud Audio Player, certain data will be exchanged between the user's browers and the servers of SoundCloud in the UK without playing the embedded audio file. Those data include functional data like the audio file image (thumbnail), the font for the video title as well as the IP-address of the visitor's device.

On this website, visitors are being notified before loading a page that features an embedded audio file. That way, any unintentional exchange of data with external servers should be avoided as far as possible.

SoundCloud's data protection provisions, available at https://soundcloud.com/pages/privacy, provide information about the collection, processing and use of personal data by SoundCloud.

 

10. Payment Method: Data protection provisions about the use of PayPal as a payment processor

On this website, the controller has integrated components of PayPal. PayPal is an online payment service provider. Payments are processed via so-called PayPal accounts, which represent virtual private or business accounts. PayPal is also able to process virtual payments through credit cards when a user does not have a PayPal account. A PayPal account is managed via an e-mail address, which is why there are no classic account numbers. PayPal makes it possible to trigger online payments to third parties or to receive payments. PayPal also accepts trustee functions and offers buyer protection services.

The European operating company of PayPal is PayPal (Europe) S.à.r.l. et Cie, S.C.A., 22-24 Boulevard Royal L-2449, Luxemburg.

If the data subject chooses "PayPal" as the payment option in the online shop during the ordering process, we automatically transmit the data of the data subject to PayPal. By selecting this payment option, the data subject agrees to the transfer of personal data required for payment processing.

The personal data transmitted to PayPal is usually first name, last name, address, email address, IP address, telephone number, mobile phone number, or other data necessary for payment processing. The processing of the purchase contract also requires such personal data, which are in connection with the respective order.

The transmission of the data is aimed at payment processing and fraud prevention. The controller will transfer personal data to PayPal, in particular, if a legitimate interest in the transmission is given. The personal data exchanged between PayPal and the controller for the processing of the data will be transmitted by PayPal to economic credit agencies. This transmission is intended for identity and creditworthiness checks.

PayPal will, if necessary, pass on personal data to affiliates and service providers or subcontractors to the extent that this is necessary to fulfill contractual obligations or for data to be processed in the order.

The data subject has the possibility to revoke consent for the handling of personal data at any time from PayPal. A revocation shall not have any effect on personal data which must be processed, used or transmitted in accordance with (contractual) payment processing.

The applicable data protection provisions of PayPal may be retrieved under https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full.

 

11. Contact options via the website

The website of the GlobalSME.net contains information that enables a quick electronic contact to our enterprise, as well as direct communication with us, which also includes a general address of the so-called electronic mail (e-mail address). Data transmission to our website is secured by Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology, which can be seen by the "https" instead of "http" in the address bar of your browser. This technology encrypts data and prevents unauthorized third parties from getting access to the data transmitted.

If a data subject contacts the controller by e-mail or via a contact form, the personal data transmitted by the data subject are automatically stored. Such personal data (transmitted on a voluntary basis by a data subject to the data controller) are stored for the purpose of processing the enquiry as well as replying to the data subject. There is no transfer of these personal data to third parties.

 

12. Routine erasure and blocking of personal data

The data controller shall process and store the personal data of the data subject only for the period necessary to achieve the purpose of storage, or as far as this is granted by the European legislator or other legislators in laws or regulations to which the controller is subject to.

If the storage purpose is not applicable, or if a storage period prescribed by the European legislator or another competent legislator expires, the personal data are routinely blocked or erased in accordance with legal requirements.

All data pertaining to the user account or the user's activities on this website (e.g. company profile, username, e-mail address, postings, comments, etc...) are automatically deleted when the user deletes his or her user account. This deletion also includes the subscription to the quarterly newsletter and is irreversible.

 

13. Rights of the data subject

• a) Right of confirmation

  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller the confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning him or her are being stored and processed. If a data subject wishes to avail himself of this right of confirmation, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the controller.

• b) Right of access

  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller free information about his or her personal data stored at any time and a copy of this information. Furthermore, the European directives and regulations grant the data subject access to the following information:

  • the purposes of the processing;
  • the categories of personal data concerned;
  • the recipients or categories of recipients to whom the personal data have been or will be disclosed, in particular recipients in third countries or international organisations;
  • where possible, the envisaged period for which the personal data will be stored, or, if not possible, the criteria used to determine that period;
  • the existence of the right to request from the controller rectification or erasure of personal data, or restriction of processing of personal data concerning the data subject, or to object to such processing;
  • the existence of the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority;
  • where the personal data are not collected from the data subject, any available information as to their source;
  • the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, referred to in Article 22(1) and (4) of the GDPR and, at least in those cases, meaningful information about the logic involved, as well as the significance and envisaged consequences of such processing for the data subject.

   

  Furthermore, the data subject shall have a right to obtain information as to whether personal data are being transferred to a third country or to an international organisation. Where this is the case, the data subject shall have the right to be informed of the appropriate safeguards relating to the transfer.

  If a data subject wishes to avail himself of this right of access, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the controller.

• c) Right to rectification

  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller without undue delay the rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning him or her. Taking into account the purposes of the processing, the data subject shall have the right to have incomplete personal data completed, including by means of providing a supplementary statement.

  If a data subject wishes to exercise this right to rectification, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the controller.

• d) Right to erasure (Right to be forgotten)

  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller the erasure of personal data concerning him or her without undue delay, and the controller shall have the obligation to erase personal data without undue delay where one of the following grounds applies, as long as the processing is not necessary:

  • The personal data are no longer necessary in relation to the purposes for which they were collected or otherwise processed.
  • The data subject withdraws consent to which the processing is based according to point (a) of Article 6(1) of the GDPR, or point (a) of Article 9(2) of the GDPR, and where there is no other legal ground for the processing.
  • The data subject objects to the processing pursuant to Article 21(1) of the GDPR and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the processing, or the data subject objects to the processing pursuant to Article 21(2) of the GDPR.
  • The personal data have been unlawfully processed.
  • The personal data must be erased for compliance with a legal obligation in Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject.
  • The personal data have been collected in relation to the offer of information society services referred to in Article 8(1) of the GDPR.

  If one of the aforementioned reasons applies, and a data subject wishes to request the erasure of personal data stored by GlobalSME.net, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the controller. An employee of GlobalSME.net shall promptly ensure that the erasure request is complied with immediately.

  Where the controller has made personal data public and is obliged pursuant to Article 17(1) to erase the personal data, the controller, taking account of available technology and the cost of implementation, shall take reasonable steps, including technical measures, to inform other controllers processing the personal data that the data subject has requested erasure by such controllers of any links to, or copy or replication of, those personal data, as far as processing is not required. An employee of GlobalSME.net will arrange for the necessary measures in individual cases.

• e) Right of restriction of processing

  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller restriction of processing where one of the following applies:

  • The accuracy of the personal data is contested by the data subject, for a period enabling the controller to verify the accuracy of the personal data.
  • The processing is unlawful and the data subject opposes the erasure of the personal data and requests instead the restriction of their use instead.
  • The controller no longer needs the personal data for the purposes of the processing, but they are required by the data subject for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.
  • The data subject has objected to processing pursuant to Article 21(1) of the GDPR pending the verification whether the legitimate grounds of the controller override those of the data subject.

   

  If one of the aforementioned conditions is met, and a data subject wishes to request the restriction of the processing of personal data stored by the GlobalSME.net, he or she may at any time contact any employee of the controller. The employee of GlobalSME.net will arrange for the restriction of the processing.

• f) Right to data portability

  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator, to receive the personal data concerning him or her, which was provided to a controller, in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format. He or she shall have the right to transmit those data to another controller without hindrance from the controller to which the personal data have been provided, as long as the processing is based on consent pursuant to point (a) of Article 6(1) of the GDPR or point (a) of Article 9(2) of the GDPR, or on a contract pursuant to point (b) of Article 6(1) of the GDPR, and the processing is carried out by automated means, as long as the processing is not necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.

  Furthermore, in exercising his or her right to data portability pursuant to Article 20(1) of the GDPR, the data subject shall have the right to have personal data transmitted directly from one controller to another, where technically feasible and when doing so does not adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others.

  In order to assert the right to data portability, the data subject may at any time contact any employee of GlobalSME.net.

• g) Right to object

  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to object, on grounds relating to his or her particular situation, at any time, to processing of personal data concerning him or her, which is based on point (e) or (f) of Article 6(1) of the GDPR. This also applies to profiling based on these provisions.

  GlobalSME.net shall no longer process the personal data in the event of the objection, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject, or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.

  If GlobalSME.net processes personal data for direct marketing purposes, the data subject shall have the right to object at any time to processing of personal data concerning him or her for such marketing. This applies to profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing. If the data subject objects to the processing of personal data for direct marketing purposes, GlobalSME.net will no longer process the personal data for these purposes.

  In addition, the data subject has the right, on grounds relating to his or her particular situation, to object to processing of personal data concerning him or her by GlobalSME.net for scientific or historical research purposes, or for statistical purposes pursuant to Article 89(1) of the GDPR, unless the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for reasons of public interest.

  In order to exercise the right to object, the data subject may contact any employee of GlobalSME.net. In addition, the data subject is free in the context of the use of information society services, and notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC, to use his or her right to object by automated means using technical specifications.

• h) Automated individual decision-making, including profiling

  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, which produces legal effects concerning him or her, or similarly significantly affects him or her, as long as the decision (1) is not is necessary for entering into, or the performance of, a contract between the data subject and a data controller, or (2) is not authorised by Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject and which also lays down suitable measures to safeguard the data subject's rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, or (3) is not based on the data subject's explicit consent.

  If the decision (1) is necessary for entering into, or the performance of, a contract between the data subject and a data controller, or (2) it is based on the data subject's explicit consent, GlobalSME.net shall implement suitable measures to safeguard the data subject's rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, at least the right to obtain human intervention on the part of the controller, to express his or her point of view and contest the decision.

  If the data subject wishes to exercise the rights concerning automated individual decision-making, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of GlobalSME.net.

• i) Right to withdraw data protection consent

  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to withdraw his or her consent to processing of his or her personal data at any time.

  If the data subject wishes to exercise the right to withdraw the consent, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of GlobalSME.net.

 

14. Legal basis for the processing

Art. 6(1) lit. a GDPR serves as the legal basis for processing operations for which we obtain consent for a specific processing purpose. If the processing of personal data is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party, as is the case, for example, when processing operations are necessary for the supply of goods or to provide any other service, the processing is based on Article 6(1) lit. b GDPR.

The same applies to such processing operations which are necessary for carrying out pre-contractual measures, for example in the case of inquiries concerning our products or services. Is our company subject to a legal obligation by which processing of personal data is required, such as for the fulfillment of tax obligations, the processing is based on Art. 6(1) lit. c GDPR.

In rare cases, the processing of personal data may be necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or of another natural person. This would be the case, for example, if a visitor were injured in our company and his name, age, health insurance data or other vital information would have to be passed on to a doctor, hospital or other third party. Then the processing would be based on Art. 6(1) lit. d GDPR.

Finally, processing operations could be based on Article 6(1) lit. f GDPR. This legal basis is used for processing operations which are not covered by any of the abovementioned legal grounds, if processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by our company or by a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data. Such processing operations are particularly permissible because they have been specifically mentioned by the European legislator, who considered that a legitimate interest could be assumed if the data subject is a client of the controller (Recital 47 Sentence 2 GDPR).

 

15. The legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party

Where the processing of personal data is based on Article 6(1) lit. f GDPR our legitimate interest is to carry out our business in favor of the well-being of all our employees and the shareholders.

 

16. Period for which the personal data will be stored

The criteria used to determine the period of storage of personal data is the respective statutory retention period. After expiration of that period, the corresponding data is routinely deleted, as long as it is no longer necessary for the fulfillment of the contract or the initiation of a contract.

 

17. Provision of personal data as statutory or contractual requirement; Requirement necessary to enter into a contract; Obligation of the data subject to provide the personal data; possible consequences of failure to provide such data

We clarify that the provision of personal data is partly required by law (e.g. tax regulations) or can also result from contractual provisions (e.g. information about the contractual partner).

In the conclusion of a contract it may sometimes be necessary that the data subject provides us with personal data, which must subsequently then be processed by us. The data subject is, for example, obliged to provide us with personal data when our company signs a contract with him or her. The non-provision of the personal data would have the consequence that the contract with the data subject could not be concluded.

Before personal data is provided by the data subject, the data subject must contact any employee. The employee clarifies to the data subject whether the provision of the personal data is required by law or contract or is necessary for the conclusion of the contract, whether there is an obligation to provide the personal data and the consequences of non-provision of the personal data.

 

18. Existence of automated decision-making

As a responsible company, we do not use automatic decision-making or profiling.

 

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