This English translation is provided for convenience only. The German version is legally binding.
We are very pleased about your interest in our network. Data protection is of particularly high importance to berlin-communication. In principle, the websites of the berlin-communication network can be used without providing any personal data. However, if a data subject wishes to make use of special services via our website, the processing of personal data may become necessary. If the processing of personal data is necessary and there is no statutory basis for such processing, we generally obtain the consent of the data subject.
The processing of personal data, such as the name, address, email address or telephone number of a data subject, is always carried out in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and in accordance with the country-specific data protection provisions applicable to the interpreters of berlin-communication. By means of this privacy policy, our network would like to inform the public about the nature, scope and purpose of the personal data we collect, use and process. Furthermore, this privacy policy informs data subjects of the rights to which they are entitled.
As the controllers responsible for the processing, the members of berlin-communication have implemented numerous technical and organisational measures to ensure the most complete protection possible of the personal data processed via this website. Nevertheless, internet-based data transmissions can in principle have security gaps, so that absolute protection cannot be guaranteed. For this reason, every data subject is free to transmit personal data to us by alternative means, for example by telephone.
Definitions
The privacy policy of berlin-communication is based on the terms used by the European legislator for directives and regulations when adopting the GDPR. Our privacy policy should be easy to read and understand both for the public and for our customers and business partners. To ensure this, we would like to explain the terms used in advance.
In this privacy policy, we use, among others, the following terms:
a) Personal data
Personal data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter “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 one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.
b) Data subject
Data subject is any identified or identifiable natural person whose personal data are processed by the controller responsible for the processing.
c) Processing
Processing is any operation or set of operations which is performed on 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.
d) Restriction of processing
Restriction of processing is the marking of stored personal data with the aim of limiting their processing in the future.
e) Profiling
Profiling is 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.
f) 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 which ensure that the personal data are not attributed to an identified or identifiable natural person.
g) Controller or controller responsible for the processing
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.
h) Processor
Processor is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which processes personal data on behalf of the controller.
i) Recipient
Recipient is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other 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.
j) Third party
Third party is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or body other than the data subject, the controller, the processor and the persons who, under the direct authority of the controller or processor, are authorised to process the personal data.
k) Consent
Consent 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.
Name and address of the controller responsible for the processing
The controller within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation, other data protection laws applicable in the Member States of the European Union and other provisions of a data protection nature is:
Maike Grabowski
Wilhelmstraße 121a
10963 Berlin
Germany
Phone: +49 30 85407965
Email: m.grabowski@berlin-communication.de
Website: https://www.berlin-communication.de/
Collection of general data and information
The website of berlin-communication collects a series of general data and information each time the website is accessed by a data subject or an automated system. This general data and information is stored in the server log files. The data collected may include (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 referrer), (4) the sub-websites which are accessed via an accessing system on our website, (5) the date and time of access to the website, (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 serve to avert danger in the event of attacks on our information technology systems.
When using this general data and information, berlin-communication does not draw any conclusions about the data subject. Rather, this information is needed in order to (1) deliver the content of our website correctly, (2) optimise the content of our website as well as its advertising, (3) ensure the long-term viability of our information technology systems and the technology of our website, and (4) provide law enforcement authorities with the information necessary for criminal prosecution in the event of a cyberattack. This anonymously collected data and information is therefore evaluated by the interpreters both statistically and with the aim of increasing data protection and data security in our network, in order ultimately to ensure an optimal level of protection for the personal data we process. The anonymous data of the server log files are stored separately from all personal data provided by a data subject.
Cookies
These websites use only technically necessary cookies – in particular session cookies, which are deleted after the session, as well as a cookie that stores your language selection (German/English/French).
Cookies are text files that are placed and stored on a computer system via an internet browser.
Numerous websites and servers use cookies. Many cookies contain a so-called cookie ID. A cookie ID is a unique identifier of the cookie. It consists of a character string by which websites and servers can be assigned to the specific internet browser in which the cookie was stored. This allows the websites and servers visited to distinguish the individual browser of the data subject from other internet browsers that contain other cookies. A specific internet browser can be recognised and identified via the unique cookie ID.
Through the use of cookies, berlin-communication can provide the users of this website with more user-friendly services that would not be possible without the setting of cookies.
By means of a cookie, the information and offers on this website can be optimised in the interest of the user. As already mentioned, cookies enable berlin-communication to recognise the users of this website. The purpose of this recognition is to make it easier for users to use our website. For example, the user of a website that uses cookies does not have to enter his or her access data again each time the website is visited, because this is taken over by the website and the cookie stored on the user’s computer system. Another example is the cookie of a shopping cart in an online shop. The online shop remembers the items that a customer has placed in the virtual shopping cart via a cookie.
The data subject can prevent the setting of cookies by this website at any time by means of a corresponding setting in the internet browser used and thus permanently object to the setting of cookies. Furthermore, cookies that have already been set can be deleted at any time via an internet browser or other software programs. This is possible in all common internet browsers. If the data subject deactivates the setting of cookies in the internet browser used, not all functions of this website may be fully usable.
Cookies that are required to carry out the electronic communication process or to provide certain functions requested by the user (e.g. shopping cart function) are stored on the basis of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the storage of cookies for the technically error-free and optimised provision of its services. Insofar as other cookies (e.g. cookies for analysing the visitor’s surfing behaviour) are stored, they are treated separately in this privacy policy.
Hosting
This website is hosted by Mittwald CM Service GmbH & Co. KG, Königsberger Straße 4–6, 32339 Espelkamp. The general data and information collected when this website is accessed (see above) are processed on Mittwald servers in Germany.
A data processing agreement pursuant to Art. 28 GDPR has been concluded with Mittwald. Further information can be found in Mittwald’s privacy policy: https://www.mittwald.de/datenschutz
Routine erasure and blocking of personal data
The controller responsible for the processing processes and stores personal data of the data subject only for the period necessary to achieve the purpose of storage, or where this has been provided for by the European legislator for directives and regulations or another legislator in laws or regulations to which the controller is subject.
If the purpose of storage no longer applies, or if a storage period prescribed by the European legislator for directives and regulations or another competent legislator expires, the personal data are routinely blocked or erased in accordance with the statutory provisions.
Rights of the data subject
a) Right to confirmation
Every data subject has the right, granted by the European legislator for directives and regulations, to obtain from the controller responsible for the processing confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning him or her are being processed. If a data subject wishes to exercise this right to confirmation, he or she may contact a member of the berlin-communication network responsible for the processing at any time.
b) Right of access
Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right, granted by the European legislator for directives and regulations, to obtain from the controller responsible for the processing, free of charge and at any time, information about the personal data stored about him or her and a copy of this information. Furthermore, the European legislator for directives and regulations has granted the data subject access to the following information:
the purposes of the processing
the categories of personal data that are processed
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 this is not possible, the criteria used to determine that period
the existence of a right to rectification or erasure of the personal data concerning him or her, or to restriction of processing by the controller, or of a right to object to such processing
the existence of a 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 the source of the data
the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, referred to in Article 22(1) and (4) GDPR and — at least in those cases — meaningful information about the logic involved, as well as the significance and the envisaged consequences of such processing for the data subject
Furthermore, the data subject has a right to obtain information as to whether personal data have been transferred to a third country or to an international organisation. Where this is the case, the data subject also has the right to obtain information about the appropriate safeguards relating to the transfer.
If a data subject wishes to exercise this right of access, he or she may contact a member of the berlin-communication network responsible for the processing at any time.
c) Right to rectification
Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right, granted by the European legislator for directives and regulations, to obtain without undue delay the rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning him or her. Furthermore, the data subject has the right, taking into account the purposes of the processing, 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 contact a member of the berlin-communication network responsible for the processing at any time.
d) Right to erasure (right to be forgotten)
Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right, granted by the European legislator for directives and regulations, to obtain from the controller the erasure without undue delay of personal data concerning him or her, where one of the following grounds applies and insofar as the processing is not necessary:
The personal data were collected or otherwise processed for purposes for which they are no longer necessary.
The data subject withdraws the consent on which the processing was based pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR or Art. 9(2)(a) GDPR, and there is no other legal basis for the processing.
The data subject objects to the processing pursuant to Art. 21(1) GDPR and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the processing, or the data subject objects to the processing pursuant to Art. 21(2) GDPR.
The personal data were processed unlawfully.
The erasure of the personal data is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation under Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject.
The personal data were collected in relation to information society services offered pursuant to Art. 8(1) GDPR.
If one of the aforementioned grounds applies and a data subject wishes to arrange for the erasure of personal data stored by berlin-communication, he or she may contact a member of the berlin-communication network responsible for the processing at any time. The network member of berlin-communication will arrange for the erasure request to be complied with without undue delay.
Where the personal data have been made public by the members of berlin-communication and our network, as controller, is obliged pursuant to Art. 17(1) GDPR to erase the personal data, berlin-communication, taking account of available technology and the cost of implementation, shall take reasonable steps, including technical measures, to inform other controllers processing the published personal data that the data subject has requested the erasure by those other controllers of any links to, or copies or replications of, those personal data, insofar as the processing is not necessary. The network member of berlin-communication will arrange the necessary measures in the individual case.
e) Right to restriction of processing
Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right, granted by the European legislator for directives and regulations, to obtain from the controller the restriction of processing where one of the following conditions 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, the data subject opposes the erasure of the personal data and requests instead the restriction of the use of the personal data.
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 the processing pursuant to Art. 21(1) GDPR and it has not yet been determined whether the legitimate grounds of the controller override those of the data subject.
If one of the aforementioned conditions applies and a data subject wishes to request the restriction of personal data stored by berlin-communication, he or she may contact the member of the berlin-communication network responsible for the processing at any time. The network member of berlin-communication will arrange for the restriction of the processing.
f) Right to data portability
Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right, granted by the European legislator for directives and regulations, to receive the personal data concerning him or her, which he or she has provided to a controller, in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format. He or she also has the right to transmit those data to another controller without hindrance from the controller to which the personal data have been provided, where the processing is based on consent pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR or Art. 9(2)(a) GDPR or on a contract pursuant to Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR and the processing is carried out by automated means, insofar 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 Art. 20(1) GDPR, the data subject has the right to have the personal data transmitted directly from one controller to another controller, where this is technically feasible and provided that the rights and freedoms of other persons are not adversely affected thereby.
To assert the right to data portability, the data subject may at any time contact the network member of berlin-communication with whom his or her business relationship exists.
g) Right to object
Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right, granted by the European legislator for directives and regulations, to object at any time, on grounds relating to his or her particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning him or her which is carried out on the basis of Art. 6(1)(e) or (f) GDPR. This also applies to profiling based on those provisions.
In the event of an objection, the members of berlin-communication will no longer process the personal data, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject, or the processing serves the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.
If berlin-communication processes personal data for direct marketing purposes, the data subject has the right to object at any time to the processing of the personal data for the purposes of such marketing. This also applies to profiling insofar as it is related to such direct marketing. If the data subject objects to berlin-communication to the processing for direct marketing purposes, berlin-communication 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 the processing of personal data concerning him or her which is carried out by berlin-communication for scientific or historical research purposes or for statistical purposes pursuant to Art. 89(1) GDPR, unless such processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for reasons of public interest.
To exercise the right to object, the data subject may directly contact the member of berlin-communication with whom the business relationship exists. The data subject is also free, in the context of the use of information society services, and notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC, to exercise his or her right to object by automated means using technical specifications.
h) Automated individual decision-making, including profiling
Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right, granted by the European legislator for directives and regulations, 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, provided that the decision (1) is not necessary for entering into, or the performance of, a contract between the data subject and the controller, or (2) is authorised by Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject and that law lays down suitable measures to safeguard the rights and freedoms and the legitimate interests of the data subject, or (3) is 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 the controller, or (2) is based on the data subject’s explicit consent, berlin-communication shall implement suitable measures to safeguard the rights and freedoms and the legitimate interests of the data subject, which include at least the right to obtain human intervention on the part of the controller, to express his or her own point of view and to contest the decision.
If the data subject wishes to assert rights relating to automated decisions, he or she may contact the member of the berlin-communication network responsible for the processing at any time.
i) Right to withdraw consent under data protection law
Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right, granted by the European legislator for directives and regulations, to withdraw consent to the processing of personal data at any time.
If the data subject wishes to assert her or his right to withdraw consent, he or she may contact the member of the berlin-communication network responsible for the processing at any time.
Data protection in applications and the application procedure
The controller responsible for the processing collects and processes the personal data of applicants for the purpose of handling the application procedure. The processing may also take place by electronic means. This is the case, in particular, if an applicant submits the relevant application documents to the controller by electronic means, for example by email or via a web form located on the website. If the controller concludes an employment contract with an applicant, the data transmitted will be stored for the purpose of processing the employment relationship in compliance with the statutory provisions. If the controller does not conclude an employment contract with the applicant, the application documents will be automatically erased two months after notification of the rejection decision, provided that no other legitimate interests of the controller stand in the way of such erasure. Another legitimate interest in this sense is, for example, a burden of proof in proceedings under the Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (AGG — German General Equal Treatment Act).
Legal basis for the processing
Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR serves our network 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 a party, as is the case, for example, with processing operations that are necessary for a delivery of goods or the provision of any other service or consideration, the processing is based on Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR. The same applies to processing operations that are necessary for carrying out pre-contractual measures, for example in cases of enquiries concerning our products or services. If our network is subject to a legal obligation by which the processing of personal data becomes necessary, such as for the fulfilment of tax obligations, the processing is based on Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR. In rare cases, the processing of personal data might become 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 on our premises and his or her name, age, health insurance data or other vital information then had to be passed on to a doctor, a hospital or other third parties. The processing would then be based on Art. 6(1)(d) GDPR. Finally, processing operations could be based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. Processing operations that are not covered by any of the aforementioned legal bases rest on this legal basis if the processing is necessary to safeguard a legitimate interest of our network or of a third party, provided that the interests, fundamental rights and fundamental freedoms of the data subject do not override that interest. Such processing operations are permitted to us in particular because they were specifically mentioned by the European legislator. In this respect, it took the view that a legitimate interest could be assumed if the data subject is a client of the controller (Recital 47 sentence 2 GDPR).
Legitimate interests in the processing pursued by the controller or by a third party
Where the processing of personal data is based on Article 6(1)(f) GDPR, the legitimate interest of the respective network member is the conduct of its business activity for the benefit of the well-being of all members of the network.
Period for which the personal data are stored
The criterion for the duration of the storage of personal data is the respective statutory retention period. After expiry of that period, the corresponding data are routinely erased, provided they are no longer required for the performance or the initiation of a contract.
Statutory or contractual requirements to provide the personal data; necessity for the conclusion of the contract; obligation of the data subject to provide the personal data; possible consequences of failure to provide such data
We would like to inform you that the provision of personal data is partly required by law (e.g. tax regulations) or may also result from contractual provisions (e.g. information on the contractual partner). Sometimes it may be necessary for the conclusion of a contract that a data subject provides us with personal data, which must subsequently be processed by us. The data subject is, for example, obliged to provide us with personal data if a member of our network concludes a contract with him or her. Failure to provide the personal data would mean that the contract with the data subject could not be concluded. Before providing personal data, the data subject must contact the network member with whom the business relationship exists. The network member will inform the data subject on a case-by-case basis 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 what the consequences of failure to provide the personal data would be.
Existence of automated decision-making
As a responsible network, we do not use automatic decision-making or profiling.
This privacy policy was created by the privacy policy generator of DGD Deutsche Gesellschaft für Datenschutz GmbH, which acts as the External Data Protection Officer Munich (Externer Datenschutzbeauftragter München), in cooperation with Christian Solmecke, lawyer for data protection law.
Last updated: July 2026