Privacy Policy

of TECH by HANDELSBLATT MEDIA GROUP GmbH ("HMG")
Toulouser Allee 27, 40211 Düsseldorf,
Management: Andrea Wasmuth (Chair), Sebastian Christensen

A. General Information on HMG's Handling of Personal Data and Your User Rights

I. Purpose of the Privacy Policy

When using this website ("TECH"), personal data is processed during almost every contact with our company. Personal data is information that can identify a person, including names, email addresses, or phone numbers. Technical data associated with a person is also considered personal data.

Providing your personal data for TECH is generally not legally or contractually required. You are not obligated to provide personal data on this website unless explicitly stated otherwise in this privacy policy. For example, providing all website functions, processing orders, signing up for newsletters, or registering for events requires personal data processing.

This privacy policy informs you about the type, scope, and purpose of the collection and use of personal data on this website by HMG ("we" or "us"), responsible for processing personal data unless otherwise stated in this privacy policy.

II. Contact Details

The contact details of the Data Controller are as follows:
TECH by HANDELSBLATT MEDIA GROUP GmbH, Toulouser Allee 27, 40211 Düsseldorf
Email: datenschutz@handelsblattgroup.com

You can reach our Data Protection Officer at:
DEGECO Deutsche Gesellschaft für Compliance mbH, Dornberger Straße 27, 33615 Bielefeld
Website: www.degeco.de
Email: datenschutz@handelsblattgroup.com

III. Your Rights

You have the right to request information about the personal data stored about you free of charge (a fee may apply for subsequent requests within 12 months). Additionally, you have the right to request the correction of inaccurate data, restriction of processing of data that is excessively processed, and deletion of unlawfully processed or excessively stored personal data (provided no legal obligation to retain data exists or other reasons as per Art. 17 (3) GDPR). You also have the right to transfer all data you have provided to us in a common file format (right to data portability). If a right to object to specific procedures exists, it will be indicated in the description of the individual procedures in Section B. Consents given can be revoked anytime with effect for the future. To exercise your rights, email datenschutz@handelsblattgroup.com. Additionally, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority.

IV. General Information on Logfile Data and Cookies

1 Logfile Data

Upon each access to TECH, access data that may allow identification is recorded. Logfile data is stored for security reasons, such as investigating misuse. The logfile data includes the filename of the accessed page, date and time, transferred data volume, access status, browser type and operating system, requesting provider, referrer URL (the previously visited page), device used, and the name of the accessed webpage.

2 Cookies

This website uses cookies, small text files stored on your device by the browser when visiting our website. Cookies allow individual services on a website to "recognize" you and "remember" settings. This enhances the user experience (e.g., storing login data) and enables statistical data collection on website usage for analysis and advertising. Some cookies are automatically deleted upon leaving the website (session cookies), while others are stored for a specific period, not exceeding two years (persistent cookies). We also use third-party cookies managed by third parties to offer specific services.

You can influence the use of cookies, as most browsers offer options to restrict or prevent cookie storage. Note that usage and comfort may be restricted without cookies. Technically necessary cookies that make our site usable (e.g., enabling page navigation) will still be set, even if you object to cookie storage.

Details on the cookies we use can be found in Section B.

B. Data Processing Procedures

On this website, personal data is processed as part of the following procedures, some of which only occur with your consent:

  • Contract conclusion and execution

  • Subscription to a newsletter

  • Contact (contact page)

  • Server logfiles

  • Use of cookies

1. Contract Execution (Order, Event)

1.1 Your Data

If you place an order or book an event through TECH, we access the data you entered. You may be asked to provide a delivery address and account information.

1.2 Data Recipients

As necessary, we share your data with the following recipients during contract execution, informing you beforehand if not obvious:

  • HANDELSBLATT MEDIA GROUP companies, for processing orders or providing services, improving HMG offers and websites, and sending marketing communications (provided you have consented or it is otherwise legally permitted).

  • HANDELSBLATT MEDIA GROUP companies that may receive your data can be found here: https://handelsblattgroup.com/portfolio-der-handelsblatt-media-group.

  • Service partners used for contract execution, such as IT service providers (in an interface function), payment service providers (for processing payments), sellers or event providers offering services on our websites, and logistics and telecommunications companies.

  • Collection agencies or credit bureaus, as necessary for enforcing our rights.

  • Consulting companies related to our offers.

  • Call centers and measurement service providers.

  • Financial service providers for deposit and watchlist functionalities.

We contractually agree with these service providers that they may use your data solely for order processing and service provision on our behalf. Any other use, including direct contact from these providers, is only permitted with your prior consent.

Additional data recipients may include law enforcement authorities, tax authorities, and social security agencies as required. Our own tax advisors, auditors, and lawyers may access data to exercise our rights and fulfill legal obligations.

In case of a merger or amalgamation, we will transfer your data to the resulting company.

We transfer data outside the EU (third countries) only when necessary for contract performance, legal compliance, or to protect our legitimate interests. Such transfers require adequacy decisions by the EU Commission or appropriate safeguards like standard contractual clauses. For details, contact our Data Protection Officer at datenschutz@handelsblattgroup.com.

1.3 Legal Basis

Data provided for contract execution is processed on the basis of Art. 6 (1) lit. b GDPR, allowing data processing necessary for contract execution.

1.4 Duration of Data Storage

Personal data stored during contract execution is deleted as follows:

  • Order of goods: Once you have received the goods and the warranty period (two years from delivery) has expired.

  • Event: Data is retained for 18 months after the event for follow-up claims. Transaction-related data must be retained for ten years for tax purposes.

2. Subscription to a Newsletter

2.1 Your Data

We use the data you provide to send selected newsletters, requiring your consent, confirmed via a confirmation email. You can unsubscribe at any time.

2.2 Data Recipients

Your data may be shared with the recipient groups listed in section 1.2.

2.3 Legal Basis

This data processing is based on your consent when signing up for the newsletter, as per Art. 6 (1) lit. a GDPR. You can unsubscribe free of charge anytime, effective for the future. Use the unsubscribe link in the newsletter or email kundenservice@handelsblattgroup.com.

2.4 Duration of Data Storage

Personal data stored during newsletter subscription is deleted upon unsubscription. If you remain a member, your membership data is retained. Unsubscribing from the newsletter does not restrict membership.

3. Contact

3.1 Your Data

When contacting us (e.g., by email or contact form), the information provided is processed to handle the inquiry and for follow-up questions.

3.2 Data Recipients

Data from contact inquiries is only processed within HMG.

3.3 Legal Basis

Information provided during contact is processed based on Art. 6 (1) lit. a and f GDPR. This allows data processing within the scope of your consent and based on our legitimate interest in handling inquiries. You can object to this processing by emailing the Data Protection Officer at datenschutz@handelsblattgroup.com.

3.4 Duration of Data Storage

Personal data stored during contact is deleted once the inquiry is fully resolved, unless it remains relevant for future inquiries.

4. Server Logfiles

4.1 Your Data

Each access to this website automatically collects technical data, including page name, access date/time, data volume, access status, browser type, requesting provider, referrer URL, device used, and IP address.

IP addresses are assigned to devices connected to the internet. The IP address could be assigned by an internet or mobile provider or by a public or private Wi-Fi provider. In its most common form (IPv4), the IP address consists of four blocks of numbers. Dynamic IP addresses are usually temporary, while static IP addresses are permanently assigned. Except for tracking unauthorized access, this data is anonymized for analysis to determine popular websites and visitation rates. Our website supports IPv6 addresses, which consist of eight blocks of four digits. The last four blocks of an IPv6 address (the 'interface identifier') are generally anonymized.

For additional anonymization, activate 'Privacy Extensions' on your device. Most operating systems offer this feature, although it may not be enabled by default. Server logfiles are used to manage the website and prevent unauthorized access.

4.2 Data Recipients

Recipients include HMG companies for improving services and websites, delivering usage-based online advertising, and sending marketing communications (where consented or legally permissible). Additional recipients include:

  • HANDELSBLATT MEDIA GROUP companies listed here: https://handelsblattgroup.com/portfolio-der-handelsblatt-media-group/

  • Service providers for applications and services on our websites.

  • Computer centers such as Arvato Bertelsmann (Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, Carl-Bertelsmann-Straße 270, 33311 Gütersloh) where our servers are operated.

  • iApps Technologies GmbH, Tulpenweg 22, 83254 Breitbrunn, providing data interface services.

These service providers may use your data solely for processing orders and providing services on our behalf. Any other use requires prior consent.

4.3 Legal Basis

Personal data in logfiles is processed based on Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR, allowing data processing within the framework of the "legitimate interests" of the controller. Our legitimate interest lies in administration, service improvement, and tracking hacking attempts. You may object to this processing if specific circumstances justify it by contacting the Data Protection Officer.

4.4 Duration of Data Storage

Server logfiles are automatically deleted after 30 days, unless there are indications of unauthorized access (e.g., hacking or DDoS attacks), in which case we may retain data longer.

5. Use of Cookies

5.1 Your Data

Cookies are used on our websites to improve performance and optimize user experience (see Section A for further information). Below is an overview of the cookies used. Detailed information, including opt-out options, is available in our CMP (Consent Management Platform) if available. Unless specified below, data stored via cookies is deleted after 12 months or within six months after membership ends.

5.2 Essential Cookies

We use certain cookies ("essential cookies") that are necessary to use our website. Some essential cookies are only requested once (e.g., privacy settings), while others are required for our services (e.g., user data for authentication).

Currently, we do not use any cookies on this website. If this changes, we will update this page.

For inquiries, contact our Data Protection Officer listed in Section A.